Argentina Family Tour: Buenos Aires, Puerto Iguazú & Bariloche - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires, Walking Tour

Welcome to Argentina! Your flight lands in Buenos Aires, the nation's vibrant capital. Originally founded in the 1500s, the city has a rich history and is considered a major epicenter for commerce, industry, politics, and technology. After your driver collects you from the airport and you check in at your hotel, get a head start on your immersion into the city with a fun guided tour of the city's barrios (neighborhoods). 

Your guide will collect you and your family from your hotel, and you'll set off, starting at the Plaza de Mayo, where you can see the National Government Palace and Metropolitan Cathedral. Learn about the history of these important landmarks, then head to San Telmo, the oldest residential neighborhood, with its quaint cobblestone streets and cafés. If you happen to visit on a Sunday, stop at their weekly antique market in Plaza Dorrego, where you'll find antiques, souvenirs, food stalls, and street performers to entertain the kids. 

Make your way to La Boca, known for its brightly-painted houses. Soccer fans in the family will be thrilled to know that this is the location for the legendary Boca Juniors Football Club, where the great Diego Maradona played. Continue through the affluent Puerto Madero with its modern high-rise buildings, then head north to walk around the greenery of the parks and plazas. Your final stop is the neighborhood of Recoleta, where the star attraction is the Recoleta Cemetery. See the extravagant mausoleums where Argentina's most famous residents are buried, including actress and former first lady Eva "Evita" Perón. 

Day 2: San Isidro & Tigre River Delta Boat Tour

After breakfast at your hotel, spend some time outside the city today, starting with a boat tour along the Tigre and San Isidro River Delta. Your driver will pick you up from your hotel, and you'll drive to the waterfront regions of Buenos Aires, starting at Del Libertador Av. Costanera (coast of the river), then continuing past River Plate Stadium and the Presidential House of Olivos before arriving in San Isidro. 

Stop in town for a quick stroll, where the kids can stretch their legs, and the adults can enjoy some of the gorgeous 19th-century architecture, then continue to the San Isidro Pier, where you'll board your boat and cruise the canals and islands of the Tigre. See the labyrinth of streams that make up the river as your guide navigates the currents and sandbanks, pass by the historic residence of a former president, cathedrals and bridges, and watch the various boats that make up the daily traffic along the river. 

If a river tour isn't for you, you can also head to San Antonio de Areco and spend the afternoon at Estancia El Ombú de Areco. This gorgeous ranch encompasses almost 750 acres (300 ha), and guests here can choose from horseback tours or take a ride in a sulky (horse-drawn cart) around the property. You'll also enjoy a delicious asado (barbecue) lunch with traditional Argentinian foods, accompanied by a folklore show, where the kids can see a live demonstration of gaucho skills and horsemanship, as well as traditional music and dancing. 

Day 3: Day Trip to Colonia del Sacramento

Today you'll venture into another country, Uruguay, to visit Colonia del Sacramento, located across the Río de La Plata, just a short distance from Buenos Aires. Founded in the late 1600s, this charming city was once a Portuguese settlement, with historic buildings and neighborhoods that still reflect that era. You'll start at the pier in Buenos Aires and board a ferry—a ride of about an hour and 15 minutes.

Once you dock, you'll begin your city tour with a walk around Barrio Histórico, a UNESCO World Heritage site with narrow cobblestone streets and a wonderful mixture of Portuguese, Spanish and Post-Colonial architecture. The kids will also love a visit to the Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse. The 100-step climb inside the lighthouse isn't for the faint of heart, but at the top, you're rewarded with some amazing views of the town and surrounding countryside. Enjoy lunch in town before getting back on the ferry and returning to Buenos Aires.  

Day 4: Fly to Puerto Iguazú, Explore Iguazú Falls (Brazil), Visit a Bird Park

Your next destination is Puerto Iguazú, home to Iguazú Falls National Park and the largest waterfall system in the world. The park spans both Argentina and Brazil, and you'll get the opportunity to visit both. At the appointed time, your driver will collect you from your hotel and transport you to the airport for your two-hour flight. Upon arrival, you'll have some time to get checked in at your hotel, then it's off to see the Brazil side of the park. 

Arrive at the park's visitors' center and board a bus, which takes you to a footbridge, where you'll disembark and continue on foot. Trek through a magical subtropical rainforest while the kids keep their eyes peeled for wildlife, such as toucans or even jaguars, eventually arriving at the Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat), the park's largest waterfall. You'll have time to take in the beauty of the falls and for some family photo ops before returning to the meeting point to board your bus.

Before returning to your hotel, make a stop at Parque das Aves, a 40-acre (16 ha) bird sanctuary in Brazil's Paraná province. The park provides care to more than 143 different species, with five immersive aviaries that house a total of more than 1,000 birds. See toucans and curassows up close, visit the parakeet nursery, and let the kids experience a flock of 100 macaws flying directly over their heads! The park also has resident butterflies, caimans, anacondas, and alligators. 

Day 5: Explore Iguazú Falls (Argentina)

Today's tour takes you to the Argentinian side of Iguazú Falls. Gather up the family's rain gear, then meet up with your guide and start in the park's lower falls circuit. This takes you below the falls—a wet adventure that the kids will find entertaining and fun! Afterward, you'll walk to the upper circuit, where you'll find panoramic views of several of the park's cascades, ending at a different view of Devil's Throat. The Argentinian side allows you to see the immense cascade from above, providing a unique vantage point to watch the water rush beneath you and disappear over the fall's edge. 

Day 6: Native Guarani Community Tour, Sunset Catamaran Ride

Head deep into the jungle today with a guided visit to the Mbya-Guaraní community. This cultural excursion takes you to the Iryapú Forest and the villages of the Guarani people, where you'll meet with a local guide and learn about the history and culture of this region. Walk the trails that take you to the villages while your guide discusses the customs of the Guarani, as well as the ancient hunting and fishing techniques they still use today. The kids can meet some of the children of the community and maybe even try their hand at fishing themselves!

Return to Puerto Iguazú in time for a sunset catamaran ride. The tour starts at the port, where you'll sail toward the Triple Frontier—a tri-border area for Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. See the Río Iguazú flowing into the immense Río Paraná, then sail upstream and under the Tancredo Neves International Bridge. As the sun sets, you'll continue along the banks of the Iryapu Forest to the edge of Iguazú National Park. The tour then takes you back downstream, landing at the port in time for you and the kids to enjoy a walk along the waterfront and dinner at a local restaurant. 

Day 7: Fly to Bariloche, Explore

This morning, you're off to the Patagonian town of San Carlos de Bariloche—or just Bariloche to the locals. Your private transfer will collect you from your hotel in the morning and take you to the airport for the four-hour flight. Once you arrive and get settled at your hotel, spend the rest of your afternoon exploring this charming town.

Nestled in the Andes mountains, Bariloche borders the glacial lake of Nahuel Huapi and is known for its Swiss alpine-style architecture (hence the nickname "Little Switzerland"), as well as scenic vistas and outdoor activities. If the kids are anxious to get out and about, head up to Teleférico Cerro Otto, a resort area that offers seasonal snow activities such as sledding and snowshoeing, a funicular, and an art gallery. You can also have lunch at the 360-degree rotating cafeteria while here, taking in the stunning views of the lake. 

 

Later today, head into town and visit Bariloche's main square, where you'll find sights such as the Museum of Patagonia, the Nuestra Señora del Nahuel Huapi Cathedral, and the City Hall Building. The square offers peaceful lake views, and if you walk down its main street, Calle Mitre, the kids will go wild over the many chocolate shops you'll find here! Bariloche is considered Argentina's "chocolate capital," serving up some of the best artisanal chocolate in the country. You can learn more at the town's chocolate museum, which has guided tours and exhibits on the history of chocolate making, as well as a café and gift shop. 

Day 8: Bariloche "Short Circuit" Tour

See more of Bariloche with a guided circuito chico (short circuit) tour. You'll start at Nahuel Huapi Lake, making your way to Bonita Beach, where Huemul Island can be seen. From here, head to the foothills of Cerro Campanario Hill, which rises nearly 3,500 feet (1,050 m) above sea level and has a chair lift that takes visitors to the summit. Let the kids enjoy this thrilling ride and see amazing views of Nahuel Huapi and Perito Moreno lakes, Trebol Lagoon, and the San Pedro and Llao Llao peninsulas.

Afterward, continue to the Llao Llao peninsula and see the renowned Llao Llao Hotel and historic San Bernardo Church. Cross the bridge over the Río Angostura, which takes you to a natural lookout point, then travel around Trebol Lagoon for more stunning water views. End your tour back in the city late this afternoon. 

Day 9: Visit Victoria Island & the Arrayanes Forest 

Today you'll head to Victoria Island, a small parcel located on Lake Nahuel Huapi. This is where you'll have the option to take either a catamaran or boat to the island. Upon arrival, you can walk the island's many trails while exploring flora and fauna or relax with the kids on one of the island's beaches. The water here is crystal clear, with a gentle shoreline that makes it perfect for swimming and beachcombing. 

Next up is Los Arrayanes National Park and its Arrayanes Forest, a dense forest with an unusual ecosystem of both deciduous and coniferous trees. Arrayanes trees range from 10 to 30 feet in height (3 to 10 m) and have lovely small flowers, as well as strangely cold trunks and bark that the kids will find peels off easily in their hands. Head back to Bariloche in time for a late lunch, and enjoy your last night in Argentina with a walk around town. 

Day 10: Depart Bariloche

It's time to say goodbye to Argentina! Take any free time in the morning for one more stroll around town. At the appointed hour, your driver will transfer you to Bariloche airport for your flight home. Safe travels! 

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