Natural Wonders and Beauty of Argentina Tour

Buenos Aires is a city that knows how to enchant locals and visitors alike. The culture of the locals, with their vigor for music and dedication to soccer, matches the bold European atmosphere. The aroma of freshly baked empanadas is as alluring as the streets lined with shops, each window display showing clothes, shoes, and leather goods. When you arrive at Ministro Pistarini International Airport, your private transfer is waiting. Soon you find yourself in the heart of the thriving city, surrounded by historic architecture and alluring culture. The pink hue of the presidential palace shines brightly, adorning the main square known as Plaza de Mayo.

The old colonial buildings date back to the 16th-century and have long watched over many of the city’s important events, including the push for independence in the 19th-century. After you settle into the luxuries of your hotel, your guide meets you for a private evening tour of the city. You stroll through San Telmo, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. Narrow cobblestone streets and colonial buildings give way to art studios and stunning galleries. Locals linger in cafes, sipping Argentinian wines. You can hear the rhythmic sounds of the tango emanating from a hidden parlor. The beauty of the city lays in its movement.

In the morning, the vibrant streets around the city return to life. The aroma of fresh cappuccino drifts from the doors of local cafes. Bakeries set out luscious displays of alfajores, which are creamy caramel sandwiched between two butter cookies. Your private transfer meets you at the hotel and escorts you to the airport for your domestic flight southbound to Trelew. The town was once the region’s commercial center, easily reaching the nearby Welsh villages. The village of Gaiman has a quintessential Welsh ambiance, which is a staggering difference from the cosmopolitan atmosphere and the lingering Spanish colonial architecture of Buenos Aires.

Teahouses fill the heart of town with display windows showcasing cream pies and dainty cakes. The village’s Welsh ancestry dates back to the 1870s. The streets maintain a quiet charm, lined with stone houses and rose gardens interspersed between teahouses. After your serene introduction to the diversity of the region, your transfer leads you to your accommodation located in the center of Puerto Madryn. You can hear the water lapping at the shoreline and the cruise pier.

The wonders of Patagonia emanate from the scenery. The ocean has a radiant turquoise shine. The tranquil coastline stretches to rugged limestone cliffs outside of town. The energetic streets of the city push against the sensational beauty of nature. The vast city is the second largest fishing port in Argentina and was founded by Welsh settlers in the 19th-century. After breakfast, you begin your tour of Patagonia around the Valdes Peninsula. When you reach Caleta Valdes, you board a small boat and venture into the water. The breeze catches the sea and splashes fresh mist into the air. Your guide points into the distance at the colony of elephant seals.

The black sand stands out against the brightness of the water. The waves roll against the shore. Elephant seals lounge on the pebbled coast and sunbathe. Females tend to grow to more than nine feet long while males can grow up to 19 feet long. You notice one elephant seal leave the water. The seal moves close to a group of other lounging seals and settles between them, absorbing the body warmth. The waves begin to crash on the beach. You can hear the seals bark over the sound of the waves.

The sunrise casts a soft glow over the coastline of the city. Seagulls linger in the serene morning water. Between July and September, schools of whales migrate close enough to the shores of the city for you to see their tails lift out of the sea, as they sprout mist from the water. After breakfast, you leave behind the Gateway to the Peninsula Valdes, flying south to the end of the American continent, in the town of Ushuaia. The snowcapped Martial Mountains encircle Ushuaia, edging the streets closer to the Beagle Channel. The current laps at the borders of the city. Steep streets ascend the foothills pointing to the ever-present snow on the mountain summits.

The Maritime Museum offers a glimpse into the region’s history, including an exhibit of the world’s narrowest gauge freight train, which decorates the courtyard. The museum is located inside the historic early 20th-century military prison. Your private transfer takes you from the airport to your luxurious accommodations, providing a comfortable space to enjoy panoramic views of the world’s southernmost city. For an unparalleled view of the city and the bordering Beagle Channel, you make your way up the zigzagging trails to Glacier Martial. The splendor of the “End of the World” comes into focus.

Legend says that in the 16th-century, Ferdinand Magellan passed the southern archipelago and noticed fires burning along the coastline. The land has since been known as Tierra del Fuego. The national park encompasses more than 155,000 acres dedicated to protecting the natural habitat, much of which is made up of the world’s southernmost sub-Antarctic forest. Your guide leads you along the trails, where you can take in the crisp cold air and the fresh aroma pine. Woodpeckers jab at the surrounding trees.

Beavers build dams in a series of rivers and streams. Lake Roca has a blue-green color and reflects the rugged snowcapped mountaintops across its placid surface. Albatross graze on the lakeshores. They spread their wings in the spreading sunlight. Their wingspan can extend more than 11 feet across. Your guide points out the remnants of the Yamana tribe, the ancestral inhabitants of the area, in the shapes of trees and brush. The purity of the national forest emanates majesty, showing the ancient history of the landscape.

In the morning, the sun rises over the horizon, casting layers of light across the Beagle Channel. The café at the base of the Cumbres del Martial chairlift provides a cozy spot for skiers and trekkers to enjoy a morning cup of coffee and sweet cakes before traversing the mountain. Penguins soar through the fabulous waters near Martillo. They waddle along the pebbled shores and call out to one another against the wading water. After breakfast, you fly north to the town of El Calafate. The small town is known as the Gateway to Perito Moreno Glacier. The Santa Cruz plateau touches the foothills of the Andes Mountains, the longest mountain range in the world.

El Calafate has an alpine charm deriving from the cedar facades of the town center lining Avenue del Libertador General San Martín. In the spring, the abundance of El Calafate bushes blossoms with yellow flowers. Purple fruits provide a delightful fragrance in the summer. In the autumn, the snow begins to sprinkle the region with enchanting blankets of white powder. Your private transfer escorts you from the airport to your hotel. Your room has a luxurious view of Lago Argentino, with the rugged peaks of the Andes piercing the sky in the background.

In the morning, the exquisite aroma of melted chocolate wafts out of the local chocolate shops decorating the center of town. The display windows highlight the various flavors of the celebrated confections produced in town and across Argentina. The coffee has a hint of chocolate in the layers of comforting flavors radiating from your morning cup. You depart from your hotel bright and early for a full day excursion to Glaciers National Park, eager to witness the 48 glaciers by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Black neck swans and flamingoes linger on the quiet lakes outside of town. When you reach the edges of the national park, you find the vivacious red tubular petals of the notro flower blossoming in the trees.

The walking circuit begins at the visitor center and leads in a circle around Glacier Perito Moreno. The low-lying gap in the Andes opens to a field of recrystallized snow, which populates the ice field. The walkway provides an immaculate view of the glacier lingering at the edge of Canal de los Tempanos. The jagged shape of the glacier stretches over 96.5 square miles. You notice a bit of powder erupting from the ice’s edge. You hear a thunderous crack. A large chunk of the glacier breaks away from the mass and falls into the canal with a magnificent splash. The moment is simple, yet at the same time grand.

The morning slowly comes to life in the town center of El Calafate. The scent of chocolate and rich coffee settles over Avenue del Libertador General San Martín. The charms of the cedar buildings return in the gentle sunlight. After breakfast, you embark on a flight to the north of Argentina set on the borders of Brazil and Paraguay. The atmosphere is markedly different, changing from the alpine ambiance of El Calafate to the tropical culture of Puerto Iguazu. The confluence of the Paraná and Iguazú Rivers sits near the edge of town. It is a different atmosphere than what you have come to know during your time in Patagonia. Jungle brush encircles the city. The air is warm. Toucans and other tropical birds linger in the canopy.

The Casa Ecológica de Botellas was erected out of packaging materials and meant to promote an ecologically friendly way of living. The home, along with the furniture and original handcrafts are all made from plastic bottles, juice cartons, and other recyclable materials easily accessed throughout Iguazu. It is a testament to people’s creativity and desire to conserve the wonders of Argentina. Your accommodation was constructed with a similar ideology, to provide a luxurious experience for guests while maintaining a minimal impact on the environment. The innovative architecture embraces the ancient and endangered trees of the area, using their uniqueness to add ambiance to the comforts during your stay.

In the morning, you can stroll along the walkways of your hotel situated in the Natural Reserve. The birds sing in the cooler air of the morning. The breeze rustles the leaves of the jungle. After breakfast, your guide meets you in the lobby and escorts you to the entrance gates of Iguazu Park. The park was created in the 1930s and encompasses 212 square miles of protected landscape. Lush trees sprout along the ascending cliffs, adding verdant pockets for the cascading water. The water from Iguazu Falls pours over 262 feet into the rippling river below, creating one of the most exquisite waterfalls.

Clouds of mist rise from the confluence of falls and the lower pools, spraying the islands and ravine forests. Your guide leads you along the walking paths. Sporadic views open between the trees to a panorama of semi-circular landscape reaches a width nearly two miles long. Capuchin monkeys rustle through the tree branches near the walkway. When you reach Garganta del Diablo, which means Devil’s Throat, you look over the edge of the falls, listening to the powerful roar of the water and basking in the refreshing vapor rising from the ravine floor.

In the early light, the wildlife awakens. Toucans call to one another underneath the jungle canopy. Capuchin monkeys ramble through the trees in search of nuts and berries for breakfast. Their tails can reach a length equal to their bodies, averaging 17 inches. At breakfast, you can relax with the sounds of nature all around you. After your meal, your private transfer meets you in the hotel lobby and escorts you to Cataratas del Iguazu International Airport. You have traveled the lengths of Argentina, from its southern tip to its northern aquatic border, and have discovered the endless wonders along the way.