Buenos Aires & Patagonia Family Exploration

•  Transfer from your hotel to the airport/ Transfer from the airport to the city 

Today we’ll pick you up from your hotel in Buenos Aires and drive you to the airport to take your flight to El Calafate where your Patagonia itinerary starts! Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport and take a private transfer to your hotel. No matter how early you get to the hotel in the morning, your room will be ready for you upon arrival: early check-in is guaranteed. 

• Optional tour – Rural life and estancias of Patagonia 

We’ll pick you up from your hotel in a minivan and head toward Glacier National Park. Leave El Calafate behind and travel for 1hr 30mins with the snow-capped Cerro Frías as your backdrop. Once inside the National Park, make your way to Nibepo Aike Ranch, the only ranch in the area that has maintained the traditions of sheep shearing and Hereford cattle breeding as its primary focus.

Enjoy an inviting hot drink and a delicious snack in the classic quincho (rustic dining room)! Walk the coast of Lago Argentino, watch how a real gaucho (the Argentine cowboy) works the shearing shed, and view a unique demonstration of gaucho horsemanship. Depending on the day’s activities, you might help milk the cows, herd sheep, or learn the history behind the founders of the estancia. At the end of the day, return to the quincho, where a mouth-watering grilled lamb awaits, sizzling over the traditional Patagonian fire pit. Take the same road and transportation to return to El Calafate.    

Why your kids will love it:

The kids will have varied options for outdoor activities to discover the terrain, and the native fauna, and to be in contact with locals. They will also get to taste some homemade traditional dishes— this is the perfect time to leave hamburgers and french fries behind!

Why you will like it

This is your opportunity to immerse yourself in some famous, wild Patagonian landscapes, and to come into true contact with nature, speak with locals, and enjoy a delicious asado (barbecue).

• Sail Mayo channel and visit Perito Moreno Glacier

Start off the day with a pick-up from your hotel, and travel to Puerto Bandera to embark on an 8-hour nautical safari where you’ll discover the secluded glaciers and waterfalls of Glacier National Park that can only be reached by boat! This will be one of the most beautiful experiences of your family vacation in Argentina.

Sail Mayo Channel and disembark at Toro Bay to hike through the Patagonian forest; your specialized guide will tell you about the vegetation of this area (very different from other varieties inside the park) and show you the ancient cherry tree and its 10-foot-diameter trunk. Tell your kids that they can call it El Abuelo (grandpa), as locals have nicknamed it, and prepare yourselves to discover a waterfall!

Set sail again towards Cerro Negro (Black Hill), where you’ll do a soft, half-mile hike to the base of the hill to admire the massive Black Glacier. Enjoy your free time in this place that not many travelers have seen, before departing for our third stop, the famous Perito Moreno Glacier. As the boat passes by the immense icy wall, put on your beanie and grab your camera, because you may see a piece of ice breaking off and crashing into the water below!

Finally, you’ll disembark at Puerto Moreno, where you can enjoy your free time wandering across the traditional catwalk circuit that surrounds the glacier before sailing back to Puerto Bandera.

• Visit the Glaciarium Museum 

On your way back to El Calafate make a stop at the Glaciarium Museum and learn about the history of the glaciers and their first explorers. Interactive screens, a synchronized projection, and the natural sounds of ice caves playing throughout the museum’s hall will totally immerse you in the glaciers’ fascinating history. At the end of your tour, we’ll drive you back to El Calafate.

Why your kids will love it

This special boat trip is always a thrilling and memorable part of the El Calafate trip, especially for the youngest members of your family! They will feel like little sailors and explorers of the lake. Plus, this tour is the perfect combination of short navigations and hikes, which will keep little explorers entertained and active. 

Why you will love it

Apart from the amazing landscapes, you’ll enjoy the comforts of free-flowing tea and medialunas (Argentine croissants) on board the tour boat. Also, you’ll get to see the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier up close, passing right by its huge ice wall, and end your visit with a modern multimedia museum.

For your free day in El Calafate, if you’re still wanting to get active and visit another highlight of the area, we recommend that you visit Cerro Frías, an outdoor activity center. We’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you 20 minutes outside of Calafate to Alice Ranch in Cerro Frías.

This ranch still maintains its traditional activities, its cattle, and its natural guanaco reserve. Enjoy any of the activities offered at the ranch: 4×4 rides to explore the area, horseback riding along beautiful slopes, or gliding down South America’s longest zipline. There’s an option for all ages and interests! 

At the end of the day, enjoy lunch or dinner in the elegant quincho (this is the typical place to gather and cook asados, the Argentine barbecue), and during tea time, enjoy maté (Argentine herbal tea) and traditional Argentine pastries. At the end of this 6-hour tour, we’ll drive you back to El Calafate to have some relaxing family time.

Say Hueque Tips

• What can you do near El Calafate if you don’t want to take an optional tour?

If you would prefer to stay in town, you definitely must stop by Laguna Nimes, an ecological reserve which hosts 80 different types of birds, including the Chilean Flamingo, and includes a fun, little hike that’s perfect for kids! Then, enjoy a hearty lunch at Buenos Cruces restaurant; try the guanaco meatloaf or the nut-crusted trout while your kids run around in the play area.

•  Transfer from your hotel to the airport/ Transfer from the airport to the city 

Continue your Patagonia itinerary with a pick-up from your hotel in El Calafate and a transfer to the airport to take your flight to Bariloche. Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport and take a private transfer to your hotel. No matter how early you arrive in the morning, your room will be ready for you upon arrival; early check-in is guaranteed. 

• Visit Mount Otto & Habsburg Stone

Prepare to go on your first hike in the afternoon! Visit Mount Otto, known as “the pinnacle of fun.” To reach the summit, ride the legendary cable car and enjoy the best views over Lake Nahuel Huapi. Take time to enjoy the spectacular view from the summit (6,890 feet above sea level!) before starting an easy 2-hour hike through a forest of lenga trees. Reach the Habsburg Stone, a special viewpoint from which you’ll have stunning views of Lake Gutierrez and Ventana Hill. On the way, your local guide will introduce you to the native vegetation and the history of the place. At the end of this 5-hour experience, you’ll ride the cable car down the hill, and we’ll take you back to the city of Bariloche. 

This tour is only available for children over 10 years old. 

Why your kids will love it

The cable car will be the highlight of the day! This is a safe and original way to start discovering Bariloche. Plus, the Habsburg Stone is one of the easiest and thus family-friendly, hikes in the region.

Why you will love it

After a flight, it’s normal to feel a little jet-lagged. That’s why this short, yet active, excursion will be perfect for you to stretch out your legs on your arrival day. Enjoy an easy-going and fun activity; this will be a good introduction to your upcoming adventure. 

• Bariloche history & nature excursion with zipline

Start this 7-hour tour, which combines both cooking and historical traditions of Bariloche, with a pick-up at your hotel, to head to the most iconic viewpoints of the area, like Campanario Hill, where you’ll have a bird’s-eye view of the snow-capped Andes mountains, different lakes, such as Lake Moreno and Nahuel Huapi Lake, and the fancy Llao Llao hotel. In the meantime, talk with your guide about the fascinating history of this small mountain village which is entirely located within Nahuel Huapi National Park.

Take a short trek in the Llao Llao Reserve through the beautiful arrayan forest, sipping maté along the way (traditional Argentine herbal tea) while your tour guide tells you about the diverse wildlife and natural history of this place. 

Reach Gilbert Traditional Brewery and try out your culinary skills with a fun and engaging cooking class, which will introduce you to the culinary secrets of immigrant and native cultures found in Bariloche. Learn how to make a heavenly-tasting Argentine empanada (meat-filled Argentine pastry).

After lunch, it’s time to get active in the woods of Colonia Suiza, the first European settlement in Bariloche. Prepare to enjoy a 2-hour zipline experience, where your kids will glide from one treetop platform to another (there are 10 in total!), using a steel rope. The youngest will be constantly assisted by our tour guide. At the end of the canopy experience, we’ll drive you back to your hotel in Bariloche.  

This tour is only available for children over 7 years old. 

Why your kids will love it

Canopy always awakes the “king of the jungle” spirit in kids; it’s a fun and active way to get in contact with nature. On the other hand, cooking classes tend to be a hit for children too! Make the most of the time on your family vacations in Argentina and encourage them to try new dishes and get creative. 

Why you will love it

You will enjoy the many must-see natural wonders of Bariloche in just one day, with a carefully-organized tour to make the most of your time here. Just relax, and let our local specialist guide you through the culinary and natural secrets of the region. 

• Explore Nahuel Huapi National Park & go rafting down Manso River

Today, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you along National Road 40 (the legendary road which extends from the North to South of Argentina) to enjoy some scenic views, passing by Lakes Gutierrez, Mascardi and Guillelmo. 

At one stop, we’ll enter the land of a Native American Mapuche Community to share breakfast (maté or tea, and homemade fried bread and marmalade) and learn about their unique culture and traditions; a truly immersive and personal experience in this family travel itinerary through Argentine Patagonia. 

From there we will start our rafting adventure, cruising down Manso River on its emerald waters. For about 1 hour, you’ll navigate your way through some medium-intensity rapids with the backdrop of this fairy-tale valley. Depending on the weather, you may be able to take a relaxing swim! Our guides will provide security and assistance for you and your kids throughout the adventure.  

On our way back, we’ll stop to have lunch in the historic restaurant, El Viejo Almacén. After this 10-hour experience, we’ll drive you back to Bariloche.

This tour is only available for children over 10 years old. 

Why your kids will love it

The rafting will be the icing on the cake for kids. They will definitely love paddling and sharing some laughs with Mom and Dad. Fighting the winding waters will make them feel like real adventurers.

Why you will love it

To get up-close and personal with the Mapuche community – one of the most extensive in the country – is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Make the most of it with the Spanish assistance of your tour guide. 

At the appropriate time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the airport, where your family vacation in Argentina comes to a close. Continue exploring the amazing Patagonia region with some of our other family travel itineraries. If you need any help on planning your next family vacation to Argentina, you can contact any of our travel advisors and we’ll get back to you shortly with brand new ideas.