v_sapi

We just decided, last minute as usual, to have a family Holiday trip to Argentina, with focus on BA and Patagonia. We plan to arrive on Dec 26 and depart on Jan 4 or 5th.
The plan is to spend 3 days in BA, getting the sights,sounds and culture, as well as food experience in BA, and then spending a 6-7 days in Patagonia. I have read through some posts, but the many choice and logistics of planning this trip (im trying to book the trip as soon as possible since its a very popular season) are challenging.
We are two fit and adventurous adults (normally we would be doing a 5-6 challenging trek, but we have an 11 yo daughter, who is fit but untested in these type of adventure vacations, so we don't know how much she can do)

So I wanted to seek your help in answering a few questions.

1) Tough question...What are the most important places/activities that are a must see/ do for us, a combination of scenery and moderate adventure (short treks, etc) so we can do it with our daughter.

2) Assuming 7 days, 6 nights for Patagonia, what should be our 2 or 3 main places to stay? and in what order should we visit them. We want to go as far south as it makes sense. El Calafate? How many nights? where else should we stay? Which hotels would you recommend, moderately priced, conveniently located?

3) How do we decide to stay on the Chilean or Argentinian Patagonia. Is there a reason for us to cross over to Chile or we can really see most of the stuff that worth seeing given our limited time, on the Argentinian side?

4) Transportation? Which segments makes sense to fly and when to take a bus? Not really sure I want to rent a car, maybe for a day or two max...How long is each of the transfers?

5) Blue Rate - how do we book local flights and hotels from here to ensure availability but pay in pesos when I get there?

Obviously I have more questions and will likely get into a lot more details, but for now, I m trying to get a good idea how to structure it, so I can get flights and hotels booked...

HELP!..Thanks in advance

avrooster

As you say, your main problem is the season during which you are planning to travel.

For several of your questions, I can only suggest further research, as many answers depend on your taste. So, you have my http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...ed-reading.cfm thread.

If you are up to reading all of it, you should be able to decide on your own "I want to do this or I want to do that".

About question #5, which is very important for the cost of your trip, I'm afraid that, at that time of the year, you may have to take whatever flights are available and forget about the "blue" rate.

If the hotels you book accept credit cards, you should be able to save about 40% (at this writing) by selling dollars in the blue market and paying in cash pesos. I have posted abundantly on the subject, for instance here: http://www.fodors.com/community/sout.../blue-rate.cfm

Have a great time in our country with your DW and DD, v_sapi.

v_sapi

Thanks for a quick response avrooster, I read a lot of your posts on the subject...A quick follow up question on the rate....Can you exchange USD for pesos at blue rate pretty much everywhere, in Patagonia including or should we do all of our exchange in BA?

avrooster

The best price, by far, will be obtained in BA, as said by yours truly in the http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...omment-8422171 I linked above.

jgg

We were in Argentina with our kids when they were 13 and 16. We only spent 3 days in Patagonia and they were all in El Calafate. We loved that little town and really enjoyed ice hiking on the Perito Moreno Glacier - I think your daughter would really enjoy it. We stayed at Miyazato Inn run by a wonderful Japanese family. Pretty basic but a great price and well located.

Here is a link to my trip report a long with pictures: http://www.fromhometoroam.com/catego...ica/argentina/

odie1

We are actually headed to patagonia Dec 15-31 this year with our eleven year old daughter as well. I can tell you, after planning this trip for a few years now (we had to cancel two years ago when the volcano went off), that getting around is not easy.

We are flying from BsAs to El Calafate. Flights are expensive (about $700 for the three of us) and are getting full. We are renting a car in Calafate, though I know that it is not necessary. We have more time than you will have. We are spending four nights in El Chalten for hiking and Fitz Roy, two nights El Calafate for glaciers, three nights Natales for fishing and kayaking, four nights Torres del Paine for fishing, hiking, horseback riding (will actually be here for Xmas), 3 nights in Punta Arenas for fishing, penguins and the Straits of Magellan.

Torres del Paine is supposed to be spectacular for scenic views, wildlife, etc. El Chalten is supposed to be as scenic but without the wildlife that is found in TdP.


To get from Arg (El Calafate) to Chile (Torres del Paine) you have a few options. Public bus to Puerto Natales (about 7 hours), Always Glaciers will take you to TdP straight (about 5 hours), you can rent a car as long as you bring the car back to Argentina, or you can do an all inclusive like Los Torres that includes transport to and from El Calafate.

If you decide to stay in Argentina, then I would do Calafate and El Chalten, You can take a bus for very little to El Chalten. Otherwise with your time I would do El Calafate and use any of the options besides bus via Natales, to go to TdP.

There are lots of reasonably priced nice hotels in Calafate and Chalten. TdP is very expensive and may also very well be sold out now for that time frame. I would definitely check airlines as well to make sure they are available before you plan anything.