Argentina and Patagonia Group Tour Dates
Date
Price
Availability
Mon, December 26, 2022 – Thu, January 5, 2023
$3399
Available
Sat, February 25, 2023 – Tue, March 7, 2023
$3299
Available
Tue, December 26, 2023 – Fri, January 5, 2024
$3499
Available
Gallery
Where We Go
Buenos Aires
1 of 4Mendoza
2 of 4El Calafate
3 of 4El Chalten
4 of 4Places Visited
- Buenos Aires
- Mendoza
- El Chalten
- El Calafate
- Perito Moreno Glacier
Highlights
- Hiking through out-of-this-world terrain in Patagonia
- Hiking the Perito Moreno Glacier
- Experiencing Buenos Aires like a local Porteño
- Trying all the delicious Argentine food there is
- Touring several world class wineries in Mendoza
- Attending a local tango party in Buenos Aires
- Learning about Argentine culture from locals
- Enjoying a traditional tango show
Trip Inclusions
- 10 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 4 Dinners
- 10 nights in 3* hotels (double occupancy)
- Transportation to/from each site visited
- Internal flights (Mendoza to Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires to El Calafate)
- Group guide/leader for the entirety of the trip
- Small group size: 4 to 14 people
- Buenos Aires neighborhood tours, food tour, Tango lesson, Tango show, winery tour, Patagonia hikes, glacier hike
- Awesome young professionals
Trip Rankings
Flight Information
Airfare is not included in the base price quoted. Our 11 day Argentina and Patagonia group tour begins in Mendoza and ends in El Calafate. Please fly into Mendoza (airport code: MDZ) on the first day, however, please depart from El Calafate (airport code: FTE) on the final day. You’re welcomed to arrive anytime on the first day and depart anytime on the final day. The internal flights (from Mendoza to Buenos Aires and from Buenos Aires to El Calafate) are included in the base price quoted.
Is This Argentina Tour Right for You?
- The pace of life in Argentina can be slow. For example, it’s not uncommon at a restaurant to wait for over an hour for your food. Patience is very important when visiting Argentina.
- There is a good amount of travel on this trip (4 cities/towns and 2 flights) so be prepared to be on the move throughout this trip.
- The physical intensity amongst days 8, 9 and 10 is a lot: 14 miles, 11 miles and 6 miles, respectively. Physical training before this trip might be necessary depending on your current physical fitness level.
- You will be eating traditional Argentine cuisine for the majority of this trip which is very meat (beef) and carb (pasta, pizza, bread, etc.) heavy. Vegetarian and vegan options might be limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Argentina and Patagonia Group Tour Itinerary
- Welcome to Argentina! In particular, welcome to Mendoza: the center of the world-renowned Argentinian wine industry. Mendoza is a unique blend of urban living, fantastic cuisine, and rural country life. Oh, and the mountain scenery is breathtakingly beautiful. Relax for the rest of the day by exploring our neighborhood, drinking wine at a local restaurant, or sampling some of Mendoza’s famous olive oil.
- Tonight we’ll meet up for dinner at a local restaurant and then enjoy some delicious Malbec wine at a cute wine bar.
Daily Inclusions:
- Lodging: 3* hotel in Mendoza (double occupancy)
- Meals: Dinner
- Today is all about wine as we explore several wineries in the Lujan de Cuyo region where the tallest point isn’t measured by a skyscraper but rather the always-white snow top summits of the Cordón del Plata mountain range. We’ll hit up not one, not two, but three different wineries today! Our day starts by being picked up at our hotel and driven to the Lujan de Cuyo region and its sea of vineyards. We’ll sample some of the finest wines in the world! Oh, and we’ll also enjoy an absolutely delicious lunch accompanied by a wine pairing (of course).
- This evening, back in Mendoza, you’ll have some time to relax before we meet up again for more delicious Argentine cuisine!
Daily Inclusions:
- Lodging: 3* hotel in Mendoza (double occupancy)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Activities: Winery visits with wine tastings
- Transportation: Transportation to/from all sites visited
- Today is yours to spend as you wish in Mendoza! You could explore the city at your leisure or opt into an activity that is tailored to your particular style. If you like horseback riding, a half day horseback ride at a traditional gaucho estancia is a no brainer. Or, if you wanted a more active adventure, you could go white water rafting along the Mendoza River. You could even partake in an epic 10 mile (round trip) hike into the Andes Mountains!
- Tonight, back in Mendoza, we’ll meet up and reminisce over our different adventures from the day.
Daily Inclusions:
- Lodging: 3* hotel in Mendoza (double occupancy)
- Meals: Breakfast
Optional Activities:
- Hike to Aconcagua base camp: $175
- Traditional estancia visit with horseback riding: $175
- White water rafting class III/IV rapids: $85
- Today we say goodbye to Mendoza and hello to the bustling, capital city of Buenos Aires! After checking into our hotel we’ll grab lunch nearby before we explore one of the coolest markets in all of the city: the San Telmo market! Nestled in one of the oldest neighborhoods, the San Telmo Market is packed with unique artisans and antiques, some old, some new. There is so much to explore and see at this very popular weekend affair for local Porteños. After filling our backpacks with some souvenirs we’ll make our way back to the hotel where you’ll have some time to relax.
- Tonight you’re in for a classic Argentine treat: a tango show! Buenos Aires is known as the tango capital of the world so there’s really no better place to witness this classic 19th century dance. After the show (which will be accompanied by a delicious dinner) you’re welcome to follow your group leader to Milión, a beautiful outdoor garden bar/lounge with the best mojitos in town! But where will our night end? Who knows!
Daily Inclusions:
- Lodging: 3* hotel in Buenos Aires (double occupancy)
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Transportation: Transfer to airport in Mendoza, transfer from airport in Buenos Aires, flight from Mendoza to Buenos Aires, transportation to/from Tango show
- Activities: Tango show, San Telmo market exploration
- Rise and shine – it’s more Buenos Aires time! Sleep in a bit and have a light breakfast as we’re going to start things a little differently by going for a food tour! We’ll walk around our neighborhood (chic Palermo) making stops along the way to try different traditional Argentine foods! First we start with the sweets: facturas (pastries), sip some mate (caffeine drink), and alfajores (traditional cookies). Then we move onto the savories: empanadas (baked turnover) and finally we’ll eat choripán (a popular Argentine sandwich). Also, we may or may not be topping off lunch with some traditional Argentine gelato (dulce de leche flavored of course).
- For the rest of the afternoon (after the food tour) you’ll have free time to explore our neighborhood and go shopping if you’d like! Our neighborhood is full of boutique shops, after all!
- This evening we’ll meet back up for dinner and then, after, try our best to replicate the Tango show (from last night) with our own private Tango lesson! No worries if you have two left feet as our instructors are professional dancers and will show you the ropes – you’ll be a (semi) pro in no time! And, afterwards, follow your instructors to a Milonga party (i.e. Tango party) nearby if you want to witness locals dancing the night away. Maybe you’ll feel brave enough to get on the dance floor and try your new Tango skills out!
Daily Inclusions:
- Lodging: 3* hotel in Buenos Aires (double occupancy)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (via food tour)
- Activities: Food tour, Tango lesson, Milonga party
- Today it’s time to get our Buenos Aires game on! Buenos Aires is a vast, beautiful city so today we’ll take our time and tackle several neighborhoods. We’ll start with a walking tour along La Boca – a neighborhood with colorful tenements, where many artists have studios and workshops. After exploring this cute neighborhood we’ll head to Puerto Madero – a chic, dockside area of the city complete with a beautiful promenade and delicious, high-end Argentine restaurants.
After a delicious lunch along the promenade we’ll make our way towards the neighborhood of Recoleta: an affluent area home to lavish townhouses and the National Museum of Fine Arts. We’ll stroll through the streets of Recoleta admiring the architecture while learning about the fascinating history before arriving at our final destination: the famous Recoleta Cemetery. This above ground cemetery, considered an outdoors museum, features some of the most beautiful headstones and grave markers you’ll ever see. It’s also the resting place of the famous Evita Perón.
- Tonight we’ll head to a local restaurant for dinner before dancing the night away (for those that would like)! Argentina nightlife is notorious for starting very late so brace yourself for a whole new experience!
Daily Inclusions:
- Lodging: 3* hotel in Buenos Aires (double occupancy)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Activities: Buenos Aires neighborhood tour
- Transportation: Transportation to/from all sites
- Today we say goodbye to Buenos Aires as we fly to Patagonia, one of the most beautiful, pristine areas in the entire world. We’ll fly into the town of El Calafate and, upon our arrival, embark on a short but beautiful road trip to El Chaltén, a small village on the Argentine side of Patagonia known worldwide for its famous hikes. We’ll relax for the rest of today as our Patagonia hiking adventures begin tomorrow!
- Tonight we’ll meet up for an early dinner and get an early night’s rest.
Daily Inclusions:
- Lodging: 3* hotel in El Chaltén (double occupancy)
- Meals: Breakfast
- Transportation: Transfer to Buenos Aires airport, transfer from El Calafate airport, flight from Buenos Aires to El Calafate
- Today is all about hiking and embracing both the wilderness and secludedness that make Patagonia so special! We’ll leave our hotel and embark along the Laguna de los Tres trail, the most popular hike in El Chaltén (for good reason). This 14 mile (round trip) hike takes us past glaciers, iceberg-filled waters, crystal clear streams, turquoise-colored lagoons and, finally, to the base of the gorgeous Fitz Roy Mountain. Calling this an epic hike is an understatement – it might be your absolute favorite hike of all time.
- After an absolutely stunning and physically exhausting day we’ll relax in El Chaltén and take another early night to rest up for more Patagonia hiking tomorrow!
Daily Inclusions:
- Lodging: 3* hotel in El Chaltén (double occupancy)
- Meals: Breakfast
- Activities: Laguna de los Tres hike with local guide
- Hiking in Patagonia take two! We’ll start our day early as we tackle the Laguna Torre trail. This 11 mile (round trip) hike will take us past the gorgeous Adela mountain range, two glaciers (Torre and Grande glaciers), a pristine forest and, lastly, to the famous Cerro Torre mountains. We’ll have a picnic lunch in front of the Cerro Lagoon before heading back to El Chaltén.
- Upon arriving back in town we’ll be picked up and road trip through the Patagonia remoteness to El Calafate for the last leg of our epic trip.
Daily Inclusions:
- Lodging: 3* hotel in El Calafate (double occupancy)
- Meals: Breakfast
- Activities: Laguna Torre hike (with local guide)
- Transportation: Transfer from El Chaltén to El Calafate
- As today is our last full day in Patagonia, we are ending it in style – glacier hike style that is! Today we will embark on a glacier hike on the Perito Moreno Glacier! We’ll get picked up in El Calafate and head to the Los Glaciares National Park. We’ll catch a catamaran and cross Lago Argento where we’ll get outfitted with crampons before beginning our epic glacier hike! We may or may not stop along the way to enjoy a quick drink cooled down by some glacier ice. We’ll then retrace our steps and eventually make our way back to El Calafate for our final night together. This whole day will be something to remember forever!
- Tonight we’ll meet up for our final dinner together and reminisce about our time shared in Argentina.
Daily Inclusions:
- Lodging: 3* hotel in El Calafate (double occupancy)
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Activities: Glacier hike
- Transportation: Transfer to/from Los Glaciares National Park
- Today, sadly, is your last on our Argentina and Patagonia group tour for young professionals. While you will be going home today the experience on the trip and friendships made will last a lifetime! You’re free to depart from El Calafate at any time today.
Daily Inclusions:
- Meals: Breakfast
