Argentina's Extremes – From Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, from Glaciers to Iguazú

Upon arrival at the Ezeiza International Airport, you are welcomed before heading to Buenos Aires in a private transfer. You settle in at the Madero hotel, where your stay in Argentina begins.

Begin your discovery of Buenos Aires at the Plaza de Mayo. With your guide, retrace the major milestones of Argentine independence and political history, facing the Casa Rosada, the colonial Cabildo and the cathedral. Continue on foot along the Avenida de Mayo to the National Congress, passing by the Belle Époque style cafés that line the avenue.

Then head to San Telmo, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the capital. Among cobblestone streets and colonial houses, discover antique dealers, the covered market and artist workshops. The walk also takes you to the Plaza Dorrego, where tango culture enlivens the neighborhood's life.

Take local transportation to reach La Boca and walk along Caminito, between colorful houses, tango dancers and murals. Your guide tells you about the working-class history of the neighborhood, marked by Italian immigration, as well as the attachment of its residents to the Boca Juniors club.

From your hotel, you explore the Tierra del Fuego National Park, at the far southwest of the province. Subantarctic forest and the shores of the Beagle Channel compose the landscapes of this day.

At Ensenada, you join the bay to admire the Navarino and Hoste islands, in the Chilean part of the archipelago, as well as Redonda Island.

You continue towards Acigami Lake, formerly called Roca Lake. A short walk along its shores precedes the discovery of the Alakush reception center.

The route continues along the Lapataia River, to Lapataia Bay, where National Route 3 ends. You then take the boardwalks to the panoramic viewpoint, to observe the waters and the surrounding mountain range before returning to your hotel.

You head out as a group to discover the Laguna Esmeralda, a glacial lake located about twenty kilometers north of Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego. Its blue-green waters owe their color to sediments from the Ojo del Albino glacier.

The hike follows a moderately difficult route, with no particularly technical sections. Some stretches may however be muddy or wet, with rocks, logs and roots to cross. The final ascent requires additional effort.

Allow 4 to 5 hours of walking round trip, depending on the group's pace and breaks.

Once at the edge of the lagoon, you take time to rest, admire the landscape and take some photos. Lunch is generally taken on site, in the form of a packed lunch not included.

From Ushuaia, you cross the landscapes of Tierra del Fuego, between mountains, southern forests and wild coastlines, until you reach Estancia Harberton.

Founded at the end of the 19th century, the estancia immerses you in the history of the region's pioneers. Its historic buildings and preserved setting bear witness to life as it was once lived in these southern lands.

From the estancia, you embark towards Isla Martillo, nicknamed the "penguin island". You can observe a colony of Magellanic penguins and Gentoo penguins in their natural environment. As you navigate, the wind and calls of birds accompany your discovery.

This encounter with local wildlife concludes the excursion, in the landscapes of Tierra del Fuego, and offers wonderful opportunities for observation and photography.

Early in the morning, you leave your hotel in El Calafate to reach the port of Punta Bandera, located 47 kilometers away. You board a catamaran for the Todo Glaciares cruise, a navigation of approximately 6 to 7 hours on the turquoise waters of Lake Argentino, in the heart of the Los Glaciares National Park.

You navigate among the icebergs from the Upsala Glacier, subject to navigation conditions. Between the ice blocks and mountain reliefs, you discover glacial landscapes from the water.

The route then takes you to the Spegazzini Glacier, whose ice wall reaches 135 meters in height. In the Glaciers Bay, you disembark for a short guided walk to a viewpoint, with a view of the Spegazzini, Heim and Seco glaciers.

On board, heated indoor spaces and glass lounges allow you to enjoy the landscape sheltered from the elements. Exterior decks offer additional viewing points to observe the glaciers and take photos. Commentary in Spanish and English accompanies the navigation.

You benefit from the Captain's Club VIP service, with a private lounge, drinks and snacks included, to comfortably enjoy this day between navigation and on-foot discovery.

At the end of the excursion, you return to your hotel in El Calafate.

Hotel departure at 8:00 AM for a visit to Perito Moreno, we will cover a distance of 80km.

The road first runs along the south shore of Lake Argentino before reaching the entrance to the Glaciers National Park. Once there, walk the designated walkways and stop at various viewpoints to observe the glacier from several angles.

You will then board a boat for a cruise on Lake Argentino to get closer to the glaciers and better appreciate their dimensions. With a bit of luck, you will be able to see blocks of ice break off and fall into the lake's waters.

Visit with private English-speaking guide

Departing from El Calafate, you board a 4×4 to reach the heights of Cerro Huyliche. The tracks wind through the steppe and gradually reveal the turquoise waters of Lago Argentino, the peaks of the Andes mountain range and the mineral expanses of Patagonia.

From the Balcones d'El Calafate, take time to observe the landscape. On clear days, the view extends to the great peaks of the region.

The excursion continues at Laberinto de Piedras, a rock formation millions of years old. You then head to a Patagonian estancia for a delightful break in a warm atmosphere.

You discover the Estancia Nibepo Aike, located in the Los Glaciares National Park, for an immersion into rural life in Patagonia. This excursion of approximately six hours allows you to better understand the daily life of a traditional estancia and the activities that shape the rhythm of the region's life.

You attend a sheep shearing demonstration, then set off for a walking tour around the estancia. According to your preferences, you can also choose a horseback ride to discover Patagonian landscapes in a different way.

You depart to discover the Iguazú Falls on the Argentine side, a collection of 275 waterfalls. The lower and upper walkways offer different viewpoints to observe the falls and enjoy their natural environment.

You visit the interpretation center, then take the paths that lead to the Dos Hermanas, Bossetti, Escondido, Unión and San Martín waterfalls. Along the way, you discover the multiple facets of the site.

The visit continues aboard the Tren de la Selva to reach the Garganta del Diablo. From the walkways, you observe thousands of liters of water plunging every second into the río Iguazú.

You return to Puerto Iguazú late afternoon.

Your English-speaking private guide meets you at your hotel to head to the Iguazu National Park, Brazil. The journey takes you through dense vegetation to the park entrance.

Before reaching the falls, you can choose to make a detour to the bird park.

Once there, you take the panoramic trail laid out along the falls. The walk gradually reveals the cascades that succeed one another above the gorge. From the Brazilian side, you enjoy an overview of Iguazu Falls.

As you progress, the roar of the water intensifies and water spray accompanies your steps. The viewpoints over the cascades, rainbows and vegetation invite you to stop to observe and photograph the landscape.

You continue to the last walkway, which brings you closer to the falls. Surrounded by water sprays and the sound of the cascades, you end the visit by taking in the full measure of their power.

Your trip to Argentina is coming to an end. After the excitement of Buenos Aires, the wild landscapes of Ushuaia and the Iguazú Falls, you benefit from a private transfer to the airport for your return flight to France.