In a single week, you can enjoy two of the best locales in Argentina: the capital of Buenos Aires and Patagonia. Specifically, you'll discover B.A. on city tours before flying to the far south of Patagonia and a region called Tierra del Fuego. You'll arrive in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, and from here embark on nature hikes and even walk with Magellanic penguins.

Highlights

  • Enjoy dinner and a tango show in Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires
  • Embark on a hiking and canoeing excursion into Tierra del Fuego National Park
  • Take a boat tour along the silver waters of the Beagle Channel
  • Visit a Magellanic penguin colony

Brief Itinerary

Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrival in Buenos Aires - Explore Buenos Aires
Day 2 Walking Tour of Buenos Aires Buenos Aires
Day 3 Fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia Ushuaia
Day 4 Hiking and Canoeing in Tierra del Fuego National Park Ushuaia
Day 5 Beagle Channel Cruise Ushuaia
Day 6 Estancia Harberton and Isla Martillo Ushuaia
Day 7 Fly from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires - Departure  

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Buenos Aires - Explore

The Obelisco in Buenos Aires
The Obelisco in Buenos Aires

Welcome to Argentina! The capital city of Buenos Aires is known as the "Paris of South America" and the "Queen of El Plata." Famous for its mix of European ambiance and Latin American culture, it's the birthplace of the tango and abounds with cobbled streets and beautiful Baroque architecture.

Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Once you've had the chance to rest, you can head out and explore. The city center is your best starting point.

Day 2: Walking Tour of Buenos Aires

The Teatro Colón
The Teatro Colón

After breakfast, you'll take an organized tour of Buenos Aires. During this three-hour walking excursion, you'll visit the neighborhood of Retiro plus stroll Avenida 9 de Julio—South America’s widest avenue. You'll pass through the historic city center, home to the Teatro Colón opera house, National Congress, Plaza de Mayo, and the Casa Rosada (Presidential Palace). Then, visit the oldest neighborhood in the city, San Telmo. Afterward, you'll stop by B.A.'s original port, La Boca.

In the evening, enjoy a delicious meal accompanied by a tango performance—one of Argentina's most famous cultural highlights.

Day 3: Fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia

Ushuaia, Argentina
Ushuaia, Argentina

After enjoying city life in Buenos Aires, it's time to venture further south—to the end of the continent. In the morning, you'll transfer to the airport and catch a flight to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Upon arrival, a driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. After checking in and unwinding, you can spend the remainder of the day exploring the city on foot.

Located on a bay in the Patagonian region of Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia sits between the jagged peaks of the Martial Mountains and the silver waters of the Beagle Channel. This is the same waterway where Charles Darwin found himself when he was riding the HMS Beagle almost 200 years ago. Getting out and walking along the waterfront allows you a glimpse of these majestic mountains and the impressive channel.

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Day 4: Hiking and Canoeing in Tierra del Fuego National Park

Go hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park
Go hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park

In the morning, a shuttle will pick you up at your hotel in Ushuaia and drive you to Tierra del Fuego National Park. Located in one of the most notable ecological zones in the Americas, Tierra del Fuego is known for its subantarctic forest, dramatic scenery, and rugged coastline. 

Upon arrival in Ensenada Bay, you'll be treated to a spectacular view of the Beagle Channel. You'll then embark on a four-mile (six-kilometer) coastal walk in which you'll get to observe the surrounding flora and fauna of the region. Interesting animals you can spot include woodpeckers, guanacos, and foxes. In addition, you will be able to see traces of the Yamana indigenous settlements that once existed here.

After three hours, you will arrive at Lake Roca, where a picnic lunch will be served. Afterward, you'll hop in a canoe and paddle down the Lapataia River until you reach the southern end of the Pan-American Highway, the world's longest drivable road. This important trans-continental route begins in Alaska and covers the entire length of the Americas.

Day 5: Beagle Channel Cruise

Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse in the Beagle Channel
Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse in the Beagle Channel

After breakfast in Ushuaia, head to the pier to board a boat for a local cruise. Today's excursion sails through the Beagle Channel, one of the region’s most important waterways. It was named after the HMS Beagle, a 19th-century British ship that once carried Charles Darwin to South America.

As you pass through the channel, you'll get breathtaking panoramic views of the city of Ushuaia and the entire bay. Be on the lookout for diverse marine wildlife such as cormorants and sea lions, especially near the Lobo and De Los Pajaros islands. If the winds are calm, you can even hop ashore, collect giant shells, and look out to the opposite coast, which stretches across both Chile and Argentina. Before making your way back to Ushuaia, see the famous Les Eclaireurs, the so-called "Lighthouse at the End of the World."

Day 6: Estancia Harberton and Isla Martillo

Gentoo penguins on Isla Martillo
Gentoo penguins on Isla Martillo

Get ready for a full-day excursion to do some penguin-spotting. The trip starts at the Ushuaia pier, where you'll catch a bus to Estancia Harberton—a working Patagonian ranch that dates back to 1886. The estancia's property sits on 50,000 acres that includes glassy lakes and virgin forests.

After spending some time on the ranch, you'll head to a nearby dock on the Beagle Channel and hop in a zodiac boat. You'll then zip along the water until you reach Isla Martillo, an island that is home to thousands of Magellanic penguins and even some Gentoo penguins. On a 90-minute walking tour of the island, you'll get up close and personal with these waddling birds as an expert guide offers insights into their characteristics and behavior.

Day 7: Fly from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires - Departure

Farewell, Argentina
Farewell, Argentina

In morning, you'll head to Ushuaia airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. You'll then transfer to the international airport for your flight back home. Buen viaje!

Map

Map of Discover Buenos Aires & Ushuaia - 7 Days
Map of Discover Buenos Aires & Ushuaia - 7 Days