Exploring Argentina, Buenos Aires to Ushuaia – 14 Days
(This sample itinerary will be customized to suit your interests and budget.)
Day 1 ~ Buenos Aires
International flight arrival to Buenos Aires.
Greeting on arrival and private transfer to your hotel located in Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
Spend 3 nights in Buenos Aires –
GL Tours works with a number of full-service and boutique style hotels in charming neighborhoods throughout Buenos Aires.
Day 2 ~ Private Guided City Tour
The most important sights of Buenos Aires are seen on this half-day tour. Your guide takes you through the narrow streets of the old city and the broad avenues that mark Buenos Aires’ modern growth. Around the Plaza de Mayo, you will see the Casa Rosada, the rose-colored presidential residence, the Cathedral and the Cabildo (Town Hall). On South America’s broadest avenue, Avenida 9 de Julio, you see Colon Theater and the Obelisco. A highlight is a visit to the “Recoleta” district, one of the most fashionable parts of the city, which includes South America’s most opulent and extraordinary cemetery, the resting place of Eva Peron. La Boca district is also included in this tour.
Your guide will advise you on options for shopping and additional sightseeing.
Day 3 ~ Dinner & Tango Show at Esquina Carlos Gardel
This is one of the most elegant tango show palaces, built over the location of “Chanta Cuatro” — a restaurant where Carlos Gardel used to dine with his friends, located across the street from the Abasto Shopping Center. The luxurious old-time-style dining room here features high-tech acoustics and superb dancers, creating a wonderful tango environment.
Day 4 ~ Estancia La Bamba de Areco
Private transfer from Buenos Aires to La Bamba.
Ideally located only 120 km from Buenos Aires and close to San Antonio de Areco in the heart of the Pampa, one of the oldest estancias in Argentina, recently renovated with great care as a boutique hotel, successfully combines luxurious comfort and colonial elegance.
Day 5 ~ Estancia
Excursions on horseback, by carriage, or mountain bike, Argentinean bowls game, hot stone massages, the large swimming pool and the numerous relaxation areas offer the traveler an unforgettable restful experience. Your stay includes full board and activities.
Day 6 ~ El Calafate
Transfer from La Bamba to the Buenos Aires airport for your flight to El Calafate.
Transfer on arrival to Eolo Lodge for your 3 night stay.
Eolo is located 50 minutes from the airport and 30 minutes from the town of El Calafate, on the way to Perito Moreno Glacier. Included in your stay are transfers to/from El Calafate airport, full board and private guides for excursions on the Eolo property.
Day 7 ~ Perito Moreno Glacier and mini trekking
Depart from the hotel towards Los Glaciares National Park entrance and Ventisquero Perito Moreno (westwards, 1 hr easy drive, paved route.) Slow drive along panoramic zigzag road for 15 km to visit to main vista point, bordering Lago Roca lake shores. Upon arrival, stop for 2-3 hrs for short walks in the area along the 3.5 km “pasarelas” vantage point in front of the glacier (up and down wooden and fenced loop-trail).
The Perito Moreno glacier was declared a “Mankind Heritage Site” by the UNESCO. It descends to Argentino Lake and its 35-kilometer long and 70-meter (230 ft.) high wall above water level can be admired, with vibrant colors ranging from white to turquoise. During the short walks, you will be able to witness the ice detachment phenomena, with the hollow sounds of ice falling and becoming smaller floating glaciers.
Mini-trekking
This excursion begins in the embarking pier located in “Bajo de las Sombras” bay- about 6 km before the glacier Balconies- where you embark for 20 minutes navigation across the Rico Arm, enjoying the views of the glacier’s front walls and Icebergs Channel.
You disembark on the opposite shore, where specialized mountain guides welcome you and lead you to a small shelter. After checking the last details, groups of 20 follow their guides along the lake’s shore towards the edge of the glacier. Once on the ice the guides put on each participant a pair of crampons and explain how to use them.
The two hour circuit that follows introduces you to the landscape of the glaciers: streams, small lagoons, gullies and plenty of ice formations of the most incredible blues. The trekking is moderate. The ice surface over which you walk is irregular, but firm and safe. You will receive explanations about flora, fauna and general glaciology of the region and also about the particular phenomenon that happens in the Perito Moreno Glacier and eventually produces its rupture. After the walk, a stroll through the forest brings you back to the shelter, and onto the boat, to head back to the port. Transfer to Eolo Lodge.
Day 8 ~ Estancia Cristina – Full day
Estancia Cristina was founded in 1914 by Joseph Percival Masters, an Englishman who came to Patagonia with his wife in 1900. The estancia grew and had up to 22,000 hectares of land surrounded by glaciers, snow peaks and lakes of great natural beauty. Nowadays, the idea is to keep well alive the history of this family who -with the effort and endurance common to every old pioneer- left an everlasting mark in this unique region.
After breakfast, early pick up for a 30 minute drive to Puerto Banderas. Departure at 8.15 am on board one of the modern and comfortable ships. Sailing among icebergs on the Argentino lake and watching the breathtaking views of the occidental front of the Glaciar Upsala. Arrival at the port of Estancia Cristina at 11:30am. Day at leisure to enjoy activities proposed by Estancia Cristina.
Discovery Excursion
Duration of 4 wheel drive: 3 hours
Drop: 550 m.s.n.m.
Level of demand Low
Activities include a visit to the Costumbrista Museum (old shearing shed), a 4 WD ride up to the Continental ice hut and a short trekking to the Upsala viewpoint. Visit the oriental front of Upsala Glacier. Lake Guillermo, Southern Patagonian Ice and Andes.
Optional Hiking to “Cañadón de los Fósiles” (If you choose this option, lunch will be replaced by Box Lunch)
Duration: 5 hours
Level of difficulty: Medium
Climbing on 4X4 vehicles traversing 9.5 kilometers through a mountain path.
Walk on the glacier- eroded rocks.
Views of Lago Guillermo, the breathtaking oriental front of Glaciar Upsala, the Patagonian Ice Fields, Cerro Murallón and Cerro Don Bosco. Descent hiking along the “Cañadón de los Fósiles”, the area where thousands of fossils can be seen stuck in -and showing up from-the rocks, as a result of the action of the glaciers. This valley offers features which are unique in the park.
Afternoon departure back to Puerto Banderas, and transfer to your hotel.
Day 9 ~ Ushuaia
Transfer from lodge to El Calafate airport for your flight to Ushuaia.
Upon arrival you will be transferred to Los Cauquenes Resort & Spa
Located at one of the most exotic places in the world, at the shore of Beagle Channel and with a beautiful view of the snow-covered peaks of the imposing Andes Mountain Range, Los Cauquenes Resort & Spa has direct beach access, and spectacular views in all areas, highlighting its unique in-out pool. Time to enjoy the surroundings and the hotel amentias.
Day 10 ~ Tierra del Fuego
This is the only Argentine National Park that combines sea, mountains, rivers, forest and peat bogs. It is located 11 km from Ushuaia. While entering the park, you can make a detour to see Ensenada Bay, a great spot where you can take good pictures of the Channel waters and Redonda island.
Back on the road, flanked by a dense green forest of lengas, ñires and cohiues, you will reach a bridge over Lapataia River. At this spot you can get a first glimpse of the surrounding area, and do some walking around Laguna Negra, Lake Roca, Walk of the Island, Sendero de las Lengas and Mirador Lapataia.
Following the winding gravel road, you will get to Lapataia Bay, where a sign indicates the end of the National Road 3. On the bay shore you will have the chance to see steamer ducks, clovers and cauquenes.
Day 11 ~ Expedition Cruise from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas
Embark upon the Australis expedition ship. After a welcome cocktail reception offered by the Captain and his crew the ship will depart for “the end of the earth”. Our trip takes us through the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel to explore one of the most breathtaking wilderness regions in the world: Southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.
Day 12 ~ CRUISE: CAPE HORN – WULAI BAY
We will be sailing through Murray Channel and Nassau Bay to reach Cape Horn National Park, where disembarking is scheduled (weather permitting). The mythical Cape Horn was discovered in 1616 and it is a sheer 425-meter (1,394- foot) high rocky promontory. For many years it was an important navigation route for sailboats between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and it is known as the “End of the Earth”. The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve in 2005.
In the afternoon, we will go ashore at historical Wulaia Bay, originally the site of one of the region’s largest Yamana aboriginal settlement. Charles Darwin landed there in 1833, during his voyage on the HMS Beagle. This area is also renowned for the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography. We will walk through a Magellan forest of lengas, coigües, canelos, ferns, and other endemic vegetation to reach a panoramic viewpoint.
Day 13 ~ CRUISE: AGOSTINI SOUND – AGUILA GLACIER
We will be sailing through Brecknock, Ocasión, Cockburn, and Magdalena Channels to enter the spectacular De Agostini Sound, in the heart of Darwin Mountain Range. In this area we can see glaciers descending the mountainside all the way down to the sea. In the afternoon, onboard Zodiac boats, we will route to Águila Glacier where we will take an easy walk all the way to the base of the glacier. We will experience the beauty of Patagonia’s cold rainforest and see how the power of nature molded the area’s landscape.
Day 14 ~ CRUISE: MAGDALENA ISLAND – PUNTA ARENAS
Early in the morning (and weather permitting) we will go ashore on Magdalena Island, located in the middle of the Strait of Magellan. The island used to be an essential source of supplies for navigators and explorers and is inhabited by an immense colony of Magellan Penguins that we will be able to see during our walk to the lighthouse. In September and April this excursion is replaced by a ride on Zodiac boat to Marta Island to observe South American Sea Lions. Finally, disembarking at Punta Arenas.
Transfer from the port to Punta Arenas airport for flight out.
We encourage you to contact us so that we can design a custom plan for your birding tour in Argentina. At GL Tours we always believe there is “more to explore!”