Best of Argentina Patagonia Tour: Cruise, Hike, Tango

In the morning, the city comes to life with bakeries filling their windows with freshly baked empanadas and medialunas, a pastry similar to a croissant. The scent of rich espresso drifts out of the cafes of Recoleta. People fill the pedestrian walkways around Plaza de Mayo in front of the pink façade of the presidential mansion, known as the Casa Rosada. After breakfast, your private transfer meets you at the hotel and escorts you to the Ministro Pistarini International Airport for your flight to El Calafate.

The town maintains an alpine ambiance on the edge of Los Glaciares National Park. Pine beams frame the doorways. Lush trees shade the sidewalks, dangling verdant leaves over stores containing handcrafted goods, commemorating the styles of the aboriginal tribes that once settled along the landscape. Your private transfer leads you from the airport to your comfortable accommodation overlooking the shores of Lago Argentina. Across the tranquil turquoise waters of the lake, you can see the snowcapped mountains making the dramatic skyline.

In the morning, you wake up to the stunning view of the Patagonian landscape outside your window. The thrill of the day washes over you, knowing that the splendor of Patagonia will only continue to get better. At breakfast, you can sip the preferred drink of Argentines and enjoy the herbaceous aroma and strong flavor of yerba mate tea. After your meal, your guide takes you to Los Glaciares National Park where you arrive at the edge of Perito Moreno Glacier. The glacier rises an average of 240 feet above the water’s surface. The dramatic cliff narrows the waters of Lago Argentino into a canal. Icebergs float in the water having once broken away from the icy bluff.

A network of walkways provides you with stunning views of the glacier’s 19-mile length. It is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and is one of the few regional glaciers that is still expanding. Guanaco, a member of the camelid family, graze on the Patagonian steppes. Notros blossom around the mountainous terrain with spindle-like petals that glow bright red. The glacier promotes the staggering contrasts of Patagonia, showcasing how the landscape can be both powerful and graceful.

In the morning, flamingos linger in the water on the shores of Lago Argentino. The lake is the largest freshwater lake in Argentina with a surface area of 546 square miles. The gentle breeze causes ripples in the water and ruffles the flamingos’ feathers. After breakfast, you make your way to Comandante Armando Tola International Airport for your flight to the edge of the South American continent at Ushuaia. The town is often referred to as the “City at the End of the World.”

You arrive at the city settled on the edge of the shores of the Beagle Channel, whose fishing village past remains visible in the moored fishing boats and quaint homes on the outskirts of the city center. A trail zigzags up the mountainside to Glaciar Martial, overlooking the city. The panorama takes in the dramatic slope of the Andes Mountains descending into the water. Fishing boats return to the shore after a full day of exploring the southern waters. You settle into your charming hotel on the shores of the channel. The water reflects the lights of your hotel. The foothills of the Andes are visible from the lobby.

Tierra del Fuego means the Land of Fire. Explorers named the land for the numerous campfires visible from their ships, which were made by the aboriginal tribes that once inhabited the land. At breakfast, you can enjoy the herbaceous aroma yerba mate with a view of the calm Beagle Channel outside your window. Your guide meets you in the lobby and leads you to Tierra del Fuego National Park. The national park encompasses 155,676 acres of protected flora and fauna. Your guide leads you on a fabulous hike to Ensenada Bay.

The scenery changes quickly, opening to crisp rivers and turquoise lakes. In the near distance, you can see the shores of Redonda and Estorbo Islands. Snow blankets the chain of Sampaio Mountains in Chile. Condor Hill creates a natural border between Argentina and Chile in Tierra del Fuego. The scenery is unadulterated and unforgettable. After your visit to the national park, you return to Ushuaia and board your luxurious cruise, eager to explore the secluded shores of Patagonia.

In the morning, you wake up to an unparalleled view of Patagonia outside your window. The landscape swells around the Murray Channel. Lush foothills ascend out of Nassau Bay. Wild berries add bursts of red to the verdant hillsides. Your captain informs you to keep an eye out for whales traveling through the straits. You reach Cape Horn National Park and head ashore. The cape was discovered in the 17th century and has a sheer rocky cliff rising 1,394 feet above sea level. The Cape connotes the point where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.

Icebergs glide through the water, having broken away from larger ice fields. Two lighthouses help illuminate the coastline for passing ships. The lighthouse on Cape Horn has a range of 13 miles. The windswept grasses brighten the craggy expanse. Waves crash against the boulders at the base of the cliff. When you return to the ship, you continue to the shores of Wulaia Bay, where the rocky edges of the cape change to fern trees and the Magellan forest.

Traveling through Garibaldi Fjord takes you along the pure turquoise waters. Ice floats through the narrow passage, shimmering shades of blue and green. Waterfalls meander down the steep mountainsides feeding into the waterway. You continue onward through the Pia Fjord where the ship docks. The glowing blue ice of Pia Glacier touches the edges of the shores of the fjord. The exquisite image resembles a flood having been frozen in time. Your guide leads you along the rugged shoreline along the fjord. The volcanic soil is barren and the nearby façade of ice towers over you. The seclusion is serene.

The contrast between the ice and rock is breathtaking. You wait with your guide in front of the ice field. You see dust spout from the edges of the glacier. A thunderous clap follows the eruption of ice. A magnificent iceberg is cracking away from the glacier and splashes into the fjord. The experience is unforgettable. The sounds of the splash and the ice breaking away from the larger glacier are stunning. You make your way back to the ship with your heart still racing with excitement.

In the morning, the ship docks in Ushuaia. From the shoreline, you see the familiar sight of the Andes Mountains descending into the Beagle Channel at an intense angle. A gondola car travels across the summits in the distance, connecting the ski slopes and hiking trails. Your private transfer greets you at the port and escorts you to Ushuaia-Malvinas Argentinas International Airport for your return flight to Buenos Aires. The city has an ineffable pull that immediately draws you into it. The colorful corrugated houses in La Boca embody the artistic souls of the porteños, the locals of Buenos Aires. You settle into the comforts of your hotel in the charming neighborhood of La Recoleta.

In the evening, you have a private driver escort you to an incredible time of dining and dancing at a celebrated theater. The interior is reminiscent of a nightclub from the 1930s and 1940s. A velvet curtain drapes over the stage. Chandeliers shine elegant light over the main gallery. Dinner is served, and you have a taste of famous Argentine parrilla, (Argentinian grill) along with a perfect view of the sensual movements of the dancers on stage. Each couple accentuates the different styles of the tango, from the passionate embrace to the dramatic steps. The men wear white shirts and tight black pants. The women wear bright red heels and dresses that flutter when they kick. The beauty of the tango radiates across the room with undeniable intrigue.

In the morning, the lanes of La Recoleta Cemetery are quiet. The marble facades of formerly famous Argentines glow in the adorning sunlight. Locals of the neighborhood stroll along the shaded lanes and enjoy a cup of espresso at the Ateneo Grand Splendid, a picturesque bookshop with an elegant café. The eatery overlooks the sweeping staircase and intricate ceiling. Tables and chairs are set on what was once a graceful stage, providing ample views of the delicate décor of the celebrated bookstore. After breakfast, your guide meets you at the hotel, ready to show you the bountiful wonders of the enticing city.

La Recoleta Cemetery was established in the 18th century by a now disbanded convent and encompasses 14 acres. Approximately 94 of the nearly 5,000 vaults and mausoleums have been declared National Historic Monuments. Stunning monuments range from Greek temple adornments to pyramid-like sculptures. Fans of Eva Perón, known to many as “Evita,” leave flowers and letters at her tomb. Another famous person buried in the cemetery is General Tomás Guido, who fought in the Argentine War of Independence.

In the morning, the herbaceous aroma of yerba mate emanates from the Import Coffee Company, a cozy café in La Recoleta. Wooden bar stools and small tables create a welcoming atmosphere. The rich scent of roasted coffee beans overtakes the earthen aroma of the tea. The splendors of Buenos Aires are inherent in the cuisine and the surrounding landscape outside of the city. The town of Tigre sits on the Paraná Delta and showcases stunning architecture from the late 19th century. Estancias (Argentinian ranches) illuminate Argentina’s connection to the legends of cowboys and ranchers. Soon your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you to Ministro Pistarini International Airport for your flight home, but you could always extend your stay in Argentina to visit the wineries of Mendoza or the impressive cascades of Iguazu Falls.