Buenos Aires and Patagonia are definitely some of the highlights of any trip to Argentina. For this itinerary we have planned the first three days in Buenos Aires and the next four days in Patagonia.
The distances are huge between places in Patagonia so this itinerary is an attempt to have you spending less time on buses and planes and more time exploring the wonderful landscapes.
Buenos Aires (Day 1-3)
Day 1
The first day of your itinerary will be to try and see most of the attractions. You can get around the city with public transport and it is very cheap but I think the hop-on hop-off or a guided tour are the most efficient ways to see the city
Morning
Get breakfast in your hotel and get going! First stop is San Telmo which isn’t very far and you can check out the market. There are so many stalls to check out and you can also grab another coffee (Check out El Bar Federal). Wander around the old streets and then you can do a guided tour of El Zanjón at midday.
Remember that the open-air fair is not open during the weekdays.
Lunch
You can choose to eat in San Telmo or go straight to La Boca where you will be spending your afternoon. The places in La Boca can be quite touristy but we had a decent lunch there and some places have short Tango shows where you can take a photo. If you stay in San Telmo then check out the “Mercado San Telmo” and get some bondiola sandwiches
Afternoon
Next up is the La Boca neighborhood which is brimming with history. There is a lovely walk called “ El Caminito” where the old housing complexes have been turned into cute little shops.
Evening
A Tango show is a must do experience in Buenos Aires and you can spend your first evening enjoying one in the Astor Piazzolla Theatre. The theatre is intimate and the show gives a nice overview of the history and passion of Tango in Argentina. You can also enjoy dinner with your show.
Day 2
Day 2 is when you can start to enjoy the parks of the city. People from Buenos Aires love to spend time in many of the beautiful parks.
Morning
For the morning of Day 2 , you can go to the famous Recoleta Cemetery and learn about the famous people from the past and see the beautiful tombs and mausoleums. A guided tour here is recommended so you can hear the various stories about the cemetery.
👉 You can check out this tour of the cemetery in English at 13 USD per person.
If you feel like checking out some art, you can see some exhibitions in the nearby Recoleta Cultural Center. It’s also good for families with children.
Lunch
There are many many places to have lunch in Palermo and Recoleta so it depends on the food you like. In Palermo, I have seen (and tasted) Mexican, Jewish, Armenian, Japanese, Chinese, Italian food. The choice is yours. My favorite place for lunch was “Sarkis” Armenian food but it is a little out of the way for your itinerary.
Afternoon
Take a trip to the fashionable Palermo neighborhood and check out the Palermo Forest (Bosques de Palermo) park and also enjoy the Rose Garden (El Rosedal).
You can continue your walk down through the Ecoparque and The botanical gardens and then enjoy the shops, bars, cafés and restaurants.
Evening
Why not stay in Palermo and try some of the famous steakhouses. You need to book the most popular ones in advance (Don Julio/1 month, La Cabrera/1 week) or you can show up early and there are also sometimes discounts available.
Then end your night in a themed bar like a prison bar called “The Hole bar” (you can go for drinks from 8 PM or book a table in advance for dinner) or one that looks like a New York subway called Uptown (You have a book a table in advance for this place). Or if you like Jazz music, check out ‘The Bebop Club’ or ‘Backroom bar’. (For shows you can buy the tickets at the place)
Day 3
For Day three, you can stay closer to your hotel downtown and see Puerto Madero and do some shopping.
Morning
Head west from your hotel to the neighborhood of Puerto Madero. Puerto Madero is one of the richest and safest areas of Buenos Aires after continued investment since the 1990’s. There is also a beautiful nature reserve which you can walk around or you can just admire the riverside.
💡 Read more about things to do in Puerto Madero here
Lunch
Why not do the ultimate Buenos Aires thing and eat a “choripan” on the Costanera. There are food trucks on the far side of Puerto Madero where you can buy your Argentinian hotdog.
Afternoon
Head back towards the city center and spend the afternoon shopping. Head to Galería Pacifico which has to be one of the most beautiful shopping malls in the world. The mall is expensive but really it is worth it just to walk around.
The café near the fountain is a great place for “merienda”. There is also a really nice art gallery called the “Borges Cultural Center”. You are also near Calle Florida (Florida street) where you can find more budget friendly shopping.
Evening
Pizza is a big thing in Buenos Aires and the oven at “Pizzería Guerrin” has been on the go for 90 years (literally!) and the pizza there is fantastic.
You may have to queue as it is extremely popular but it is huge and has a new patio out back so you won’t have to wait long. Highly Recommended!
An alternative option(and one I recommend) could be to fly to Patagonia to start enjoying the beautiful nature!
Patagonia (Day 4-7)
If you have 3 days in Patagonia, then I recommend checking out the glacier “El Perito Moreno” and some hiking near “El Chaltén”.
Day 4
On Day Four of your Argentina trip you can fly from Buenos Aires to El Calafate. An evening flight on day 3 would be great so you can spend the whole day at the glacier on day 4.
You will need to book a tour to get to the glacier as it is a one and a half hour drive from “El Calafate”.
👉 We recommend this tour that includes walking on the ice.
Ok, so we haven’t really talked about what “El Perito Moreno” is. “Perito Moreo” is one of the most accessible glaciers in the world and you can get gorgeous views from boat/kayak tours and they even give you a chance to walk on the ice!
I went into this tour without expectations and I can honestly say that it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It was just incredible to see a glacier up close.
Where to stay in El Calafate
You will only stay in El Calafate for one night and so we highly recommend staying near the main street. Calafate Hostel is a good option as it is comfortable and close to the main street. Most tours pick you up from your hotel but if you Check out Imago Hotel if you want something more luxurious that includes a spa.
Day 5
On Day 5, you can head towards El Chaltén. You can take the bus from El Calafate and you get stunning landscapes on the journey. The bus takes about three hours.
After your journey, you can rest and have lunch near your hotel and in the afternoon/evening you can do the “Cóndores y Águilas” Trek. This is a short, relatively easy hike that should take no more than 3 hours. There are 2 lookout points “Mirador de Los Condóres”(The Condor lookout point) and “Mirador de Las Águilas” (The Eagle lookout point) The “Las Aguilas” is a bit further so depending on how you feel you might want to walk to the second lookout point.
Dinner in El Chaltén
Make sure you eat something super nutritious as the following day will be the big hike. We recommend “Cúrcuma” for vegetarians and “El Parador” if you want to eat meat
📍 Cúrcuma
Where to stay in El Chalten
Accommodation can be pretty expensive in all of Patagonia but it can sometimes be worth it to stay near the center of town so you have a short walk to restaurants. Check out Senderos Apartments for a mid-range option and Destino Sur Hotel if you want something a bit more upmarket with a spa(Those legs will thank you for the massage after those long hikes!)
Day 6
Day 6 is when you will do your big hike. We chose to do the Laguna de Los Tres Trek because you get a variety of different landscapes and it is achievable for most people as you do not need to do any rock climbing. The route is relatively flat(There are some uphill parts at the beginning) but you will be tired after the hike as it takes around 8-9 hours. It took us around 11 hours because we needed many breaks(for rest and for photos!)
It is definitely a good idea to bring a packed lunch with you and plenty of water and sunscreen as you will be outdoors all day,
You can do the trip without a guide or you can book a tour here if you feel more comfortable going with a group.
Day 7
For day 7 you can drag your achy legs to the bus stop and head back to El Calafate. From there you can stay a few days in El Calafate or return to Buenos Aires to finish off your trip.
Optional added days in El Calafate or El Chaltén
We actually stayed in El Calafate for 3 weeks which is much more than necessary but there are some extra things to do there if you want to spend a bit more time there.
📌 Estancia Cristina Estancia Cristina is one of the must do things in El Calafate. There you can also see a different glacier called Upsala
📌 Hike Cerro Torre – This is another hike that you can do from El Chaltén which you can see some waterfalls
📌 Las Vueltas Kayak Trip What better way to explore than in a kayak, this trip also goes from El Chaltén
📌 Off Road Trip This off-road trip lets you discover about the art of the native people in Patagonia.
For longer than one week in Patagonia
If you have longer than a week in Patagonia, then definitely check out the W-trek in Torres del Paine. This 80 kilometer trek will take you 4 to 5 days and is actually part of the Chilean part of Patagonia.
Final Thoughts
Your Argentina trip will definitely be up to you and how you want to spend your time. All I can say for sure is that Buenos Aires and Patagonia are definitely worth a visit. Take your time if you can and enjoy yourself.
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