Viva Argentina! Seals, Wales and Wines
Itinerary
Days 1-4 – Buenos Aires: romance and tango
Explore sexy and sophisticated Buenos Aires, a city of steamy tango, sizzling steaks and a nightlife that never stops. Take an eye-opening tour with a local Porteño (resident of the city) for an edgy glimpse into behind-the-scenes life and soak up the totally seductive atmosphere. You’ll stay in happening Palermo district, one of the most popular barrios in Buenos Aires.
Days 4-7 – Sailing amongst the glaciers
After breakfast this morning, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to El Calafate which your Travel Specialist can book as part of your international ticket. Direct flights from Buenos Aires take around 3 and a half hours. Get glacial in Patagonia, sailing between icebergs and exploring a frozen world of endless mountains, piercing winds, lakes and cool blue glaciers bigger than the entire city of Buenos Aires. It’s a surreal, silent place that has to be seen to be believed. This trip will take you into the frozen heart of Patagonia, a land of dazzling white snow, deep sapphire skies and cool blue glaciers.
Days 7-10 – Whale tails & tyre tracks
Today, you’ll make your own way to the airport in El Calafate for a flight to Trelew, booked with your international ticket. These flights stop off in Ushuaia and together the flying time is usually about 5 hours. When you arrive in Trelew, you’ll pick up your hire car and head for the open road in the direction of the Valdes Peninsula. This drive takes about 2 and a half hours.
Drive across a rugged wilderness packed with wildlife, spot killer whales and visit huge penguin colonies. Argentina’s Peninsula Valdes is over run by animal life, from ostrich-like nandoos darting across the plains to humpbacks breaching in the waves. This is a really wild road trip along the northern coastline of Patagonia. The richness of the wildlife is simply staggering and seeing it on your own four wheels doubles up the adventure.
Days 10-11 – Puerto Madryn – Bariloche
After breakfast, you’ll check out of your hotel, hop back in your hire car and drive to Puerto Madryn. You’ll spend a night here to explore the area south of Trelew independently. Just an hour away, you’ll find the quintessentially Welsh village of Gaiman, where time seems to have stood still. Strolling among the ivy trellises, stop by the dainty tea houses and pose with the giant teapot outside Ty Te Caerdydd.
Today, you can drop your car off in the morning and visit the interesting Eco Museum in Puerto Madryn or take a walk along the coast. In the early evening you’ll make your own way to the bus station for the overnight journey to Bariloche. The 15 hour overnight buses are comfortable with fully reclining seats, a meal and movies on-board.
Days 11-13 – The seven lakes of the Andes – Bariloche
Kayak across glacier lakes and gaze up at snow-tipped peaks in Bariloche, penned in by pine forests and dotted with fjord-like lakes. It’s Patagonia at its most picturesque. Sit back and soak up the gorgeous alpine scenery with a glass of local wine. Bariloche has a holiday atmosphere, drawing skiers and snowboarders to its slopes every year. The landscape that lies beyond the streets is just staggering, so lace up your walking boots and start to explore.
Days 14-17 – Fine wine and sunshine
Today, you can spend more time exploring the lakes and mountains around Bariloche. One option is to take a boat trip to Isla Victoria, where you walk to the rare, cinnamon-coloured arrayan forest. In the evening you’ll make your way back to the bus station for the overnight bus to Mendoza, a journey that takes roughly 19 hours.
Cycle between wine bodegas against a backdrop of snowy peaks and sit back with a glass of local Malbec at a sidewalk café. During this trip, you’ll spend two in a small traditional village with cobbled streets and shady colonial plazas, twenty minutes from Mendoza itself. On the second day, you’ll set out early to cycle between sun-kissed vineyards to sample some local wines with views over the Andes.
Some time after breakfast, you’ll make your own way to Mendoza airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires, roughly 2 hours flight. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to the same hotel that you began your trip in. The following day, you can continue to explore Buenos Aires until it’s time to head for the airport and begin your journey home.
Accommodation
For this itinerary we offer the following options
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