Expert travel storyteller Jordan Adkins, founder of InspiredByMaps.com, brings a decade of adventures across 101 countries and 450+ UNESCO sites into rich, off-the-beaten-path narratives, melding ecological expertise with genuine, seasoned travel insights. His full bio can be found here.
Argentina may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you want to go to Antarctica, but with Ushuaia at the southern tip of the Americas only less than 500 miles off the South Shetland Islands, the port town makes a natural launching pad to expeditions into the White Continent.
If you don’t have two weeks to join an Antarctic expedition, you only need to get to Ushuaia and explore its outdoor adventure offerings and feast your eyes on its wealth of marine life.
For others, the thrill of seeing glaciers up close satisfies their wanderlust of the great white outdoors. And no other part of continental South America boasts of nature at its most raw and scoured than the ice-clad granite spires and vast glaciers of Patagonia, where the erosive forces of nature are at their most visible.
The towering peaks of Torres del Paine National Park beckon climbers of all skill levels to try their luck. In any case, there are plenty of trails to get the adrenaline pumping, the aptly named W Trek being one of them.
Naturally, you would need a team of expedition experts to pluck you from one far-flung corner of the wilderness to another, as there is no public transport to get you across the Drake Passage. Only organized tours make it possible for the intrepid to venture into a world unknown.
If marine wildlife is what you’re after, but you want to stay on the mainland, head to the UNESCO-listed breeding ground in Puerto Madryn and Peninsula Valdes on the Atlantic coast, where southern right whales visit from June to December.
In places, Argentina is lush, weathered, alpine and sunny. Argentina’s Lake District is reminiscent of the Alps, and holidaymakers from near and far descend upon it in droves not just to enjoy the alpine setting but also to explore the luxuriantly forested Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi that surrounds Bariloche.
Its wine country’s sunny climate is perfect for growing Malbec and simply kicking back and drinking its main produce. There are few public means of transport around Mendoza, and the best way to explore the surrounding vineyards is to join a group tour (which automatically means having an assigned driver).
Like Patagonia, Iguazu Falls is shared with a neighboring country, and its colossal grandeur hits the uninitiated onlooker, quite literally, with its massive spray of mist drenching the unprepared. Work with a group tour organizer to get you as close to the action as possible.
The cosmopolitan, colonial charm and European flair of the capital Buenos Aires seduces, much like the fiery passion of its tango dancers who flick their legs sensually on street performances in La Boca. Plot out your adventures here, fuel up with wine and steak, and follow where the rhythm of the road takes you by booking a tour below.
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From Foz Do Iguacu to Puerto Iguazu
Bamba Travel
Location: Northern Argentina
Itinerary: Iguazu Falls
Group Size: 20
Age Range: 10 to 99
Physical Activity: Medium
Operator: Bamba Travel
Length: 3 Days
What to Expect
Big group, partially guided tour of the world’s largest waterfalls from Brazil and Argentina sides.
- Devil’s Throat
- Optional boat trip
What the Experience Is Like
Arrive at Foz airport and transfer to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Embark on a full-day tour exploring Iguazu Falls and standing close to it to feel its mist. Hop on a train to the ‘Devil’s Throat’ for an up-close look down into the 90m-high cascade.
Take an optional boat trip to see the falls from another angle. If there is remaining time, round out your trip with a stop at the borders where Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina converge on the Parana and Iguazu rivers before flying out of Puerto Iguazu the next day.
Expect two nights’ accommodation in a hotel or hostel with two breakfasts.
Founded in 2005, Mexico-based Bamba Travel started as a hop-on, hop-off bus service operator. Over the years, they expanded to include services that make it easier for independent travelers to travel in local transportation and stay in a destination for as long as they want and still have the flexibility to create their itinerary. They have grown to provide their services to more than 80 countries worldwide.
In a nutshell
This hop-on, hop-off tour From Foz Do Iguacu to Puerto Iguazu gets you straight to where it matters.
4 Days Discovery – Salta Essencial
Signature Tours
Location: Northwestern Argentina
Itinerary: Quebrada de Humahuaca
Group Size: 15
Age Range: 1 to 99
Physical Activity: Low
Operator: Signature Tours
Length: 4 days
What to Expect
Medium-size group, fully guided tour around the Andean foothills of northwest Argentina.
- Salta city tour
- Excursion to Quebrada
What the Experience Is Like
On arrival, transfer to your hotel. Go on a half-day city tour of Salta La Linda to admire its generous sprinkling of well-preserved pre-colonial architecture, its ornate Iglesia San Francisco, and its numerous museums dedicated to Pre-Columbian culture, local history and modern art. Survey the lay of the land from the top of San Bernardo Hill and round out today’s tour with a visit to the artisan market.
Venture out to Cafayate to marvel at the soaring red rocks and giant rock formations shaped by millions of years of erosion. Enjoy an excursion to the colorful rock formations of Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO-listed site recognized for its 10,000 years of history from prehistoric hunter-gatherer communities to the Inca Empire. Transfer to the airport for departure.
Expect three nights’ accommodation in a 4-star hotel. All breakfasts are included, and snacks are offered during excursions. Vegetarian and vegan food options are available on request. Insurance applies in case of emergency.
Signature Tours runs this taster tour. They build on four generations of experience and network in the industry to get the best private guides and design carefully crafted itineraries to provide travelers with unforgettable trips and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
In a nutshell
Enjoy culture, history and nature in this nifty 4 Days Discovery – Salta Essencial tour.
Wildlife Puerto Madryn
We People Argentina
Location: Atlantic Coast
Itinerary: Trelew to Puerto Madryn
Group Size: 10
Age Range: 18 to 70
Physical Activity: Low to Medium
Operator: We People Argentina
Length: 4 days
What to Expect
Small-group, partially guided tour of UNESCO-listed breeding ground for the southern right whales.
- Whale watching
- dolphin-watching boat tour
- Dinosaur museum
What the Experience Is Like
Arrive at the airport and transfer to your hotel in Puerto Madryn. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Drive to Peninsula Valdes on Day 2 to reach Puerto Piramides, whose shores offer a lookout point to marvel at visiting southern right whales from June to December.
Venture out on an optional boat trip to enjoy close-up views of the whales. Continue on to Punta Cantor and the peninsula’s eastern coast to scope out for elephant seals, sea lions and other marine life.
Travel to Rawson to embark on a dolphin-watching boat tour. Continue to Trelew, where an optional visit to a paleontology museum is available. Examine the 30 dinosaur fossils on display before rounding out the day’s tour in Gaiman to see traces of a Welsh settlement. Transfer to Trelew airport for departure.
Expect double or single accommodation in a 4-star hotel with 3 breakfasts. Vegetarian and vegan food options are available on request.
Buenos Aires-based We People Argentina is a travel agent and tour operator specializing in designing custom trips in Argentina and Chile, working closely with suppliers to provide tours that are unique, close and memorable. Building on their years of experience in the industry, they also run group tours under the brand of other travel agencies.
In a nutshell
Have a whale of a time spotting the giant marine mammals and their friends on this Wildlife Puerto Madryn tour.
From Buenos Aires to San Carlos De Bariloche
Receptivo Aborigen Tours
Location: Patagonia
Itinerary: Capital to Lake District
Group Size: 10
Age Range: 3 to 99
Physical Activity:
Operator: Receptivo Aborigen Tours
Length: 5 Days
What to Expect
Small group, partially guided tour of Argentina’s capital to Lake District.
- City Tour
- Small Circuit driving tour
What the Experience Is Like
Arrive at the airport or bus station and transfer to the hotel. Embark on a city tour to see Buenos Aires’ top landmarks like the Plaza de Mayo, the San Telmo, the capital’s oldest ‘barrio’ or neighborhood, and La Boca, the colorful neighborhood where immigrants used to settle when they first came to Argentina.
Depart for Bariloche. On arrival, explore the Small Circuit that takes you along the Nahuel Huapi lakefront and to the foot of Cerro Campanario, where a chairlift takes passengers to the summit. Descend via the bridge over the Angostura stream past Lopez Bay until you arrive at a lookout point to take in the lake views. Leave Bariloche for onward travel.
You can choose accommodation ranging from basic shared occupancy to standard to 4-stars. Meals included are listed on the itinerary. Domestic flights are not included.
Building on its 30 years of experience as a travel service agency and a destination management company, Receptivo Aborigen Tours takes advantage of its network and experience in the hospitality industry to provide multi-sensory tours around South America, especially around Argentina.
In a nutshell
Go on an Argentinian taster tour From Buenos Aires to San Carlos De Bariloche, and add more destinations along the way.
Tango Secrets & Wine Culture: Buenos Aires to Mendoza
Say Hueque Argentina & Chile Journeys
Location: Western Central Argentina
Itinerary: Buenos Aires – Mendoza – Aconcagua
Group Size: 15
Age Range: 18 to 99
Physical Activity: Medium
Operator: Say Hueque Argentina & Chile Journeys
Length: 7 days
What to Expect
Medium-sized group, partially guided tour of Argentina’s wine-growing region and Aconcagua.
- City tour
- Winery visit
- Aconcagua Park guided tour
What the Experience Is Like
On arrival in Buenos Aires, transfer to your hotel and explore the capital at your own pace for the rest of the day. Go on a half-day city tour in the morning to visit Plaza de Mayo, the cobblestone streets of San Telmo, and the tango hub of La Boca. Admire the palatial architecture of Recoleta, reminiscent of Paris. Enjoy a la carte dinner tonight while watching a tango performance.
Fly into Mendoza, Malbec’s main wine-growing region and Aconcagua’s launching spot. Spend the afternoon visiting wineries and an olive oil factory to learn about artisanal and industrial production processes.
Embark on a small group guided tour to the Aconcagua Provincial Park. Along the way, soak up the changing scenery and the small villages – and the geological curiosity known as “the Inca’s Bridge” – coming into view on your approach to the park. On arrival, consider a trek through a gorge or a short hike to a lookout point.
(Did you know that Mt. Aconcagua is one of the highest peaks in the world? Stroll around its park in this Tango Secrets & Wine Culture: Buenos Aires to Mendoza tour.)
Explore Mendoza at your leisure the following day, perhaps going on another (optional) vineyard tour or a drive along the winery route. Transfer from the hotel to the airport in Mendoza for your flight back to Buenos Aires and your last night in the capital before your international departure.
Enjoy six nights’ accommodation in a double occupancy room with daily breakfasts. Single traveler rates. Bilingual English/Spanish guide on some tours.
This tango and wine tour is run by Argentine travel company Say Hueque, which specializes in providing trips to the most sought-after destinations in South America, especially in Argentina and Chile.
Beginning in 1999, the company, highly rated and featured in numerous travel publications, takes pride in offering tours that skip large crowds so their guests enjoy more time and space mingling with the locals and discovering their cultures.
In a nutshell
Two of Argentina’s passions come together in this Tango Secrets & Wine Culture: Buenos Aires to Mendoza 7-day tour.
Patagonia Hiking
G Adventures
Location: Patagonia
Itinerary: El Chalten-Perito Moreno Glacier
Group Size: 16
Age Range: 12 to 99
Physical Activity: Active
Operator: G Adventures
Length: 9 Days
What to Expect
Medium-sized group, fully guided tour through Los Glaciares National Park.
- Cerro Fitz Roy
- Perito Moreno Glacier
- River kayaking
What the Experience Is Like
Arrive in Buenos Aires on Day 1. Fly to El Calafate and then continue by bus to El Chalten, gateway to Cerro Fitz Roy and Cerro Torres. Admire the Andes along the way and explore El Chalten at your own pace on arrival or head out to the surrounding national park for a short warm-up hike. Soak up the views of the Fitzroy mountains (weather permitting) from a double kayak as you paddle along Río de las Vueltas.
(Do you want to see a glacier up close? Lace-up for this Patagonia Hiking tour and see Perito Moreno Glacier at eye level.)
Lace-up for a full-day guided hike through canopied trails and exposed alpine terrain on your way to Laguna de los Tres. If the skies are clear, the soaring, jagged snow-covered peaks of Cerro Fitz Roy show up in all their glory. Venture out to other trekking routes around El Chalten for an optional hike through the Laguna Torre trail or Laguna Capri.
Drive back to El Calafate for a guided tour of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Opt for a boat ride on the lake to size its massive dimensions up close. Enjoy free time around El Calafate before flying back to the capital the following day. Enjoy an optional farewell dinner on your final night in Buenos Aires.
Expect 8 nights’ hotel accommodation with 8 breakfasts. Vegetarian, vegan, Halal, kosher and Jain food options are available on request. All internal flights are included. Guides include G Adventures’ chief experience officer and local guides. Transport is a combination of public buses, vans and planes.
This intrepid Patagonia trek is run by G Adventures, a highly-rated travel company that offers small-group adventures for nearly three decades. They encourage travelers to “Dream big. Travel small.” allowing solo travelers to join the safety – and fun – of having like-minded company small enough to create stronger connections to each other and to the people and places they visit.
In a nutshell
Embark on this Patagonia Hiking adventure to enjoy mountain views and experience a massive glacier up close.
Antarctic Explorer via Buenos Aires, Operated by Quark
Exodus Travels
Location: Antarctica
Itinerary: Ushuaia – South Shetland Islands
Group Size: 18
Age Range: 18 to 99
Physical Activity: Active
Operator: Exodus Travels
Length: 11 days
What to Expect
Large group, partially guided tour of the South Shetland Islands, with plenty of marine wildlife sightings along the way and on the White Continent.
- Drake Passage crossing
- Zodiac excursions
- Snow hiking
What the Experience Is Like
Arrive in Buenos Aires and independently transfer to the hotel. Fly to Ushuaia on a private charter flight. On arrival, make your way to the pier to embark the ship. Sail through the Beagle Channel in preparation for the two-day crossing of the Drake Passage, known for its unpredictable waters.
Spy on seabirds in between safety briefings and presentations by the Expedition team. On Day 5, the South Shetland islands appear, a reminder that you will soon arrive in Antarctica. Over the next four days, board a Zodiac every day for excursions into local bays, landing sites and channels home to a variety of wildlife such as seals, penguins, and the passing humpback and Minke whales.
Trudge snowy pathways to lookout points offering majestic and serene views of the icy landscape and the occasional glacier calving into sparkling blue waters.
(Want to escape your world and be in the company of seals, penguins and whales? Book this Antarctic Explorer via Buenos Aires, Operated by Quark and see a penguin at eye level.)
Retrace your journey back to the South American continent via the Drake Passage on Days 9 and 10. Disembark in Ushuaia on Day 11. Round out the Antarctic expedition with a tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park before the group charter flight back to the capital.
Accommodation is on a berth or cabin on board a Polar Adventure ship, a small ice-rated vessel suited for navigating polar waters. All meals will be provided while on the ship; all others are extra. Vegan and vegetarian food options are available on request.
Transport is by Zodiac landing craft designed for expedition work. Only domestic round-trip flights are included. The Exodus team joins a larger group of international passengers, not all of whom may have booked through Exodus.
National Geographic’s pick for Best Tour Operator of 2021, Exodus Travels, specializes in offering activity and adventure holidays, which began 45 years ago. As they are pioneers in this type of travel, Exodus champions eco-friendly and beneficial travel to local communities.
In a nutshell
Embark on this Antarctic Explorer via Buenos Aires, Operated by Quark, for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure you will never forget.
Adventures in Patagonia
Explore!
Location: Patagonia
Itinerary: Torres Del Paine National Park
Group Size: 18
Age Range: 16 to 85
Physical Activity: Active to Adventurous
Operator: Explore!
Length: 14 days
What to Expect
Medium-sized group, fully guided tour through Torres Del Paine National Park.
- Glaciares National Park
- Tierra del Fuego National Park
- Perito Moreno Glacier
- Optional trek to the base of Mount Fit Roy
- Optional trek to the base of Torres Del Paine
What the Experience Is Like
Arrive in Buenos Aires, and settle in at your hotel. Explore the colorful ‘barrios’ or neighborhoods of the capital, such as the oldest San Telmo with its narrow cobbled streets and historic mansions; the colorful and atmospheric La Boca alive with tango performances in the streets; and the elegant vaults and tombs at Recoleta Cemetery where former First Lady Eva Peron is buried.
Fly to Ushuaia, and enjoy the rest of the day visiting glaciers or spotting penguins. Several optional boat trips or yacht excursions are available that allow you to either land in a rookery to see penguins at eye level or observe the diverse marine life onboard.
Follow a forest trail on a leisure walk in Tierra del Fuego National Park, with views of peaks and valleys to enjoy along the way. Keep your eyes peeled for condors and grey foxes before you arrive at a lookout point to view the surrounding scenery. Hop on a ferry the following day for a journey across the Chilean border to Punta Arenas via Magellan Strait. Sample king crabs and Chilean wine for dinner tonight.
(Everything you expect from an epic outdoor adventure – vast, rugged landscapes, pristine environment, wildlife, awesome trails, challenging hikes – is here in this two-week Adventures in Patagonia trek.)
Drive out to Torres Del Paine National Park, taking in views of the desolate rolling plains of the Patagonian steppe and distant snow-dusted peaks and stopping by at Puerto Natales before arriving in your accommodation.
Enjoy a wildlife hike from one lake to the next, scoping out the area for flocks of guanacos, pink flamingos, condors, the rarely sighted puma, and ancient cliff paintings thousands of years old. For the more intrepid, there’s an option to do the 22km-trek to the base of Torres del Paine through glacial lakes, mountain forests and river valleys.
Enjoy another day of hiking to several lookout points to view glacial lakes, valleys and peaks. Hop on an optional Zodiac trip on Lake Serrano to see a glacier up close. Head out to Calafate, gateway to the Glaciares National Park, to explore the vast blue-tinged Perito Moreno Glacier the following day. Grab a chance to walk on the ice or ride a boat up to the glacier face.
Drive to El Chalten, where you may explore trails near the town or sail across Lake del Desierto for a hike to a glacier lookout. Round out your Patagonian adventure with an optional trek to the base of Mount Fitz Roy, following a well-marked trail through forests, flowing rivers and open mountain landscapes. Drive to Calafate to catch your flight back to Buenos Aires, where you spend one last night before your departure the following day.
Accommodation for 13 nights is in a standard hotel with 13 breakfasts and three dinners. Vegan and vegetarian food options are available. Transportation is a combination of bus, ferry, and flight.
Building on their four decades of experience taking small groups on adventure holidays, Explore! Endeavors to keep the average group size to 12 to ensure travelers experience a new place from a perspective away from the well-traveled path.
Explore! has a presence in more than 120 countries and offers family holidays to solo traveler trips, mountain trekking expeditions, cycling tours, wildlife safaris, and a range of adventure travel styles in between.
In a nutshell
This two-week Adventures in Patagonia is the definition of epic. Plan for it, pack up and go!
If none of these tours work for you in Argentina, please do not worry. There is a wide variety of tour options in the country, and we are confident that there will be something that fits your needs and interests.
Take a look at all the group tours in Argentina now, which you can sort by private or group, maximum sizing, budget, dates and much (much more). The team at TourRadar is always more than happy to answer any questions, provide further information or assist in finding the perfect tour for you.
