Argentina Christmas Vacation

Fabulous is the word that comes to mind. From the very beginning of the planning process to the end of our trip we felt in good hands. Zicasso’s travel specialist, our direct contact, and her team, including the travel company’s principal, were one text away when we needed them for last-minute reservations at restaurants, tickets to events, or minor changes to our itinerary. In Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and Iguazú, the local drivers, guides, and hotel operators were true professionals in every sense of the word.

We wanted to visit Buenos Aires and Uruguay for a week in June of this year. This is my second time using Zicasso. I had an excellent experience with them for a trip to Switzerland two years ago and wanted to give them another try. I was not disappointed.

I was offered two proposals from local travel experts in South America, both of which were promising. I made the choice because our Zicasso travel specialist was personally familiar with the places I wanted to visit, so he got the nod. I identified the places I wanted to visit and the kind of experiences I wanted to have, and he turned that around with a specific itinerary in a few days, after asking some qualifying questions about hotel, location, and traveling preferences.

For the Uruguay portion of the trip, he partnered with our travel specialist, our concierge for Uruguay and guide for Colonia del Sacramento, and travel through Montevideo.

Our guide for the tour of Buenos Aires was so knowledgeable that describing her that way is quite an understatement, given her mastery of the neighborhoods and their historic, cultural, residential, and shopping aspects. But even better, she had a talent for describing what real life in Buenos Aires was like historically and now.

Our hotel in fashionable Palermo was more than comfortable, with staff inviting us to share their sandwiches and pulling up chairs for the Argentina-Austria match being watched in the lobby. Very hospitable people, which we found everywhere, actually. We did a tango night with dinner and a show that left us speechless at a cabaret in Buenos Aires. We’ve never seen such grace, athleticism, and talent so up close. Bravo!

We reached Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay by ferry and were met there by our travel specialist for a tour (with our driver) of the colonial old city, where she explained how to tell which street or which building was built by the Portuguese or the Spanish during the contentious colonial period by looking at the stone arrangement and roof treatment. We had lunch and a lovely drive along the coast to Montevideo. Along the way, our travel specialist and our driver carefully explained how to avoid getting caught inadvertently by the prevalent speed cameras and be in compliance with local driving practices. Our hotel in Montevideo was our world-class HQ for touring the city, the beaches, and the wine country, before renting a car and driving to Punta del Este and surrounding areas.

From our hotel in Punta del Este, we could cross the road and walk along the beach for long distances. The dining staff greeted us like old friends after the first meal. The car always appeared immediately when we wanted it. The place is also rumored to throw one of the best New Year's parties in South America, but we weren’t there at the right time of year for that. Yet.

Our travel day home included a couple of hours' drive and rental car return (very easy), then boarding the ferry to Buenos Aires for a two-and-a-half-hour cruise. In Buenos Aires, we were delighted to meet up with our guide, who recommended that we spend our few hours until leaving for the airport at an excellent restaurant on the water, and then easily accommodated our need to buy some gifts for family back home. Along the way, he showed us how previous strangers can become good friends in a very small amount of time.

We saw and experienced everything we wanted to on this trip, and then some. It was well organized and scheduled, and the people were terrific. I would strongly recommend these people for traveling in South America. They really know their stuff.  

We traveled to Rio, Iguaçu, and Buenos Aires with Zicasso’s travel company as a family. Our travel agent was very helpful and great to work with during the initial idea phase.

Of this 8-day, 7-night trip, there were only 2 days that went according to plan with no problems.

Pros: They were responsive during planning, prompt with small refunds for shows/activities missed, and helpful in modifying a flight.

Cons: The worst problem we had was dealing with the operations person, who was rude and no sensible business would have him talking to paying clients. We chose to see Buenos Aires on our own rather than waste any more of our precious vacation time talking to him.

There were multiple other smaller issues, including a poor show-timing miscommunication in Rio, a vehicle delay in Iguaçu, and drivers who were sent without guides who were unaware of the day's plans. Fundamentally, the agent who planned the trip was away during our travel and should never have agreed to put this trip together given her schedule and lack of quality client support in her company.

Also, there were multiple third-party providers and different guides almost every day, which made things transactional.

Overall, we chose Zicasso and this travel company due to us not having time in advance to plan all the little details that make a vacation great. This just meant those details needed to be tended to later, and that the significant planning charges paid accomplished little towards that end. Few, if any, of the services provided that were billed as luxury met those standards.

If you've never traveled outside your home country, maybe this company might add value to your trip. Else, it would be like you get a worse result than doing it yourself (and pay a significant premium for the privilege!).

Wouldn't recommend.

My wife and I recently embarked on a breathtaking journey through South America, visiting Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Iguazú Falls in Argentina, and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. We entrusted Zicasso's tour agency with planning our trip and it turned out to be one of the best travel decisions we've ever made.

From the very beginning, the team at the tour company was attentive and responsive, taking the time to understand our preferences and interests. They crafted a personalized itinerary that perfectly balanced adventure, relaxation, and cultural exploration.

Buenos Aires: Our adventure began in the vibrant city of Buenos Aires. The agency arranged for a knowledgeable local guide who took us through the historic neighborhoods, tango shows, and culinary delights. The accommodations were centrally located, allowing us to explore the city with ease.

Mendoza: Next, we traveled to Mendoza, where we were immersed in the world of wine. The tour agency organized exclusive vineyard tours and tastings, providing us with a unique insight into the region's winemaking traditions. The picturesque landscapes and charming boutique hotel made our stay unforgettable.

Iguazú Falls: The highlight of our trip was undoubtedly the awe-inspiring Iguazú Falls. The agency ensured we had the best vantage points and arranged for a thrilling boat ride that brought us up close to the cascading waters. Their attention to detail and seamless logistics made this experience truly magical.

Rio de Janeiro: Our journey concluded in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro. The travel company curated a perfect blend of iconic sights like Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain, along with hidden gems that showcased the city's unique culture. The beachfront hotel provided stunning views and a relaxing end to our adventure.

Throughout the trip, the tour company was always available to assist with any questions or adjustments, ensuring a stress-free experience. Their expertise and dedication to customer satisfaction were evident in every aspect of our journey.

We wholeheartedly recommend this company to anyone seeking a well-organized and memorable travel experience. We look forward to planning our next adventure with them!

We take great pleasure in saying our Patagonian adventure through Zicasso and the tour operator was near perfect. Our sincere thanks to our travel specialist and everyone at the tour operator for the red-carpet treatment we received at every destination on our itinerary: namely Buenos Aires, Iguazú, Bariloche, El Calafate, and El Chalten. We commend everyone involved in the personalized communication, planning and execution of our two exciting weeks traveling throughout Argentina.

Beginning in December 2025, the travel specialist and his team worked out every detail of travel in Argentina's fall season: all our domestic flights, customized tours, airport transfers, and, most importantly, the most knowledgeable, engaging guides we could ever have imagined. We can't make enough positive comments about our first Patagonian adventure.

Every driver arrived promptly, putting us immediately at ease. Every evening, team members messaged us on WhatsApp to remind us of the next day's transfers and tours. They followed up immediately with answers to any questions we had.

All of our guides were exceptional. Their passion and depth of knowledge made our tours more fascinating and entertaining than any we've ever experienced. We could not have planned anything remotely close to the guides the tour operator included for each tour.

We will most assuredly utilize the services of the travel specialist at the best tour company we have ever found for adventures in South America.

Our family had a fantastic trip to Argentina, traveling from Buenos Aires to Patagonia to Iguazú Falls. Zicasso’s travel specialist did a great job making the trip seamless and easy for us—from making itinerary suggestions, as we shared our hopes for the trip, to finding us tour guides for our private tours, to making dinner reservations when we had difficulty reaching a restaurant. He ensured reliable transportation for us from place to place and was always available if we had a question or issue.

I would highly recommend Argentina and our travel specialist for anyone who has a love of travel and hasn’t visited Argentina yet.