Buenos Aires, Peninsula Valdes & Southern Patagonia
Combine highlights with a less-known region
Days: 10 | From: $8,050/per person
- Includes accommodations at first class hotels that reflect the best of local culture
- Includes excursions and tours with superb private guides
Explore the vibrant metropolis of Buenos Aires, then head south to Peninsula Valdes, a remote area of unspoiled scenery and exceptional wildlife. Finish your trip among the iconic peaks of Los Glaciares National Park, in the heart of Argentine Patagonia.
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We tailor itineraries to your dates and interests, adjusting hotels, excursions and length as desired.
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At a glance
- Buenos Aires
3 nights: explore Argentina's bustling capital city - Puerto Madryn
1 night: visit the largest Magellanic Penguin colony in the world - Peninsula Valdes
2 nights: search for elephant seals, whales, orcas, and other magnificent marine animals - El Calafate
3 nights: stay in a unique estancia in picturesque Los Glaciares National Park
All itineraries are fully customizable. We will send you a personalized variation that reflects your interests and travel dates at no extra cost. Call to discuss your travel plans with one of our Specialists who know this region firsthand.
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Sample itinerary
Welcome to Buenos Aires
Arrive to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s colorful capital, where your private guide will take you to your boutique hotel in the fashionable Palermo district. This is one of the best areas of town for walking around, with charming boutiques and top restaurants.
Accommodations: Mine Hotel
This small, modern boutique hotel has an excellent location in the vibrant Palermo SoHo neighborhood, with many cafes and restaurants right outside the front door. The 20-room hotel offers a restaurant and a private green space with a garden and small pool; most rooms overlook this quaint backyard area.
Upgrades available: Legado Mitico, Alvear Palace, Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt, and othersGet to Know Vibrant Buenos Aires
Explore Buenos Aires with your private guide, an engaging bilingual local who will take you through the city’s unique neighborhoods and help you get to know this fascinating metropolis. Discover the charms of Palermo, the Recoleta, the Teatro Colon, the Plaza de Mayo, San Telmo, and La Boca. With your private guide, you have the flexibility to explore at your own pace and make detours and stops along the way.
After your tour, you are free to spend the rest of the day exploring on your own, trying out one of the city’s excellent restaurants and taking in a tango show (we are happy to arrange tango shows and can help you choose the best one based on your interests).
Relax and Explore the City
Enjoy a day at leisure to delve into the city’s offerings; we’ll give you some of our favorite suggestions for things to see and do. We can also arrange additional privately guided tours, such as half day tours of the famous bodegones (classic old cafes and bars), or private tours focused on tango, art, architecture, Jewish history, soccer (including a visit to the Boca Junior stadium), polo, and more.
Fly to Trelew and Visit the Largest Magellanic Penguin Colony in the World
Fly south to the city of Trelew, where your private guide will take you to Punta Tombo, the largest Magellanic Penguin colony in the world. Walk among the penguins as they make their way between their colony and the ocean. Afterward, drive north to your hotel in Puerto Madryn, a place with excellent views of the Golfo Nuevo and occasional sightings of the migrating Southern Right Whales (between June and December).
Accommodations: Hotel Territorio
Territorio, located in the historic Puerto Madryn district, is a boutique hotel with 36 rooms, boasting spectacular views of the sea. It provides a perfect launching point for excursions to the Península Valdés, known for its exceptional marine life and wildlife. The hotel restaurant serves Patagonian cuisine.
*Includes: BreakfastTravel to Peninsula Valdes, Home to a Variety of Marine Life
Enjoy a private ride to Peninsula Valdes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its exceptional marine life and fauna. From June to December you can board a zodiac boat and head out to observe one of the largest concentrations of Southern Right Whales in the world. Dolphins, orcas, sea lions, and other wildlife may also be viewed during your excursion. The animals migrate at different times of the year. Just let us know when you’d like to travel, and we’ll let you know what you can expect to see!
Accommodations: Estancia Rincon Chico
During the 1800s, a French sheep farmer came to Península de Valdés, located in the coastal region of Patagonia, and founded the Estancia Rincon Chico. Today, fifth-generation members of the same family own this charming, comfortable estancia. Its eight rooms tastefully portray the ambiance of a traditional Patagonian farmhouse. The estancia is one of the very few accommodations right on the Peninsula, and it offers privileged access to the elephant seal colonies, guanacos, and other wildlife that make their home here, as well as to the whale watching excursions just offshore that the region is famous for from September through December.
*Includes: Breakfast, DinnerChoose Your Adventure: Visit an Elephant Seal Colony, Go Whale-Watching, and More
Take advantage of the many excursions offered by your estancia, including a hike to a nearby Elephant Seal colony. A wide variety of other wildlife also makes its home on the Peninsula Valdes and can be observed during your excursions, including guanacos, Patagonian hares, and rhea (ostrich-like birds).
Fly to El Calafate, Land of Towering Glaciers
Head back to Trelew in the morning, stopping en route at a traditional Welsh tea house. The Welsh have a long history in the area and have left their mark on the area’s culture and architecture. Afterward board your flight to El Calafate, gateway to Los Glaciares National Park in Argentine Patagonia. Head deep into the scenic countryside to your traditional estancia, a favorite among our travelers. Bordering the national park, this estancia offers a view into traditional Patagonian life and access to some rarely-visited and beautiful areas of Argentine Patagonia.
Accommodations: Estancia Nibepo Aike
Nibepo Aike was established as a functioning ranch at the beginning of the 20th century. Located on the southern bank of Lake Argentino, it has a privileged location inside Los Glaciares National Park. The estancia offers easy access, on horseback or via hiking or biking, to places with magnificent, off the beaten path views of the surrounding glaciers and mountains. The estancia has 10 guest rooms: eight double rooms and two triple rooms, all with private bathrooms. The dining room serves traditional meat and vegetable dishes made mostly from home produce.
*Includes: Breakfast, DinnerAlternative lodging options: Estancia Helsingfors, Eolo
Up Close and Personal on Perito Moreno Glacier
Enjoy a unique excursion to the iconic Perito Moreno Glacier. You won’t just view the glacier from a distance – you’ll take a catamaran ride to the front of the glacier and do a short hike on the ice itself. (Crampons will be provided; this is a non-technical and non-strenuous walking excursion. We can also arrange more challenging and strenuous treks on the glacier.) Afterward, visit the viewing areas for great views of the glacier before returning to your estancia for a traditional Patagonian asado dinner.
Free day on the Estancia: Hiking, Horseback Riding, Ranching Activities, or Relaxation
Enjoy a day to explore your estancia. This is an outstanding area for hiking and horseback riding, and the staff at Nibepo Aike will take you riding or help you find the best trails to hike. There are also typical ranching activities that vary by day, such as sheep-shearing.
Depart for Home or Your Next Destination
Today you will say goodbye to your local guide and head to the airport for your flight home or to your next destination.
Popular Ways to Customize This Itinerary
Add a few extra nights in Buenos Aires. We can arrange a variety of activities, including city tours, culinary excursions, visits to historical sites, and active options such as hiking, biking, boating, and horseback riding. We can also arrange activities that cater to special interests, such as a Jewish Heritage Tour, architecture tour, visit to the Boca Juniors Stadium, tango class, or wine tours. We can also arrange privately guided day excursions to nearby sites, such as the town of Colonia, Uruguay (a well preserved 17th century Portuguese colonial town that is a UNESCO World Heritage site), or up to Tigre and the Delta (there are also biking excursions up to Tigre).
Take part in a day of polo at an estancia outside Buenos Aires: Spend the morning on a horse learning the basics of this popular equestrian sport, enjoy a traditional lunch, then put your new skills to use in a relaxed polo match in the afternoon. Great for beginners and experienced riders alike!
Visit one of the traditional estancias of San Antonio de Areco, about 1.5 hours from Buenos Aires. This is an area that has preserved gaucho traditions more than any other in Argentina, and the estancias offer an in-depth experience in this fundamental aspect of Argentine culture and history.
Visit El Chalten, the land of legendary climbing peaks Fitzroy and Cerro Torre. You can even take a one-night camping trip out of El Chalten to experience the Patagonian mountains in a unique way.
Enjoy an extra day or two in El Calafate. There are plenty of great excursions and beautiful places to visit, such as the isolated Estancia Cristina, located next to the spectacular Upsala Glacier and only reachable by boat.
Spend some time at Estancia Helsingfors, a first class boutique property in Los Glaciares National Park. The estancia has a stunning location and remote feel, and is a great option for those who prefer to explore Patagonia with a higher emphasis on luxury.
Extend your visit with time at Iguazu Falls or the lovely Lakes District and Bariloche.
Include some downtime for rest and relaxation! Some free time to unwind or have a massage will allow you to feel refreshed and ready for the remainder of your trip. Many of our properties include excellent spas or wellness centers. We can help arrange these services or include properties that offer health & wellness amenities.
Contact us to learn about more options for designing and customizing your trip.
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