mia22

Hi Fodorites!

My husband and I will be celebrating our first year anniversary next year and we're planning to go to Argentina, one of our dream destinations. We only have about 15 days (including flight times). Please help us with our itinerary!

Some details:

When: January 2015
Who we are: Married couple, early 30s, loves stunning landscapes and sceneries, wildlife, not much into nightlife and shopping. Relatively fit (meaning can hike/trek, but we're not mountaineers). Don't mind long bus trips/flights.

Our main target is the Patagonia, for the landscape and wildlife. Here's my proposed itinerary:

Day 1: Fly into Buenos Aires from Miami
Day 2: Buenos Aires
Day 3: Buenos Aires to El Calafate (flight)
Day 4: Trek to Perito Moreno glacier
Day 5: El Calafate to El Chalten (bus)
Day 6: El Chalten (day trip hike)
Day 7: El Chalten (day trip hike)
Day 8: El Chalten to Puerto Madryn (night bus)
Day 9: Arrive Puerto Madryn
Day 10: Puerto Madryn (penguins!)
Day 11: Puerto Madryn (sea lions!)
Day 12: Puerto Madryn to Buenos Aires (flight)
Day 13: Buenos Aires
Day 14: Flight back home
Day 15: Arrive home

Does my itinerary sound doable? I know we're allotting little time in Buenos Aires, but since our main target is Patagonia, I think that sounds just enough timeAlso, is it better to go to El Calafate first and leave Puerto Madryn last, or the other way around, or no difference? . Wish we could do Iguazu falls too, but I don't think there's any way to fit it in the itinerary anymore. Wish we could to Torres del Paine and Ushuaia but again, there's just no time.

Thanks everyone!!!

crellston

Hi mia22,
Congratulations on your first wedding anniversary!

Can't help with El Chalten or Calafate as I haven't yet made it there ( yet!) I have however been to Puerto Madryn/ Peninsular Valdez. Here is a link to our blog of our visit in 2008
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blo...3240/tpod.html a while ago now but I don't suppose a lot has changed!

We were there in October primarily to see the whales. Sadly, I am pretty sure they will have migrated to Antarctica by December. Given the time you have available, I am not sure i would include it ( unless you REALLY like penguins!). Don't get me wrong it is a nice enough place but it is a very long way from anywhere and would take up a disproportionate amount of the time you have. On balance, I I would swap it for Iguazu which is undoubtedly one of the wonders of the world and maybe extend your time in BA, one of my favourite cities on the planet.

thursdaysd

I chose Iguazu over Valdez so I can't compare the two, but Iguazu was an absolute highlight. Admitedly I'm a big waterfall fan, but those falls are <b>spectacular!</b> - See my photos at http://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/South-America-2012

I'm not sure what you mean by trekking TO Perito Moreno, it's 75 kms by road. You can trek ON the glacier if you arrange one of the tours that do that. Getting there from El Calafate you ride the bus - either a public bus or a tour. I would try to arrange a second day for the boat tour to the other glaciers. See http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/...more-glaciers/

If you're going in January you might want your hotel in El Calafate to get your bus tickets ahead of time. My bus to El Chalten left full, and I was traveling ahead of the main tourist season.

Orlando_Vic

I agree with what thursdaysd said about Iguazú Falls. They are simply jaw-dropping and not to be missed if you are going to Argentina. We have told our (adult) children that this is a must-do sometime in their lifetimes. BTW, there is not just one waterfall, but as many as 275 falls during the dry season and 325-350 during the wet season. I recommend at least an overnight stay.

_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

mia22

Thank you for your responses everyone! I loved looking at all your photos! I think your photos were what made us decide to heed your advice and check out Iguazu Falls instead. So we're dropping Puerto Madryn (guess we'll just have to see penguins some other time!) from our itinerary.

Do you reco we go to Iguazu after Buenos Aires, or head first to the Patagonia region? Thanks again guys!

xyz99

We did a similar trip a few years ago, which included: 2 nights in Iguazu, 3 nights in Puerto Madryn, 3 nights in El Calafate, 1 night in El Chatlen and 3 nights in Buenos Aires.

If I would do it again, I would spend more time in Iguazu and less in BA. We did not care for BA, but read the posts here, we are in minority.
http://ioana-mark.smugmug.com/Travel...6955&k=3Rkm6LC

Personally, I would fly as far as possible on day 1 (you are tired anyway) and save BA for last, since you need to be there anyway for your flight out.

mia22

Hi xyz99, I was just wondering, didn't you find it difficult/exhausting to move around so much? I was thinking of my itinerary, and the fact that we spend on average just 2-3 nights per place makes me feel a little uneasy.

xyz99

Hi mia,
No, we did not find it too tiring. This was more travelling than we normally do, we prefer longer stays in one place, but Argentina is huge and beautiful, and a challenge to see.

We flew everywhere, rented a car + driver in pen. Valdes, took organized trips in El Calafate and had pre-arranged transportation to our hotel everywhere, which took the stress out of it. The 1 night in El Chatlen was not enough, but that was the sacrifice we made because we really wanted to see it. It was well worth it. Other than that, we had 3 nights in each place, so that was ok for us. Flights were all great, on time, in the morning, with minimum time connection (when there was a connection) so we arrived at our destination by mid-day or early afternoon.

As I said earlier, if I had to do it again I would only stay 1 night in BA, before the departure flight and add the extra 2 nights to Iguazu and El Chatlen. But that is very personal, since a lot of people here love BA. No matter what you decide, you’ll have a great trip.