Discover Argentina & Chile

• Full-day visit, history and nature of Bariloche

This morning, we’ll pick you up from your hotel to start one of the most famous and traditional visits to the Lake District. For around 6 hours you will tour the area in an active way, and your guide will be constantly focused on sharing the vast history of the area and the most relevant facts about the natural heritage of Bariloche. 

You will visit Campanario Hill, considered by National Geographic to be the 8th-best view in the world, and one of the most visited places here—1500 people go to enjoy the view every day. Our guides are local experts and know the perfect time to visit. They will bring you there before the crowds swarm, so that you can have a close-up and intimate experience.

Other fabled places you will visit include Nahuel Huapi and the mild waters of Moreno Lake, Lopez and Capilla mountains, and the world renowned Llao-Llao Hotel. Get ready to walk between millenary arrayanes trees on a nature-oriented outing through the impressive forest in the Llao-Llao Nature Park.

After filling your lungs with the refreshing air of the forest, you’ll enjoy your boxed lunch, and at the end of the day we’ll take you back to your hotel.

• Full-day visit to Puerto Blest and Cascada de Los Cántaros

Today, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to Puerto Pañuelo on the Llao Llao peninsula where you’ll set out by boat. After one hour of sailing, passing by Centinela Island, the resting place of Perito Francisco Pascasio Moreno, one of the first explorers of Patagonia, you’ll arrive at Puerto Blest. 

Puerto Blest is one of the heavenly ports of Nahuel Huapi Lake, a secluded place that has amazed travelers from all over the world with its beautiful vegetation – one of the most varied in Bariloche – and a relaxed atmosphere created by the mountains and the surrounding Valdivian Forest.

Once there, you’ll be able to tour the bay, eat your boxed lunch and walk the shores of Lake Frías to see its peculiar green waters, which help to form the natural border between Argentina and Chile.

From there, and after a short 5-minute sail later, you’ll visit Cascada de Los Cántaros (Cántaros Waterfall) and take a walk through the lush vegetation of the Valdivian rainforest, arriving at Lago Cántaros, where the overwhelming 1,500-year-old larch tree will be waiting. At the end of this full-day experience, one of the most impressive in your journey to discover South America, we’ll drive you back to Bariloche.

• Transfer from your hotel to Buenos Aires airport

Time to travel to continue your travel itinerary to Argentina and visit legendary Patagonia! We’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the airport to take your flight to El Calafate. 

• Transfer from El Calafate to El Chaltén – Day at leisure

Upon arrival at El Calafate airport, we will start our 4-hour trip to El Chaltén. Let the Patagonia adventure begin! 

You’ll travel along the famous Route 40, surrounded by the Patagonian steppe, and pass through La Leona River, which connects Lake Argentino and Lake Viedma, and where you’ll get to see La Leona Road house, where the famous thieves Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid for a while. After discovering some other gems along your journey, you’ll reach El Chaltén and we’ll drop you off at your hotel.

El Chaltén is the top-rated hiking destination in Argentina. This charming little village sits at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy and it’s surrounded by glaciers, lakes, rivers and forests. It’s also the jumping-off point for most hiking trails in the area. A paradise for sunny walkers and trekkers alike.

Enjoy your first afternoon of leisure in Patagonia by relaxing in the local brewery or strolling around a little waterfall…

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Our recommended hike for your first day in El Chaltén:

• There is a quick hike you can enjoy to warm up and discover El Chorrillo del Salto, just 1 hour away from the village. Reach its little waterfall encircled by native trees and flora, like the Patagonian Orchid.

• Recommended hike, Cerro Torre

Today, we have a recommendation for true hiking-lovers: trek all the way to Cerro Torre and Laguna Torre, one of the most famous hiking trails in the area. Step into the wild for about 8 hours and 12 miles. This is a moderate-difficulty hike, but there is no steep climbing involved, so no previous experience is required!

The journey starts at a notable wooden sign which reads ‘Laguna Torre’ and features a  woodpecker; you probably already saw the sign if you visited the Cerro Torre Viewpoint the previous day. From there, you will continue through a stunning, multi-colored landscape; snow-capped mountains will rein over the native forest of lenga and ñire trees. You’ll pass by the De Agostini campsite and continue to the front moraine…you can hit the summit in 15 minutes! From here you can descend to the lagoon and watch the floating icebergs, or continue to the Mascardi viewpoint, 1 mile up the hill.

• Transfer from El Chaltén to your hotel in El Calafate – Day at leisure

In the afternoon you will board your bus back to El Calafate. The 3-hour drive back will be a good opportunity to relax while enjoying the passing landscapes out your window.

Once you arrive in El Calafate, the bus will drop you off at your hotel. Now is your chance to try some tender Patagonian Lamb, or maybe a heavenly Calafate ice-cream. In Calafate, food options are varied and plentiful; from veggie delicacies to the best demonstration of national steaks, there really is something for everyone. You can choose a fancy restaurant for dinner, or a more traditional local tavern to spend an unforgettable night. If you want to try some creamy Patagonian craft beer all you have to say is: “Una birra por favor!” ¡Salud! (Cheers!)

• Perito Moreno Glacier tour, meet the icy giant of Patagonia

During the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to Glaciers National Park to enjoy the 6-hour Perito Moreno Glacier tour.  You will travel about 25 miles from El Calafate to the park, enjoying the views of the Patagonian steppe. Once inside the park, you will take walkways to explore the different viewpoints, and you’ll feel unbelievably close to Perito Moreno Glacier. If you’re lucky, you may even get to see a piece of ice break off and fall from the glacier wall, sinking forever into the lake below.

Over the course of about one hour, a bilingual guide will provide you with all the information you might want to know…and things you may have never thought about. After this visit, you will take a boat ride that will bring you close enough to fully appreciate the 262-foot ice walls of Perito Moreno! You’ll never feel closer to this gigantic and impressive natural masterpiece. At the end of the day, we will drive you back to your hotel.  

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• Walk over the Big Ice

Have you ever imagined walking across the surface of a glacier? Well, this is your chance! The Mini Trekking tour will allow you to trek on Perito Moreno Glacier… This is one of our favorite Patagonia outings; we’re sure you won’t regret it.  This is an optional excursion you can add to this day. 

• Travel to Torres del Paine National Park

Start your trip to Chile and discover another incredible destination of South America. In the early morning, we’ll pick you up from your hotel to start your trip to Chile and your full-day visit to Torres del Paine National Park.

First, we’ll drive through the Patagonian steppe for 2hr 30min (you might be able to see rheas, guanacos, Patagonian hare, and even condors!) until reaching the border of Chile in Cancha Carrera, where we’ll go through customs. 

We’ll keep traveling through isolated and windy landscapes, occasionally dotted by guanacos and native green-orange-tinted bushes; you’ll truly feel the momentous solitude that characterizes Patagonia. Torres del Paine is a gift that keeps on giving; it will unveil its enthralling natural beauties little by little… 

Along a winding road, we’ll make different stops to have a close-up view of various attractions like Cascada Paine (Paine Waterfall), Paine Range at Lake Sarmiento, and the Paine Horns at Lake Nordenskjold. Depending on the weather, we’ll depart on an hour-long walk to reach the lake and get closer to the striking mountain peaks. At midday, after having stopped by the Lago Pehoé Viewpoint to gaze at the vastness of the French Valley, we’ll have our boxed lunch with this mountainous backdrop. 

At the end of this dreamy excursion, we’ll leave you at Laguna Amarga, where your transfer will pick you up and take you to your refuge inside the park.  

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• Something to take into account

Things to take into account during your trip from Argentina to Chile: it is not allowed to take any fresh food, plants, seeds, etc. They are very strict, and fines can be high. If you are not sure whether something is allowed, please declare it (they will provide you with a form) and they will inform you if you can bring it or not. And please, don’t forget your passport!

• Hike to Base las Torres

Torres del Paine is one of the most beautiful protected areas of South America, and the best way to explore it is by foot. If you like hiking and nature, this should be one of the highlights of your trip. Depending on which area of the Park you are staying in, you will be able to explore different paths — please check with your travel advisor about which are the best options from your location.

Our recommendation is to make a solo hike to Base de las Torres del Paine. This is the most famous hike in the park since it takes you to the base of the Paine Horns (8500 f.o.s.l.), a challenge for climbers all over the world. It takes 8-10 hours round-trip. 

The first 2 hours of the trek are very tiring since you are walking up, leaving the valley where the Hosteria and Refuge Torres del Paine are located. You’ll cross Ascensio Valley, taking its winding path and gazing over Ascensio River until getting to the first stop, Refugio El Chileno. From here, you’ll continue for one hour through a lenga forest — the changing landscapes will combat any tiredness! 

You’ll finally get to the moraine; the last beat of the trek, and the hardest. The last hour will be an uphill climb, but take your time, you’ll definitely make it to the top! Every effort will be compensated with breathtaking views of these massive granite mountains that grow past a blue lake and up to the sky.

• Transfer to Punta Arenas – Day at leisure

Today, we’ll take you on a 5-hour ride from your hotel inside Torres del Paine National Park to your hotel in Punta Arenas. Punta Arenas is the southernmost city in Chile, located on the Magellanic Strait, and is the leading port for Antarctic cruises and scientific research. Before the construction of the Panama Canal, Punta Arenas was the most important maritime crossroad between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, and thus, the city grew as a commercial center surrounded by European-style buildings. Its colorful houses, standing out from a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, are a sight for sore eyes. 

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• What to do in Punta Arenas?

Discover this secluded spot of your trip through South America by taking a 3-hour city tour to learn about the history of the city, visit the Mirador Hill (and get the most gorgeous views of Magellan Strait), or stop by the Maggiorino Borgatello Museum to see the masterfully crafted pieces made by the Onas, Yaganes and other natives of the area.

• Bus to Ushuaia – Day at leisure

In the early morning, you will get to the bus station to embark on a full-day bus trip to Ushuaia, the last destination of your trip to discover Argentina and Chile, our favorite destinations in South America. Take into account that you’ll be crossing borders again today!

This is a 12-hour trip on a comfortable bus, equipped with reclining seats, where you’ll cross the Patagonian steppe. Look out the window and you’ll see yellow and green grasslands with Chilean gauchos riding into the wild and grazing unbothered sheep, until you reach the ferry crossing. It will take around 45 minutes to cross the mythical Strait of Magellan and hit the road again to cross the Chilean border, finally entering Tierra del Fuego Island on Argentine soil.

As the famous end-of-the-world city approaches, grazing sheep will turn into wild guanacos and horses, with snow-capped mountains and evergreen woods arising at the entrance of Ushuaia. Once you get your “Southernmost City” passport stamp, you’ll realize that this intrepid journey through remote Patagonian roads was absolutely worth it.

Upon arrival in Ushuaia, you will journey to your hotel (taxis to and from the bus station should cost less than $10 US dollars). Ushuaia is a small town, and it is really easy to get around on foot.

Take the afternoon to explore the town, learn about the region’s rich history at the Prisoners’ Museum, or visit the Galleria of Fuegian History (it has a lovely restaurant as well!). Please, don’t forget the local gastronomy! Ushuaia has the best seafood in Argentina.    

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• Something you should take into account

This bus trip allows you to see the landscape of other, lesser-known parts of Chile, and will give you a much more complete perspective of the area. However, we understand that it is a long journey, and can be a very tiring day. For an additional cost, you can choose a less adventurous option; from Torres del Paine, you can drive back to El Calafate and then fly to Ushuaia.

• Discover Tierra del Fuego National Park wildlands

Today we’ll pick you up from your hotel to start a 10-hour, moderate difficulty, adventure in Tierra del Fuego National Park, just 7.4 miles away from the city and bordering the shore of the famous Beagle Channel.

Upon arrival at Ensenada Bay, you will have time to enjoy the view over the Beagle Channel before you start hiking along the coast. Four miles of trail awaits you, where you’ll discover native flora, wild fauna and the remains left by the Yamanas, the native inhabitants of the area. After this 3-hour hike, you will reach Lake Roca, where lunch will be served.

After a full homemade picnic, you will start the second part of this adventure. Take your oar and plunge into a 1hr 30 min paddling trip along the Lapataia River (only available for children over 5 years old). Make it all the way to Lapataia Bay, where the Panamerican Highway and National Route 3 end at an awe-inspiring landscape.

After discovering the unique vastness of this stunning setting, we’ll take you back to your hotel to rest and enjoy another Patagonian evening.

• Tour Ushuaia’s famous islands while sailing the Beagle Channel

In 1833 Charles Darwin sailed the Beagle Channel and found something great. Today it’s your turn: become another explorer of this channel, primitively named Onashaga Channel since the Onas were its first discoverers.

Make your way to the tourist pier (located downtown) to embark on a 4-hour Beagle Channel navigation in a fully equipped boat with a capacity for up to 26 people. With Argentina on your left and Chile on your right, you’ll sail this natural border until reaching the iconic Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, which is still in operation.

On the way, enjoy uplifting panoramic views of Ushuaia Bay, crowned by the Martial Glacier’s diverse marine wildlife, such as cormorants (flying birds, closely related to penguins) and fur seals. Hop off on Bridges Island to explore its vegetation, and visit the archeological remains of the Yamanas (the native inhabitants) accompanied by a specialized bilingual guide. 

During the trip, enjoy bottomless hot cocoa and cookies, or try the maté (loose herbal tea), which is every Argentinian’s favorite drink. Once we get back to the port, you can make your way back to your hotel or stop in a local cafe or brewery to enjoy an amber craft beer paired with a traditional Patagonian appetizer.

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• Have you ever walked amongst penguins?

If not, Ushuaia is your chance to fulfill that bucket-list dream… you can switch out the Beagle Channel Navigation to take the Magellanic Penguin Rookery Tour on Martillo Island (available from October to April at an additional cost), or add one day to your Ushuaia itinerary so that you can do both. On Martillo Island you will also see a very rare type of penguin that is typically only found in Antarctica: the yellow-crested penguin.

• Transfer from your hotel to Ushuaia airport

Today we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the airport to take your flight to Puerto Madryn, the wildlife paradise of Patagonia. 

• Transfer from the airport  to your hotel in Puerto Madryn- Day at leisure

You will land in Trelew and we will drive you one hour to your hotel in the city of Puerto Madryn.

Puerto Madryn is the closest city to the famous Peninsula Valdés, where the Southern Right Whales migrate every year to mate and raise their calves. Thousands of travelers make the annual journey to participate in this natural spectacle.

In fact, the Peninsula Valdés Natural Reserve was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to many different mammals and birds which can only be seen in this part of the globe. Come to see the whales, as well as short-haired sea lions, magnificent (and huge!) elephant seals, black and white dolphins called ‘toninas’, and the always-adorable Patagonian penguins.  

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Our recommended activity for your free day in Puerto Madryn:

• Visit the Ecocentro, a museum overlooking the coastline, where you can learn about the native wildlife and awaken your inner-ecologist. Experience the feeling of being inside the belly of a whale in a room that is modeled after the size and shape of these enormous creatures, and enjoy some amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean from a tower which doubles as a cozy reading room! Ecocentro is just 30 minutes away from downtown and can be reached via a breezy walk on the beach.

• Get closer to the whales!

Today we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to explore the amazing wildlife reserve of Península Valdés for 10 hours. Get your camera ready for some breathtaking pictures of whales, elephant seals, sea lions, guanacos and rheas!

To get to Peninsula Valdes, you will cross an incredibly narrow strip of land that is sandwiched by the sea on either side. Further along the journey, you will arrive at Caleta Valdes, a large natural creek that is home to a colony of elephant seals who will happily pose for photos.  

After admiring Caleta Valdes and its animal inhabitants, you will continue along the road as it winds through a crescent of golden cliffs overlooking the bright blue bay of Golfo Nuevo and the picturesque village of Puerto Piramides. This is a classic spot for whale watching; every year whales arrive at the bay to mate and raise their calves, which is a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle to see.

In Puerto Piramides, the whale watching starts. You will take a 2-hour boat trip around Golfo Nuevo Bay and watch these immense creatures gliding past. This peninsula navigation allows you to get incredibly close to the whales! Enjoy the experience of sailing side-by-side with these beautiful and peaceful animals. At the end of the tour, we will drive you back to your hotel in Puerto Madryn.

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Our recommended optional wildlife tour:

• Now that you have gotten a taste of Patagonia’s wildlife tours… we recommend that you experience snorkeling with sea lions! Get into the water and play around with these curious creatures; they are never reluctant to get friendly with new visitors. 

• Walk among the Magellanic penguins of Punta Tombo

We will pick you up from your hotel in the morning and drive 75 miles south Puerto Madryn to Punta Tombo, home to the largest colony of Magellan penguins in South America.

The colony’s population reaches over half-a-million birds during peak season, and you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy some waddling with these adorable creatures. You’ll have 2 hours to walk around the reserve, learning about how they feed their babies, build their nests and swim beneath the waves!

After the penguin encounter, you’ll have time to eat a quick lunch at a bar near the reserve and then head to the Punta Tombo Interpretation Center, where you’ll learn some interesting facts about the lives of Magellanic Penguins. How many types of penguins are there in the world? Why can’t they fly? All of your questions will be answered today!

To end the day, you can choose to visit the Paleontologist Museum in the city of Trelew or return directly to Puerto Madryn.

• Transfer from your hotel to the airport – 1-night stay in Buenos Aires

Today, we’ll drive you to the airport to take your flight back to Buenos Aires, where you’ll have a quick 1-night stay and then continue traveling to the incredible Iguazú Falls. 

Enjoy your evening sipping a “fernet con coca” (a bitter-sweet traditional liquor, paired with Coca-Cola) in one of the many bars of Plaza Serrano (Palermo neighborhood), or eating our famous pizza (inspired by the Italian recipes brought over by Buenos Aires’ first immigrants) in one of the traditional pizza houses on Corrientes Avenue.   

• Transfer from your hotel to Buenos Aires airport

Say a brief goodbye to Buenos Aires and get ready to continue your travel itinerary to Argentina. In the morning, you’ll be picked up and driven to the local airport to take your flight to Puerto Iguazú, the gateway city to the famous Iguazú Falls.

• Transfer from Puerto Iguazú airport to your hotel – Day at leisure

Upon arrival, we will meet at the airport and drive you to your hotel in Puerto Iguazú. The small border town of Puerto Iguazú is the gateway to visit the impressive Iguazú Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage site, making it a must-see destination for any traveler visiting Argentina. 

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Our recommended activities to spend your day in Puerto Iguazú:

• You can visit “Hito tres fronteras”, a viewpoint west of the town center that stands high above the turbulent reddish-brown junction of the Iguazú and Paraná rivers, which also form the Triple Frontera, or Triple Border between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. There is also a craft market!

• Or you may visit Güirá Oga (the house of birds in native Guaraní language), the sanctuary for animals hurt by illegal hunting and trapping.

• If you feel really adventurous, take a bike tour through the rainforest with a specialised guide, and discover the flora and fauna, the sounds of the jungle, the trail of little native mammals and the traditions of the Guaranies.

• Wander Iguazú falls National Park and meet The Devil’s Throat

Today our driver and bilingual guide will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the National Park, on the Argentinian side. Enjoy a 7-hour tour wandering through the rainforest!

The falls are surrounded by a humid subtropical forest where the exuberant vegetation is home to many different animals and birds. Our guide will help you spot some of them: antbirds, toucans, manakins, parrots, coatis, just to name a few of the most common birds. Lower and upper walkways weave in and around falls permitting up close and personal experiences with this magnificent spectacle of nature. 

The Argentine side of the falls is filled with a myriad of paths and walkways and stairways which allow you to have an experience from many different perspectives. You will have the chance to meet “The Devil’s throat”: the largest of the falls and for many the most spellbinding. To get to the “Devil’s throat” you take the ecological train and then walk out along boardwalks. After walking and taking pictures of animals and plants, you will have some free time to eat lunch in this amazing environment. At the end of the experience, we will drive you back to your hotel.

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• Would you love to have a “Great Adventure”?

The “Great Adventure” (gran aventura) is an optional tour you can add on this day. You will take an open-air jeep through the rainforest and then a zodiac open airboat ride up the river to the base of the falls (there is a 100% chance that you will get soaking wet on this boat trip, so be sure to take some extra clothes!).

•  Visit the Brazilian side of Iguazú National Park

After breakfast, enjoy a 3-4  hour excursion to the Brazilian side of the Iguazú Falls. While Argentina has 80% of the falls on its side, Brazil has the best panoramic view. On the Argentinian side you will have the sensation of being right inside the falls, but only by visiting the Brazilian side you will fully appreciate the immensity of Iguazú falls. Take your time to enjoy it and feel it, to stroll the different walkways and feel the spray of water in your face. Take the boardwalk over the Salto Santa María, it feels like walking on the water. Get closer to the “Devil’s Throat” and feel the power of water! We are sure this is a day you will never forget. At the end of the day we will drive you back to your hotel.

•  Transfer from your hotel to Puerto Iguazú airport

At the appropriate time we will drive you to the airport to take your flight back to Buenos Aires where upon arrival, you will have a transfer to your hotel. 

Enjoy your night in one of the many milongas (tango houses) in the city. Don’t be shy! If you can cross the Patagonian glaciers, meet giant whales and brave the largest waterfalls in the world, then you can definitely mingle with Argentine locals in their favorite dance spots.  

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• What should I bring to the Iguazú Falls Brazilian tour?

For the tour to the Brazilian side of the Iguazú Falls, don’t forget your passport! You will be crossing the border. If you are required to have a visa to enter Brazil, take it with you during the excursion. A good repellent and sun-blocking is always a must when you visit the rainforest. 

• Optional tours – Full-day visit to a ranch

There are still some estancias (ranches) that preserve the gaucho traditions, located in picturesque towns within Buenos Aires’ province. One of the most alluring estancias is El Ombú de Areco, a colonial-style working ranch built on 1880 that is located in the town of San Antonio de Areco, where gaucho traditions are ever-present.

Today, we’ll pick you up at your hotel to begin a 9-hour visit to this time-honored ranch. Learn about the gaucho culture and traditions, strolling around the beautiful old streets, museums and ancient pulperías (grocery stores) in San Antonio de Areco before heading to El Ombú.

Once you’re in the estancia, enjoy a typical asado (barbecue) before either a horseback ride in nature or a relaxing bike ride. For those who like to take things slow while on vacation, there is a peaceful swimming pool (only available in summer) and many sunny relaxation areas where you can take la siesta (an afternoon nap). At the end of the day, we’ll take you back to your hotel in Buenos Aires.

If you want to add this optional tour just contact your travel agent.

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• What to do on your last night in Buenos Aires?

What about ending your travel adventure by visiting the most famous theater in South America? Buenos Aires offers many spectacles (movies, theater, music!) every night. We recommend that you visit Theater Colon, one of the opera houses with the best acoustics in the world. And yes, it’s located right here in Buenos Aires!

• Transfer from your hotel to Buenos Aires airport 

At the appropriate time, we’ll drive you to the international airport where you’ll take your flight back home, ¡buen viaje! (good trip!).

Say Hueque Tips

• How you would like to spend your last day of your discovery journey to South America? Here are some ideas:

You can explore the cobblestone, tree-lined streets of Palermo Soho in search of some one-of-a-kind Porteño fashion stores or discover the graffiti circuit. 

You may stop by one of our historic cafés (named “cafés notables”) located all over the city and have a “cortado”, the most popular Argentine coffee choice.

If you’re leaving on a Saturday or Sunday, you may have the chance to visit one of the city markets, only open during weekends.