Argentina Holidays
San Martin Tour
20 Night Itinerary from £5,971
Private Individual Tour
A grand tour of Argentina's diverse landscapes, from vast wetlands and tropical forests to arid deserts, glistening lakes and immense glaciers
Select your preferred departure date
Tour Route
- Buenos Aires - 3 Nights
- Salta - 4 Nights
- Iguazu Falls - 2 Nights
- Iberá Wetlands - 2 Nights
- Bariloche & Lake District - 5 Nights
- Patagonian Glaciers & Lakes - 3 Nights
- Return via Buenos Aires - 1 Night
Travel Highlights
- A grand tour of Argentina's diverse landscapes, plus its stylish capital
- Discover the tango halls, traditional cafes and historic buildings of Buenos Aires
- Self-drive in Salta, an arid region of other-worldly rock formations
- Visit vineyards, salt flats and colonial cities and marvel at mutli-coloured hills
- Admire the Iguazu Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the World
- Explore the Ibera Wetlands, perhaps South America's premier wildlife haven
- Self-drive through the alpine scenery of the 'Seven Lakes Road' in the Lake District
- Enjoy an expedition cruise and get closer to Patagonia's immense glaciers
This itinerary can be modified and adapted to your preference with a specialst advisor, who can provide a guaranteed price, based on hotels, transport, excursions and flights.
Tour Itinerary
Buenos Aires - 3 Nights
Day 1 - Overnight flight to Buenos Aires
Days 2-4 - Buenos Aires at leisure or optional excursions
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Day 1
Overnight flight to Buenos Aires
Fly to Buenos Aires on a direct overnight British Airways flight.
Day 2
Buenos Aires
On arrival, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel in the city centre for a three night stay. Your guide will be on hand to brief you on things to do in Buenos Aires and anything you need to know about your trip ahead.
Buenos Aires is often noted as the most stylish and romantic of South America's capital cities, full of European influences but with a distinct Latin American flair. It is for this reason that Buenos Aires is known as "the Paris of South America". Situated on the historic River Plate, it is divided into distinct barrios, some of the most popular of which are the upmarket neighbourhoods of Palermo and Recoleta, traditional San Telmo, charactarised by old-time cafes, antique markets, tango halls and leafy squares and La Boca, famed for its colourful corrugated iron buildings. In between is the Plaza de Mayo, surrounded by grand government buildings, including the Casa Rosada.
Day 3
Buenos Aires at leisure or optional excursions
We have a range of excursions available providing many authentic experiences to enhance your stay in Buenos Aires: Veloso Tours Special In-Depth Tour, history, culture and local life; learn about the history of Argentina through its fascinating museums; magnificent Architecture of Buenos Aires's historical palaces; art galleries (MALBA: modern art, fine arts, decorative arts); museum of the life of Evita Peron; parks of Palermo and Rose Garden; casa Rosada Presidential Palace, or inside the National Congress building; classical music, opera or ballet at the Colon Theatre, or a guided tour; tango Show, dance lessons, or night out at a Tango club 'Milonga'; museum of Foreign Debt (worthwhile for anyone interested in finance); football Match and tour of the Boca Juniors stadium; life of Pope Francis in Buenos Aires; Jewish Community and Synagogues; aerial tour of Buenos Aires by Helicopter; shopping for leather goods including bags, belts and tailor-made jacket.
Full day trips outside the city: gaucho, country life and estancias in San Antonio de Areco; day out to see a Polo Match, or take a Polo Lesson; visit the historic town of Colonia in Uruguay, crossing the river Plate by ferry; visit to Tigre, a small town up the River Plate, with boat trip into the Delta.
Day 4
At leisure
Legado Mitico
Buenos Aires - First Boutique
In Palermo Viejo a neighbourhood with an interesting past and an avant-garde present we find the Legado Mitico hotel, ideal for those who seek the authentic & sophisticated. Eleven ensuite rooms with air conditioned, LCD TV, minibar, and safe. There is a jacuzzi and solarium and internet access.
Mine Boutique
Buenos Aires - First Boutique
This boutique hotel is located in the heart of Palermo Soho, metres from Plaza Julio Cortazar and many other touristic points of the city such as La boca, San Telmo, and the Plaza de Mayo. With strong Thai influences mixed with modern elements, the ground floor is warmly decorated.
De las Americas
Buenos Aires - Tourist Hotel
An elegant hotel with spacious rooms and situated in the heart of the Barrio Norte, an elegant residential and commercial district, within comfortable walking distance of the exclusive shops of the Santa Fe and 9 de Julio avenues. All 162 rooms have private facilities, TV and telephone, mini-bar, and air-conditioning. There is 24 hour room service, a restaurant, two bars and a weekend tango show.
Salta - 4 Nights
Day 5 - Fly to Salta
Day 6 - Cafayate Desert landscapes and winery
Day 7 - Self-drive from Salta to Purmamarca
Day 8 - Self-drive from Purmamarca to Salta
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Day 5
Fly to Salta
Today you will fly west to the colonial city of Salta, which sits in the Lerma valley surrounded by mountain peaks in the Northwest of Argentina. We stay for 2 nights. You will have the afternoon at leisure to enjoy this city of fine plazas, beautiful colonial architecture and magnificent churches.
Day 6
Cafayate Desert landscapes and winery
In this full day you will venture out into the dramatic scenery which unfolds south of the city, reaching Cafayate and then returning to Salta for the evening. En-route you will stop at the Quebrada de las Conchas (the Gorge of Shells), where wind and water erosion have carved curious shapes on the rocks, creating several distinct formations with vivid names, including the Amphitheater and the Devil's Throat.
Upon arrival in Cafayate you will visit one of the local wineries, famous for their production of Torrontes, with special characteristics due to the unique climate and land. In the afternoon there will be time to explore the town and visit the magnificent colonial church, stroll around the leafy square, browse the handicraft stalls and shops, or visit the fascinating modern wine museum. You will then return to Salta along the same picturesque route.
Day 7
Self-drive from Salta to Purmamarca
Collect your car and drive to Pumamarca. It is easy to self-drive in Argentina, as the roads are not busy and generally quite safe. It is a very scenic drive; the provinces of Salta and neighbouring Jujuy are well-known for their high mountain and desert landscapes, with wind-sculpted gorges and red-ochre coloured rock formations, high altitude salt flats and winding mountains roads.
Among this desert scenery there are a number of rivers providing green foliage which contrasts the dry surroundings, as well as micro-climates which produce humid forests and jungles, like the one which stretches between the cities of Salta and Jujuy. You will drive north from Salta along these roads, stopping in Jujuy to admire the colonial churches if you wish. Arrive at Purmamarca, an ancient settlement surrounded by towering mountains, including the famous ‘Seven Colours Hill’, where you overnight.
You may also wish take visit the Salinas Grandes, a 90 minute mountain drive to see the salt flats.
Day 8
Self-drive from Purmamarca to Salta
The following day you will continue north, along the main road through Humahuaca Gorge, to the thriving colonial town of Humahuaca. Here you can visit the historic church and the monument to independence heroes. You then head back south towards Salta (where you overnight), with a possible stop at the small colonial town of Tilcara and the pre-Inca archaeological site ‘Pucara de Tilcara’. Return the car in the evening.
Legado Mitico
Salta - First Hotel
Located in the historical quarter of the city, the Legado Mitico is housed in an old mansion near the striking main square of colonial Salta, comprising eleven guest rooms dedicated to various national heroes. While the Buenos Aires location centers around politicians and cultural figures, this northern hotel looks to the region's indigenous history, naming rooms after native tribes, gauchos, even a feminist sculptor. More tangibly, each room is oversized, outfitted with plush bedding, a flatscreen TV and DVD player, and a bright, contemporary bathroom. It's a sophisticated, almost intellectual atmosphere throughout, the spaces filled with masculine leather armchairs, smooth dark wood, oil paintings, literary artifacts and art objects in moody shades of slate grey and deep red - and the spacious house boasts a cozy library, breakfast nook, and a tiled patio, if not more conventional amenities like a swimming pool or restaurant.
Accommodation includes room and breakfast.
Solar de la Plaza
Salta - First Boutique
The Hotel Solar de la Plaza was previously the residence of the Patrón Costas family and offers comfort, intimacy and a colonial setting. The hotel is located on General Güemes Square, just a few blocks from the main centre of the city. The hotel has thirty rooms, all decorated with typical regional crafts in iron, different types of wood, alpaca etc. Each room is equipped with satellite TV, mini bar, internet access, air-conditioning and safety box. The hotel also features a restaurant wit ha view of the interior garden as well as a lobby lounge bar. There is also a health club located on the terraced roof with a gym, sauna, swimming-pool and solarium and a beautiful view of the hills. Accommodation includes room and breakfast.
House of Jasmines
Salta - First Hotel
The House of Jasmines is more than a hundred years old. This historical colonial inn has seven exclusive double suite bedrooms, five double suites, two of them with a terrace and panoramic view and two king size suites all with private bathroom and telephone facilities. The hotel offers internet access, laundry service and swimming pool. Accommodation includes room and buffet breakfast.
Iguazu Falls - 2 Nights
Day 9 - Fly to Iguazu
Day 10 - Explore Iguazu Falls
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Day 9
Fly to Iguazu
Fly to Iguazu and transfer to your chosen hotel or lodge for a 2 night stay.
Day 10
Explore Iguazu Falls
Set in sprawling sub-tropical rainforest on the border between Brazil and Argentina, the Iguazu Falls are one of the world's most spectacular natural wonders. Vast torrents of water cascade over a myriad of falls in a 1.7 mile long horseshoe-shaped curve in the Iguazu River. In total the falls are twice as wide and a third taller than Niagara.
The Argentinean side provides three major trails to give you a wonderful overview of the falls, from both near and afar, including a close encounter with the mighty Devil's Throat - the epicentre of the action. You can take boat trips to see the waterfalls from below and even take to the skies on a panoramic helicopter ride.
Your Veloso Tours guide will show you this natural wonder, taking you on walkways and trails away from the crowds of tourists so you get a better view. There is also the opportunity to travel over to the Brazilian side of the falls for a different perspective.
La Cantera
Iguazu Falls - Tourist Lodge
Located in the forest outside of the town of Puerto Iguazu, and 15 minutes from the falls, La Cantera Jungle Lodge has rooms distrubited in a series of bungalows connected by raised walkways. The rooms are spacious and well appointed, with a balcony looking out into the forest as well as private facilities and air conditioning. The hotel has a restaurant and a swimming pool with a terrace area for relaxing.
Aguape Lodge
Iguazu Falls - First Lodge
The Iberá Marshes are one of the largest protected areas in the world, the second largest moist soil area in South America and a natural sanctuary with 350 bird species, where the best birdwatching and wild life experiences take place in Argentina.
Aguapé Lodge is located in the Iberá Marshes by the Iberá lagoon, it is a privileged place to enjoy an overwhelming view of nature. The Lodge is surrounded by a large and wide park just by the coast of the lagoon from where you will closely see some animals that lives inside the vegetation, as the capibaras and caimans, and a large variety of birds that live by its coasts, which are densely inhabited, protected and incredibly amazing. While sailing you will enjoy excellent bird-watching and all the animals in their natural habitat: capybaras, caimans, otters, marsh deer and others. This lodge is an upscale facility comprised of four houses with a lakeside location. It has more amenities than any other place in town, including a wide variety of excursions. Service is multilingual and excellent.
Gran Melia Iguazu
Iguazu Falls - First Hotel
Set within the Iguazu National Park the Gran Melia Iguazu Hotel is a three-story hotel with spectaculars views of the magnificent Iguazu Falls. It is the only hotel with rooms that look directly over the Falls.
The superb public facilities include an infinity pool with views of the Iguazu Falls, the Yasi Spa and health club, 4 bars (the rooftop bar is a great place to enjoy a drink and the fantastic views) and the Merkado Restaurant serving international and Argentine specialities.
The hotel has 177 guest rooms split by deluxe, red level and suite categories. All rooms are air-conditioned and extremely well-appointed with private bathroom, king size beds, safe, mini bar, TV and luxury in room amenities.
From the hotel, you can easily walk to the nearby trails to observe the Falls, ideal for those who want to beat the tourist crowds and have more flexibility. The hotel also offers tango lessons, yoga classes and photographic tours.
The rates are on a room and breakfast basis.
Iberá Wetlands - 2 Nights
Day 11 - Transfer to Posadas via San Ignacio Ruins
Day 12 - Iberá Wetlands excursions with lodge guides
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Day 11
Transfer to Posadas via San Ignacio Ruins
The tour continues with a scenic drive from Iguazu to Posadas, the gateway to the Iberá Wetlands - one of the continent's premier wildlife destinations. On the way to Posadas you will stop at the Ruins of San Ignacio Miní, one of the best preserved Jesuit missionary settlements in South America. Nestled amid lush vegetation, as well as showcasing a fine baroque architecture style, the ruins also teach us about the fascinating existence of the Jesuits, their efforts to evangelise the local Guaraní people and how they ultimately were suppressed and the mission destroyed in the early nineteenth century.
You will then continue on to your lodge, where you will stay for the next two nights.
Day 12
Iberá Wetlands excursions with lodge guides
The Iberá Wetlands are undoubtedly one of the best places to observe wildlife, birds and exotic flora in Latin America. It is a huge reserve made up of shallow swamps, lagoons, marshland and rivers, fed by fresh rainwater during the rainy season and full of lush vegetation. These conditions provide a perfect habitat for wildlife, with marshland deer, rhea, capybara, collared peccary, maned wolf, caiman, otters, and many species of birds seen at various points of the year. As part of your stay at the lodge you will be able to undertake escorted excursions into the wetlands.
Puerto Valle
Ibera Wetlands - Lodge
Located 55 km from Posadas, Puerto Valle is easily accessible while standing on the edges of both the Ibera wetlands and the River. All 13 rooms are spacious, with private facilities and views of the river. The restaurant uses ingredients grown in the organic garden, and there is also a library and drawing room for relaxing. Activities include boat trips on the river and wetlands, as well as horse riding and forest walks on the property.
Bariloche & Lake District - 5 Nights
Day 13 - Fly to Bariloche via Buenos Aires
Day 14-15 - Self-drive to Lanin National Park
Day 16-17 - Self-drive exploring the Argentine Lake District
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Day 13
Fly to Bariloche via Buenos Aires
It is now time to head south, flying to Bariloche in the Argentine Lake District, via the capital Buenos Aires. You will arrive mid-afternoon and be transferred to your hotel in the town, for a one night stay.
Day 14
Self-drive to Lanin National Park
Having picked up your car, you will now head north towards San Martin de los Andes, where you will stay in a small lodge inside the Lanín National Park for two nights. The drive from Bariloche to San Martin takes you along the Seven Lakes Road, a journey that is every bit as spectacular as it sounds. Enjoy rolling alpine scenery as you pass verdant forests, snow-capped mountains and sparkling lakes along sinuous paved roads. San Martin sits at the shores of Lake Lácar and at the entrance to the large national park, named after the perfectly conical Lanín Volcano. The following day will give you the chance to explore, before making the drive back to Bariloche the day after, perhaps along a different scenic route.
Day 15
Self-drive adventure
Day 16
Self-drive exploring the Argentine Lake District
You will spend the next two nights in your hotel in Bariloche, from where you can take a wide choice of outdoor activities, including hiking, bird-watching, fishing, horse-riding or cycling. Alternatively you may prefer to use your hire car and continue exploring the scenery, perhaps visiting the Nahuel Huapi National Park and the array of scenic spots nearby, including the vividly named Cathedral Mountain and Enchanted Valley or the many glaciers, waterfalls, rock formations and mountain villages of the area. You will be rewarded with some of the most stunning natural beauty in the world. In the evening we suggest you dine out at one of the town's famed 'asado grilled meat restaurants.
Day 17
Self-drive adventure
Las Lengas
Bariloche & Lake District - Tourist Lodge
Located in the village of San Martin de los Andes, at the foot of the mountain you will find Hosteria Las Lengas, in a lush corner of a quiet road, three blocks from downtown and five from Lake Lacar. A cozy lodge with excellent services customised to your requirements. Las Lengas is a place where you will experience an enjoyable stay. The lodge has a lounge, bar, restaurant and swimming pool. Accommodation includes room and breakfast.
Correnotoso
Bariloche & Lake District - First Hotel
Correntoso Hotel is located in the middle of Patagonia, to the south of the Neuquén province and 4 km from Villa la Angostura. This traditional hotel is on the mouth of the Correntoso River where it enters Nahuel Huapi Lake at the foot of the Andes, and is a great point from which to explore the charm and serenity of Patagonia. Hospitality is warm and friendly, and the team will guarantee you an unforgettable experience. Every detail has been carefully selected by the owners whose main interest is to make you feel at home. The 32 rooms and suites are beautifully decorated with fine woodwork and elegant furniture. The Correntoso hotel welcomes you throughout the year and invites you to enjoy every one of its seasons. From its rooms and suites you can enjoy the best views of the mouth of the Correntoso river and the Lake Nahuel Huapi, as well as the exclusive north section of lake. It has excellent gastronomic services as well as an extensive choice of excursions to be available to enjoy the lake, the mountains and its forests. The hotel can organise trekking, boat trips, rafting, riding in the snow and cross country skiing. Accommodations include only room and breakfast.
Sol Arrayan
Bariloche & Lake District - First Hotel
Located in the heart of Argentine Patagonia, Sol Arrayán is less than a mile away from Villa La Angostura's city center, in the Province of Neuquén, Argentina. The resort overlooks the Nahuel Huapi lake, with 42 rooms leaning on a hillside, affording all its guests an incomparable view, with the snowed mountain peaks reflected on the lake. It is surrounded by hundred-year-old trees - the highlights being myrtle (arrayán) specimens, which are unique to the region. The grounds lead to an exclusive beach on the lake shore. All 42 hotel rooms overlook the lake and are equipped with TV,Telephone, WI-FI Internet, Safe. The resort offers a restaurant and spa services as well. Accommodation includes room and breakfast.
Patagonian Glaciers & Lakes - 3 Nights
Day 18 - Fly to El Calafate
Day 19 - Perito Moreno Glacier
Day 20 - Glaciers and Patagonian Lakes Cruise
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Day 18
Return car and fly to El Calafate
Fly further south, deeper into Argentine Patagonia, where your base for the next three nights will be the charming town of El Calafate, on the shores of the glacier-laden Lake Argentina, surrounded by mountains.
Day 19
Perito Moreno Glacier
One of the highlights of Argentine Patagonia is the chance to get up close to the immense Perito Moreno Glacier, standing proud in Lake Argentina in Los Glaciares National Park. This shared full day excursion will give you the chance to enjoy a short cruise to bring you face-to-face with the towering wall of ice and to follow the wooden walkways for breathtaking panoramic views. It is from here that you can best enjoy one of nature's great spectacles, as huge chunks of ice detach from the glacier, collapsing dramatically and crashing thunderously into the icy waters below.
Day 20
Glaciers and Patagonian Lakes Cruise
A fine way to end your Argentine odyssey is with a spectacular cruise through Lake Argentina towards the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers. Flanked by Patagonian forests and rolling glacier-covered mountains on either side, the vessel will navigate its way through the narrow channels, charting a course through giant icebergs to reach these two mammoth and remote glaciers. An invigorating, scenic and fascinating day of adventure and exploration awaits.
Kosten Aike
Perito Moreno Glacier - First Hotel
The Kosten Aike Hotel is located in downtown Calafate, near Lago Argentino. It is built in a traditional style with wooden staircases and balconies, wide eaves and galleries. All 70 rooms have private bathroom, heating, TV, minibar, safe, and telephone. There is a restaurant, bar, games room, garden, terrace and a sitting room with fireplace. The hotel also features a spa with massage room, sauna and hydro-massage. Accommodation includes room and continental breakfast.
Mirador del Lago Kau Yatun
Perito Moreno Glacier - First Hotel
The El Mirador del Lago Hotel is located near the downtown area, facing Lago Argentino. All rooms have a cosy feel to them and include private bathroom, tv, music, central heating, and safety deposit box. The hotel has a restaurant and snack bar for guest convenience. Accommodation includes room and buffet breakfast.
Eolo
Perito Moreno Glacier - Deluxe Lodge
Thirty minutes away from El Calafate, Eolo is a unique place, that embodies the spirit of Patagonia & its staff have lived in Patagonia, thus knowing the area, its customs and its history will enhance your experience at Eolo. Your four day program includes: Full board, transfers non-alcoholic drinks & activities: trek-king, mountain bikes, bird watching, telescope for stargazing, indoor swimming pool, sauna, library, TV room and Internet.
Return via Buenos Aires - 1 Night
Day 21 - Fly to Buenos Aires
Days 22-23 - Return to the UK
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Day 21
Fly to Buenos Aires
On your final day you will be escorted to the airport for your flight back to the capital, where you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel for your overnight stay. A chance for some last minute shopping in the stylish boutiques or a final tango show and dinner.
Day 22
Return flight to London
Transfer to the airport for your direct overnight British Airways flight to London.
De las Americas
Buenos Aires - Tourist Hotel
An elegant hotel with spacious rooms and situated in the heart of the Barrio Norte, an elegant residential and commercial district, within comfortable walking distance of the exclusive shops of the Santa Fe and 9 de Julio avenues. All 162 rooms have private facilities, TV and telephone, mini-bar, and air-conditioning. There is 24 hour room service, a restaurant, two bars and a weekend tango show.
Regal Pacific
Buenos Aires - First Hotel
Located in Puerto Madero the hotel is within walking distance to many of the city's attractions. The hotel offers comfortable guest rooms with luxurious bedding, bathroom linens and exclusive amenities, most advanced technologies & classy contemporary furnishings.
Alvear Palace Hotel
Buenos Aires - Deluxe Hotel
In 1932 a classic was born in Buenos AIres, the Alvear Palace Hotel, a genuine palace right in the heart of the city. Constructed of materials imported from France, the hotel became one of the most characteristic buildings in town, strictly keeping the Louis XVI style.
Situated in the elegant quarter of Recoleta, close to the Park, lined with excellent restaurants and street cafes. Rooms are spacious and service and decor are first class
Recently the hotel has been completely refurbished, sticking to the original glory.
Price Guidelines
| Season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Travel Dates | ||
| Room Arrangement | Tourist | First |
| Multiple Travellers - Twin Room | £5,450 | £5,971 |
Prices are a guideline and per person. Please request a quote for Special Events, Christmas, New Year's Eve & Easter.
What's Included
- 22 Days / 20 Nights
- International flights (2 overnight)
- Internal flights
- Accommodation as shown on the itinerary
- Breakfast everyday and meals as described on the itinerary
- Transfers to and from airports
- Transport throughout the itinerary
- Excursions listed, all with expert, English-speaking guides
Client Testimonials
Speak with a Specialist
Travel Enquiries
Contact an Advisor
Stay in touch
Infuse your travels, with inspiration from our monthly newsletter.