Off-the-beaten tracks of Argentina’s Best National Parks

Day 1 : International Aiport Ezeiza

Meet your driver at Ezeiza International Airport – transfer to Buenos Aires in a private vehicle. Transfer with an English-speaking guide. Visit Buenos Aires (half day, private tour).

Today, discover the political and historical centre of the capital . Start with the 9 de Julio Avenue , the widest in the world, dominated by the Obelisk , a symbol of Buenos Aires. You will pass the Colon Theatre , one of the jewels of the Argentine architecture, before arriving on the Capital main square, P laza de Mayo.

Your visit then takes you to San Telmo : this historical neighbourhood is a dynamic mix of tourists and locals: picturesque alleyways, old typical cafés, antique shops … This lively barrio is animated day and night – a famous flea market takes place every sunday around Dorrego square.

End your visit with the picturesque neighborhood of La Boca , with its small alley of El Caminito : painters, tango dancers and singers meet between the ancient colourful wooden houses.

Return to your hotel after the visit An English speaking guide will acompany you during the city tour. Night at the Tango de Mayo Hotel in standard room.

Day 2 : Buenos Aires

Transfer from your hotel to Buenos Aires Domestic Airport in a private vehicle. Domestic flight Buenos Aires*- Esquel.

*National o international airport depending on time schedule and availability. Vehicle rental, Category G, like Renault Duster or similar GPS included Suggested itinerary

Departure with your rental car from Esquel airport.

Leave in the direction of Los Alerces National Park – on the road, enjoy the beautiful landscapes of this park frequented by nature lovers.

Aprox. 96 km – 2h00 Night at the El Aura Patagonia in a standard bungalow.

Day 3 : Los Alerces National Park

Enjoy your free time to explore Los Alerces National Park, one of the least visited and best preserved of Argentina.

Several outdoors activites can be booked or carried out for free – follow the information and advice from your hotel or the tourist information point:

– Treks of all levels and durations

– Navigation to observe the millenian Alerzal tree (Patagonia cypress) millénaire

– Trek in the Torrecillas Glacier

– Kayak

– Horseback riding Night at the El Aura Patagonia in a standard bungalow.

Day 4 : Los Alerces National Park

Suggested Itinerary

This morning, head north towards Epuyen.

Visit the northern area of Los Alerces National Park. Cross the small village of Cholila, famous for its Asado National Day celebrations once a year (grilled meat), and join the Road 40 until you reach Epuyen.

84 km – aproximately 1h45 drive.

The small town of Epuyen is located by the lake.

Enjoy the outdoors with one of the following activities:

– Treks of all levels depart from Puerto Bonito
– Horseback riding
– Visit the El Hoyo maze
– Kayak the Epuyen Lake

Go back to Epuyen after your excursion. Night at Hosteria Miradas al Lago in standard room (STD).

Day 5 : Epuyen

Suggested itinerary

You leave this morning towards Bariloche, heading North.

On your way, stop by the small town of El Bolson: this village was a refuge for hippies in the 1960s and was declared an ecological municipality and non-nuclear area. Have lunch in this laid-back, small town – a small artisanal and organic market takes place tuesdays, thursdays, and on weekends from 10am to 4pm.

Leave El Bolson to drive across wooded valleys and along the Gutierrez and Mascardi lakes with contrasting blue waters against the mountains.

You reach San Carlos de Bariloche, capital of the Lake District.

Aprox. 162 km – 2h30 Suggested itinerary : explore the natural surroundings.

This 65km route skirts the Nahuel Huapi Lake and drives through important landmarks, such as El Trebol Lagoon, Moreno West and East Lake… Stop along several panoramic points along the road to watch the wonderful views. In front of Pañuelo Port, the luxurious Hotel Llao Llao and San Eduardo Chapel benefit from an incredible location. Stop by Cerro Campanario : take a chairlift to the top to admire one of Bariloche’s best view over the lakes and summits. End your excursion with a nice walk in the woods of the Municipal Llao Llao Reserve – and try to spot the intense red crest of the local woodpeckers! Night at the Peninsula Petit Hotel in a standard room .

Day 6 : Bariloche

Suggested itinerary

Today you are off to a great tour through the Lake District and the Patagonian Steppe.

You leave San Carlos de Bariloche: skirt the Nahuel Huapi Lake and cross the Limay River, entering a new landscape, the Patagonian Steppe. You reach the Enchanted Valley characterized by its rock formations. Many shapes can be found here, the result of stones eroded by millenniums of wind, rain and ice…

In Confluencia, follow the 50km long dirt track to reach LakeTraful and stop at a wonderful viewpoint. Take time in Villa Traful to have lunch. Enjoy the beach before reaching the famous Seven Lakes Route.

Cross Coihue Forests (native tree) before the small town of Villa La Angostura … walk around its picturesque little shops, terraces, restaurants – white sand beaches and emerald waters seem to come straight from a Caribbean island.

Make your way back to San Carlos de Bariloche along the Huemul Peninsula with its white sandy beaches before crossing the steppe again. In the distance, the peaks of the Catedral Summit and the town of Bariloche are revealed. Night at the Peninsula Petit Hotel in a standard room .

Day 7 : El Calafate

Drop off your vehicle at the airport. Domestic flight Bariloche – Calafate. Transfer from El Calafate Airport to your hotel in a private vehicle. Free day in El Calafate.

Enjoy your free time to try one of the following activities:

– Visit the Laguna Nimez Natural Reserve to enjoy the wilderness and observe the flamingos and the 80 other species of birds living there. This is an easy, 20-minute walk from the city center – duration of the visit: 2 hours.

– Visit the Interpretive Center which covers various themes such as paleontology, geology, anthropology and history.

– Rent an electric bike to explore the city.

– Have a drink downtown at the ice bar. Night at the Los Canelos hotel in a standard room.

Day 8 : Lake Argentino sailing

Transfer on pool service from your hotel, you will be picked up around 7:30 am and will undertake the journey of 40 Km to Punta Bandera, where you will embark. Full day sailing, covering the northern arm of Lake Argentino, watching the Spegazzini and Upsala glaciers, entering the bays that they form and sailing through the cord of icebergs located about 20 km from the Upsala glacier. You desembark to Spegazzini base and walk about 300 meters to the Spegazzini Refuge where you can eat and observe the bay. For the most adventurous people, it’s possible to continue walking to reach several natural miradores.

Return to Punta Bandera and then to El Calafate. Entrance to Los Glaciares National Park included. Transfer in pool service included. Night at the Los Canelos hotel in a standard room.

Day 9 : El Calafate

This morning, departure from your hotel to discover the Perito Moreno in a unique way. In an accessible tour for everyone, we invite you to know the culture of Argentina countryside surrounded by breathtaking landscapes.

With your local guide, you will travel across the steppe in the heart of Patagonia, upon the old estancia road. You will spot several wild native animals along the way such as the guanacos, mammals belonging to the lama species.

Your first stop will be at the Nibepo Aike estancia, a pioneer in El Calafate. There you will enjoy a shearing demonstration and gauchescas tasks before a delicious traditional lunch with salads, Patagonian lamb, fine wines and crêpe de dulce de leche.

You will then navigate upon the Brazo Rico on the Argentinian Lake (Lago Argentino). After disembarking, walk aproximately 20 minutes in a beech forest, to reach an exclusive viewpoint over the southern side of the Perito Moreno glacier. Navigating back, you will take in the southern face of the Moreno Glacier while enjoying a whiskey on glacier ice and chocolates.

We then disembark and head to the catwalks of the glacier to enjoy all fronts and ice cracks, outside mass hours.

At the end of the day, we return together to the city of El Calafate (drop off at your hotel). Entrances included. Night at the Los Canelos hotel in a standard room.

Day 10 : El Calafate

Transfer from El Calafate to the Airport in a private vehicle. Domestic flight Calafate – Iguazu (via Buenos Aires). Welcoming at Puerto Iguazu Airport and transfer to the hotel in a private vehicle.

Transfer with an English-speaking guide. Free day in Puerto Iguazu – here are a few suggestions:

Relax by your hotel’s swimming pool to cool down from the tropical weather.

For nature lovers, go visit the Jardin de los Picaflores: in a private garden, a local family started to take care of hummingbirds – a wonderful opportunity to watch these small, colourful animals.

Finally, you can go visit the Hito Tres Fronteras, a monument celebrating the triple border between Argentina – Brazil – Paraguay. Night at La Aldea de la Selva Lodge – standard room.

Day 11 : Iguazu National Park, Argentinean side

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel to visit the Iguazu Park located 18km from the city of Puerto Iguazu, on the Argentinian side. Private service with English-speaking guide.

The Iguazu Falls in Misiones have the virtue of never disappointing, but on the contrary, going beyond imagination. As we say in the region, we contemplate the falls on the Brazilian side and we live them on the Argentinian side. The falls are formed thanks to a drop of 70 meters from the Iguazu river, through 275 falls.

Departure in the morning for the upper circuit of the falls on the Argentinian side which offers panoramic viewpoints. You continue on the lower circuit which allows you to observe the Dos Hermanas Falls, and San Martín Island. Free time for lunch. After lunch, you continue the excursion by the circuit Garganta del Diablo , which culminates on a viewpoint facing the Devil’s Throat . This powerful fall stretches 150 meters long and 80 meters high and is surrounded by a dense mist.

Note: bring waterproof and light clothing. Entrance to Iguazú National Park (Argentina) included. Night at La Aldea de la Selva Lodge – standard room.

Day 12 : Iguazu National Park Brazilian side

Departure to the Brazilian side of the waterfalls in a private service with English-speaking guide.

The 1,200 meters circuit takes the visitor along footbridges and viewing decks to admire the minor Floriano and Teodoro Da Fonseca falls and finally, the Santa María falls, from where the panorama onto Island San Martín and the entirety of the falls is absolutely breath-taking.

Note: bring waterproof and light clothing.

Note 2: from mid-October to mid-February, Brazil is one hour ahead of Argentina (daylight saving time). Entrance to Iguazú National Park (Brazil) included. Transfer from your hotel to the bus station in a private vehicle. Regular line bus from Puerto Iguazu to Posadas.

Approximately 6h journey.

Note: In Posadas, you will have to reach your hotel by yourself (taxi). Night at the Urbano Posadas hotel in standard room.

Day 13 : Puerto Valle

The Lodge is located in the heart of Esteros de Ibera, a natural reserve spraying over 13 000 km2, host to 30% of the Argentine biodiversity with 4,000 fauna and flora species. Watch and learn about the unique diversity of exotic birds, reptiles such as jacara caimans, and rare mammals like the swamp deer.

Enjoy the included activities: – Visit the Ibera wetlands with an excursion to Laguna Valle – Navigate the Parana River – Kayak in the area – Visit the crocodile farm – Visit the refuge of wild fauna – Monkey Trail – Horseback riding

Night and full board at the Puerto Valle hotel in a standard room.

Day 14 : Puerto Valle

The Lodge is located in the heart of Esteros de Ibera, a natural reserve spraying over 13 000 km2, host to 30% of the Argentine biodiversity with 4,000 fauna and flora species. Watch and learn about the unique diversity of exotic birds, reptiles such as jacara caimans, and rare mammals like the swamp deer.

Enjoy the included activities: – Visit the Ibera wetlands with an excursion to Laguna Valle – Navigate the Parana River – Kayak in the area – Visit the crocodile farm – Visit the refuge of wild fauna – Monkey Trail – Horseback riding

Night and full board at the Puerto Valle hotel in a standard room.

Day 15 : Puerto Valle

Domestic flight Posadas – Buenos Aires*.

*National o international airport depending on time schedule and availability. Continue activities with your local guide, then have lunch at the lodge.

After lunch, your local guide drives you to Posadas. Transfer from Buenos Aires domestic airport to your hotel in a private vehicle. Night at the Tango de Mayo Hotel in standard room.

Day 16 : Buenos Aires

Transfer from the hotel to Ezeiza International Airport in a private vehicle.