Idle Days In Patagonia

Patagonia In Depth

Argentinian Lake District, Argentinian Patagonia, Buenos Aires & the Pampas

Duration: 13 nights

Price: From $8,950 per person in low season based on two adults travelling together and including accommodation, most meals, all internal flights, private transfers and taxes

From the soaring Andes Mountains to rugged ice fields, and mighty glaciers to serene lakes, Patagonia is home to some seriously cinematic landscapes. While dramatic, the wilderness is also beautifully serene, and this is the itinerary for you if you’re a fan of taking things slow and seriously immersing yourself in a destination. This adventure sees you hunting for dinosaur fossils and farming seaweed on the coast in Bahia Bustamente, a seaside village with a seriously edge-of-the-world feel; living and riding like a gaucho in the Andean foothills of San Martin; and hiking, boating and fly fishing in the wilds of Los Glaciares National Park. Along the way, you’ll stay in rural lodges and estancias which really allow you to get a feel for Patagonian country life, helping out on farms and eating hearty, home-reared food. At either end, you’ll have the chance to explore the livewire city of Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital and one of Latin America’s great cities.
Perfect forAn immersive, in-depth experience of Patagonia.
In the knowConsider extending your stay to include a visit to the stunning Iguazu Falls.

Best for

  • Landscapes & Scenery
  • Off the Beaten Track
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • Repeat

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Itinerary details

Buenos Aires

2 nightsBUENOS AIRES

Before you venture into the wilds of Patagonia, your journey begins with a shot of fast-paced city life in the fantastic Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. A city of tango, asado, and grand colonial architecture, this is a great place to spend a couple of nights soaking up the buzz before you head away from the beaten track. Buenos Aires’ collision of the old and the new is nowhere more evident than your hotel, Nuss Buenos Aires Soho, an edgy boutique property housed in an old convent. Staying in the fashionable Palermo Soho district, you’re in the perfect place to experience the nightlife, art and shopping for which modern Buenos Aires is famous.
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Bahia Bustamante

3 nightsBAHIA BUSTAMENTE

Compared to the chaos of Buenos Aires, your next stop – the peaceful seaside village of Bahia Bustamente – could hardly be more different. Home to just 40 residents, this quiet corner of the earth is the perfect introduction to the pristine wilderness of Patagonia. Staying in a rustic cottage overlooking the ocean, you’ll have the chance to spot hordes of sea birds (including penguins) and sea lions, and even find evidence of long-gone inhabitants as you hunt for dinosaur fossils. The programme of activities here also includes sailing, gathering seaweed on a working farm, and exploring a nearby petrified forest where skunks and armadillos roam.
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San Martin

3 nightsSAN MARTIN

Heading inland from Bahia Bustamente, you’ll get a further taste for traditional Patagonian life as you live like a gaucho on a working cattle ranch. Estancia Huechahue sits on 15,000 acres of Patagonian steppe, which is your playground for three nights here. Horse riding, of course, is high on the agenda, with guided rides through the rugged gorges and Andean foothills which make up the surrounding landscape. You can also help the gauchos herd the cattle, learning some expert horsemanship in return, or dismount to enjoy some of the world’s finest fly fishing in the the Chimehuin, Alumine, Malleo, Quilquihue and Collon Cura rivers. After a day in the great outdoors, there’s nothing better to come home to than a meal of locally reared meat and vegetables, grilled on a traditional asado barbecue.
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El Calafate

1 nightEL CALAFATE

The next leg of your journey sees you stopping off for one night at El Calafate, the gateway to the pristine wilderness of Los Glaciares National Park. You’ll spend the night at La Cantera, a boutique hotel perched above the town with some pretty amazing views over the Patagonian ice fields which await in the next leg of your journey. Don’t miss the fantastic Patagonian cuisine at the restaurant, with dishes like grilled lamb, salmon and trout accompanied by fresh mountain vegetables.
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Lago del Desierto

3 nightsLAGO DEL DESIERTO

The Patagonian stretch of your adventure ends in a stunning location, in the remote Aguas Arriba Lodge on the shores of the serene Lago del Desierto.  The landscape is quintessentially Patagonian; you can spot Mount Fitz Roy and Mount Torres from the lodge, as well as the Vespignani Glacier, and the lodge’s expert guides will help you explore the environment regardless of your fitness level. Treks and boat trips are on offer which range from a couple of hours to all day, and take in valleys, creeks, gorges and glaciers. At the end of the day, you’ll return to cosy, rustic accommodation and hearty Patagonian food, much of which is either grown on site or reared on local farms.
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Buenos Aires

1 nightBUENOS AIRES

Your adventure ends where it began, with one final night in Buenos Aires. This is a great opportunity to experience parts of the city you may have missed out on the first time around – stroll through the pastel houses and cobbled streets of La Boca, catch a show at the iconic Rojo Tango, or simply spend the last night of your trip relaxing on the rooftop terrace of your smart hotel, Hub Porteno, in the classy Recoleta district.
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Best time to go

Best time to travel

Good time to travel (but some limitations)

Travel is possible (but it’s not the best time)

Travel is not recommended

  • Jan
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