Essence of Argentina

(12 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, El Calafate, Bariloche

This tour is the perfect combination of Argentina’s diversity: cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, spectacular Iguazu Falls, rugged Patagonia, and lake-filled Bariloche.

Begin in vibrant Buenos Aires. With your own private guide and driver, visit the city’s most evocative neighborhoods such as San Telmo, La Boca, Palermo and Puerto Madero, and see highlights around the city such as the Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada and Recoleta Cemetery. Visit local museums according to your interests, such as the Evita Museum or MALBA, a museum of Latin American art. One evening, attend a top-rated tango performance at an intimate, upscale dinner theater. If desired, take a private excursion to San Antonio de Areco and an estancia in the pampas to learn about gaucho culture and experience the traditional estancia lifestyle. Alternatively, take a private excursion to Tigre and the Parana River Delta to enjoy a relaxing private cruise on the canals of this “rural Venice,” passing gardens and upscale vacation houses. Also enjoy time to take advantage of the exciting contemporary art and design scene, world-class restaurants and great shopping. All touring is flexible and can be customized to incorporate special interests such as art, tango, polo, Jewish history, family activities, adventure, gastronomy and more.

Continue to Iguazu Falls, one of the most spectacular natural attractions in the world. Stay in a private villa at Awasi, an exclusive luxury lodge in the rainforest on the Argentine side of the falls. With your private guide, venture onto catwalks to see the most breathtaking sections of the waterfall, such as the thundering Garganta del Diablo ("Devil's Throat"). Also venture to the Brazilian side for a private boat excursion to the base of the falls. Depending on timing and interests, relax in your private plunge pool at Awasi or enjoy additional lodge-based activities such as kayaking on the river, hiking and birding in the rainforest, seeing the UNESCO-listed ruins of Jesuit missions or visiting a local indigenous community. Alternatively, stay at Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, a grand historic hotel surrounded by jungle and wildlife that's a short walk from the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. Upon request, we can also arrange scenic helicopter flights over Iguazu Falls.

Then, fly to El Calafate to experience southern Patagonia’s vast open steppe and the impressive peaks, glaciers and pale blue lakes of Los Glaciares National Park. One day, visit magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier—one of the few advancing glaciers in the world—to see (and hear!) icebergs calving from it, and perhaps enjoy a shared cruise or opt to take a guided trek on top of the glacier itself. If desired, also enjoy exciting lodge-based activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, birdwatching and horseback riding.

Continue to Bariloche, a resort town in the beautiful Lake District of northern Patagonia. Stay in the legendary Llao Llao Hotel, and enjoy spectacular views of the mountains and lakes in the surrounding national park. With your guide, enjoy a private cruise on the deep blue waters of Lake Nahuel Huapi, learn about the indigenous history of the area, and dine on a gourmet meal of local food and wine on a private, secluded beach. During leisure time, enjoy scenic walks, soak in the sun on the private beach, kayak on a quiet lake, or simply relax at Llao Llao and enjoy the hotel’s wonderful facilities and expansive views.

The tour concludes with one night in Buenos Aires.

Booking Information >

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.

Please Contact Us for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.

The Artisans of Leisure Style of Travel:

• Private touring with your own personal guides and drivers
• Preferred rooms in the very best luxury hotels
• Firsthand, sophisticated destination knowledge and recommendations from our travel specialists
• Itineraries that are customized according to your interests and schedule
• Artisans of Leisure upgrades and amenities
• A seamless travel experience, including all logistics, skipping lines during touring whenever possible, restaurant and spa reservations, performance tickets, private airport transfers, internal transportation, VIP and fast-track airport assistance in many destinations
• Around-the-clock support in each destination during your trip
• Unique, insider travel experiences and access to the Artisans of Leisure network of experts around the world