Argentina Uncorked: From Patagonia to Mendoza

First step on Argentinian soil, in the heart of a continent rich in contrasts and emotions! Upon arrival, a private driver is waiting to take you to your hotel.

With your luggage dropped, Buenos Aires invites you to visit it. Stroll through the cobbled streets of San Telmo, be amazed by the colorful facades of La Boca and soak up the creative energy of Palermo, between art galleries and trendy cafes. Further on, Puerto Madero deploys its skyscrapers and refined tables facing the river. The city's must-sees are then revealed: the elegant Teatro Colón, the Casa Rosada and the National Museum of Fine Arts.

To end this first day in style, there is nothing like a dinner in one of Puerto Madero's gourmet restaurants, where traditional flavors blend with contemporary elegance.

After breakfast, a private transfer takes you to Buenos Aires Airport, where you board a flight to El Calafate. Upon arrival, you will be given the keys to your rental vehicle to continue your adventure in complete freedom.

You take time to explore this peaceful town, renowned for its craft shops and cozy restaurants. A visit to the Glaciarium Museum is a must to dive into the history of the region's glaciers, before a pleasant walk around the Nimez Lagoon, a natural sanctuary home to a rich birdlife.

A day of exploration awaits you! At dawn, the National Route 40 is taken to reach Chile. Arriving in the village of Cerro Castillo, you will discover the Torres del Paine National Park by crisscrossing it from east to west.

Listed in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves, this protected territory is known for its contrasting landscapes and iconic granite towers. All along the route, there are many viewpoints that allow you to admire the immensity of the park. You can take a few trails to soak up this unspoilt nature, between deep blue lakes, imposing glaciers and vast windswept steppes.

Second day of exploration in the most emblematic park in Patagonia, this time on the water. A guided cruise aboard an icebreaker boat on Grey Lake takes you to the foot of the impressive glacier of the same name, one of the largest in the region.

The Grey Glacier is an integral part of the third largest continental ice sheet in the world. Along the way, huge icebergs drift slowly, offering a mesmerizing spectacle of vibrant shades and ephemeral shapes.

In the afternoon, it's time for hiking. Several marked trails allow you to explore the park from a different angle, between lenga forests, crystal clear rivers and panoramas open to the mountains.

Third day in complete freedom to crisscross the park at your own pace.

The hiking trails offer many possibilities: tackle the famous Torres trek to admire their peaks reflected in a glacier lagoon, cross the Francés valley surrounded by hanging glaciers, or walk along the Nordenskjöld lake and its bright blue waters.

For a more intense climb, the Mount Ferrier Trail, steep and exposed to the wind, but which leads to an exceptional panorama of the Grey Glacier, Lake Toro and the surrounding massifs. Looking for tranquility? Sit by Lake Sarmiento to observe the local wildlife.

At the end of the day, you take the road to Puerto Natales.

If the energy is there after your adventure the day before, a new discovery awaits you: the Laguna Sofía. This place of raw beauty lends itself equally well to a hike or a horseback riding excursion, a total immersion in the Patagonian nature. Here, the rock walls are home to many condors, often observed in flight, hovering above the landscapes.

Once the exploration is over, you take the road north towards Cerro Castillo to reach the Argentine border, and reach the town of El Calafate. The crossing of the pampas begins, revealing landscapes that evolve over the kilometers, populated by rheas, guanacos and Magellanic foxes.

Departure by car towards the majestic Los Glaciares National Park, where the emblematic Perito Moreno glacier awaits you.

55 meters high, 15 km long and more than 5 km wide, this colossus of ice releases impressive blocks that collapse into Lake Argentino with a striking crash. From the wooden footbridges, located only a hundred meters away, you can enjoy a privileged view of this natural spectacle.

A transitional day in the middle of your adventure: you reach El Calafate airport, return your vehicle, then fly to Buenos Aires, before continuing to La Rioja, where a new rental car awaits you.

The city warmly welcomes you, a city that perfectly combines history, culture and beautiful landscapes. After settling into the hotel, you have plenty of time to stroll through the city center, get lost in the local markets and enjoy Argentine delicacies in traditional restaurants.

In the morning, head southwest towards Villa Unión, for a mineral adventure in the heart of the Talampaya and Ischigualasto National Parks, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

You start your exploration at Ischigualasto Park. In a vehicle, you'll set off with your guide to discover incredible landscapes: spectacular rock formations, vertiginous canyons and geological curiosities that seem to have come straight out of another time. Several stops allow you to admire these natural wonders up close, while discovering the archaeological and paleontological richness of the region.

Before returning to your hotel in Villa Unión, take a moment to visit the William Sill Museum, where you can see fossils that have also walked the site.

Second day in arid lands, where you travel to your meeting point with your guide, this time to explore Talampaya Park.

The visit to the park takes place in 5 stages, each punctuated by a short walk. You start with the petroglyphs left by prehistoric peoples during the Neolithic period, before discovering the botanical garden, a real haven of local flora.

Then, you explore the impressive canyons of Talampaya and Shimpa, ending in style at the Natural Cathedral, where the vertiginous walls with glowing colors amaze visitors.

In the morning, you take the road south, which leads you to the picturesque village of Barreal, nestled in the heart of the Calingasta Valley, at the foot of the imposing Argentine Andes.

Surrounded by majestic mountains, Barreal offers a varied panorama from snow-capped peaks to desert plains, with emerald lagoons and rushing rivers.

You will make a one-day stop in the heart of nature, at the Los Patos lodge, an idyllic place located at the foot of the imposing Andes Mountains.

Here, the pace is dictated by the simple and soothing activities offered by the lodge: you can go hiking, ride a horse-drawn carriage or venture into the surroundings on horseback.

The atmosphere is peaceful, where every moment spent in this privileged environment seems suspended, far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Depart for Mendoza, crossing the Andes with spectacular views of the Tupungato and Aconcagua volcanoes, the highest peak in South America. On the way, stop at the Salt Arch, a wonder shaped by the Incas in the Aconcagua Park.

Continue the journey towards the Chilean border via Uspallata, with several stops at the viewpoints to admire the Aconcagua and the Tupungato. Visit the Inca Bridge, built by the ancient empire.

Return to Mendoza, via Potrerillos. Upon arrival, you will explore the city on your own, with the General San Martín Park and the Central Market to taste the local specialties.

The day is dedicated to the guided discovery of the surrounding valleys of Mendoza, the true heart of Argentine viticulture, with its 552 vineyards ranging from large farms to small family wineries.

Start your discovery in the Luján de Cuyo Valley with an iconic estate, known as much for its exceptional Malbec as for its spectacular architecture, with a one-of-a-kind pyramid cellar.

Then continue to a more intimate estate, nestled at an altitude of 1,100 metres, where the vines are still grown in accordance with traditional methods. On site, you can enjoy a delicious lunch harmonized with the wines of the estate. Return in the late afternoon to Mendoza, where you return your rental car to the hotel.

With a last look at Mendoza, the capital of Argentine wine, you will set off on a private transfer to the airport, to rediscover the effervescence of Buenos Aires.

A private driver will be waiting for you upon arrival to take you to your hotel.

Treat yourself to a moment of tranquility to absorb the intense memories of your Patagonian odyssey, before immersing yourself again in the characteristic animation of this vibrant capital.

Your trip to Argentina is coming to an end. A final breakfast on the terrace, then a private transfer takes you to the international airport.

You leave laden with memories, a fragment of Patagonia and echoes of vineyards anchored in your memory.