Argentina & Patagonia in 12 Days
Argentina is the size of India, so this trip is really three trips stitched by internal flights: a European-feeling capital, the loudest waterfall on earth, and the granite towers of Patagonia.
12
Days
£75–£130 / $95–$165 per person per day
Per day
November–March for Patagonia; year-round for Buenos Aires
Best time
13
Nights
Your day-by-day plan
Arrive Buenos Aires
Morning · Land at Ezeiza, transfer to Palermo or San Telmo
Afternoon · Recoleta cemetery and the bookshop
Evening · Late parrilla dinner — nobody eats before 9pm
The barrios
Morning · San Telmo market and the antique lanes
Afternoon · La Boca's Caminito, then Puerto Madero
Evening · Tango show or a milonga
Iguazú, Argentine side
Morning · Flight north, transfer to Puerto Iguazú
Afternoon · Lower circuit and the Devil's Throat train
Evening · Jungle lodge
Brazilian side
Morning · Cross for the panorama view
Afternoon · Bird park or a boat under the falls
Evening · Back to Argentina
South to El Calafate
Morning · Flight via Buenos Aires
Afternoon · Arrive Patagonia, lakefront walk
Evening · Lamb dinner
Perito Moreno
Morning · Glacier boardwalks — stay for a calving
Afternoon · Boat to the glacier face, or a mini-trek on the ice
Evening · El Calafate
To El Chaltén
Morning · Bus north (3 hours) with Fitz Roy ahead of you
Afternoon · Chorrillo del Salto warm-up walk
Evening · Village brewery
Laguna de los Tres
Morning · Pre-dawn start for the Fitz Roy sunrise
Afternoon · Descend slowly — it's 20km round trip
Evening · Nothing but food
Laguna Torre
Morning · Easier trail to the Cerro Torre viewpoint
Afternoon · Rest or Mirador de los Cóndores
Evening · Last mountain night
Back north
Morning · Bus to El Calafate
Afternoon · Flight to Buenos Aires
Evening · Palermo dinner
Buenos Aires encore
Morning · Tigre delta day trip by train and boat
Afternoon · Leather shopping on Murillo
Evening · Final steak and Malbec
Home
Morning · Slow breakfast
Afternoon · Ezeiza — allow three hours
Evening · —
Local tips that save you money
- Patagonian wind is the real weather. A windproof shell matters more than a warm coat.
- Domestic flights often route through Buenos Aires and change airports (AEP vs EZE) — leave a long buffer.
- Card payments are normal now, but carry some cash for buses and small towns.
Argentina: common questions
How many days do you need in Argentina?+
This plan covers 12 days, which is the sweet spot for Argentina & Patagonia without doubling back. You can trim the last two days or add a beach stop if you have longer.
What is the best time to visit Argentina?+
November–March for Patagonia; year-round for Buenos Aires. Shoulder months give you the same sights with lower prices and shorter queues.
How much does a trip to Argentina cost?+
Budget roughly £75–£130 / $95–$165 per person per day, excluding international flights. That covers accommodation, food, local transport and entry tickets at a mid-range pace.
How do you get around in Argentina?+
Three internal Aerolíneas flights. Book them as one multi-city ticket where possible — one-ways add up fast.
