Buenos Aires and El Calafate Discovery

Welcome to Buenos Aires!

Buenos Aires is known as the Paris of South America, a country that is defined by the sensuality and emotion of its tango dances, its great barbecues (“asados en parrilla” as they called it in Spanish) and the excessive love of its citizens for football.

Upon arrival, a transfer will be waiting to take you to your accommodation, where you can rest and recharge after a long journey. But do not wait long to walk through its streets and after a short break, venture out to discover the city.

Recommended activities

• Stroll through Puerto Madero. Take a romantic walk across the canal at Puente de la Mujer ("Woman’s Bridge") at sunset.
• Stop by the Teatro Colón, one of South America's premier opera houses, which is known worldwide for its incredible acoustics. The Colon's neoclassical façade has made it one of the most handsome buildings in Buenos Aires since its opening in 1908.
• Visit the Obelisco, which might be the city's most famous monument.
• Dine at a classic Argentine parrilla (steakhouse). When night falls, enjoy a thick, juicy steak (Argentina has some of the best beef in the world) drizzled with delicious chimichurri sauce.

Half-Day City Tour

The best way to enjoy and get to know a city is by walking. After breakfast we will take a 4-hour guided tour in English through the most relevant places in Buenos Aires.

Main attractions in this tour include:

• Plaza San Martín, which is located at the end of downtown's commercial pedestrian thruway, Florida Street.
• The Obelisco, a monument that sits at the nexus of the city where the 16 lanes of Ave. 9 de Julio cross bustling Corrientes Ave.
• Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires' main square and home to the Casa Rosada, Argentina's presidential palace. The famous "pink house" (as the presidential palace is colloquially known), is also rife with history.
• Metropolitan Cathedral is the principal Catholic church in the city and another historic building that also faces the Plaza de Mayo.
• Puerto Madero, whose shimmering office towers and central canal make this one of the sleekest neighbourhoods in the city.
• San Telmo, which is Buenos Aire’s oldest neighbourhood and boasts a vibrant tango and arts scene.
• La Boca s a well-preserved historic neighbourhood that is nearly as old as San Telmo. It is home to the colourful Caminito Street, a pedestrian zone teeming with old restaurants and tanguerías. This neighbourhood is also home to Boca Juniors, the Club of the legendary Maradona.

In the evening you will experience an unforgettable night of dinner and tango performances in one of the best tanguerias in Buenos Aires. Tango is a romantic dance that tells the story of loss and heartbreak, passion, and love.

Welcome to El Calafate!

This morning, a driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight to El Calafate, a city that sits on the shores of Lago Argentino and is known as the gateway to Argentina's glaciers. If you can, get a window seat so you can take in the stunning views of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field as you fly over it.

Upon arrival at El Calafate, another transfer will take you to your hotel. You can spend the rest of the day relaxing or venture out and enjoy the quaint cafes and shops around town.

Perito Moreno Tour

After breakfast, it is time to embark on a one-hour trip to Los Glaciares National Park. Upon entering the park, you will be able to see the majestic Perito Moreno for the first time. This enormous ice mass flows from the Andes into the blue waters of Lake Argentino and ends abruptly in a massive wall of ice that curves around the lake. You will see "calving", the breathtaking view of the ice breaking off the glacier and crashing into the calm waters below.

While it is not the only glacier in the area, Perito Moreno is definitely the star of the park. You can admire the Perito Moreno from different viewpoints thanks to the network of wooden walkways that strategically zigzag in front of the glacier. You will also get an up-close look at the massive ice wall on a boat tour.

After spending a day viewing the glacier, you will return to El Calafate for a free evening.

Estancia Cristina excursion

A collective transfer will you pick you up at your accommodation and drive you to the port at Punta Bandera, located on Lago Argentino. Once you arrive at the port, you will board a ferry and embark on a journey down the Upsala Canal, passing towering icebergs along the way. As you reach the northern section of the canal, you will see the western front of the Spegazzini Glacier. You will continue sailing north and into the Cristina Channel. At the far end of this channel, you will disembark at Estancia Cristina. Expect to arrive late morning.

Estancia Cristina is one of the most impressive ranch-style lodges in the region. It was founded in 1914 by pioneers and built on a valley that was once covered by the Upsala Glacier. A visit to the Folk Museum here (housed in a former sheep-shearing shed) offers insight into the history of the estancia. And the surrounding landscape is impressive, you will see panoramic views of snow-capped mountains, rivers, lakes, and glaciers.

At the end of the museum visit, you will set out on a 6-mile (9.5 km) journey by 4x4 over an unpaved road that ascends into the mountains. After reaching the Continental Ice Field Refuge, you will exit the vehicle and begin a 20-minute walk through the glacial landscapes and Andes mountains until you reach the Upsala viewpoint.

At the end of the afternoon, you will board the boat again and start the return to Punta Banderas and from there to your accommodation.

Back Home

In the morning, your transfer will take you to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, you will be transferred to the international airport for your flight back home.