Off the Beaten Path in Argentina: Iberá, Jesuit Missions & Iguazu Falls
Some of Argentina’s best-kept secrets
Days: 9 | From: $5,590/per person
- Includes accommodations at first class hotels that reflect the best of local culture
- Includes excursions and tours with superb private guides
From the capital city of Buenos Aires head out to Iberá, a massive wetland and nature sanctuary. Visit the Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis, explore the jungle in Bemberg, and cap it off with a visit to magnificent Iguazu.
Inquire about this tripTalk to a Vaya Travel
Specialist
We tailor itineraries to your dates and interests, adjusting hotels, excursions and length as desired.
We consistently receive 5 star reviews from our discerning clients.
At a glance
- Buenos Aires
1 night: explore Argentina's bustling capital city - Esteros de Iberá
3 nights: the second-largest wetland in the world - Puerto Bemberg
2 nights: 17th century Jesuit Missions in the heart of the jungle - Iguazu Falls
2 nights: one of the world's largest waterfalls in all its stunning majesty
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.
Customize this trip
1 (510) 548-8487
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 othersJourney to Esteros de Iberá
Enjoy a scenic private ride to Esteros de Iberá, the second-largest wetland in the world. The Iberá Marshlands cover over 5,000 square miles and are one of the most important water reserves in South America. This area is a nature sanctuary filled with unique flora and fauna, including howler monkeys, river otters, capybara, maned wolves, marsh deer, and rhea. It is also home to both of Argentina’s caiman species, the caiman yacaré and the broad-snouted caiman, as well as over 350 types of birds.
Accommodations: Aguape Lodge
The Aguape Lodge is located on the shore of the Iberá Lagoon and allows close interaction with the surrounding wetlands. Transferring out to the lodge is an adventure in and of itself as you traverse dirt roads, and the lodge is tranquil and remote. During your stay you will be able to explore the Iberá Natural Reserve, one of the world's most important wetlands, and appreciate its diverse wildlife. The lodge's 12 comfortable rooms have views of the lagoon or the estate. Meals are served in the open-air dining room, and the property offers a pool, bar, bicycles, and canoes to take out on the lagoon.
*Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerUpgrade available: Rincon del Socorro
Explore the Esteros de Iberá
Explore this natural treasure in a series of active excursions, with options for horseback riding, trekking through the forest, canoeing along the reserve, bird watching, boat rides, and more.
Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis
Travel deep into the heart of the jungle to the Jesuit Missions in San Ignacio. In the 17th century, Jesuit missionaries from Spain built ornate baroque missions and community dwellings deep in the forest of present-day northeastern Argentina, where they sought to convert the indigenous people of the Guarani tribe to Christianity. The ruins of these missions comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for the quality and beauty of the architecture and stone carving.
The Guarani people of this region were the first to serve yerba maté tea in the now-traditional hollow gourd. You have the option today to visit a mate plantation to learn about the tea and its medicinal uses in South America, and to participate in a traditional mate-sharing ceremony.
Accommodations: Posada Puerto Bemberg
Built in a restored family mansion on the shores of the Paraná River, the Posada Puerto Bemberg has 13 rooms and 1 suite, each featuring a private terrace and large windows overlooking the jungle. The posada has a living room with a grand piano, where guests can gather to hear music or to relax and enjoy the offerings of the library, which features over 2,500 books. Outdoor spaces include an observation tower, a swimming pool, and a wooden runway through the treetops that leads to a sheltered platform with views of the river and jungle. The restaurant features local cuisine and is supplied by the on-site organic garden, fish ponds, and wine cave. The posada also offers trails for bird watching, a native plant nursery, and access to natural pools. Excursions include riverboat rides, bicycling trips, jungle treks, and nature walks.
*Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerPuerto Bemberg
Explore the lush countryside around Puerto Bemberg. Your posada offers a range of activities, including riverboat rides, bicycling trips, jungle treks, and nature walks. There is also an on-site observation tower and a treetop wooden runway offering superb views out over the jungle.
The Natural Wonder of Iguazu Falls
Cross the border into Brazil and head to Foz do Iguaçu, home to the magnificent Iguazu Falls. Your hotel is the only one located within the Iguazu National Park on the Brazilian side. Enjoy a private walking tour of the Brazilian side, exploring the trails and catwalks around the falls. Guests at this hotel also have the unique privilege of being able to see the falls at close range after the park closes.
Accommodations: Belmond Hotel das Cataratas
The only hotel within Brazil's Iguassu National Park and just a two-minute walk to the Iguassu Falls, this hacienda-style property is a unique and exceptional way to experience this area. Tastefully remodeled by Belmond Hotels (formerly Orient Express), it is the most refined hotel in the vicinity, and in the evening it gives exclusive access to the falls after the park closes and all other visitors have to leave. The hotel has 193 rooms, including 16 suites, and offers two restaurants, a bar, pool, gym, tennis courts, and full-service spa.
*Includes: Breakfast, LunchIguazu Falls: Another Perspective
Enjoy a trip to the Argentine side of the falls, getting a different perspective on this magnificent site. The majority of the trails and walkways are on the Argentine side of the falls, and most boat tours that take you up close to the falls also start on this side.
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 or Mendoza. 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.
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.
Extend your visit with time in Argentine Patagonia or the lovely Lake District and Bariloche.
Contact us to learn about more options for designing and customizing your trip.
Why Travel with Vaya?
We're TRUE specialists
We’ve not only traveled there, we’ve lived there. Our smart and engaging specialists are all current or former expatriates with years of experience in the region.
Uplifting service
From the first phone call to after you get back, we're here for you every step of the way. We listen, create, customize and advocate for you, and design experiences that go beyond the expected.
Thoughtful travel
Our discerning sensibility and good taste go beyond just choices in hotels and top guides; we have a walk the walk commitment to the environment and are genuine leaders in conservation efforts.