Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and El Calafate

Depart to Buenos Aires via overnight flight.

After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel.

In the evening, you will enjoy typical Argentine dinner and wine, and a Tango show with a re-creation of the original style and melancholic rhythms of the 1940’s. The impressive lyrics will be interpreted by some of the best singers in the city. You will also hear some folk music from the Altiplano region of the country. Overnight in Buenos Aires. (D)

Note: Check in time in Buenos Aires is typically 2:00pm. We can request early check-in for you but cannot guarantee it.

In the afternoon, you will have a panoramic city tour of Buenos Aires. This tour will cover the most important sights in the city. You will visit the impressive National Congress (the Parliament), the Civic Centre, Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, the headquarters of the executive branch of the government, and the town Hall. You will also see one of the best Opera Houses in the world. The tour will continue with a visit to the neighborhood of San Telmo, and you will learn about its history. On Sundays, you will be able to enjoy a flea market. You will go next to La Boca, known for its colorful architecture and for being the first port in Buenos Aires. This neighborhood was originally settled by Italian immigrants. You will also visit the Palermo and Recoleta areas of the city and modern neighborhoods such as Puerto Madero, with big mansions and great parks. Overnight in Buenos Aires. (B)

Today you will have a free day to explore the city. Overnight in Buenos Aires. (B)

Transfer the airport for your flight to Mendoza, the main wine producing region of Argentina. The city is renowned worldwide for the quality of its wines. Warm days and cool nights combined with irrigation from fresh water piped in from the Andes, has contributed to a high quality product. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Mendoza. (B)

In the morning, you will have a city tour of Mendoza that covers the main historical areas of the city including Museo Fundacional, Plaza Independencia, and Cerro de la Gloria in Plaza San Martin.

After the city tour, you will have a guided tour of two nearby wineries (in Lujan de Cuyo or Maipu) to learn about the wine making process. Tour and tasting. Overnight in Mendoza. (B)

Today you will have a full day tour of the nearby Andes Mountains, enjoying breathtaking scenery on the way to Aconcagua Provincial Park. Traveling along the route that follows the Mendoza River, you will drive through several small towns, including Potrerillos and Uspallata, and pass by Puente del Inca (“Inca Bridge”), a natural arch that forms a bridge over the Vacas River. Upon arrival at the park, a short walk to Laguna Los Horcones takes you to a viewpoint of Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas (22,841 ft.). Following the tour, you will be returned to your hotel. Overnight in Mendoza. (B)

Transfer the airport for your flight to El Calafate. El Calafate is named for the local blue berry that when eaten, guarantees your return to Patagonia. Located on the southern shore of Lago Argentino, it is the main hub for visitors to the southern part of Los Glaciers National Park. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in El Calafate. (B)

Today, you will have a full day excursion to Perito Moreno Glacier, the highlight of any visit to southern Patagonia. The glacier is 19 miles long, three miles wide, and 200 feet high, and is one of the only advancing glaciers in the world. You can observe, hear, and take photos of the glacier from steel catwalks on Peninsula de Magallanes. The sound of huge icebergs calving into the Canal de los Tempanos (Iceberg Channel) is a truly unique experience. Overnight in El Calafate. (B)

Today you will have a full day boat tour of Lago Argentino, Argentina’s largest lake. Departing from the southern shore of the lake, the boat heads northwest through Boca del Diablo, the narrowest passage point of the lake, to Brazo Norte (the northern arm of the lake) to reach the barrier of ice flows in Upsala Canal. From there, passengers can appreciate the breathtaking views of the immense Upsala Glacier in the distance. The boat then heads south along the Spegazzini Canal towards the glacier of the same name. Gourmet lunch is served on board.

After lunch, the boat continues on to Puesto de Las Vacas, a quiet bay in the Spegazzini Canal, for a landing and guided hike to enjoy the panoramic views of the glacier. After re-boarding, the boat returns along the Brazo Norte to the dock for disembarkation. Overnight in El Calafate. (B,L)

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to your final destination. (B)