Highlights of Argentina
9 NIGHTS GUIDE PRICE £4,800

Depart Heathrow Airport for your overnight flight – this is one of the longest direct flights operated from London, at approximately 13.5 hours!

On arrival rest up in your hotel.  It has been said that only in Buenos Aires could the tango be born, originally performed by two men! So this evening witness a Tango Show paired with a three-course dinner and wine, or we could even arrange for a lesson so you can try it yourselves.

This morning set off to explore the City,  firstly visiting Palermo, an oasis home to wonderful parks, the botanical gardens and city mansions as well as some trendy boutiques and chic dining opportunities.  Continue to admire the elegant architecture and tree-lined promenades of Recoleta where you can also visit the cemetery that is the final resting place of Eva Duarte, known as Evita.

It’s also well worth spending time in the vibrant and historic local districts of La Boca and San Telmo, full of charming and colourful streets.  Here you can witness the traditions born of the city’s immigrant past and which have shaped its distinct identity.

Delve into the gaucho culture with a day at a traditional “estancia”, a 90- minute drive out of the City, to envelop yourself in local traditions and history surrounded by nature. Argentina’s wealth came from its farmlands producing quality cattle as well as agricultural goods. A visit to a traditional ranch provides a glimpse of life on the pampas, home of the gauchos (cowboys).  You’ll be welcomed with homemade empanadas at one of the oldest estancias in Argentina dating from the 1830s, La Bamba de Areco, and invited to explore the gardens, local “gaucho” museum and church.

Savour a typical Argentine asado (barbeque) for lunch with a variety of cuts of beef and salads paired with argentine wine and then guests are invited to saddle up for a leisurely ride on traditional horse-drawn carriage or enjoy horseback riding in the company of gauchos.

Today head south to El Calafate, the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park in Southern Patagonia and a must visit location for nature and adventure lovers.  The flight time is approximately 3 hours from the capital.

Today you will explore your chosen Estancia, so activities will depend on your home from home.  In addition activities generally include a boat trip on Argentino Lake, to appreciate the impressive main face of the Upsala Glacier, and a 4WD ascent to the continental ice refuge, a 9.5 km mountain trail with stunning scenery of huge geological interest as till recently it was covered by glaciers. You can then walk about 20 minutes over eroded terrain until you reach the Upsala glacier to seek the spectacular outlook of the oriental front, Lake William, the Patagonian ice field and the Andes range.

Today you will be able to witness the active Perito Moreno glacier as massive chunks of ice crack and plunge into the chilly waters of Lago Argentino below, accompanied by thunder-like echoes. The meandering road across the Patagonian steppe from El Calafate to the entrance of the Los Glaciers National Park is long (about two hours) but scenic. This is an area of exceptional natural beauty, with rugged, towering mountains and numerous glacial lakes. 5 kms of breathtaking glacial walls guarantee you’ll be in awe of it’s colossal beauty.  Your day will include a visit to Brazo Rico where you can spot floating icebergs and the opportunity to stroll the boardwalks with fantastic views of the entire face of the glacier, measuring 30km long and as tall as a 12-storey building.

Optional:  Kit up with crampons for this one-in-a-lifetime experience; walking on one of the only three advancing glaciers in the world is truly special. Whilst ice is clear but due to its reflection properties, it appears blue. Expect to walk up and down hill, across cracks and around sinkholes.

After breakfast, head back to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires connecting with your onward flight to Iguazu, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening.

The Argentina side of Iguazu is full of immersive viewing opportunities at both the top and bottom of this towering mass of spray and thundering waters! It has been described as a shimmering necklace of 275 separate falls divided by emerald-green jungle islands that stretch nearly 4 kilometres.  You’ll explore from the Lower Trail, Upper Circuit and Devil’s Throat.  This side of the Falls is also renowned for the richness of the surrounding rainforest full of orchids, ferns and palms with flocks of parrots, toucans often spotted and countless butterflies to view too.

Happy to get wet?  We recommend one of the boat trips that will take you just under the powerful waters!

Described as ‘an ocean falling into the abyss’, the Iguaçu Falls are impressive: imagine nearly three million gallons of water plunging down every second. As they are located on the border between Argentina and Brazil, you can visit this member of the New 7 Wonders of Nature from two different angles and countries!  Cross the border and you’ll have further opportunities to take some dramatic photographs of the Falls.   This side if famous for providing a sweeping view of the entire waterfall system and a direct frontal outlook of the Devil’s Throat can be seen from an extended walkway.

The time for your Argentine adventure has drawn to a close!  Take your transfer back to the airport and overnight flight home.