11 Days in Argentina - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Natural Highlights - El Calafate, El Chalten, & Iguazú

This eleven-day itinerary gives you a chance to combine the gorgeous scenery of southern Patagonia with a visit to Iguazú Falls. Experience a magical evening of tango in Buenos Aires, then fly south to see Perito Moreno Glacier up close. Then, spend a couple of days hiking around El Chaltén, a small town often called "Hiker's Paradise." Finally, head north to visit both the Argentine and Brazilian sides of Iguazú Falls, the world's largest waterfall complex. 

Start your trip off with a day exploring Buenos Aires, topped with an evening of music and tango. The next morning board a flight to El Calafate, the gateway to the southern half of Los Glaciares National Park. Spend the day wandering through the city and visit the Glaciarium in preparation for your trip to Perito Moreno glacier tomorrow. 

On day three, set out bright and early and spend the day at the jaw-dropping Perito Moreno, one of the few advancing glaciers in the world. Walk the network of platforms that zigzag in front of the glacier to see it from different angles and take pictures. 

Next, it's time to head to El Chaltén, a small town three hours away from El Calafate in the northern part of Los Glaciares National Park. Spend days six and seven of your trip hiking on some of the many, many trails around the town, and take in the stunning views of Mount Fitz Roy. In the evenings, head to a pub to try some local craft beer. 

Now it's time to drive back to El Calafate for your flight back to Buenos Aires, before traveling on to Iguazú Falls the following day. Spend the rest of the day exploring the city of Puerto Iguazú and enjoying your hotel in preparation for a jam-packed day at the Argentine side of the falls tomorrow. 

Start your ninth day with breakfast at your hotel before heading to the Argentine side of Iguazú Falls. The Argentine side has a network of paths over and around the falls that you can visit, including three circuits that give you views of the falls from all angles. The most impressive route takes you to the Devil's Throat, where you'll be able to look down on the crashing water of the highest waterfall in the park. 

Next, spend a half-day visiting the Brazilian side of the falls, which has less walking paths but offers more panoramic views. Then fly back to Buenos Aires for a final evening in the city. Finally, head back to the airport for your flight home on the morning of your eleventh day in Argentina. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Buenos Aires and Southern Patagonia

This southern Patagonian route starts in Buenos Aires before taking you to Ushuaia, the "city at the end of the world," and through some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the country. Start with a day of sightseeing in Buenos Aires before heading all the way south to Ushuaia, where you'll see Magellanic penguins and hike along the Beagle Channel. Then, fly to El Calafate and the famed Perito Moreno glacier. Finally, spend your last couple of days in Patagonia hiking in the northern part of Los Glaciares National Park, before heading back to Buenos Aires for a final evening of tango before flying home. 

After you land and your driver picks you up at the airport to take you to your hotel, your trip begins with a day of sightseeing in Buenos Aires. On the following day, fly down to Ushuaia, a city right on the edge of the continent, and spend the rest of the day exploring or relaxing at your hotel. 

Then, take a tour to see the penguins on Isla Martillo and Estancia Harberton, and learn all about the birds in their natural habitat. On the next day (day four), set out early for a day of trekking and canoeing in nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park. Here you'll see some of the most striking scenery in Patagonia, from seaside mountains to icy rivers to subantarctic forests and tranquil bays. This tour finishes at the Lapataia Bay, which is where the Panamerican Highway (which starts all the way up in Alaska) ends. 

Next, it's time to fly to El Calafate, the city closest to Perito Moreno glacier. After your flight, take the rest of the day to rest, explore the town, or visit the nearby Glaciarium—a multi-media, interactive museum with lots of information about glaciers. 

On the sixth day of your trip, grab breakfast at your hotel before you set out for the Perito Moreno, an awe-inspiring mass of ice that flows from the Andes and ends in a giant wall on the Lago Argentino. Spend the day strolling the network of walkways conveniently set-up in front of the glacier and join a boat tour to see the icy façade up close. On the following day, drive three hours to El Chaltén, which is a small village at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy that's known as one of South America's best hiking destinations. Spend the next day hiking up to Laguna de los Tres, from where you'll have stunning views of three surrounding peaks. 

Then it's time to travel back to El Calafate and board a flight back to Buenos Aires. Once you arrive in the capital, join a four-hour walking tour to get to know the city better. On your final evening in Argentina, experience an unforgettable night of music and tango, Argentina's national dance. If you feel up for it, join the fun and take part in a tango class. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Classic Argentina - Buenos Aires, Mendoza & Patagonia

This eleven-day itinerary hits all of Argentina's most iconic attractions, from the vineyards of Mendoza to the Perito Moreno glacier to a night in one of Buenos Aires' famous tanguerías for an unforgettable evening of music and dancing. 

This trip kicks off with a couple of days in Buenos Aires, where you'll see all of the city's highlights during a three-hour tour, including San Telmo, the oldest neighborhood in the city, and La Boca, the city's original port and home to the colorful Caminito Street. Spend the evening at a tango performance, where dancers will hypnotize you with their slow, sensuous moves over a three-course meal. 

Then it's time to head to Mendoza and spend a full day touring the nearby vineyards to learn about Malbec, the region's star varietal. After a day of winery-hopping, set off to the mountains for a high-altitude tour of the surrounding landscapes. The tour includes highlights like a visit to Uspallata, a pre-Inca settlement and going partway up the Cerro Aconcagua (22,841 feet/6,962 m above sea level) all the way to Las Cuevas, the last village in Argentina before the Chilean border. 

After your day in the mountains, spend your last full day in Mendoza lounging in the hot springs at Termas de Cacheuta, at the foot of the Andes. 

Finally, fly from Mendoza to El Calafate on the seventh day of your trip, and take the rest of the afternoon to explore the town before your outing to Perito Moreno tomorrow. 

Today (day eight), wake up bright and early for your adventure to Perito Moreno glacier in the Los Glaciares National Park. Armed with your ice axe and crampons (and accompanied by your qualified guide) set out for your trek on the glacier and see the ice up close. Take it easy the next day with a boat trip on the Lago Argentino to Spegazzini and Upsala glaciers and through the nearby channels. 

Finally, it's time to fly back to Buenos Aires for a last bit of sightseeing before catching your flight home. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Patagonia and the Lake District

This route loops down to southern Patagonia with a few days of exploring the Perito Moreno and the icy wilderness of Los Glaciares National Park before heading back up to the gentler mountain scenery of Bariloche, in the heart of Argentina's Lake District. 

This trip starts with a couple of days in Buenos Aires to recharge after your long international flight and discover more of the city, culminating in an evening of dinner and tango at one of Buenos Aires' premier tango venues. After that, it's time to fly down to El Calafate, a city that sits on the shore of Lago Argentino. Spend your free afternoon exploring or relaxing, and get ready for a big day tomorrow. 

Next up is a full-day tour of Perito Moreno glacier, one of only a few advancing glaciers in the world. Walk to the different viewing platforms that face the glacier to see it from different angles and take photos. Then join a boat tour to get even closer to the ice. 

On day five, join a boat tour for a glacier gourmet experience that combines delicious food in a truly spectacular setting. You'll be able to gaze out on Upsala and Spagazzini glaciers as you savor your meal.

Once you've had your fill of glaciers, it's time to leave for Bariloche on day six of your trip, and spend a few hours visiting the city. Some suggestions include riding the cable car to the top of Cerro Campanario or strolling down Mitre Street,  Bariloche's main shopping avenue. On the following day, join a guided history tour that will teach you the history of the region, and learn how Bariloche quickly grew from a small mountain village into one of Argentina's most popular cities. The tour also includes lunch at a microbrewery, where you'll get to taste local pub food and craft beer. 

On day eight, head to  Llao Llao Municipal Park for some hiking around the beautiful mountains and lakes the region is famous for. Weave your way through dense Patagonian forests to see Puente Romano (Roman Bridge), Lake Moreno, Puerto Blest, the Brazo Tristeza Fjord, Mount López, and Mount Capilla, before returning to Bariloche in the evening. On your last full day in Bariloche, rent a car and choose from one of three self-driving itineraries to see more of the surrounding region. You'll be able to drive down the famous Seven Lakes Road to San Martin de Los Andes, travel to the small town of El Bolson, or head to Mount Tronador, a volcano on the border between Argentina and Chile. 

On day ten, it's time to say good-bye to Bariloche and fly back to Buenos Aires. Spend your last day in the capital sight-seeing or souvenir shopping, and hit up any spots you didn't have time for earlier in the trip. Finally, on the morning of day eleven, a driver will pick you up and take you to the international airport for your flight home. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Deluxe Northern Argentina

This luxurious itinerary winds through smaller towns and cities in northern Argentina before finishing off at the spectacular Iguazú Falls. Explore the north's desert landscapes, see the endless expanse of the salt flats, and taste delicious regional wines during Argentina's low season in this off-the-beaten-path tour. 

Start your trip off with a day in Buenos Aires before flying to Salta, a colonial city in the Northwest of Argentina early the next morning. From there, a driver will pick you up and take you to Cachi. You'll drive along a beautiful route that goes through the Valles Calchaquies and over the Valle Encantado, passing by the giant cacti of Los Cardones National Park before finally arriving at your destination. Cachi is a small, charming town, with cobblestone streets and adobe architecture. Spend the rest of your day strolling through its quiet streets, and make sure to take a look at the local crafts—including ponchos and ceramics. 

On day three, head to Bodega Colomé, one of the oldest bodegas in Argentina, originally founded in 1831. Nowadays, the winery is most known for producing a variety of organic wines, and also has a delicious restaurant on site. After lunch, continue on your drive for another four hours until you reach Cafayate, home to the world-famous torrontés grape. 

Next, you'll go on a half-day wine tour to taste some of the region's best wines—made with the aforementioned torrontés grape—and learn about local winemaking techniques. After the tour, hop back in the car for a leisurely journey back to Salta through the rugged red canyons of the Quebrada de las Conchas Gorge. Spend your evening in the city and enjoy the classic colonial architecture that makes Salta unique. In the morning a guide will take you on a tour of the city, which includes highlights like the Neoclassical San Francisco Church and the MAAM (High Mountain Archeological Museum). Then it's time to head further north through the beautiful the Quebrada de Humahuaca up to Tilcara, a small town with a rich, 10,000-year long history that's one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in Argentina. 

On day six, set out bright and early to visit the Salinas Grandes, high-altitude salt flats that cover nearly 30,000 acres. Once you return to Tilcara, spend the evening enjoying the town and learning about its rich culture.

On day eight, a transfer will take you back to Salta to catch your flight to Puerto Iguazú, the town closest to Iguazú Falls. Enjoy a day touring the town. Then, head to the Argentine side of the falls the next morning. You'll be able to walk along the network of paths around the falls and see them from both above and below. On day nine, visit the Brazilian side for a more panoramic view of the water. 

Then, it's time to head back to Buenos Aires for one last day of touring and sightseeing in the city, followed by a beautiful evening of tango at one Buenos Aires' most luxurious tanguerías. Finally, your driver will pick you up on day eleven to take you back to the airport for your flight home. Learn more

More Great 11-Day Argentina Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your Argentina trip? Check out these other 11-day Argentina itineraries, ranging from active, to cultural, to luxury, or family-friendly trips.

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