2025 Dates to be Announced
Prices listed are per person:
Shared Room: $TBA
Private Room: $TBA
Physical Challenge
Highlights
Enjoy magical nights in Buenos Aires
Sail on a glacial lake
Hike on the Viedma Glacier
Scout the surrounding alpine forests
Savor dinner and wine tasting in a rustic lodge at El Chalten
Visit the Perito Moreno section of Los Glaciares National Park to see one of the last advancing glaciers in the world
Explore the mountains and channels at the tip of South America from Ushuaia
Join us for an optional 4-night pre-tour to visit the spectacular falls of Iguazu, including a guided hike at the top of the falls, and a boat ride below the cascade. For travelers with more time to spend in South America, consider an adventure in lush Colombia!
Overview
Join us to explore the contrasts that make Argentina such a rich place to visit from its greatest city to the heart of Patagonia. We start and end in Buenos Aires – proudly considered by its residents as the most European city in South America. Then we head to the southern Andes where we stay in a small lodge overlooking Lake Viedma. We’ll then have a chance to walk on the glacier, as well as to explore nearby forest trails.
Then we continue south to Ushuaia – at the southern tip of South America, and explore the unique landscape around the Beagle Channel. We conclude our tour back in Buenos Aires, with our farewell dinner at a fun lively tango show. For those with enough time, we also feature a two-day pre-tour to Iguazu Falls.
Day 1: Arrival in Buenos Aires
Most travelers will depart from home the day before our trip starts, and take an overnight flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, a transfer will be provided to our modern hotel near the famous Recoleta Cemetery. Buenos Aires is the capital city of Argentina and one of the largest in the world, with a total population (including the suburbs) of 14 million. Around a third of the total population of Argentina lives in the area. Buenos Aires was founded twice because the first settlement was destroyed by Indians. We will meet in the early evening for a reception and welcome dinner at our hotel.
Please note that because Argentines typically have their main meal as a late lunch, then have a lighter meal very late in the evening. In that custom, some of our included meals will be at lunchtime, showcasing the wide variety of culinary traditions in Argentina. On those days your evening meal will be on your own so that you can decide to wait and dine with the locals (at 10 pm or even midnight), or eat earlier if you wish. Any of our meals may be later than you are accustomed to, so if you need to eat at regular intervals, you may want to carry a snack.
Day 2: Buenos Aires City Tour
We start our gay travel Argentina experience at its heart, with a full-day tour of the city of Buenos Aires. Highlights will include the Plaza de Mayo, the most famous square of the city, from which we can get photos of the surrounding buildings. One is the Cabildo, a municipal building during the colonial period and now a museum. However, the most famous building on Plaza de Mayo is La Casa Rosada or The Pink House. It is currently the official seat of the executive branch of Argentina’s government, but the balcony of La Casa Rosada is where Eva and Juan Peron (and Madonna as Eva!) stood to address crowds during their political rallies. In the square you may also see Madres de Plaza de Mayo, relatives of people who disappeared during the last military government, asking the government to continue the search for their missing relatives. We finish our introduction to Buenos Aires by driving through the colorful traditional neighborhoods such as San Telmo, as well as the fancy Palermo, Barrio Parque and Recoleta Districts. Before returning to our hotel we will stop to see the many remarkable tombs at Recoleta Cemetery, including that of Evita. During our tour, we will have lunch together at one of B.A.’s finest restaurants.
Day 3: Buenos Aires to El Calafate
Early this morning we will transfer to the nearby domestic airport then fly to El Calafate, high on the Patagonian Andes plateau. Upon our morning arrival, we drive west to the southern slopes of Los Glaciares National Park, to visit Perito Moreno Glacier, on an arm of Lago Argentino. This glacier, one of the few advancing ones in the world, separates a branch of the lake from its natural drainage, producing a natural dam. When the water pressure gets too high, it erodes the wall of the glacier, breaking it, and huge chunks of ice fall into the water. We will have a late lunch in El Calafate, then free time in the afternoon to explore on our own.
Days 4-5: El Chalten Touring
This morning we drive to El Chalten, located in the North of Los Glaciares National Park. This very young, small, remote town has become the trekking capital of the country and is located very close to Fitz Roy and Torre Mountains, among the toughest granite climbs in the world. This afternoon is devoted to exploring the area. We will walk into the forest for spectacular views of Fitz Roy and Torre Mountains. We will also visit Lago del Desierto and Rio Las Vueltas, and have a picnic lunch along the way.
For our two nights in El Chalten, we will stay in a modern 21-room lodge built in the architectural style of 1920 when the area was first settled, and offering great views of Fitz Roy. We will have a wine tasting and dinner at the lodge this evening.
After breakfast this morning we head to the nearby Bahia Tunnel, to get on a ship to sail on the western part of Lake Viedma. This pristine lake is fed by the Viedma Glacier, a part of the continental ice field. We will then get off the ship and walk to the edge of the glacier. There we will be given crampons and our guides will take us to walk on the glacier, for some spectacular views of the lakes and mountains. Return to the ship, and then back to Bahia Redonda, arriving mid-afternoon, and enjoying a box lunch along the way. The rest of the afternoon will be free to relax or enjoy short walks or other activities.
Day 6: Off to Ushuaia!
We will depart El Chalten early this morning, then drive directly to El Calafate Airport for our flight to Ushuaia. This is the southernmost city in the world, located on the island of Tierra del Fuego (land of fire). It was named this because the natives who once called this area home lit up fires on the coast and the explorers such as Magellan could see the fires from a distance. We’ll arrive at Ushuaia in the early evening, check into our classic hotel up a small hill from the main commercial street, then have dinner together at a local restaurant.
Day 7: Hiking or Ranch Tour
Today you can select from one of two options to explore the landscape at the tip of the continent. Please note that depending on how many people choose each option, you may participate in today’s activities with other visitors to Ushuaia besides our group members.
Lago Esmeralda Trek: a 7-hour excursion in Tierra del Fuego National Park, including transfers from town and easy trekking, with a box lunch provided. Walkthrough forests and marshlands, and see small multi-hued lakes created by beaver dams. Walk to Laguna Perdida, where we will stop for a box lunch. After the hike, transfer back to our hotel.
Harberton Ranch Excursion: this leisurely tour starts with a boat ride on the Beagle Channel, with the possibility of seeing sea lions and a wide variety of birds. Weather conditions permitting, we will also make a 15-minute stop at a penguin island rookery. The excursion includes an introduction to the coastal marshes and wooded hillsides of historic 19th-century Harberton Ranch, and a van ride through the foothills back to Ushuaia.
Day 8: Ushuaia Touring
This morning we will visit the main part of Tierra del Fuego National Park, located 11 km away from the city. This is the only National Park in Argentina that combines mountains, forests, glaciers, and the ocean. We will walk along Roca Lake and Lapataia River, close to the Chilean border, passing Green and Black Lakes. We end the walk-in Lapataia Bay after passing some beaver dams (brought into the area from the USA and now a pest which is threatening the native forest).
After our hike we will board a catamaran to navigate the Beagle Channel back to Ushuaia’s harbor, passing by several islands and bays, where we will be able to see large colonies of seabirds and some marine mammals. The afternoon will be free to explore Ushuaia on its own or try other activities such as riding the Martial Glacier chairlift if it is operating.
Day 9: Return to Buenos Aires
In the morning, we will transfer to the airport to fly back to Buenos Aires, then transfer to our hotel. For the rest of the afternoon, you can wander or shop in our Buenos Aires neighborhood, or rest up to be ready for the festive finale to our tour.
In the evening, we will go to the area of Barracas for a late Farewell Dinner and one of the best tango shows in the land that made the dance famous. We will return to the hotel after midnight.
Day 10: Departure
Today is on your own until your flight home. For those with evening flights, please note that hotel check-out is at 11 am, but a late check-out may able to be arranged. If there is enough interest, we will also offer an excursion to the northern suburbs with navigation in the Tigre Delta of Rio de la Plata and lunch. We will provide a transfer to the international airport in time to check-in for flights home.
Price Includes
Main Tour
Price includes: Airport-hotel transfers on arrival and departure days and on other days when extra nights are reserved as part of the tour; All ground transportation within Argentina; Entrance fees for all sightseeing described in the itinerary; Deluxe hotels each night, with private bath; Breakfast each day, 5 lunches (including mid-day dinners and picnic lunches), and 4 evening dinners, including wine at Welcome and Farewell dinners; Wine tasting at El Chalten; Services of a knowledgeable HE Travel tour host (with a minimum number of participants), and local guides in each location; All hotel service charges, government taxes, porterage, and gratuities for drivers and included meals. HE Travel provides complimentary Medical & Evacuation Insurance for every US Resident on our group tours who does not have other coverage.
Not included: International airfare; Domestic flights within Argentina (est. $700 for the main tour); Departure taxes for international flights; Meals not included in tour package; Gratuities for guides and HE Travel host; Personal items including alcoholic beverages, snacks, laundry, and telephone calls.
Iguazu Falls Price
$3698 per person in a shared room
$5098 for a private room
Extension Price Includes: Four nights in a hotel in a shared room with breakfast; guided tour of Iguazu Falls including Gran Aventura boat at bottom of falls, and 4 Wheel Drive jungle excursion; local bilingual guide; National Park entrance fee; transfer from Buenos Aires hotel to the domestic airport at the beginning of the extension; all transportation at Iguazu for airport transfers and included activities; transfer from Buenos Aires domestic airport to the International Airport after return from Iguazu; and services of HE Travel tour director (subject to minimum participation).
Not included: International airfare; Domestic flights within Argentina (est. $700 for Iguazu Falls extension); Departure taxes for international flights; Meals not included in tour package; Gratuities for guides and HE Travel tour director; Personal items including alcoholic beverages, snacks, laundry, and telephone calls.
Tour Insurance
We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance to protect your vacation investment in case of unforeseen circumstances such as flight delay, illness, or injury. Click Here to learn more about our Insurance partner.
Extensions
Arrive early to visit Iguazu Falls – March 14 to 18, 2023
Day 1: Fly to Buenos Aires
Fly into Buenos Aires for the first day. We will transfer you to your hotel and you are free to enjoy a day of leisure after your long flights.
Day 2: Iguazu Falls
Today we will enjoy a mid-morning flight to Iguazu Falls. Upon arrival, we will get checked into our hotel and enjoy our new surroundings. Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, is on the border with Paraguay and Brazil. This small town is at the confluence of the Iguazu and Parana Rivers, natural borders between the three countries. Transfer to the Sheraton International Hotel, which has a wonderful view of Iguazu Falls, and is located a few steps away from the middle of a sub-tropical rain forest. The hotel is the only one inside the National Park, in a natural environment where pumas, jaguars, alligators, and many colorful birds live. We’ll have time this afternoon to walk on the walkways overlooking the falls and use the swimming pool before dusk. Enjoy this time at your leisure and enjoy dinner on your own this evening.
Day 3: Experiencing Iguazu Falls by Boat and Jungle Tour
In the morning, visit the Argentina side of the falls, including Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat), the highest fall of the whole complex. We will offer a boat ride through the rapids at the bottom of the falls for a very close look at the powerful river. We will then travel further downriver, returning to the hotel through the jungle in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Some of the wildlife that we might see in the area includes tapirs, toucans, vultures, capybara, monkeys, and even jaguars.
Day 4: Brazil Side
Today we will visit the Brazil side of the Falls. This massive waterfall system straddles the border between Argentina and Brazil. Both sides have close to 275 waterfalls of different sizes.
Day 5: Departure
We will have a transfer and mid-morning flight to the Iguazu Falls Airport to fly to Buenos Aires. From there we will be transferred to the hotel to meet up for the start of the main tour.
- What is the physical activity level of this tour?
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Physical Activity Level
To fully enjoy this tour, one should be able to walk for extended periods on uneven surfaces and enjoy outdoor activities. The tour includes a glacier walk and an optional trek to a mountain lake.
- Where does the tour start and end?
- This tour starts and ends in Buenos Aires, Argentina.