11-day self-drive adventure in Patagonia

Upon your arrival in Buenos Aires, a private transfer will be waiting for you at the international airport to take you to your hotel. You’ll have the afternoon to enjoy at your own pace and leisure.

Buenos Aires is a city that combines Latin passion with European grandeur; it's sexy, alive, and pulsing to get under your skin. Its burgeoning food scene favors meat in all its glory, and offers a marriage of fine produce and flavors. The local art and architecture bring together the rustic and modern, and the traditional neighborhoods are hotspots for vibrant street art.

After breakfast, you will start with a private tour of Buenos Aires, visiting its most important spots.

First, discover the history of May Square before continuing on to May Avenue to wander in awe around Buenos Aires' oldest residential neighborhood, San Telmo. Walk along cobblestoned streets and discover antiques shops and picturesque buildings.

Live and feel the origins of tango in the neighborhood of La Boca: walk along Caminito Street and enjoy the dancers and souvenir shops. Pass through the Retiro neighborhood and move on to explore Palermo and its most exclusive residential area, before finally arriving at Recoleta. Once there, discover the final resting place of Eva Peron, Evita, the former First Lady of Argentina.

After a comfortable sleep and delectable breakfast, you'll hopefully be ready for your next adventure in Argentina! Transfer to Buenos Aires Domestic Airport, where you will board your flight for Comodoro Rivadavia.

Upon arrival, you will pick your car up from the rental office at the airport, then drive south on the National Route 3. Marvel at the splendor of the country's natural beauty as you go, until you reach the seafront and your next port of call, Bahia Bustamante.

Bahia Bustamante is a paradise waiting to be discovered; from its magnificent beaches of white sand and crystal-clear waters framed by dark red rocks reaching inland, to its moonscapes of great deserts. It is a marine and earthly paradise inhabited by a great number of birds and mammals.

Exploration activities in the area are decided on a day-to-day basis, taking into account the state of the tide and the weather. Some of them include venturing out to observe sea lions, or sailing to Malaspina Cove to observe the birdlife such as penguins, seagulls and petrels.

There’s no need to get up early this morning, as what you do today is completely up to you. Why not sleep in and take it easy?

After breakfast, you could perhaps head to a petrified forest or explore the Gravina Peninsula to gain insight into the seaweed industry. Alternatively, pay a visit to the Cabo Aristizabal Lighthouse and Penguin Island, or enjoy a day of hiking, horseback riding, kayaking or mountain biking. There's even the option to visit a typical Patagonian ranch with hands-on experience of the work there.

After breakfast, you will take National Route 3 towards the north to visit Punta Tombo, the biggest Magellanic penguin reserve in Latin America. Continue on to Punta Ninfas in the afternoon, to reach your next accommodation - El Pedral Lodge.

Thanks to its privileged location, El Pedral is an ideal spot from which to experience intimate connections with nature while enjoying life on a Patagonian estancia. It retains an authentic atmosphere; rustic but still sophisticated, warm and friendly, and is perfect for relaxing at the end of each day.

Outside, the magnitude of Patagonia expresses itself in many wonderful ways. Take time to look out for whales, orcas, penguins, elephant seals, sea lions, and much more.

After breakfast, you will head to Punta Ninfas to observe an elephant seal colony and a colony of penguins.

The beaches at the foot of the cliffs, which stretch from El Pedral up to Punta Ninfas, have been chosen by elephant seals as their home. The colony reaches its highest peak of population between September and March. During September, males start arriving, marking their territory and forming their harem. In small groups, they can be seen all year round.

Depending on the time of year, you may also get to spot southern right whales, orcas and many species of marine birds on your walk.

After a restful night’s sleep, this morning you will be making the journey towards Puerto Madryn, located 70km from El Pedral Lodge.

Upon arrival, check into the comfort of your room and spend the day relaxing and recuperating before your next adventure tomorrow. If you're looking to do something a bit more active, why not go on a small walk to explore the area around your accommodation?

After breakfast, you will drive to the Peninsula Valdes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that offers a vast expanse of many unique species, which have found ideal conditions to develop their life in this area.

We'd recommend a visit to the Istmo Carlos Ameghino cultural center, where you can learn all about the peninsula's fauna, flora and geology. Then, head to a viewpoint to observe the Golfo Nuevo, San José and the Island of Birds.

Continuing with your drive, you could visit Caleta Valdés, Punta Cantor and Punta Norte, where you can stop to observe elephant seals, penguins and sea lions. Depending on the season, you may even see orcas in these parts.

After breakfast, drive to the airport where you will drop your car off and take your flight back to Buenos Aires. Upon your arrival there, a driver will be waiting to assist you with your luggage before transferring you to your hotel.

You’ll have the afternoon to enjoy at your own pace and leisure. Why not take this opportunity to learn more about the locals? Dive into the defining elements of Argentine culture, including their origins, beliefs, traditions, passions, food and more.

This morning, depending on your flight schedule, you may have some free time to spend at your own pace, enjoying everything that this quaint city has to offer.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Check out of your hotel and return to the airport for your flight home. Hopefully you've had a memorable trip - be sure to visit again soon!