Plan Your Trip
“Argentina”... The word itself evokes images of sensuous tango, a glass of fine Malbec wine, a juicy steak and gauchos out on the pampas – not to mention Maradona and Messi. Though these classics alone make for a formidable collage, there’s much more to this nation of boundless diversity. From the hustle and bustle of urbane Buenos Aires, to the 278 cascades that make up Iguazu Waterfalls in the subtropical jungle, to the sight of thousands of Magellanic Penguins covering a windswept shore — while not overlooking the thunderous crashing of Patagonia icebergs slamming into the sea like giant floating boulders — Argentina has it all. And all of this and more is what you will experience on this 9-day/8-night journey to Latin America's largest Spanish-speaking country. While the distance from this country’s capital city to its southern Antarctic region spans more than 2,000 km, the range of experiences you’ll discover here is no less far-flung and grandiose. But don’t feel overwhelmed by the distance between these travel hot spots; Surtrek’s “travel-experience experts” will assist you in executing this perfect Argentina tour itinerary for exploring the magnificent wonders of this vast and imposing nation.
“The Galapagos Islands was a dream trip for me. Surtrek expertly guided me to a boat expedition, activities and experiences that created the adventure I wanted. Every day was special, as we snorkeled with sea lions, sea turtles and penguins, hiked and lear”
PM: Upon your arrival at Ezeiza Airport, in the capital and largest city of Argentina, you will be met and welcomed by your guide before being driven to your selected hotel (see lists below). (Normally, flights arrive late in the evening). You will then check in at your selected hotel for your first night in South America!
AM: Following breakfast at your hotel, at 10:00 a.m. we will head out on a Buenos Aires city tour, which will take in the capital’s main points of interest. These sites will include Plaza de Mayo Square, Government House, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Cabildo, La Boca (the re-developed port area where many art galleries and cafes are found), San Telmo (the antiques area), Recoleta (where the tomb of Evita Peron is found) and the 9 de Julio Avenue (the widest avenue in the world.
PM: In the evening, we will leave your hotel to have a memorable night out and experience a Tango dinner show where you can enjoy a delicious dinner and wonderful and unforgettable tango and folklore show. You will be driven back to your hotel at around midnight.
AM: This morning you will be driven to the Aeroparque (a domestic airport) for your flight to the Trelew city airport. Upon landing, you will be met by your guide and accompanied to your selected hotel.
At the appropriate time, you will leave Puerto Madryn (semi-private service, max 10 pax) and drive 120km south to visit the largest colony of Magellan penguins in South America. The colony´s population reaches over half a million birds during the peak season, and the best time to visit is between October and April. One of the greatest features of this reserve is the fact that you can literally walk among the penguins and observe their habits. You will have the opportunity to see how they feed their babies, defend their territory, build their nests, and of course watch their characteristic comedic waddle in and out of the sea. You will then return to your hotel in Puerto Madryn just in time to enjoy the sunset.
AM: The Valdes Peninsula tour will begin early in the morning after we leave for the Atlantic coast and reach the Valdes peninsula in a semi- private tour (max 10 passengers). To enter this UNESCO World Heritage site, you will cross an incredibly narrow strip of land with sea on both sides.
Further along you will arrive at Caleta Valdes, a large natural creek that is home to a colony of sea elephants. After admiring Caleta Valdes you will continue along the road as it drops suddenly down into a crescent of golden cliffs overlooking a bright blue bay and the small village of Puerto Piramides. Here herds of southern right whales tend to arrive in June.
PM: Later on, you will take a boat trip around the Golfo Nuevo bay and watch immense creatures gliding past. The peninsula navigation allows you to get unusually close to the whales. You will even get wet if they jump! While the whales may be seen from late June to mid-December, the sea elephants and sea lions are permanent residents. Following your tour, you will return to your hotel in Puerto Madryn.
AM/PM: After breakfast at your hotel, you will be driven to the Puerto Madryn airport for your flight to Calafate. When you arrive, your guide will be waiting and will drive you to your selected hotel, where you will have a day of leisure in this scenic Patagonian town.
AM/PM: After breakfast at your hotel, a full-day tour of the Perito Moreno Glacier awaits. We will leave the hotel for Los Glaciers National Park, where you will undergo the enthralling experience of seeing one of the world’s few remaining advancing glaciers. Entire slabs of ice from the glacier crash loudly into the lake below, leaving glistening, deep-blue icebergs twisting and turning in the lake. Included on this excursion is an optional boat tour called the “Safari Nautico,” which allows passengers to go right up to the walls of the glacier in a small boat.
AM: After breakfast at your hotel, you will be driven to the airport for an initial flight to Buenos Aires and a connecting flight to the town of Puerto Iguazu, home to the largest waterfalls system in the world.
PM: Arrival in Puerto Iguazu and transfer to your hotel to rest up.
AM: This morning, after breakfast at your hotel we will leave to visit the Argentine side of the waterfalls in Iguazu National Park. This park was established on October 9, 1934, and currently covers a surface of 66,148 hectares. This marvelous nature reserve encompasses many areas, though your most impacting is sure to be the of waterfalls area, where you will be able to contemplate the strikingly dramatic scenery. The waterfalls can be admired from either the bottom of the falls, called the Circuito inferior (“the lower circuit”), or from the top, Circuito Superior (“the upper circuit”). From the visitors center, you can access these circuits by the train or along a lush the green path. The Upper Circuit runs 1,600 meters in length while the Lower Circuit covers 1,200 meters. In the waterfalls area, it’s possible to visit the most important waterfall of all: La Garganta del Diablo (Devil´s throat). From Cataratas Station, you can take the train to Garganta Station, where you can access the footbridge that leads from the riverbank to the lookout point. This is a fantastic trip and the view from the overlook is astonishing. (entrance to the national park is included). Later, you will be driven back to your hotel.
AM: As travelers often note, “from the Argentine side you can experience the waterfalls, but from the Brazilian side you can really see them.” So, this morning we will visit the Brazilian side of the waterfalls to do just this. We will enter the country’s Do Iguazu National Park (entrance to the national park is included), which was declared a World Patrimony of the Humanity by the UNESCO in 1986, two years after the Argentine park’s designation. IBAMA (the Brazilian Environment Institute) manages this park and is currently overseeing its revitalization. The visitors’ area is made up of a 1,200-meter network of footbridges in front of the falls, which provide for a truly impressive panoramic view. Later you will be driven back to your hotel and to the airport for your departing flight.
| 6 Persons | 4 Persons | 2 Persons | 1 Persons | |
| Hotel Category | Double | Double | Double | Single |
| First-Class Superior or Luxury | US$ 2,320 PP | US$ 2,580 PP | US$ 2,870 PP | US$ 5,550 PP |
| First Class | US$ 2,090 PP | US$ 2,370 PP | US$ 2,715 PP | US$ 5,220 PP |
| Tourist | US$ 1,855 PP | US$ 2,130 PP | US$ 2,415 PP | US$ 4,740 PP |
| CITY | Tourist | First Class | First-Class Superior or Luxury |
| Buenos Aires | Dazzler Palermo | Pulitzer | Recoleta Grand Hotel |
| Puerto Madryn | Posada de Madryn | Dazzler Puerto Madryn | Dazzler Puerto Madryn |
| Calafate | Cyan Cacique Calafate | Blanca Patagonia | Kosten Aike Hotel |
| Iguazu | Merit Hotel Iguazu | El Pueblito de Iguazu | La Aldea de la Selva Lodge / Spa |
Interested in more information about any particular South American destination or trip?
Simply let us know your interests or question, and one of our travel experts will be more than happy to assist you -- at no charge, of course!
“I want to thank you for arranging a perfect tour for me. I know you did not have control over who the other people would be, but it all, on all fronts, was perfect. The itinerary was sensational and the boat fabulous.”
