10-Day Family Tour Through Patagonia

Buenos Aires

Day 1: Welcome to Buenos Aires!

Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, you will be met at Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE Airport) and take a private transfer to your hotel.

No matter how early you land in the morning, your room will be ready for you upon arrival: early check-in is guaranteed.

You’ll receive our Argentina Challenge Adventure Kit, the perfect tool to generate engagement between your children, the places they visit, the people they meet, and you!

How do locals interact with their city? The best way to figure it out is to walk side-by-side with them… get prepared to take your first Buenos Aires walking tour, and start discovering the city at your own pace with a local guide.

Buenos Aires

Day 2: Get a Taste of Enchanting Buenos Aires

Continue with your urban exploration, talking a 5-hour historic tour through the city’s ornate architecture with a private car at your disposal.

We’ll pick you up at your hotel to spot the most important sites of the city and learn some fun facts, like why the Presidential Palace is pink, or the reason that houses in La Boca are so colorful.

Visit San Telmo, the oldest residential neighborhood, with its classic cobblestone streets, and La Boca, where Buenos Aires turns colorful and tango is ever-present; come to walk Caminito Street and dance with the locals.

In the afternoon, get ready to explore the city on two wheels. Departing from Palermo district, start your bike tour to discover the Northern region of Buenos Aires, where you’ll find the famous Recoleta Cemetery, the Floralis Generica, and the biggest green areas of Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires

Day 3: Argentina’s Rural Culture: Estancia “El Ombú de Areco"

Argentina is famous worldwide for its football players, but also for the vastness of its green-tinted fields best known as ‘La Pampa’. That endless land at the edge of the horizon is still home to the descendants of the first gauchos (Argentine cowboys), who still care for and work the land as their ancestors taught them to.

Today, we’ll pick you up at your hotel to begin a 9-hour visit to this time-honored ranch.

Learn about the gaucho culture and traditions, strolling around the beautiful old streets, museums and ancient pulperías (grocery stores) in San Antonio de Areco before heading to El Ombú.

Once you’re in the estancia, enjoy a typical asado (barbecue) before either a horseback ride in nature or a relaxing bike ride.

For those who like to take things slow while on vacation, there is a peaceful swimming pool.

Buenos Aires - Calafate

Day 4: Fly From Buenos Aires to Patagonia: El Calafate

El Calafate is a starting point for adventure travelers who desire to unearth the natural wonders of Patagonia, like Perito Moreno Glacier. But is El Calafate only about the glaciers? Well, yes and no… though glaciers are the main attraction, you will also have plenty to discover about Argentina’s rural, indigenous culture.

Depart from your hotel in a minivan headed towards Glacier National Park. Leave El Calafate behind and travel for 1h 30mins with the snow-capped Cerro Frías as your backdrop.

Once inside the national park, make your way to Nibepo Aike Ranch, the only ranch in the area that has maintained the traditions of sheep-shearing and Hereford cattle-breeding as its primary focus.

Later, walk the coast of Lago Argentino, watch how a real gaucho (the Argentine cowboy) works the shearing shed, and view a unique demonstration of gaucho horsemanship.

El Calafate

Day 5: Go On The Mayo Trek Boat Trip From El Calafate

Travel to Puerto Bandera and embark on an 8- hour nautical safari where you’ll discover the secluded glaciers and waterfalls of Glacier National Park that can only be reached by boat!

Sail the Mayo Channel and disembark at Toro Bay to hike through the Patagonian forest; your specialized guide will tell you about the vegetation of this area (very different from other varieties inside the park) and show you the ancient cherry tree and its 10-foot-diameter trunk.

Set sail again towards Cerro Negro (Black Hill), where you’ll do a soft, half-mile hike to the base of the hill to admire the massive Black Glacier.

Enjoy your free time in this place that not many travelers have seen, before departing for our third stop, the famous Perito Moreno Glacier.

Finally, you’ll disembark at Puerto Moreno, where you can enjoy your free time wandering across the traditional catwalk circuit.

El Calafate

Day 6: Have Some Leisure Time in El Calafate

For your free day in El Calafate, if you’re still wanting to get active and visit another highlight of the area, we recommend that you visit Cerro Frías, an outdoor activity center. 

This ranch still maintains its traditional activities, its cattle, and its natural guanaco reserve.

Enjoy any of the activities offered at the ranch: 4×4 rides to explore the area, horseback riding along beautiful slopes, or gliding down South America’s longest zipline. There’s an option for all ages and interests!

At the end of the day, enjoy lunch or dinner in the elegant quincho (this is the typical place to gather and cook asados, the Argentine barbecue), and during tea time, enjoy mate (Argentine herbal tea) and traditional Argentine pastries.

El Calafate - Ushuaia

Day 7: Travel from Calafate to Ushuaia

The southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia is nestled between the Andes and the famous Beagle Channel and will welcome you and your family with open arms. Ushuaia is a small town that is really easy to get around on foot.

Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the city.

Get ready for your 2-hour city tour, introducing you to the most important viewpoints, from North to South.

Follow your local guide through the waterfront promenade, reach the former government house and the End of the World Museum and learn the stories of the first inhabitants of the area.

Walk the historic neighborhoods, and get the best views of the bay and the Beagle Channel.

Along the way, your guide will tell you about how this secluded spot on Earth became populated after 300 years of hard work, and after having hosted the most dangerous criminals in the famous End of the World Prison which is now a museum.

Ushuaia

Day 8: Hiking and Paddling in Tierra del Fuego National Park

Prepare to explore the Tierra del Fuego National Park for 8 hours, and discover the wildest and most beautiful destination in Ushuaia. Our guides will direct the whole family through the most breathtaking secrets of this national gem.

We’ll start with a moderately difficult 3-hour hike through the Costera Path, discovering the remains and relics of the Yamanas. Reach the immense Lake Roca (whose waters flow between Argentine and Chilean territory) and have lunch in a conditioned dome.

After a safety and technical talk, you and your children can grab the oar and plunge into a 1h 30min canoeing trip along Lapataia River. Make it all the way to Lapataia Bay, where the Panamerican Highway and National Route 3 end at the true End of the World.

Ushuaia

Day 9: Sail the Ushuaia - Beagle Channel And Spot Penguins

Set sail and spend the day navigating the famous Beagle Channel!

During this 8-hour trip you will make stops to some truly intrepid islands.

The first stop will be Isla de Los Pájaros (Bird Island) where even the youngest explorers will have the chance to see flocks of Imperial Cormorants, one of the rarest species to find, according to birdwatchers.

Can you tell the difference between a cormorant and a penguin? Challenge your kids to develop their observation skills and learn more about the local fauna.

Afterwards, venture to Isla de los Lobos (Island of the Wolves), where South American sea lions will be witnessed lounging lazily on the rocky shore.

Arriving at the archipelago, the famous Les Eclaireurs lighthouse will come into view.

Don’t miss this iconic photo opportunity!

Ushuaia

Day 10: Hasta Pronto, Ushuaia!

At the appropriate time, you will be taken to Ushuaia airport to board your flight.

Vacation’s over: it’s time to return home…but not empty-handed!

After this 10-day transformative journey, you’ll have learned a ton about Buenos Aires, Patagonia, yourself, and your kids.

The result: lots of family memories to treasure.

Start planning your next travel adventure with your family!