DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires

You will be met at Buenos Aires Airport and transferred to your hotel in this exciting city, situated on the estuary of the Río de la Plata - the 'River of Silver'.

Check in and relax in this capital of Argentina, known for its wonderful architecture, tango dancing and rich culture, including the highest concentration of theatres in the world.

Day 2: City Tour & Tango Show

This morning enjoy a half day shared coach tour of Buenos Aires - a cosmopolitan city that has been influenced by the many immigrants who helped form it and offering beautiful architecture, history and culture.

Our tour starts at the Plaza de Mayo, the historical, political and cultural centre of the city. Here you can see the Pink House (Presidential Palace), the Pyramid de Mayo and Metropolitan Cathedral. We continue down Avenida de Mayo, with its wide avenues and spacious green areas, past the Obelisk to the neighbourhood of San Telmo, one of the oldest in the city with cobbled streets and colonial houses. Every Sunday an antiques fair takes place here around the Plaza Dorrego. The vibrant area is the centre for most of the tango parlours, restaurants and bars of the city.

Going further south, we visit the Italian port neighbourhood of La Boca, with its colourful houses in Caminito Street and many 'cantinas' (small restaurants). Also the trendy modern neighbourhood of Puerto Madero, where the old piers have been converted into upmarket offices, apartments and restaurants with views of the Rio de la Plata. We visit the residential neighbourhood of Palermo with its elegant mansions surrounded by spacious parks, before arriving in glamorous Recoleta, where there is the option to visit the famous cemetery where Eva Peron is buried, with its rich architecture (pay locally). Next to the cemetery is the church of Our Lady of Pilar, the Recoleta Cultural Centre (originally a convent) and the Palais de Glace exhibition centre.

In the evening you will be collected for a Tango Show. Born in the brothels of the city amongst a racial mix of Gauchos, Italian, Spanish and African immigrants, this dance and its music originated as a combination of Cuban and Spanish rhythms, with some polka and African beat. Enjoy the show and dinner, including mouth-watering Argentinian beef and Malbec wine.

Day 3: Explore Buenos Aires

At leisure to explore more of Buenos Aires independently.

Alternatively enjoy a full day optional excursion to Santa Susana Ranch to admire the skills of the Argentinian gauchos (cowboys) who live in these fertile pampas grasslands about 2 hours from the city. With a distinctive culture that combines their European and Native American heritages, gauchos play an important role in regional cultural tradition - including folk songs, dancing and equestrian shows of traditional gaucho skills, such as ring races, 'cuadreras' (horse races) and 'entrevero de tropillas' (horse games).

Note: The ranch is closed on Mondays.

Day 4: Fly to Puerto Iguazu

Transfer to Aeroparque Airport for your flight to Puerto Iguazu. Here you will be met and transferred to your hotel located near one of the greatest waterfalls in the world, regarded as one of Latin America's most awe-inspiring sights.

The mighty Iguazu Falls, whose name means "Great Waters", straddles the border between Argentina and Brazil - although almost 80% of the falls are on the Argentinian side. It is situated in a huge tropical rainforest that has been declared a World Heritage Site, with countless flora and fauna species.

Day 5: Argentinian Falls

Today enjoy a half day shared tour of the Argentinian side of the incredible Iguazu Falls.

Comprising approximately 275 separate cascades, the falls form a curtain of foaming water that crashes over a vast granite amphitheatre and into the jungle below. Resembling a reversed letter "J", most of the Iguazu River plunges down through an area known as The Devil’s Throat, with the rest spreading out over a wide shelf that splits into hundreds of different waterfalls.

There are a series of walkways that lead above, below and behind the falls, with breathtaking views. You can also hope to see monkeys, toucans, parakeets and other wildlife in the rainforest.

Note: Take rain gear, as you will get wet visiting the Argentinian side of the falls.

Day 6: Brazilian Falls

This morning we cross the border for a half day shared tour of the Brazilian side of the incredible Iguazu Falls, with panoramic views of the nearly 2 mile (3 km) cliff edge. We take an elevator down to the base of the waterfalls and stop at different viewing points.

The volume of water flowing over the falls varies greatly by season, depending on the rainfall. The heaviest rains are from December to February, when the flow of water is at its greatest, but many trails are closed then due to the rains. The shoulder seasons of March/April and August/September are generally regarded as the best time to visit, but the falls are a spectacular sight at any time of year.

Your afternoon is at leisure to relax at your hotel or explore further independently.

Day 7: Fly to El Calafate

Transfer to Puerto Iguazu Airport for your flight to El Calafate, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in this small town. Situated on Lake Argentino in Santa Cruz province, it is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park.

Check in and relax surrounded by the scenery of the spectacular Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

Day 8: Los Glaciares National Park

Today enjoy a full day shared excursion to Los Glaciares National Park, the largest national park in Argentina covering an area of over 725,000 hectares and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This is an area of exceptional natural beauty, with towering mountains and many glacial lakes. The giant ice cap in the Austral Andes that feeds these 47 glaciers is the largest outside Antarctica and Greenland, with over half the park covered with enormous glaciers. You can make your way along walkways in front of the famous Perito Moreno Glacier to get closer views. With luck you may see it "calving", when huge chunks of ice break off the glacier and splash into the lake below.

After lunch (own account) take an included 1-hour boat ride to view this spectacular glacier up-close, before returning to El Calafate in the late afternoon.

Day 9: Estancia Cristina Discovery Cruise (optional)

Today we recommend an optional full day excursion, setting out early (around 07.00) on a full day Estancia Cristina Discovery Cruise.

From Puerto de la Cruz, we sail up the northern arm of Lake Argentino to the western front of the Upsala Glacier. Here we admire the stunning scenery, before continuing up the Cristina Channel to the estancia (ranch), with guided visit to the Costumbrista Museum (a former shearing shed). This involves a 45 minute drive up a steep rocky road, travelling in a 4x4 vehicle, so expect to be shaken around - but you will be rewarded with panoramic views.

After a relatively simple lunch (we suggest you take extra snacks or request a packed lunch from your hotel), we walk 30 minutes over glacial erosion to the Continental Ice Refuge. Here you can admire the eastern front of the Upsala Glacier, Guillermo Lake, the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and the Andes. Afterwards we sail back to Puerto de la Cruz, arriving around 19.00.

Day 10: Fly to Buenos Aires

Transfer to El Calafate Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the capital city.

Day 11: Fly Home

Transfer to Buenos Aires Airport for your flight home.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. All transfers and specified sightseeing with English-speaking guides are included. International and domestic flights are not included and will be quoted separately.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance. The FCO should also be consulted.