ESSENTIAL ARGENTINA

Day 1 Arrive in Buenos Aires

Arrive in Buenos Aires today where you will be met at the airport and transferred privately to your charming hotel. After time to recover from your journey you may wish to set out to explore your surroundings in the stylish neighbourhood of Recoleta. The Recoleta Cemetery - one of the city's most popular attractions - is just a 10-minute walk from your hotel, and here you can discover the elaborate monuments to some of the city's most notable residents, including the tomb of Eva Perón.

Overnight: Serena Hotel Buenos Aires

Day 2 Exploring Buenos Aires

You will be met by your private guide this morning for a fascinating tour of the city. Discover the history of the Plaza de Mayo and the 'Pink Palace', where Juan and 'Evita' Perón made their rousing speeches, before travelling on to the historic neighbourhood of San Telmo, where artisan and antique shops line the cobbled streets. Continue south to La Boca, one of the most atmospheric neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires where houses are painted in the brightest shades and tango dancers in the street are a common sight. Your tour concludes in the regenerated port area of Puerto Madero, a cosmopolitan district, home to some fine bars and restaurants and where you may like to remain for lunch, with the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Option: Tonight, gain a deeper insight into the unique culture of Buenos Aires on our specially curated 'closed door' gourmet dinner and tango evening in a local home.

Overnight: Serena Hotel Buenos Aires

Day 3 Fly to Patagonia

After breakfast this morning you will be driven to the airport in time for your flight to El Calafate, charming gateway city to some of Argentinian Patagonia's most spectacular attractions. You will be met at the airport and driven to your hotel on the shores of Lago Argentino. You may wish to spend a relaxing evening at your hotel, in preparation for the activity of the coming days, or take the short taxi journey into town to sample one of El Calafate's many restaurants.

Option: This afternoon, you might like to join the 'Nativos' tour which offers a fascinating insight into the expeditions of the region's first European settlers, and their encounters with the indigenous Tehuelche population. Remarkable stories are recounted by an expert guide as you travel past lakes and mountains in a 4x4, retracing the steps of the early explorers.

Overnight: Los Ponchos Boutique Hotel

Day 4 Perito Moreno Glacier

Meet your guide this morning for your full-day tour to the spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier. You will be driven the 50-mile route out to the western end of the Magellan Peninsula in a private vehicle, taking in the enchanting passing scenery of lakes, forests and snow-capped mountains. Upon arrival the experience of the glacier is a true assault on the senses as you glimpse the vivid blue of the ice standing out against the milky waters of the lake, hear the occasional thunder-like rumbles of the calving of the glacier and feel the biting Patagonian wind on your face as you explore the network of walkways and viewpoints over the glacier.

Option: Before returning to El Calafate, you may wish to add on a one-hour boat ride that takes you right to the front of the southern face of the Perito Moreno glacier.

Overnight: Los Ponchos Boutique Hotel

Day 5 Patagonian ranch visit & BBQ

A visit to Patagonia would not be complete without experiencing life on a traditional 'estancia' or ranch, learning about the work of the gauchos and ways of life that have remained unchanged since the days of the early settlers. The working sheep and cattle estancia of Nibepo Aike is set in a wild and beautiful location on the fringes of Los Glaciares National Park, and your tour of the estancia will be fuelled by hot drinks, home-made cakes and pastries. See a demonstration of the highly-skilled manual sheep shearing and depending on the work of the estancia that day, you may also witness the gauchos in action handling the horses or herding cattle. The day concludes at the Quincho, another important Patagonian institution where workers gather to dine on succulent slow roasted Patagonian lamb, cooked on the outdoor barbecue. N.B. This visit will be in the company of others from the hotel.

Option: Complete your estancia experience with a horse riding expedition, charting a course from the ranch that takes you through wild scenery and demonstrating why riding in Patagonia is an experience like no other.

Overnight: Los Ponchos Boutique Hotel

Day 6 Fly to the Iguazu Falls

Depart the wilds of Patagonia today and fly from El Calafate to Puerto Iguazu on the Argentina side of the Iguazu Falls. You will be met at the airport and driven to your hotel within the confines of the national park, where you can glimpse the mist and spray rising from top of the 'Devil's Throat' in the distance.

Option: This evening you might like to take part in an interactive dining experience, led by an expert chef. Learn how to make a signature wine cocktail and prepare tasty empanadas. After a mouth-watering main course of tenderloin steak (or vegetarian alternative), you will then make your own sweet treat of Argentinian 'alfajores' for pudding.

Overnight: Gran Melia Iguazu

Day 7 Exploring the Iguazu Falls

Spanning the borders of three countries and comprised of 275 individual waterfalls, the UNESCO-protected Iguazu Falls are one of South America's most breath-taking natural wonders. Such is the spectacle that greets visitors when they arrive that First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt is reported to have proclaimed "my poor Niagara" when she visited the region in 1944. Together with your guide you will explore the network of walkways that offer different viewpoints and perspectives of the falls, culminating in the mighty Devil's Throat, the enormous horseshoe-shaped precipice where the roar of the water is almost deafening. After your comprehensive tour, the afternoon is free for you to further explore the region, or return to your hotel and enjoy the views from the infinity pool.

Option: Gain a different perspective of the Iguazu Falls with an added element of adventure. You will travel in 4x4 through jungle trails to reach the Lower Iguazu River canyon, and then take to the water for an exhilarating motor boat ride across the rapids reaching the base of the Three Musketeers Falls and the face of Salto San Martin - prepare to cool down in the most refreshing of natural showers!

Overnight: Gran Melia Iguazu

Day 8 Fly to Buenos Aires for your flight home

Today you will fly from Iguazu back to Buenos Aires. Here you will be met by a driver for the transfer across the city to the international airport, in plenty of time for your flight from home.

Option: extend your Argentine adventure with a flight to Mendoza, spending a few days relaxing and wine tasting in some of South America's most renowned vineyards.