Argentina

The group leader on this Argentina and Patagonia group tour will be a local from Argentina! His/her job is to ensure the safety and well being of everyone on the trip and to show everyone the most amazing time ever! Since there is a strong cultural component for this trip your local Argentine group leader will also be educating you on the culture, history and customs of Argentina. Best of both worlds!

A passport is required for this Argentina trip. It is strongly recommended that your passport have at least 6 months validity (from the time you leave Argentina) to avoid any problems. If you hold a U.S. passport you will not need a visa for entry to Argentina as long as you are not staying more than 90 days.

You will be staying in boutique, independently owned 3 star hotels for the duration of this trip. All the hotels are clean, safe and in excellent central locations. In Buenos Aires you still stay in the chic and hip neighborhood of Palermo Soho, in Mendoza you will stay in the heart of downtown (near Plaza Independencia), in El Chalten you will stay along the main road (of El Chalten), and in El Calafate you will stay in the heart of the town. Please keep in mind a lot of the infrastructure in Argentina is older due to economic struggles so some travelers might find some of the hotels to be a bit dated.

In order to budget properly please consider the following items which are not included in this Patagonia group trip:

• Meals:  You are responsible for 6 lunches and 6 dinners. Budget around $200 for meals not included.
• Tipping
  • Local drivers, guides and restaurant staff: Tipping is not compulsory but can make a big difference to individuals in the local hospitality industry in Argentina. Therefore, we recommend budgeting around $50 for these services.
  • Group leader: Tipping your group leader is completely discretionary. For outstanding service you may consider tipping your group leader ~$10/day.
• Transportation: Airport transfers are not included. Please budget ~$25 for the Buenos Aires transfer and ~$20 for the El Calafate transfer.
• Travel insurance: Travel insurance covering our minimum requirements ($100k+ in medical coverage including emergency evacuation) is compulsory for all participants. Budget anywhere from $50 to $130 for travel insurance (from a 3rd party) depending on your specific coverage inclusions.

The single room supplement on this Argentina group tour is $699. You will be able to select your preference for a single room supplement when filling out the application. If you are applying for this trip within 3 months of the departure please contact us for single room availability before applying.

Upon arrival in Mendoza you will take a taxi directly to the hotel where your group leader will be waiting for you! After getting checked-in you will have free time until around 6pm upon which you will meet the group in the lobby of the hotel. Then you will walk to a nearby spot for drinks/dinner as you begin to get to know one another!

While you will not physically meet your group mates until the evening of the first day you will be in contact with everyone well ahead of time in the group WhatsApp chat and, in addition, we will provide you with everyone’s traveler bios so you’ll already know each other a little before physically meeting!

On day 3 (in Mendoza) you will have the opportunity to tailor the trip to your style by selecting an optional excursion. You will be able to select the optional excursion during the application process and, after, you’ll be sent an invoice to pay.

• Aconcagua base camp hike: $175
• Full day horseback riding with a visit to a traditional estancia: $175 
• White water rafting: $85

You can read more about the optional excursions here.

We recommend bringing cash for this trip. Due to the economic instability of the Argentine Peso (symbol: ARS) we recommend bringing USD (cash) and then exchanging to pesos when you arrive in Argentina. Further, if you have a credit card without foreign transaction fees (Visa and Mastercard) bring that tool as most stores will accept it. You will be provided with further currency instructions including how to exchange USD for ARS if you join this Argentina trip.

You may bring any size luggage that you wish, though we recommend packing as lite as possible since you will be traveling a lot during this trip (staying in 4 different hotels). You will need a day backpack for the hikes, too.

Yes, you will have WiFi access at all the hotels and most restaurants.  However, please note the WiFi in Patagonia (El Chalten and El Calafate) is not that great!

Our Argentina and Patagonia group tour trip covers 4 different locations so it’s important to understand the nightlife in each location.  However, please note that the days are very long and normally participants only stay out late on a handful of nights.  The decision to go out at night or not is completely up to you!

• Mendoza:  As Mendoza is home to the malbec grape you will find an abundance of wine bars walking distance from the hotel.  Mendoza is fairly laid back (as compared to Buenos Aires) so the nightlife is mostly speakeasies, wine bars, and cocktail bars.  If you like live music you’ll be able to find that, too!
• Buenos Aires:  World known for some of the best nightlife in the world and rightfully so. Buenos Aires has it all: speakeasies, underground bars, craft cocktail bars, tango parties, clubs, rooftop bars, etc.  If you are into any type of nightlife you will absolutely love and find your jam in Buenos Aires. As vast and expansive as the nightlife is keep in mind that Argentine’s begin their nights much later than Americans; most Argentines eat dinner around 9:30pm (or later) and don’t end up going out (at night) until beginning around 2am (or later).
• El Calafate and El Chalten (Patagonia):  Both these towns are very laid back and are base towns for adventure activities (i.e. hiking) and, as such, there isn’t a ton of nightlife.  That said, there are bars and craft breweries if you’d like to enjoy a drink at night after a long day of hiking.

The Patagonia portion of this Argentina tour is very physically demanding. You will hike ~14 miles on day 8, followed by ~11 miles on day 9, and then ~6 more miles on day 10. The hikes are absolutely breathtaking but they are indeed difficult. Being in good physical shape is very important for the success of your trip!

You will need proper hiking gear (clothes), hiking shoes, and a light hiking (day) backpack for this Argentina trip. Layers are key! We will provide you with a detailed list of everything you need to bring once you join the trip.