Los Glaciares National Park
Los Glaciares is Argentina’s greatest national park. It’s home to Perito Moreno glacier and the Fitz Roy Massif, offering visitors explore epic ice and world-class hiking.
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Reasons to go to Buenos Aires
- Discover the energy of Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital city for the perfect contrast to the epic wilderness of Patagonia
- Tour the cultural heart of Buenos Aires, then spend an evening with a tango show or gastronomic extravaganza
- Go beyond the city with a stay on a traditional estancia or a daytrip across the River Plate to Uruguay
- Extend your adventure with a selection of packages showcasing the best of Buenos Aires
- Connect with the rest of Patagonia with easy flight connections to Los Glaciares, Tierra del Fuego, the Argentinian Lake District and more
What to see & do in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires city tours
Buenos Aires has often been dubbed ‘the Paris of South America’ and a city tour is a great way to discover why, whether on foot or by bicycle.
Tours take in the best of the city: from the grand fin de siècle architecture and boulevards lined with jacaranda trees that lead to the central Plaza de Mayo, to elegant Recoleta with its grand neoclassical cemetery.
Buenos Aires’s famed street art is everywhere, especially in the artsy district of Palermo and leafy San Telmo. Alternatively, you can head to Boca, with its brightly painted zinc houses and the Boca Juniors football stadium, where the immortal Maradona first wrote his name in the stars.
Bike tour of Buenos Aires
A night of tango
Buenos Aires is the birthplace of Tango, first emerging in the 1880s, when the great boom in southern European immigrants helped forge an iconic piece of Argentina’s national identity. There is simply is no better place to see a tango show.
Milongas (tango events) can be found across Buenos Aires. They can take almost any shape or form, but if you want a guarantee of great dancers and music to match, a late night tango show is often the best way to go.
Tango shows typically include dinner, and often offer an introduction to other Argentinian folk dancers – though the snap of heels and guitar flourishes will quickly tell you which one people truly feel most passionate about.
Tango in Buenos Aires
Swoop says
Buenos Aires is one of the greatest cities in South America – I wouldn't live anywhere else! My favourite time of year is spring and early summer, when the jacaranda trees are out, covering the streets with purple blossom.
Lujan Torrontegui Patagonia Assistant Sales Manager
Eating out & foodie experiences
With more than 60% of modern Argentinians claiming some sort of Italian ancestry, it’s no surprise that Buenos Aires has such a rich food culture.
There are many ways to experience this, but one of our favourites is a street food walking tour in the colourful Palermo district. Arrive hungry and be ready to discover dishes that are more than just empanadas, those delightful stuffed savoury pastries.
Argentina also takes its culinary cues from the gauchos (cowboys) who herd cattle across its plains. Asado (barbecue) is raised to an art form in Buenos Aires, and nowhere more so than at Fogón, where a juicy 9-course tasting menu will have you coming back for more.
The Argentine Experience in Buenos Aires
Estancias
If the bustle of Buenos Aires has you wanting to hit the reset button, escape is at hand in the nearby countryside with a stay at an estancia or historic ranch.
Estancias are traditionally associated with Argentina's celebrated gaucho culture. While horseriding is often a key experience here, you're under no obligation to saddle up during a stay. Modern estancias offer a whole host of activities from walking trails and bike rides to cookery classes using fresh ingredients straight from their kitchen garden.
Alternatively, you can do nothing but relax by the pool all day, rising only for a glass of wine before dinner in the ideal country escape.
Estancia La Bandada
Colonia del Sacramento
A boat trip from Buenos Aires across the wide River Plate to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay is like travelling back in time. This World Heritage-listed town was founded in 1680 and is packed with delightful 17th and 18th Century colonial architecture.
The heart of Colonia is the Barrio Histórico, on a small peninsula that sticks out into the river. It is surrounded by fortified walls, which you pass through to explore cobbled streets and squares, all lined with historic buildings with fading stucco and red tiled roofs.
Major landmarks include Uruguay's oldest church, a lighthouse in the ruins of a convent and several houses converted into museums.
Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay
Swoop says
Buenos Aires is more than just a gateway for exploring Patagonia. From here, you can easily build your trip out to include Argentina's wine country around Mendoza, the tropical Iguazu Falls spanning the border with Brazil, and the colonial heritage of beautiful Salta.
What our customers think of Buenos Aires
Where to stay in Buenos Aires
Argentina’s vibrant capital has a wealth of places to stay to suit every taste and budget. Choose from premium hotels to fashionable boutique guesthouses to stylish luxury. If you want to stay outside the city, there’s also the option of staying at a nearby estancia for a taste of the outdoor lifestyle.
Within Buenos Aires, our two favourite districts to base yourself in are the characterful neighbourhoods of Palermo or Recoleta, which are full of great architecture, restaurants and nightlife.
Hotel Legado Mitico, Buenos Aires
How to get to Buenos Aires
Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires is Argentina's international gateway. The airport is 14 miles (22 km) south of the city centre.
Domestic flights fly from Aeroparque Internacional Jorge Newbery (AEP) in the centre of Buenos Aires. Allow at least five hours to connect between international and domestic flights.
There are multiple daily flights to El Calafate (FTE, 3 hours) for Los Glaciares National Park, Bariloche (BRC, 2 hours) for the Argentinian Lake District and Ushuaia (USH, 3½ hours) for Tierra del Fuego. Other domestic destinations include Iguazu Falls (IGR, 2 hours), Mendoza (MDZ, 80 minutes) and Salta (SLA, 2 hours).
There are direct flights to Santiago (SCL, 2 hours).
Aeroparque Jorge Newbery airport in Buenos Aires
Our add-on packages for Buenos Aires
4.5 out of 5
Classic Buenos Aires
Explore the iconic sights of Buenos Aires and the unique neighbourhoods of Palermo, San Telmo, Recoleta and La Boca. Complete your experience in the capital of Argentina with a cultural evening at a hosted dinner with lots of steak, wine…
- 3 Days
- $879
4.6 out of 5
Buenos Aires Express
Passing through Buenos Aires and only have time for a short stop? Make the most of the city's grand colonial landmarks and lively Latin American culture with this overnight…
- 2 Days
- $675
Ease into your Patagonia adventure—or unwind afterwards—with a relaxing escape in rural Argentina. Just a short trip from Buenos Aires, a stay at an authentic country estate allows you to slow down and breathe in the fresh air of the…
- 3 Days
- $865
With spectacular architecture, a world-class food scene and irresistible energy, Buenos Aires is a city that invites you to stay longer. Add another stamp to your passport as you combine Argentina's capital with a day in Colonia, Uruguay. Cross the…
- 4 Days
- $973
Buenos Aires excursions
There are plenty of ways to explore Buenos Aires and the surrounding region. We offer set packages of 2–4 days, but we can also tailor your trip to match your interests. Whether you want to explore the city in depth, tango into the night or head out of town to an estancia or La Colonia, we can offer a wide choice of excursions to plan your perfect itinerary.
Discover more of Argentinian Patagonia
Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego is Patagonia’s southernmost outpost – a place of epic mountain hikes, thick forests, wild glaciers, and seeing penguin colonies as condors wheel high above.
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Argentinian Lake District
With shimmering lakes, jagged peaks with hiking trails, white water rafting, kayaking and mountain biking, the Argentinian Lake District is an outdoor paradise.
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Peninsula Valdés
Peninsula Valdés offers some of the region's best wildlife watching, from southern right whales to sea lions and Magellanic penguins.
Discover MoreReady to plan your Patagonia adventure?
1. Listen
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
2. Match
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
3. Reserve
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.