Hello,
My Fiancee and I are travelling to Argentina for our Honeymoonm, we arrive in BA on the 14th October and will staying for 16 nights. Neither of us has been to South America before and are from Europe but reading through this forum I have seen some very helpful comments. We are maybe a little unprepared for our trip so would really appreciate all the advice we can get. Our tentative plan is;
days1-5 in BA
days 6 & 7 Igazua falls ( flying up on 6th day)
Day 8 Fly back to BA and then fly to Patagonia
Days 8-14 In Patagonia
Final night in BA.

from what I have read on here Igazua falls seems to be a destination that you will regret not seeing but maybe regret spending too much time there?
Does this look like a good starting point of a plan? We are particulary looking forward BA and seing the glaziers, my fianceis is attracted to the wildlife ( penguins whales etc) and she also likes the idea of spending a day in a cottage/cabin at the lake district.
Would appreciate any advice at all on what not to miss, hotels where to stay etc. our budget isn't huge but think it maybe worth the flights ( hoping it isn't to much to try and fit in)
I realise a lot of questions and information there but as I say would really appreciate any and advice provided.

Oh I should point out we really enjoy our food, neither of us in unhealthy but don't do a lot of trekking. We wouldn't want to much of the tourist thing either

Sounds like a great plan. Where in Patagonia are you going, it's a huge territory spanning from Bariloche in the North to Ushuaia in the South.

Your two days in Iguazu is perfect. We also flew from Iguazu straight down to Ushuaia in one day (it was a long day), but it worked out fine for us.

We just spent 14 days in AR going to both the Glaciers and Lake District in Patagonia (see my trip report), but spent less days in BA.

It's all about the choices

I read your trip report it sounds really very good. The boat trip to Glaciers boat sound really interesting and will probably take a look at some of the places you mentioned ( but the 1st class travel and hotels maybe slightly out of price range lol)I have to say for my fiancee the nature is the most important so the south for the whale watching would have to be the main starting point ( i guess Ushuaia) and the Glaciers any reccomendations within our time budget?

Hello,

Yeh you're right about Iguazu being a must see but not dont over do it! 1 or 2 days is fine. Your plan looks excellent, you'll have a great time and you've got a good balance of nature and civilisation included! Your flights to and from Iguazu should be around $280, if you dont fly it'll be an overnight and day bus there and back...! For hotels in BA you should look into staying in San Telmo or Palermo... both have lots of boutiquey options and are in the middle of the restaurants, cafes, bars etc....

Hope that helps!

Bsasexpert
Thanks that does help I see on another post you named a few boutiques and places to stay - how much should we expect to be paying per night? and how much would you expect to pay for meals at the moment in peso? I have read some guides but am aware prices tend to change

Congrats on your marriage!

For more information on Bariloche and the Lakes district, check out our blog at http://livinginpatagonia.com/

Feel free to contact me through there for more help. Suerte!

My bride and I were in BA back in January, DM, and stayed here. Rather basic, but comfortable, centrally located, and a very good value for the money. Jorge and Valeria were first rate hosts.

http://www.tangobedandbreakfast.com/

Thanks guys,
owlwoman Been thinking about the Patagonia portion of the trip and need to define clearer our objectives i guess.

The Main Priorities are Puerto Madryn for the whale watching and probably the glaciers?
Could anyone suggest answers to these problems?
1. How much time is needed in both places?
2. The best way to travel from one to the other?
3. Travel times and costs?

Will be most grateful

Oh, in while in BA, give these folks a try:

http://www.cicerones.org.ar/index_spa.php

Volunteer tour guides, although a small contribution (I think around $10 USD per person is customary) to the organization is appreciated. We spent a full day with Claudia with the Cicerones while in BA. She showed us what sights we wanted, how to use the public transport, gave us recommendations and insights to the city and its people, etc. Priceless.

Consider a day trip from BA to Tigre, too...the full day river tour was a high point of our trip.

RedStater

Thanks very much - Will look into the B&B my fiancee may like the artist theme. Was it too far out of the center?

Did you travel anywhere else in the country.

The tour guides looks interesting too

DM, I did a seven-week solo bicycle tour of the country, so my mobility was somewhat limited. Lots of small towns and some larger ones along the way, including Lujan (I recommend for a day trip from BA), Rosario, Cordoba, Mendoza (worth a visit), and Santiago, Chile. I ended up in Valparaiso. I didn't hit anything on your itinerary except BA, so I can't contribute anything else.

I did very little booking ahead. Never once in my tour did I find a town without an affordable (read cheap) hostel, pension, or hotel. The quality of the accomodations was, at times, marginal, but I could always find a bed when I wanted one.

Our Plan has some development,

days14th -18th in BA
19th fly to Iguauzzu falls
21st fly to EL Calafate The up to the glaciers El chaltain
25th El Calafate to trelew - then to p.valdes
28th Puerto Madryn - BA
29Th BA
30th fly home.

El Calafate and Trelew/P.Madryn portion maybe was swapped around but we are assuming we need more time in El Calafate to get up to El Chaltain.
We would like to spend one day at a ranch near BA but not sure if it is better to leave a day early from Trelew(rather than P.Madryn) for that.

Any comments or thought or timing or possibilites would be most welcome.

You should also consider the NW, the best wines, the best weather and the best emanadas are there... ANd the best landscapes...!!!
If you have never come to the NW you will never know what you missed...
Fintstones.

Think we don't have time for the NW, as I have said we have 3 main Priorities BA - Glaciers and Whale watching

The hotels vary from $60 to $100 USD a night... meals completely depend but I would say an average evening meal with a drink/wine and starter/desert is 30-40 pesos, but then obviously lunch is cheaper and "parilla" Argentinean steak is also cheaper 20-30 pesos. Bakeries are very cheap and very tastey! You can get all kinds of fogacio breads, home made pizza and the famous empanadas which are all very filling savoury options and wont set you back more than 10 pesos!