Journeys: Discover Patagonia
14 days, Buenos Aires to Buenos Aires
Itinerary Notes
We recommend bringing USD in cash for the Argentinean portion of this tour as it is easier than using a credit card or withdrawing ARS from an ATM. USD currency is accepted in travel agencies for booking optional activities.
Itinerary
Day 1Buenos Aires
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer included.
Arrive in Buenos Aires and transfer to the hotel. There are no planned activities, so check in and enjoy the city.
Arrival Transfer
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Buenos Aires/San Carlos de Bariloche
Catch a flight to northern Patagonia. Enjoy the highlights of the scenic San Carlos de Bariloche on a circuito chico tour with stops at local artisanal producers who specialize in chocolate, beer, and jams.
The luggage restrictions for all Aerolineas Argentinas flights are 15kg for checked baggage and 5kg for carry-ons, if luggage is overweight fees will apply. No organic food is allowed as Patagonia is a protected area. Bags will be checked upon arrival in El Calafate.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Circuito Chico Tour
Enjoy an introduction to the highlights of San Carlos de Bariloche on a circuito chico tour. Stop at Bahia Lopez (Lopez Bay) and Panoramic Point and take in the beautiful landscape. Continue on to Cerro Campanario (Bell Mountain), opt to get an even better view by riding the chairlift.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3San Carlos de Bariloche
Free time to explore this stunning region. Opt to take a bike tour, hike, or explore the town.
Bariloche in many ways resembles the alpine resorts of Europe. Sample a beef parrillada, or a variety of fresh salmon or lake trout, then take a day hike around Cerro Catedral or enjoy some shopping. It’s also important to know that Bariloche is famous for its quality and quantity of chocolate!
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in Bariloche, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like kayaking, whitewater rafting, and hiking nearby Cerro Tronador. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 4San Carlos de Bariloche/Puerto Varas
Travel by bus and ferry to Puerto Varas, which is located in the stunning Chilean Lake District. Enjoy the sights from the “Cruce de los Lagos”, considered one of the most scenic ferry cruises in the world.
There are few areas in the world that can match the Chilean Lake District for scenic grandeur. Enjoy picture-perfect views of snow-capped mountains, waterfalls, emerald lakes, smoking volcanoes, forests, and glaciers.
The approximate journey time today is 10 to 11 hours. This journey is by comfortable bus and a scenic ferry across the Chilean/Argentine border. Travel time is approximate and based on the time of year and weather conditions. During certain times of the year, the ferry cannot be used. This requires that we will travel overland by bus.
Cruce de los Lagos Cruise
Chile’s Lake District has few rivals when it comes to sheer scenic grandeur. Cross the placid Lago Todos Los Santos aboard a catamaran and marvel at vast mountainscapes and stunning views that’ll have your shutter finger working overtime. Enjoy the breeze and beautiful scenery then continue by bus and another ferry. This full day excursion is considered one of the world's most scenic ferry crossings.
Border Crossing (Argentina Chile)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Petrohué Falls Visit
Petrohué Waterfalls are gorgeous green falls that cascade over black basalt (former lava flows from the nearby Osorno Volcano). The falls are part of the Petrohué River and offer a picture-perfect setting. Don't try to swim though – the water is very cold.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 5Puerto Varas
Enjoy free time to explore on your own. Opt to take an excursion to Chiloé Island.
Free Time
Enjoy the day exploring the sites of the region.
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Chiloé Island Excursion
180USD per personTake the ferry to the Big Island of Chiloé, the land of myths and legends. Immerse yourself in its rich history, traditions and fascinating tales. Cross the Chacao Channel, continue to Ancud and explore its vibrant market. The highlight of your adventure awaits at the Puñihuil National Monument, where you will witness the communal life of Magellanic and Humboldt penguins along with other sea birds. Have lunch at a local restaurant and share special moments with the community and fellow travellers.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Puerto Varas/Torres del Paine National Park
Catch a flight to Punta Arenas then transfer to stunning Torres del Paine National Park.
Words cannot describe the majesty and beauty of this national park in Chilean Patagonia. The lucky people have the opportunity to see this area and those who do will find it difficult to forget its vivid colours and tranquility. Once a large sheep estancia, the park was established in 1959 as the Parque Nacional Lago Grey. Prior to this, “baqueanos” (cowboys) grazed their flocks here and fires occasionally burnt out of control. More land was added to the park in 1962 and the name was changed to its present one. The “Torre” (Tower) Sur rises 2,900m (9,512 ft) above sea level, the Torre Central is 2,850m (9,348 ft) high, and the Torre Norte measures 2,600m (8,528 ft). The “Cuernos” (Horns) del Paine, massive blocks of various rock layers visible from great distances, are as spectacular as the towers themselves.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 7Torres del Paine National Park
Enjoy a day of exploring Torres del Paine National Park with an expert guide. Travel by van and embark on short walks to reach amazing lookouts. Marvel at pristine turquoise lakes, glaciers, and waterfalls at one of the most scenic parks in Patagonia.
Torres del Paine National Park Excursion
Enjoy breathtaking views and scenery on this day excursion into the national park with an expert guide. Travel by van and stop along the way for short walks and beautiful lookout points. Stop at Grey River and the park office, then continue over the Grey Bridge to the forest zone and Grey Lake, its ice mass is stunning against the surrounding landscape. Walk along the path to get a closer view of the Grey Glacier with its huge ice blocks resting in the lake. Continue on to Paine River and admire the pure turquoise colours of Pehoé Lake before a short walk to Nordenskjold Lake for a wonderful view of the Paine Horns. Also visit Sarmiento Lake, Amarga Lagoon, Paine Falls, and the Azul Lagoon.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 8Torres del Paine National Park/El Calafate
Enjoy a scenic drive to El Calafate.
Drive towards lofty peaks to the dynamic Moreno Glacier in Glacier National Park. Spot condors, rheas, eagles or flamingos en route, but the real star of the day is the glacier itself, located at the southern terminus of Glacier National Park.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Border Crossing (Chile - Argentina)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 9El Calafate
This morning, enjoy a lecture by a local glacier expert. After, take an excursion into Glacier National Park to view the stunning Perito Moreno Glacier. There’s an option to get closer with a boat ride up to the front of the glacier.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Glacier Talk
In the scenic town of El Calafate, take in a lecture by a local glacier expert and learn all about the Perito Moreno Glacier and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field that feeds it.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Perito Moreno Glacier Tour
Get out there and explore the natural wonder that is the Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the world’s few “advancing” glaciers. Head to the southern end of Los Glaciares National Park, where Moreno's 60m (197 ft) wall of ice sporadically chokes off the narrow “Canal de los Tempanos” (Iceberg Channel) creating a natural ice dam, which eventually explodes in a dynamic display of force.
Please note this tour does not include walking on top of the glacier.
Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow
Perito Moreno Glacier Tour
80USD per personEmbark in the floating dock in the south arm of Argentino Lake, and navigate along the Iceberg Channel towards the front wall of the Perito Moreno Glacier where most of the ice calving takes place. This boat trip, which lasts approximately one hour, is one of the most popular excursions and is not to be missed.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 10El Calafate/Ushuaia
Fly to the port city of Ushuaia at the end of the earth.
Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, is located on the shores of the Beagle Channel.
Opt to pre-book the "Tierra del Fuego National Park Visit" activity on the checkout page ahead of time to include this optional on your tour.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Free Time
While small, this port town of Ushuaia is quite busy with lots of shops and some great restaurants.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 11Ushuaia
Get up close and personal with the penguins on Martillo Island as you explore the rookery with a naturalist guide. Return to Ushuaia by navigating the Beagle Channel on a catamaran and admire the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, Seal Island, and Bird Island.
Penguin Rookery Excursion
Get up close and personal with penguins at the end of the earth. Travel by minibus and boat to Martillo Island to explore the rookery, home to almost 1,000 nests. Follow a naturalist guide along the designated trails and walk amongst Magellanic and gentoo penguins as you learn more about them.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 12Ushuaia/Buenos Aires
Fly back to Buenos Aires and take some time to explore on your own. Spend the evening as a local Porteño, enjoying a night out with typical dinner in a local café then onto a popular dance venue where we enjoy a lesson from local dancers. Once we've practiced our new steps, its time for Milonga, a neighbourhood tradition where students and teachers of the venue show up to practice their moves. Sit back and enjoy or if you're brave, join in.
Fly north to the buzzing metropolis that is Buenos Aires. Known as the “Paris of the Americas”, Buenos Aires is a vibrant city full of life.
When you’re finished exploring, rest your feet and enjoy a drink at one of the many sidewalk cafés, ideal places to get a feel for the contemplative Argentine way of life. Since Buenos Aires will be the last chance to try the succulent beef, chicken, and chorizo parrilladas, dig in and enjoy!
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Local Tango Lesson
Spend the evening as a local Porteño, enjoying a night out with typical dinner in a local cafe before heading to a popular dance venue to enjoy a lesson from local dancers. Once we've practiced our new steps, it's time for Milonga, a local tradition where students and teachers of the venue show up to practice their moves. Sit back and enjoy or if you are brave, join in.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 13Buenos Aires
Enjoy a city tour of the “Paris of the Americas”, visiting key sights and neighbourhoods including Plaza de Mayo where Eva Perón's famed balcony presides over the square, La Boca, and the renowned Recoleta Cemetery.
Known as the “Paris of the Americas”, Buenos Aires is a vibrant city full of life. Visit the districts of La Boca, Recoleta, and San Telmo. Consider catching a tango show at one of the many famous tanguerías or wander the pedestrian walkways and see some dancing in the streets.
Transportation can vary on this day. Depending on the size of the group, we may take taxis, a private mini-bus, or even jump on the very fast and convenient metro.
Buenos Aires Guided City Tour
Enjoy a guided tour exploring beautiful, vibrant Buenos Aires. Be introduced to historic sites and districts, including Plaza de Mayo where Eva Peron's famed balcony presides over the square. See La Boca and San Telmo's colourful street life, painted houses, and the famed Recoleta Cemetery.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 14Buenos Aires
Depart at any time.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.