Itinerary
- Day 1
Buenos Aires
You'll arrive in Buenos Aires and your tour leader meets you at the hotel at 6pm for a welcome meeting with optional dinner. If you get there early, there's time to walk around San Telmo or check out the leafy parks in Palermo, or just grab a coffee at a sidewalk cafe. Airport transfers can be arranged from either Aeroparque or Ezeiza.
Optional Activities
- Explore San Telmo district
- Visit leafy parks in Palermo
- People-watching at sidewalk cafes
- Welcome dinner
Landmarks/POIs San Telmo Palermo - Day 2
Buenos Aires
This five-hour city tour takes you through Buenos Aires on bus and foot. You'll walk to Plaza de Mayo, head into colorful La Boca to see tango dancers, stop for coffee and pastries at a local cafecito, and wander through San Telmo's street art and bohemian vibe. There's quite a bit of walking involved. In the afternoon you have free time to visit Recoleta Cemetery or the Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore. An optional tango show happens in the evening if you're interested.
Included Activities
- Guided city tour by local bus and on foot
- Walk to Plaza de Mayo
- Visit La Boca neighborhood
- Traditional Porteno snack of coffee and pastries at local cafecito
- Explore San Telmo
Optional Activities
- Lunch at traditional San Telmo restaurant
- Visit Recoleta Cemetery
- Explore Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore
- Visit San Telmo antique market
- Tango show in the evening
Landmarks/POIs Plaza de Mayo La Boca San Telmo Recoleta Cemetery Ateneo Grand Splendid - Day 3
Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
After breakfast you'll transfer to the airport for your flight to Ushuaia on Tierra del Fuego. The afternoon is yours to explore. Boat trips around Beagle Channel to see wildlife and penguins are available, as is the Maritime Museum which is housed in a former prison. Just note that any excursions need to be booked at least three months ahead of time.
Optional Activities
- Beagle Channel catamaran and penguin spotting (5-hour excursion)
- Harberton Estancia and Isla Martillo penguin colony visit (6-hour tour)
- Beagle Channel boat to Sea Lion Island and Bird Island
- Visit Maritime Museum (former Ushuaia prison)
Landmarks/POIs Ushuaia Beagle Channel Isla Martillo Sea Lion Island Bird Island Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse Harberton Estancia - Day 4
Ushuaia
You'll head to Tierra del Fuego National Park for the day. It's about a 10km drive to the entrance, and then you'll do three different walks totaling around 4km with about 2 hours of walking. The terrain is pretty easy with minimal elevation changes. Keep an eye out for Patagonian grey foxes and condors. After lunch, the rest of the afternoon is free time to do your own thing.
Included Activities
- Guided walks in Tierra del Fuego National Park
- Walk along forest trails
- Walk to Lapataia Bay
Optional Activities
- Additional self-guided exploration in afternoon
Landmarks/POIs Tierra del Fuego National Park Lapataia Bay - Day 5
Ushuaia to Punta Arenas
This is a full travel day across Tierra del Fuego and into Chile. You'll take a public bus, cross the Magellan Strait by ferry, go through border control, and arrive in Punta Arenas by afternoon after about 10 hours on the road. For dinner you'll get to try local specialties like king crab and Chilean wines.
Optional Activities
- Dinner with local specialties such as king crab
Landmarks/POIs Punta Arenas Magellan Strait - Day 6
Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine
You'll travel north across the Patagonian steppe with views of the Cordillera peaks. There's a brief stop in Puerto Natales, which was founded in 1911 and serves as the gateway to Torres del Paine. After that you'll pass through Milodon Cave before reaching your accommodation in Torres del Paine National Park. Interesting fact: the park's name comes from 'payne' meaning blue, after its turquoise lakes.
Landmarks/POIs Puerto Natales Milodon Cave Torres del Paine National Park - Day 7
Torres del Paine
This is an active day with an 8km guided hike from Lake Sarmiento to Laguna Amarga. You'll look for guanacos, black-necked swans, upland geese, pink flamingos, and condors. Along the trail there are cliff paintings that are roughly 6,000 years old. Later you'll drive to Cascada Paine waterfall and Blue Lagoon for views of the iconic Torres. A challenging 22km trek to Torres base is optional if you pre-book it by day two.
Included Activities
- Guided wildlife hike from Lake Sarmiento to Laguna Amarga (8km)
- Visit ancient cliff paintings
- Vehicle drive to Cascada Paine waterfall
- Visit Blue Lagoon for views of Torres
Optional Activities
- Torres del Paine base trek (22km, challenging, must pre-book by Day 2)
Landmarks/POIs Lake Sarmiento Laguna Amarga Cascada Paine Blue Lagoon Torres del Paine - Day 8
Torres del Paine
Start at a viewpoint overlooking Lake Pehoe, then hike 2.5km up a steep gravel path to Mirador Cuernos for views of Valle del Frances. The afternoon is free to relax or do self-guided hikes like Escondida Lagoon or Nutria River, both around 2 hours for a round trip. If you want something bigger, there's an optional 6-hour boat excursion on Serrano River to see Paine Massif and a glacier.
Included Activities
- Visit Lake Pehoe viewpoint
- Guided hike to Mirador Cuernos (2.5km)
Optional Activities
- Walking to Escondida Lagoon (approximately 2-hour round trip)
- Walking to Nutria River (approximately 2-hour round trip)
- Serrano River excursion including speedboat, waterfall, forest walk, and Serrano Glacier Lagoon (6 hours)
Landmarks/POIs Lake Pehoe Mirador Cuernos Valle del Frances Escondida Lagoon Nutria River Serrano River Serrano Glacier Bernardo O'Higgins National Park Paine Massif - Day 9
Torres del Paine to Calafate
You'll leave after breakfast and head toward the Argentinean border at Cerro Castillo, driving across a vast plateau with occasional estancias. It's roughly a 6-hour drive to Calafate on the southern shores of Lago Argentino. This small town is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park and Argentina's glacier region.
Landmarks/POIs Cerro Castillo Lago Argentino Calafate Los Glaciares National Park - Day 10
Calafate
You'll spend a full day at Perito Moreno Glacier, one of South America's most significant sights. There's an included walk along boardwalks in Los Glaciares National Park with panoramic views of the glacier. You can add on a boat ride to get closer to the glacier face, or try an optional ice trek using crampons if you've pre-booked that before your trip.
Included Activities
- Walk along boardwalks in Los Glaciares National Park with views of Perito Moreno Glacier
Optional Activities
- Boat ride up to glacier face
- Ice trek on glacier using crampons
Landmarks/POIs Perito Moreno Glacier Los Glaciares National Park Southern Patagonian Ice Field - Day 11
Calafate to Chalten
After about a 3-hour drive you'll arrive in Chalten around 11am, at the meeting point of De las Vueltas and Fitzroy Rivers. You'll have lunch and check into your hotel, then the afternoon is yours to explore the town and trails around it. There's an optional 8-hour excursion to Lago Del Desierto that includes a scenic drive, a sail, and a hike to Vespignani Glacier lookout.
Optional Activities
- Lago Del Desierto trip (scenic drive, sail, hike to Vespignani Glacier lookout, 8 hours)
- Self-guided walks around Chalten
Landmarks/POIs Chalten De las Vueltas River Fitzroy River Los Glaciares National Park Lago Del Desierto Vespignani Glacier - Day 12
Chalten
Your local guide will lead a hike to the base of Mount Fitz Roy, assuming the weather cooperates. The well-marked trail is 22km and takes approximately 8 to 9 hours with about 730 meters of ascent and descent. It's challenging but worth it, with forest, river, and mountain scenery throughout. If that's too much, shorter self-guided walks around town are available.
Included Activities
- Guided hike to base of Mount Fitz Roy (22km, approximately 8-9 hours)
Optional Activities
- Shorter self-guided walks around Chalten
- Relax around town
Landmarks/POIs Mount Fitz Roy Fitz Roy Massif - Day 13
Chalten to Buenos Aires
You'll drive back to Calafate over about 3 hours to catch an afternoon flight to Buenos Aires. There's a chance to see a famous tango show once you arrive in the capital. Keep in mind that airline schedules shift frequently, so your flight might arrive late evening and leave you with a free morning in Patagonia.
Optional Activities
- Tango show in Buenos Aires
Landmarks/POIs Calafate Buenos Aires - Day 14
Buenos Aires to Iguazu
You'll fly unescorted to Puerto Iguazu where a local guide will meet you. Then you'll visit the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls with its 275 interconnecting falls inside Parque Nacional do Iguazu. The half-day visit usually includes lunch. The morning flight is typical, but schedules can change and this might shift to day 16 if needed. Note that some group members may leave in Buenos Aires instead.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls)
Included Activities
- Visit Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls (half-day)
- Lunch at Brazilian side
Optional Activities
- Helicopter ride over falls
- Bird Park entrance
Landmarks/POIs Iguazu Falls Parque Nacional do Iguazú Parque Nacional Iguazú Iguazu Reserve - Day 15
Iguazu
You'll spend the full day on the Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls, which offers more extensive views and fewer crowds than the Brazilian side. You'll walk to Garganta del Diablo where 14 separate falls merge into one powerful torrent, creating one of the planet's most forceful waterfalls.
Included Activities
- Full day visit to Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls
- Walk to Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat)
Landmarks/POIs Iguazu Falls Garganta del Diablo Rio Iguazu - Day 16
Iguazu
The morning is free to relax at your hotel. Later in the afternoon you'll catch your flight back to Buenos Aires.
- Day 17
Buenos Aires
Your tour ends at the Buenos Aires hotel and you're free to leave anytime. The hotel offers luggage storage if your flight leaves later in the day. Airport transfers are available from either Aeroparque or Ezeiza.
