Trip of Argentine Patagonia

24 days – From €9,205 per person

driving – Patagonia – wildlife spotting – active

Day 3 | Buenos Aires

Today, you’ll be taken on a special trip of some of the main attractions in the fascinating Argentine capital. You’ll set off by bike with your guide to explore the Recoleta and Palermo neighbourhoods. In the stylish Recoleta neighbourhood, you’ll find the famous Cementerio de Recoleta cemetery, home to the grave of Evita Perón, amongst others. In the Palermo district, you’ll find the Bosques de Palermo, a green oasis in the city covering some 400 hectares, where people of all ages enjoy themselves (particularly at the weekend). The trendy Palermo district is also known as Palermo Soho, named after the famous Soho district in New York, USA. Here you’ll find a selection of charming boutique hotels in historic, characterful buildings, often featuring a modern interior combined with classic elements.
Accommodation: Palo Santo Boutique Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 4 | Buenos Aires – Trelew – Gaiman

(approx. 30 km | 40-minute drive)
In the morning, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken to Buenos Aires airport, where you’ll board your domestic flight to Trelew. On arrival, a rental car will be waiting for you to drive to your hotel in Gaiman. Gaiman is a typical Welsh settlement founded in 1875. A stroll through the village is a great way to experience the strong influences and traditions left behind by the region’s first settlers. Here you’ll also find the characteristic houses from the early 19th century, where British influences are still clearly evident.
Overnight stay: Posada los Mimbres | bed and breakfast

Day 5 | Gaiman – Puerto Pirámides

Today you’ll drive on to Puerto Pirámides, following the route towards Trelew. If you wish, you can stop off in Trelew to visit the Egidio Feruglio Palaeontological Museum. Puerto Pirámides was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
Accommodation: Las Restingas Hotel de Mar | bed and breakfast

Day 6 | Puerto Pirámides

This day is free to plan as you wish, giving you time to explore the surrounding area. This stunning region is home to whales, orcas, dolphins, penguins and sea lions, amongst others. The whales give birth to their calves here because of the relatively calm waters in the sheltered bays. Visit the Peninsula Valdés visitor centre, where you’ll be given an introduction to the area, learning more about its flora and fauna as well as its history. Puerto Pirámides is a coastal town surrounded by cliffs and ancient rock formations. It is from here that most whale-watching boat trips depart. During these boat trips, you’ll also spot sea lions, dolphins and various coastal birds. There’s also a small colony of sea lions here that you can visit. Today, you can drive your rental car on to Punta Delgada; this little town is well worth a visit for its lighthouse and colony of elephant seals. Afterwards, you can carry on to Punta Norte. On the way, you can take the turn-off to Caleta Valdés and visit Estancia San Lorenzo, a penguin breeding colony, where you can see 250,000 penguins during the breeding season. In Punta Norte, you can see orcas hunting sea lions on the beach.
Overnight stay: Las Restingas Hotel de Mar | bed and breakfast

Day 7 | Puerto Pirámides – Puerto Madryn

Today you’ll drive on to Puerto Madryn, a town in southern Argentina, on the Valdés Peninsula on the Atlantic coast. You’ll be staying in a unique location where the diversity of nature really comes into its own. The stunning scenery, the fresh sea air and Patagonian wines will make your stay unforgettable.
Accommodation: Peninsula Hotel | bed and breakfast

Days 8 and 9 | Puerto Madryn

Over the next few days, you can set out to explore the rich and abundant wildlife along the rugged coastline of Peninsula Valdés at close quarters. This region is home to various species of penguins and colonies of sea lions. In the south, you can visit Salinas Grande and Chica, home to the largest numbers of sea lions and Magellanic penguins. Read more here about the rich wildlife and activities on the Valdés Peninsula.
Accommodation: Peninsula Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 10 | Puerto Madryn – Trelew – Ushuaia

(approx. 65 km | 1-hour drive)
Today, you will return your rental car at Trelew Airport (approx. 65 km / 1-hour drive) before taking a domestic flight to Ushuaia. Upon arrival, you will be met by one of our local staff members who will take you to your accommodation. Ushuaia is the largest town on Tierra del Fuego and also an interesting little town with a few sights to see. Tierra del Fuego is a unique, rugged and unspoilt island with a great variety of landscapes. The light and weather conditions change constantly, due to the often strong westerly winds
Overnight stay: Altos Ushuaia | bed and breakfast

Day 11 | Ushuaia

Tierra del Fuego National Park, which you will be visiting today alongside fellow travellers from around the world, is the southernmost example of a Patagonian primeval forest. The landscape is characterised by rugged mountain peaks, glacial lakes and green valleys. The forests in this part of the country consist mainly of typical lenga and guindo trees. Once you arrive at the National Park, the 7km walk begins, across safe but uneven terrain. Along the way, you’ll reach a spot offering a beautiful view of Lake Roca, the Verde and Negra lagoons, the Ovando and Lapataia rivers, and Lapataia Bay. During the walk through the beech forest, there’s a good chance you’ll spot the Magellanic woodpecker, which is the largest in South America. But you’ll also come across parakeets, black-chested buzzards and Andean condors along the way. In the afternoon, you’ll go canoeing through the national park. You’ll canoe down the Ovando River, which flows into the Green River, where you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views in the national park. Enjoy the stunning views and the crystal-clear waters. You’ll paddle to the Green Lake and Lapataia Bay, where you may spot seabirds – a truly picturesque scene. Lapataia Bay is also the end point of your canoe trip. Here you can enjoy a relaxing sunset, watching the sun slowly disappear behind the mountains, literally at the end of the world.
Overnight: Altos Ushuaia | bed and breakfast

Day 12 | Ushuaia

You will be collected from your hotel today in a 4x4 off-road vehicle. Accompanied by an English-speaking guide and in the company of fellow travellers from around the world, you will drive to the Garibaldi Pass, where you can first enjoy the fantastic panoramic views over the stunning Lakes Fagnano and Escondido. These lakes are beautifully situated amongst the foothills of the Andes. The areas around the lakes are also a paradise for birdwatchers. You will then leave the tarmac road and drive along the shores of Lake Fagnano, which, with its impressive expanse of water and a length of 100 km, is the largest lake on the island. You’ll arrive at a hill in the forest where you’ll have lunch today. Here, a traditional Patagonian BBQ will be prepared for you. During your free time, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to explore the surrounding area. After lunch, you’ll continue your safari through the forest before arriving at Lake Escondido. At times, you’ll even drive through the water! You’ll stop for tea or coffee and, of course, to take some photos. At the end of the afternoon, you’ll be taken back to your hotel.
Overnight stay: Altos Ushuaia | bed and breakfast

Day 13 | Ushuaia – El Calafate – El Chalten

(approx. 200 km | 3.5-hour drive)
After breakfast, you will be taken to Ushuaia Airport, where you will board a domestic flight to El Calafate. On arrival, you can collect your rental car and then drive to El Chalten, a small hamlet at the foot of the impressive Fitz Roy massif, north of Lake Viedma. El Chalten is a base for climbing expeditions to the Fitz Roy massif, and there are also various day trips available.
Accommodation: Hosteria El Puma | bed and breakfast

Days 14 and 15 | El Chaltén

These days are free to plan as you wish. With your rental car, you can set off to explore the spectacular surroundings. You’ll be staying close to Cerro Chaltén, also known as the Fitz Roy massif. Chaltén comes from the indigenous Tehuelche language, where it means ‘smoking mountain’. The steep mountain peak, standing at around 3,400 metres, owes its name to the fact that clouds are almost always hanging around the summit. On a clear day, the enormous peaks of Fitz Roy can even be seen from the Chilean coast and are nothing short of impressive. The 25-metre-high Chorrillo del Salto waterfall is just five kilometres from El Chaltén and is well worth a visit. This waterfall is beautifully set amongst the surrounding forests and is ideal for a short excursion. There are various activities on offer, such as climbing, glacier trekking, walking, cycling and horse riding, allowing you to explore the stunning surroundings. These can easily be organised from your hotel. Read our tips for activities around El Chaltén here.
Accommodation: Hosteria El Puma | bed and breakfast

Day 16 | El Chaltén – El Calafate

(approx. 215 km | 4-hour drive)
Today you’ll drive on to El Calafate in your rental car. El Calafate is situated on the southern shore of Lake Argentino, 315 km from Río Gallegos, the capital of the province of Santa Cruz, and 80 km from the entrance to Los Glaciares National Park. In the past, the town’s inhabitants were mainly engaged in sheep farming and selling their wool. As time went by, the wool industry became less and less important, and El Calafate lost its significance within the sector.
Accommodation: Hotel Kosten Aike | bed and breakfast

Day 17 | El Calafate

A day off is planned. El Calafate is the ideal base from which to visit Los Glaciares National Park. Los Glaciares National Park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the many glaciers found here, which extend below the tree line. There are 14 major glaciers and countless smaller ones, but the most impressive is undoubtedly the majestic Perito Moreno Glacier. This enormous wall of ice, 70 metres high and several kilometres wide, is one of the few glaciers in the world that is still growing in size. The glacier is easily accessible by car. There are several viewing platforms from which the glacier can be clearly seen. The sight and the thunderous sound of breaking ice are nothing short of spectacular. It is also possible to take a boat trip, during which you can get close to the ice mass, and you can even walk onto the ice with crampons. As well as impressive ice masses, the park offers stunning natural scenery with unusual tree species such as the alerce and calafate, and animals such as the grey fox and the guanaco.
Accommodation: Hotel Kosten Aike | bed and breakfast

Day 18 | El Calafate – Bariloche

(approx. 15 km | 30-minute drive)
After breakfast, you’ll drive your rental car to El Calafate Airport, where you’ll return it. You’ll then take a domestic flight to Bariloche. Once you arrive, you’ll collect your rental car and drive to your accommodation in Bariloche. Bariloche is the best-known town in the Argentine Lake District. Snow-capped mountain peaks, deep-blue lakes, crystal-clear rivers and vast, dense forests are just some of the features that make the Argentine Lake District such a wonderful destination. As well as the fairytale-like Lake Nahuel Huapi, this region is home to countless other spots of unparalleled idyllic beauty.
Accommodation: Design Suites Bariloche | bed and breakfast

Day 19 | Bariloche

This day is free to spend as you wish. There is more than enough to do in this area. For example, enjoy a relaxing kayak trip on one of the tranquil mountain lakes or take a boat trip to one of the islands for some lovely walks. For the more active, there are also opportunities for horse riding or mountain biking along Lake Nahuel Huapi. You’ll find peace and quiet mainly outside Bariloche, but if you do choose to visit Bariloche, the highly acclaimed Patagonia Museum or one of the many restaurants serving cheese, meat or chocolate fondue are good options.
Accommodation: Design Suites Bariloche | bed and breakfast

Day 20 | Bariloche – Villa la Angostura

(approx. 76 km | 1.5-hour drive)
Today, you’ll drive your rental car towards the town of Villa La Angostura, enjoying a beautiful drive along the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi. You can also visit Nahuel Huapi National Park on the way. This area is the oldest national park in Patagonia, situated in the foothills of the Andes in Argentina. It was established in 1934, but its heart is formed by the area that Perito Moreno donated to the federal government in 1903. The park covers an area of approximately 7,050 km² and is situated in the south-west of the province of Neuquén and in the north-west of the province of Río Negro, bordering Chile. Villa La Angostura is also located within the park.
Accommodation: Hosteria la Escondida | bed and breakfast

Day 21 | Villa la Angostura

In the heart of the Argentine Lake District, surrounded by lakes, rivers and a beautiful primeval forest, lies Villa La Angostura. Angostura (‘isthmus’) takes its name from the Quetrihue Peninsula on which Villa La Angostura is situated. A beautiful, harmonious and peaceful mountain village, 45 km from the Chilean border and just 76 km from Bariloche Airport. Here, enjoyment is written with a capital ‘E’, where the ‘E’ also stands for Gastronomy. Villa La Angostura is home to a large number of excellent chefs, meaning the restaurants here can serve you the finest international dishes, alongside the unique Patagonian cuisine.
Accommodation: Hosteria la Escondida | bed and breakfast

Day 22 | Villa la Angostura – Bariloche – Buenos Aires

Today you’ll drive back to Bariloche in your rental car (approx. 75 km / 1-hour drive), where you can return it at the airport upon arrival. You’ll then take a domestic flight to Buenos Aires. Once you arrive, you’ll be taken to your hotel, where you’ll stay for one more night before flying back to Amsterdam the following day.
Accommodation: Palo Santo Boutique Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 23 | Buenos Aires – Amsterdam

After breakfast, you will be taken to Buenos Aires International Airport, where you will board your overnight flight to Amsterdam.

Day 24 | Amsterdam

You arrive in Amsterdam today.