Highlights: Buenos Aires, Iguassu Falls, Esteros del Ibera, Peninsula Valdez

Sample Group Itinerary 

Day 1 - Depart USA.
This morning you depart your hometown airport and travel to an international gateway to connect with our overnight flight bound for Buenos Aires. Dinner and breakfast aloft.

Day 2 - Arrive Buenos Aires
Upon arrival in Buenos Aires we are met and transferred to our hotel. The afternoon is free to begin exploring the cosmopolitan city of 14 million inhabitants. Welcome dinner this evening. (D)

Day 3 - Buenos Aires
A full-day tour of Buenos Aires is planned for today. We’ll see the main points of interest, including the Plaza de Mayo, Recoleta Cemetery, Cabildo, Casa Rosada, and upscale residential areas, as well as the La Boca, San Telmo, and Puerto Madero districts.  Lunch included.  This evening we’ll experience the Argentine tango, with a dinner show. (BLD)

Day 4 - Buenos Aires
This morning we’ll visit the Buenos Aires Zoo, founded in 1988, and located in downtown Buenos Aires. The Zoo boasts 2,500 animals of 350 species. We’ll meet with some of the staff of the Zoo, and visit the various facilities.  Lunch at a restaurant in the city. In the afternoon we drive outside the city to visit Temaiken, a modern biopark combing aspects of a zoo with those of a botanical garden, aquarium, and a museum of natural history and anthropology. We’ll tour the facilities and have discussions with the managers and staff. (BL)

Day 5 - Buenos Aires
This morning we drive out of the city for a cruise on the Paraná River Delta. The Paraná and Uruguay Rivers converge at the Delta, and form the Rio de la Plata, which empties into the Atlantic ocean nearly 200 miles from Buenos Aires.  We have the chance to explore the delta and its wonderful forest area. Lunch at an island restaurant. Afternoon return to Buenos Aires. (BL)

Day 6 - Buenos Aires to Iguassu Falls
This morning we fly to Puerto Iguazu, a small town in northeast Argentina on the border with Brazil and Paraguay. This town is located at the confluence of the Paraná and Iguzú Rivers, which form the natural borders between the three countries.  On arrival we transfer to the Sheraton International Hotel, which offers a wonderful view of Iguassu Falls, being located just a few feet from them, in the middle of a sub-tropical rain forest. The hotel is the only one inside the National Park, in a natural environment where pumas, jaguars, alligators and many colorful birds abound. Time to walk on the pathways through the falls before dusk.  (B)

Day 7 - Iguassu Falls
We visit the Argentine side of the falls, including the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat), the highest falls in entire complex.  We board a boat for a ride to the bottom of the falls, and into the rapids, for a close-up look at the powerful river.  Then we travel downstream, returning to the hotel in a 4-wheel-drive vehicle, admiring the jungle along the way. There is always a chance we may spot some of the area wildlife, which includes tapir, toucans, capybara, monkeys, and even jaguars. Time in the afternoon for you to further explore different trails in the Park on your own. (B)

Day 8 - Iguassu Falls to Colonia Carlos Pellegrini
In the morning, we leave Puerto Iguazu, on a long journey to visit the Esteros del Ibera, Argentina’s version of Brazil’s Pantanal We arrive at Colonia Carlos Pellegrini, a village with dirt roads, in the middle of the swamps. Our lodging will be in one of the best lodges in the area, the Rincon del Socorro, owned by the conservationist Douglas Tompkins. (BLD)

Day 9 - Colonia Carlos Pellegrini
This morning we navigate the waters of the Esteros, in the search of the area’s wildlife, looking at Yacare (South American Crocodile), the Curiyu (a yellow and smaller relative of the Anaconda) the Capybaras, the endangered and rare Swamp Deer, howling monkeys, and numerous birds. Lunch. In the afternoon, we continue our explorations with a trip by kayak into the swamp. (BLD)

Day 10 - Colonia Carlos Pellegrini to Buenos Aires
After some activities in the morning, we travel to Posadas, Capital of Misiones Province, for a flight back to Buenos Aires.  Arrival in the evening, and transfer to the hotel. (BL)

Day 11 - Buenos Aires to Valdez Peninsula
Transfer to the airport early this morning to catch the first flight to Trelew, in eastern Patagonia.  On arrival we travel to Puerto Pirámides, where we board a boat to cruise the waters of the Atlantic in search of the Southern Right Whale (Eubaleana Australis). The calm waters of the Valdez Peninsula are the natural breeding and calving area for this species, which spends approximately 6 months in the area. We will have the chance to spot several specimens, for some breathtaking views. Later, we cross the Peninsula to Estancia La Ernestina, at the Northern tip of the Peninsula (Punta Norte), where we’ll stay for 3 nights.  After lunch, we’ll have our first chance to see Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga Leonina), Sea Lions (Otaria Flavences) and Magellan Penguins (Spheniscus Magellanicus). At this time of the year, the seals are fighting for their part of the beach to attract more females,
while they are giving birth. We might be lucky enough to witness one of the spectacular fights
of these giants of the sea... part of their mating rituals. Punta Norte is also world famous for its Orca population. About 9 orcas are known have mastered the intentional stranding technique of hunting seals and sea lions from the beach. This time of the year they are on the lookout for the seals; so, if we are lucky, we might spot some orcas too. (LD)

Day 12 - Valdez Peninsula
We will devote the entire day to wildlife watching in the area. We might see some of the terrestrial animals, like the Patagonian and European Hares, Foxes, Guanacos and Armadillos, among others. Juan Copello, our host, is the principal researcher for the Punta Norte Orca Foundation, dedicated to photo identification of orcas, and their activities in the area. Juan will discuss with us how they work in the field, as well as the photo lab, to identify and catalogue
the orcas of the area. (BLD)

Day 13 - Valdez Peninsula
Our final full day in the area will be dedicated to searching for the species we have not seen yet. Perhaps we will return to some of the places we’ve been to in search of new photo and viewing opportunities. (BLD)

Day 14 - Valdez Peninsula to Buenos Aires
We leave La Ernestina in the morning, returning to Trelew through Puerto Pirámides, for another boat trip. This time we will be looking for the Commerson Dolphins, a small black and white dolphin which inhabits only Patagonian waters. Later, we stop in Puerto Madryn for a short visit to the Ecocentro, an interpretive center for the marine environment of the area. We will be received by senior staff. Later, transfer to the airport to fly back to Buenos Aires. Arrival in the late evening and transfer to our hotel. (BL)

Day 15 - Depart Buenos Aires
Some free time in the city, perhaps for some last minute shopping, before our transfer to the airport for our overnight flight back to the U.S. (B)

Day 16 - Arrive USA
Morning arrival back in the U.S., and connecting flights back to your hometown airport.

Included Meal Codes:
B  -  Breakfast
L  -  Lunch
D  -  Dinner.

Tour Price Includes:
  -  Round-Trip Airfare from USA to Argentina
  -  Internal Airfare within Argentina as per itinerary   
  -  Round trip private transfers airports/hotels in Argentina
  -  13 Nights Accommodation as described (or similar) with private facilities, based on double occupancy
  -  Meals as indicated 
  -  Transportation by air conditioned vehicles
  -  Services of a professional English speaking Tour Director plus local guides as deemed appropriate 
  -  Entrance fees to included attractions 
  -  Applicable local and government taxes on accommodation and local transportation.

Tour Price Does Not Include:
  -  Taxes, Fuel Surcharges, and other fees applicable to the airfare
  -  Tips to guides, driver, and tour director
  -  Excess baggage fees
  -  Items of a personal nature, such as telephone calls, internet access fees, laundry, etc.
  -  Travel Insurance.

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