Argentine Patagonia Trip: Untouched Adventure

Your Argentine Patagonia trip begins in beautiful Buenos Aires, Argentina’s cultural-filled capital. After a private driver ferries you to Home Hotel in Palermo to drop bags and freshen up, your tour guide arrives to show you around the city’s most famous sites, from Plaza de Mayo to La Boca. The first day ends in grand style: dinner and a tango show at the legendary Rojo Tango venue. 

Pedal down the leafy boulevards and serene streets of Recoleta and Palermo on a guided morning bike ride, pausing at parks and points of interest to soak up the history and ambiance. Pass a leisurely afternoon before heading to the home of a renowned chef, whose family welcomes you to their table for an intimate dining experience. Step into the kitchen to learn classic recipes before settling in for a wine-and-food-filled evening with newfound friends. 

Fly south to the town of Ushuaia, the “end of the world” and gateway to Antarctica. Admire the snowcapped peaks crowding the horizon on the short transfer to the Los Cauquenes Resort. Then, drive along the Beagle Channel to the home of an intrepid woman chef, angler, and boat captain, who opens her doors to share a meal of fresh-caught seafood with a side of enthralling tales. 

Today’s adventure is just a short drive down the road: Tierra del Fuego National Park, a wild corner of the country where mountains, lakes, forests, and ocean meet. Follow the rugged Coastal Path into the park's still, silent center to the lush banks of the Lapataia River, where you pause for a picnic lunch. Then, climb into inflatable canoes and float downriver through wind-carved forests to Lapataia Bay on the Beagle Channel. 

Wind along lonely roads to Estancia Harberton, the oldest in Tierra del Fuego. Roam this far-flung edge of the world outpost, glimpsing the pioneering spirit of early settlers. Then, a visit to the Marine Mammal Museum prepares you for an afternoon among Patagonia’s cutest residents: penguins. Sail to Martillo Island to see penguins waddling on the shore. After lunch and hiking on Gable Island, return to the main island and back to Ushuaia. 

Fly north to El Calafate, one of the gateway towns of the ice fields, glaciers, and spires of Los Glaciares National Park. A private driver delivers you to your hotel, Los Ponchos, set on the outskirts of town close to the lake. Take the afternoon to wander the waterfront, browse boutiques, or sit back with a bottle of Malbec. Leave room for a fabulous dinner at Mako, one of El Calafate’s trendiest eateries. 

Drive into Los Glaciares National Park, where the colossal Perito Moreno Glacier greets you with its marbled facade that feels near enough to touch. But, you’ll get even closer; head down to the shore, don dry gear, and slip across azure waters by kayak to the foot of the soaring front wall. Warm up that night over a homecooked meal at Rancho Aparte, a family-run eatery hosted in a Patagonian house. 

A morning drive brings you to El Chalten, a mountain village at the doorstep of Argentine Patagonia’s most famous peak, Fitz Roy. Sitting on a rise above a glacial river, Explora El Chalten welcomes you with becalming wood-lined rooms looking upon wild, raw scenery. A free afternoon offers a chance for time together: a trip to the spa, dips in outdoor hot tubs, a glass of wine savored before a breathtaking view, followed by dinner and deep slumber. 

Accompanied by a guide, strike out on one of Patagonia’s most famous trails, ascending into the mountains to Laguna de los Tres. Traverse wooded valleys and rocky slopes, finally standing before an aquamarine lagoon framed by the three peaks of Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, and Mount Poincenot. Eat lunch in the shadow of a glacier by Laguna Sucia before retracing back to the hotel; a massage or time in the hot tub is well-earned.  

Today, eschew the well-worn path and follow the one less traveled, heading into the hidden valley of Lago del Desierto. Overlooked by most hikers like a secret Shangri-La, here the forested trails, tinkling waterfalls, and mountain-hugged lake are entirely yours. Cross the quiet waters by boat to continue the trail, kept company by glaciers and stoic summits. This is Patagonia at its purest: crowds a distant memory, nature all around, just your small cohort amid the wilderness. 

Fly north to where the barren peaks turn to forested slopes cradling deep lakes in the idyllic Lake District. Landing in Bariloche, you're driven to Aldebaran Hotel & Spa, a mountain lodge where barely-there windows frame lake and mountain vistas. The afternoon is yours: take a dip in the indoor-outdoor pool, share a quiet moment on breezy terraces, and fill up on Argentinian alpine cuisine, Malbec and melt-in-your-mouth beef. 

A full day exploring the Lake District’s finest features—mountains, waterways and woods— awaits you. A breezy boat ride from the resort drops you within Nahuel Huapi National Park at Brazo Tristeza, where you set off into dense stands of trees. Creeks, cascades, and peek-a-boo vistas punctuate the walk to the Frey Waterfall, followed by a beachfront lunch before sailing back to the hotel, wind in your hair and dreamy scenery filling your gaze.

Glide across the glistening waters of Moreno Lake with a morning kayak outing, serenely floating past thickly-wooded banks backed by rearing summits. Alighting for lunch on a quiet beach, wander the trails of the Llao-Llao Nature Park before a driver takes you to the slopes of Catedral Ski Resort for a spot of scenic but exuberant cycling. Speed along twisting gravel routes through forests and foothills, grabbing glimpses of lakes and mountains amid the rush.  

Savor one last lakefront breakfast before departing to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires, wrapping up your Argentina Patagonia trip. You’re going home, or onto the next adventure, laden with new memories, sure to be treasured together for a lifetime: meals at the end of the world, time alone in nature just the two of you next to glacial lakes, traveling the trail of life as one.