Argentina First Class in 15 Days

15 days - 14 nights

Day 1 - Arrival to Buenos Aires

Welcome to Argentina. Reception and transfer from Ezeiza International Airport (Buenos Airtes City) to the hotel.

Day 2 - Private tour of the city of Buenos Aires & Dinner Tango Show

Breakfast in the hotel. Like many cities, Buenos Aires is split into areas (barrios) that commonly have distinctive features. We begin our tour visiting some of the most classic of these barrios where we will discover some splendid architecture that ranges from the old colonial structures such as the Cabildo, the ostentatious French style palaces and buildings mostly related to the very prosperous early twentieth century, art deco and the modern skyscrapers of the business micro centre and Puerto Madero, the renovated dock area. We go to some of its principal noteworthy sites such as the spectacular, recently renovated, Colón Opera Theatre, the most recognized monument, the Obelisk, the Plaza de Mayo, known especially for its silent protests against the military government and its surrounding buildings such as the Cabildo, the foundation of Buenos Aires, the Metropolitan Cathedral where lies the mausoleum of Don José de San Martin, the 'father' of the Republic, and, of course, the Presidential House, the Casa Rosada.

We discover barrios such as San Telmo, the Antique centre, which was inhabited by the first aristocracy until there was a general movement to Barrio Norte (Recoleta) due to the yellow fever outbreak at the end of the nineteenth century. We visit La Boca, the home of the famous football team, and one of the most picturesque barrios due to its colourful houses and its working class Italian immigrant influences. It is also known for its tango and art and here we take a walk down the artisans' passage and to its gallery as well as a walk to the Port. This is followed by a visit to Puerto Madero, the renovated dockland site, with the new part with its excellent offices and apartments securely separated from the city by bridges. Going further north we reach the very popular parks of Palermo known for their traditional monuments such as the Planetarium, Galileo Galilei and the Magna Carta.

We also visit the elite residential barrio of the City, Recoleta, where we also find the Museum of Fine Arts, the picturesque colonial church of Nuestra Señora del Pilar and the famous cemetery where Eva Peron was buried. These are situated close to the Plaza Francia where every Sunday there are popular artisanal stalls and people take advantage of sunny days relaxing in the beautiful plazas with their incredible trees. In Palermo Chico, a very exclusive residential zone, we can see luxury French style palaces and enjoy the parks designed by the French landscaper, Thays, that have a style different to the rest.

In the evening we enjoy a dinner and Tango show at one of the best venues of Buenos Aires ( Homero Manzi / Complejo Tango / Señor Tango / La Esquina de Carlos Gardel / Madero Tango). The Tango has a special charm outside of its origin: From New York to Sydney, people that have never visited Argentina are left seduced by its mystique and sensuality. Others stay captivated by the music. This original tour traces in parallel the history of the city and that of the tango journeying by its different stages of development from its birth in the slums, to its consummation in the Avenida Corrientes and its later internationalization.

Day 3 - Exclusive boat trip of the Río de la Plata & Delta del Tigre

Breakfast in the hotel. In the North Dock in Puerto Madero, in the centre of Buenos Aires, we board a modern launch with state of the art nautical technology, great comfort and available refreshments, in order to make a cruise along the coast of the Río de la Plata and into the Delta del Tigre. We are accompanied by the excellent views of Buenos Aires from the water and pass by the Jorge Newberry Airport, the football stadium home of River Plate, known as the Monument, and the City University. We then cruise by the exclusive residential barrios of Vicente López, Martinez and the elevations of San Isidro, the port of Olivos and various nautical clubs until we enter the Delta of the río Paraná, a fast flowing river that has its source in Brazil.

Especially at weekends and on sunny days there will be a lot of marine activity with an abundance of yachts and cruisers as well as the water taxis that service the houses and restaurants that on the islands in the Tigre Delta. The Delta is like a rural Venice with its houses on the banks and its streets being the waterways. We go to the El Alcázar recreation centre on the Banks of the río Sarmiento and then continue our trip past a number of the islands until we stop close to midday at the bustling water transport station of Tigre, where we can go and have lunch. After lunch we return to Puerto Madero.

Day 4 - Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay

We go to the boat terminal to board and commence our journey to Colonia del Sacramento in the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, found on the Cape between the San Pedro and Santa Rita Points and characterised by its cobbled streets and its peaceful colonial ambience. We start by visiting the sandy coastal front where we can see the Colonia Bay and its Islands. Later we go to the Real de San Carlos and the old Plaza de Toros. Following the designed route we go by the port and the town centre until we arrive at the historic barrio where in its 120,000 square metres there are mixed different styles of architecture such as Portuguese, Spanish and post colonial. This area was declared a Historic Patrimony of the Humanity site by UNESCO. Other places of interest are the house of the Virrey, the Azulejo Museum, the Spanish Museum, the Matriz Church, the Regional Archive, the Iso Suspiros Street, la Plaza Mayor and the house of Eva Peron. The original city plans were Portuguese and do not coincide with with the standard plans determined by Spanish Law in relation to 'las Indias Occidentales'. In the afternoon we return to the port of Colonia and Buenos Aires.

Day 5 - Departure to Puerto Iguazú

Breakfast in the Hotel. Transfer to domestic airport. Reception and transfer from Iguazú Airport to the hotel.

Day 6 - Iguazu Falls: Argentina & Big Adventure

Iguazu Falls: Argentina

We will do one of the most interesting excursions through the hanging bridges, which will lead us to visit the stunning Falls from the Argentine side. Then we will get to the Devil's Gorge and be dazzled by its rough waters, a nature spectacles at a height of 80 meters. In the Lower Area (Circuito Inferior) we will enjoy the rich wildlife around us, as we go down the flight of steps where we can watch the spectacle offered by this water curtain surrounded by thick vegetation. We will pass by Álvar Núñez Fall, from where we will enjoy the first views of the Devil's Gorge. Following the path, we will find San Martín Island and the homonymous Fall. Finally, at the end of trip we will find Bosetti and Dos Hermanas Falls. We can stay and appreciate this spectacle of waters and get refreshed since the steam from the waves breaking on the rocks will spray us completely.

We will continue our trip, this time in the Upper Area (Circuito Superior), where we will go around the same falls but from a different point of view of the Falls and their surroundings. Besides, we will get close to our next destination, the most stunning, which will guide us through the roaring of the water currents. We will get to the Devil's Gorge's station by train, and start our trip around the islands, and thus, have a wider view of this great nature "mistake" in the middle of the forest created, according to a legend, by the angry God of Iguazú River.

Full Moon (optional in Argentine Falls) We will enjoy this unique trip at night with a full moon, which will allow us to appreciate the sounds and secrets of Misiones forest. We will leave on the Ecologic Train and head for Devil's Gorge Station, where we will capture the first sounds of nature, which creates a magic and mysterious environment. The spectacle offered by the Falls, with the rainbow that appears from the waters with the moon reflection, will completely dazzle us. Besides, once within this overwhelming environment, we will get the movements and sounds of the animals that go for their food. After such a magnificent experience, we will return by train to the travelers' center.

Big Adventure

This activity is an extra walk through the hanging bridges, and with this we will start our adventure in which we will sail up to the Canyon of Iguazú River. Then we will sail for about 2 km along the rapids enjoying a beautiful view from San Martín Island. We will go round the island up to the homonymous fall to enjoy a great deal and get sprayed from a close distance. We will get back on off-road vehicles through the thick forest surrounding the National Park.

Day 7 - Iguazu Falls: Brazil & Flight over the Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls: Brazil

Here we will have a very beautiful trip through the only hanging bridge of 1 km to enjoy the view of Iguazú Falls from the other side, the Brazilian region. During this trip we can also learn more about the fauna and flora, enjoy a unique landscape of the falls since the area is more open regarding falls because most of them are on the Argentine side and form a water curtain of 2.700 meters wide. So from this side we will be dazzled by the beauty of the Devil's Gorge to the full.

Besides, this place is home to rare wildlife species, some of them in danger of extinction such as giant otters, anteaters, jaguars, red deer and yellow alligators. We will also see native flowers such as orchids, bromelias and thousands of butterflies.

Note: We have to bear in mind that this trip is available only 5 days per month during the full moon; two days before, two days after, and during that period. We have also to take into consideration that the capacity for this activity is limited and, of course, it depends on the weather conditions that day. If you want to see other excursion options in Iguazu, click here: Tours in Iguazu.

Flight over the Iguazu Falls

Flying over the Iguazu Falls is a unique experience and the icing on the cake if you are travelling to visit this wonder of the world. After being splashed by the falls on Argentina's side and watching them from a panoramic view, you only need to admire this work of Mother Nature from a bewildering aerial perspective. You will depart from Foz do Iguassu heliport and you will fly over the Iguazu National Park and the Falls for 10 minutes, enjoying privileged aerial views.

• Se incluye: Transfers from your hotel to the heliport and back, bilingual guide (Spanish-English or Spanish-Portuguese), 10-minute flight.
• Included: Meals, beverages, personal expenses, tips, fees for extra/optional activities.

About the flights: Flights comply with laws, norms and regulations of aviation, environment and security that are mandatory for this kind of programs. This tour is part of the program of the Environmental Management of Iguazu National Park, complying with the ISO 14000 certification.

Day 8 - Departure to Calafate

Breakfast in the Hotel. Transfer to Puerto Iguazu Airport. Reception and transfer from Calafate Airport to the hotel.

Day 9 - Mini trekking to the Perito Moreno Glacier

To undertake this brief hike we need to cross the Rich Lake and then we arrive to the south east coast after a few minutes of navigation, which is in front of the southern wall of the glacier. Here we disembark and we go to the refuge where we are organized in groups. We begin our short 15 minutes walk going around the lake until we arrive to the glacier. Here we prepare our specialized equipment for trekking on ice. We suggest using hiking boots with thick socks, preferably woolen (it is not possible to use rubber boots because they are too slippery.

The track takes less than two hours to walk at a normal rhythm and we can discover a great variety of types and sizes of crevices, sump holes, small lagoons, and 'seracs' that are great blocks of ice divided by fissures caused by internal movements. We learn about the local flora and wildlife of the place and some other features of the glaciers: for example the continuous and incredible advance of the glacier leaving behind giant pieces of ice. We start our return through an Andean Magellan Forest covered in plants and typical trees of the southern Patagonia.

Note: This tour is available nearly all year round except for June and July. The people suitable for this expedition are those between 10 and 65 years old approximately. It all depends upon the physical condition of the person. It is forbidden for pregnant women, people with illnesses related to heart, movement or coordination. We do not recommend this tour for overweight people. Smoking is not allowed throughout the programme.

Day 10 - Navigation across the Argentino Lake

Today a navigation between giant ice structures in Los Glaciares National Park is waiting for us. We firstly travel to Punta Bandera (Flag point) in order to make an early embarkation to start our trip on the Argentino Lake, the biggest and most southern of all the Patagonian lakes in the argentinean region. It covers an area of 1466 kms2 and has a depth ranging from 150 to 500 metres.

We begin our navigation by the north branch of the lake, visiting the Spegazzini, Onelli, Bolado and Agassiz Glaciers, these last ones located in the Onelli Bay, moreover we get closer to the Upsala Glacier. This glacier integrates an area surrounded by other glaciers which covers 850 km2 and its walls reach until 80 metres high. Its name comes from the University of the same name in Sweden that was the first one in starting a study about the surrounded area, in the twentieth century. On the other hand, the Spegazzini Glacier is the highest inside the national park at 135 metres and is located on the homonym branch of the Argentino Lake.

We disembark in the Onelli Bay, only if the ice conditions allow us because the large icebergs can block the entrance to the boat and it is always risky for the crew. Onelli leaves us amazed with the presence of an ancient Patagonian forest populated with different species of trees such as ñires, canelos and lengas. We might be lucky if we watch the giant condors that inhabit the Andean Mountain Chain. Meanwhile, we make a walk to a unique place where the confluence of the Agassiz, Bolados and Heim Glaciers into the Onelli Lagoon takes place. In our return we see the front of the Spegazzini Glacier. If you want to see other excursion options in Calafate, click here: Tours in Calafate.

Please note: There could be ice falls from the Upsala Glacier that leave giant icebergs which could block the navigation to the Onelli Bay. This natural hazard could make difficult the landing. When this happens the boat crosses the waters of the Ice floe Channel to go on the northern position of the Perito Moreno Glacier.

Day 11 - Los Glaciares National Park: El Chaltén

We start this excursion from El Calafate taking the Route Number 40 bordering the Argentino Lake and giving us beautiful views on the way. We cross the Santa Cruz River and are reminded of the histories of Darwin and Fitz Roy who navigated the same. We continue until the La Leona River following its river bed to a hotel on the La Leona Pass where we have breakfast with homemade cakes.

We then retake the road to continue to the Viedma Lake where we have the view of the imposing Andes Mountain range until we reach El Chaltén, a small mountain town but with great attractions to offer, and this is why it is known as the Trekking Capital. Here we make a stop to appreciate the panoramic views up to the mountain range and the Viedma Glacier. We also visit the Interpretation Centre of the National Glacier Park.

Once in El Chaltén, we have various options to appreciate the day and see its landscapes. One of these is to continue until the Salto de Chorillo where we can take a short hike with a professional guide until the trails that lead to the great landmarks such as the Fitz Roy Mountain. On these trails we are taken to the most spectacular viewpoints of the named Mountain or the Torre Mountain where there are postcard views of the Capri lagoon and the Torre viewpoint. In the late afternoon we return to the hotel in El Calafate. If you want to see other excursion options in Chaltén, click here: Tours in Chaltén.

Note: This program is offered only Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and therefore, depending on the day, we rearrange the elected itinerary.

Day 12 - Departure to Ushuaia

Breakfast in the Hotel. Transfer to Calafate Airport. Reception and transfer from Ushuaia Airport to the hotel.

Day 13 - Knowing Ushuaia

We will do a very special tour in the morning as we start knowing the magic of the city of Ushuaia which is very famous for being recognized as the "End of the World" (also known as the most southern city of all). We will also visit the Museum of the End of the World which started working in 1979. It was firstly for families and then became part of the heritage in Ushuaia. This museum shows its collections in five different rooms where there are glasses that honour those people linked with the local history such as the explorers, natives, etc. We will know the main and most famous attractions that Ushuaia has: the old Recidivists´ Prison which is known because of its exciting and strong history, every year many visitors go visiting it because of its prison architecture and also because of its history. It is important to higlight that it worked from 1900 to 1947 and the city started growing more and more around this prison where today many and important cruises and transatlantic.

We will enjoy the building, its corridors and even today we can feel the pain the people suffered. This militar prison worked firstly in the Staten Island in San Juan de Salvamento, then it was transferred to CooK Port until it was settled in Ushuaia for humanitarian reasons. It accommodated sentenced people like the anarchist Simón Radowitsky or Cayetano Santos Godino known as the big eared shorty or the writer Ricardo Rojas. We will visit the Port, the Paseo del Centenario, an excellent panoramic spot where there is the monument for the Ushuaia´s Centennial and then, the Beban House an important architectural heritage, which was bought in Sweden and made in Ushuaia between 1911 and 1913 by Don Tomas Beban. Is one of the most ambitious buildings in the city.

Day 14 - Classic Navigation on the Beagle Channel and Magellan Penguins watching on the Martillo Island - Tierra del Fuego National Park & Train of the End of the World

Classic Navigation on the Beagle Channel and Magellan Penguins watching on the Martillo Island

After breakfast we leave during the morning from the port to navigate the icy waters of the Beagle Channel. We visit the Isla de los Pájaros (Bird Island) to see its abundant marine fauna, including skuas, steam ducks and grey seagulls. We can also watch sea lions of one and two hair on the Isla de los Lobos Marinos.

Both Islands are part of the Bridge's Archipelago. On the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse there are Imperial and Rock cormorants. This was the place where the SS Monte Cervantes sank in 1930. We continue our navigation to get to Port Almanza in Argentina and Port Williams in Chile until we disembark in the Martillo Island to appreciate the Magellan and Papúa Penguins.

On our return to Ushuaia it is possible to see the Túnel and Remolino Estancias, which hoard the remains of the Monte Sarmiento steam boat that sank at the beginning of the 20th century. Our return to the city is very inviting due to the presence of the ultimate mountain chain of the Andes. This navigation lasts approximately four hours and a half.

Tierra del Fuego National Park & Train of the End of the World

During the afternoon we will go to Tierra del Fuego National Park which highlights for being the only park with sea coast because it is located at the shore of the Beagle Chanel. Outside Ushuaia, we will go through the Valley of Pipo River to get to the entrance. We will get on board the Train of the End of the World which is outside the Tierra del Fuego National Park where we start in the Central Station until getting to the Tierra del Fuego National Park Station. We will have the excellent opportunity to meet the Southern Fueguino Railway which travels along one of the routes that were used in the past by thousands prisoners who obey everyday their routine in those legendary woods. The journey starts over the embankment that the prisoners made a long time ago, going through the Cañadón del Toro so then we can ascend a steep surrounding the Pipo River until getting to the "Cascada de la Macarena" Station where we will hace the possibility to descend to the restoration of a native camp or we can have the option to appreciate the amazing panoramic view of the fall´s source.

The train´s horn give us the signal that we have to continue with the journey to get into the sub-antarctic woods. Surrounding the Pipo river and the "turbales" area where the moss Sphagnum grows, the train ends the journey when it arrives at the Park´s Station where we will descend to continue with the tour. Once we get into into the Tierra del Fuego National Park which was founded in 1960 and it is located in the region of the patagonic woods and the Andean mountain chain. Our tour goes to Ensenada Bay where we will be able to see the Redonda and Estorbo islands and the Montes Nevados in front of them which belong to the Sampaio mountain chain in Chile. Then we get to Roca Lake.

We continue the way while we are surrounded by lengas, ñires and guindos woods until getting to the bridge of the Lapataia river, an ideal area to do trekking as there are many paths such as the Paseo de la Isla, Roca Lake, Black Lagoon, etc. We will go through a winding way where we will find the Green and Black Lagoons, this last one is an impressive "turbal", until flowing in the Beavers´ dike which will guide us to Lapataia Bay.

Day 15 - Return to Buenos Aires

Breakfast at the Hotel. Transfer to Ushuaia Airport. Reception and transfer from Buenos Aires Airport (Domestic Airport) to Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires. End of our services.