Argentina Wildlife Holiday

On arrival at Ezeiza International Airport, you’ll be met by a Wayfairer representative and escorted to your private vehicle. Enjoy VIP service as you are driven to the centre of the city, catching your first glimpse of the ‘Paris of Latin America’.

You’ll check in to Legado Mítico, your hotel, for the next three nights. This luxury boutique hotel is beautifully designed and decorated according to the legendary figures from Argentina’s history. Nestled within the trendy Palermo area, you’ll be surrounded by gorgeous cafes, chic restaurants and bars, boutique shops, museums and art galleries. Spend the afternoon wandering the leafy parks or enjoying a glass of wine in a charming bar, toasting to your first night in Argentina. 

After breakfast, you’ll be met by your English-speaking guide for a private half-day city tour of Buenos Aires. For four hours, your expert guide will help you find your feet in this lively city, taking you to all the gems and adapting the tour to suit your personal interests.

You’ll begin by braving Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest avenue in the world, before visiting the beautiful Teatro Colon Opera House, one of the best opera houses in the world. You’ll move on to see Casa Rosada, the iconic pink government house in Plaza de Mayo, then soak up the history of La Boca and San Telmo, the Italian-immigrant barrios (neighbourhoods) where the city was born.

Continue on to Puerto Madero, an upmarket area full of superb restaurants and stylish people, then visit the affluent Recoleta neighbourhood, where you’ll find the graves of Argentina’s most famous figures buried in the huge cemetery. You’ll finish your tour back in leafy Palermo, and your guide will be happy to offer suggestions for you to continue your own sightseeing this afternoon.

Today is yours to explore this seductive city at your leisure. As you wander the streets, you’ll discover a maze of architectural gems, rich cultural heritage and delicious food and wine served in beautiful cafes, bars and restaurants.

We recommend exploring the city’s culture through the myriad of museums and art galleries, starting with El Caminito, a historical, artist-lined alleyway and colourful street museum. Then enter the magical world of El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a former theatre turned into a grand bookstore, with excellent coffee and live piano playing from the original stage. Sports fans should head to the Bombonera stadium in La Boca to witness a thrilling football match with some of the most passionate fans in the world.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up from your hotel by your private driver and transferred to Jorge Newbery Airport for your domestic flight to Posadas. On arrival at the airport, you’ll join a shared transfer, provided by Puerto Valle Lodge, to your accommodation for the next three nights.

Puerto Valle is a former traditional manor of the Corrientes province, built-in 1868. Set on a sprawling 14-hectare estancia (ranch) within an intricately designed park, you’ll be surrounded by the rich biodiversity of the largest conservation area in Argentina. This afternoon, you can settle into your spacious, elegant room and relax in the peaceful parklands, perhaps spotting some animal and plant species.

You’ll stay at Puerto Valle on a full-board basis with all activities included, and you’ll spend the next two days exploring the region at your leisure. Puerto Valle is a gateway to the Iberá Wetlands reserve, and the estancia has been declared an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. Based on this prime location, you can visit lagoons, marshlands, embalsados (floating soil formations), Yatay palm groves, tall grass patches and remote areas of the Paranaense forest.

There is a wharf just 10 kilometres from Puerto Valle, and from here, you can venture out on a guided boat ride, following the waterway leading to Laguna Valle. You can spot a variety of wildlife from the boat, including capybara, alligators, Pampas deer, marshland deer, caiman, neotropical otters and countless bird species in the lush jungle. At sunset, your guide will serve some delicious Corrientes delicacies paired with mate tea, the traditional local beverage. Toast to a magnificent day as you watch the golden sun dipping below the horizon.

Puerto Valle offers a range of adventurous activities, including hiking, bird watching, fishing, and horseback riding. If you’d like to explore the estate on horseback, your expert guide will lead you through private trails, talking about the history and traditions of the region as you venture through the pine and eucalyptus woods.

For wildlife spotting, venture out on the Monkey Trail excursion, which will lead you through the thick vegetation in search of howler monkeys. Keep your eyes peeled for monkeys leaping through the treetops, and don’t forget to watch out for capybara, deer, and other unique animals below.

If you’d like to explore the waterways, you can take a guided boat ride down the Paraná River, gliding through the waterways that reach into the Paranaense forest. With more than fifty tree species per hectare, the forest is rich with birds and animals, including howler monkeys. You’ll snack on local treats while waiting for a glimpse of the forest’s wildlife. You can also kayak on the quiet river. This is a peaceful expedition into the forest, where you’ll discover hidden waterways and spot animals up close.

After breakfast, you’ll be met by your English-speaking private chauffeur-guide and transferred from Puerto Valle to Loi Suites jungle hotel in Puerto Iguazú, visiting some Jesuit ruins along the way.

Loi Suites jungle hotel is an exclusive and luxurious eco-lodge nestled in the Iryapú Jungle. You’ll stay here for two nights, within close range of the Iguazú Falls. Built with a focus on sustainability, Loi Suites aims to preserve the native vegetation, and you’ll be surrounded by towering trees and diverse wildlife. Spend the afternoon enjoying the outdoor heated swimming pool, pool bar, spa, gym and restaurant.

Another accommodation upgrade option for Puerto Iguazú is Awasi Lodge, located just 20 minutes from the Iguazú Falls. This new 14-room lodge is set on the banks of the River Iguazú, surrounded by the Atlantic Rainforest. Each guest will experience a customised culinary experience featuring fresh, local ingredients and an open bar of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including an excellent selection of Argentine wines.

Each villa is assigned a private driver and 4WD, so you can explore at your own pace, and you can choose from a number of private excursions, including a full-day excursion to the Argentinian National Park and Brazilian National Park.

Enjoy breakfast before setting out for a full-day adventure to the Iguazú Falls. You’ll be met at your hotel by your private English-speaking chauffeur guide and driven through the reserve to one of the world’s most awe-inspiring sights.

You’ll visit the Argentine side of the mighty falls, with entrance fees to the National Park included. As the largest waterfall system in the world, the Iguazú Falls are an incredible feat of nature and a natural wonder of the world. You’ll witness the falls from three different viewpoints, travelling between the points on the Green Train, a circuit of ecological trains winding through the park along the river.

Begin with the Lower Circuit, a cleverly designed system of walkways and challenging stairways designed to offer the most incredible views of the falls and intimate encounters with the enchanting cascades. The Upper Circuit provides the most spectacular panoramic views of the falls and the river, while the thundering Devil’s Throat Gorge offers an astounding display of nature’s force.

Your expert guide will accompany you throughout the day, pointing out all the fascinating plants, animals and gems of the jungle. After the tour, you’ll be driven back to your hotel for the evening.

After breakfast, you’ll be met by your private English-speaking chauffeur guide and transferred to Puerto Iguazú airport for your domestic flight to Puerto Madryn, a coastal city in northern Patagonia.

You’ll be transferred from the airport to El Pedral Lodge, a historical former manor and a peaceful retreat into nature. You’ll stay at the lodge for the next three nights on a full-board basis, with all meals and activities included (activities are dependent on the weather conditions on the day). Spend the afternoon exploring the lodge, taking a dip in the swimming pool, visiting the beach or venturing out on a breezy bike ride.

Today is yours to explore at your leisure. El Pedral Lodge offers a number of activities, including excursions to the Magellanic penguins’ colony, the elephant seals rookery and the Punta Ninfas lighthouse. You’ll be guided by an expert naturalist who can teach you all about the flora and fauna of the region.

Throughout this northern Patagonian region, you’ll find an incredible array of marine life, including guanacos, rheas, Patagonian hares and armadillos. Puerto Madryn is set just across the bay from the renowned Peninsula Valdes, home to orca whales, penguins and elephant seals.

From June to early December, hundreds of whales migrate to the Golfo Nuevo, where they mate and give birth, and from September to March, Punta Tombo National Reserve is home to penguins who come here to breed. For the best wildlife spotting opportunities, visit during the spring (September to November), when the marine life comes out in full force.

Another day to spend exploring Puerto Madryn and beyond. Besides wildlife watching, the region has a colourful culture and some gorgeous beaches to visit. There’s a long, golden beach in Puerto Madryn, and you can while away an evening in the sun and surf or try windsurfing or kitesurfing.

There are also a few charming towns to visit, including Gaiman, a little Welsh village with old brick houses and traditional Welsh customs brought by Welsh immigrants who settled here two centuries ago. If you visit in October, you’ll witness the annual Eisteddfod, the Welsh Festival of Arts. Puerto Pyramides is another colourful town worth a visit, with stunning beaches and funky retro cafes.

To see some ancient wildlife, visit the Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio, home to some of the most incredible dinosaur fossils discovered in Patagonia. You’ll see both original and replica dinosaur fossils and can look into a real lab used by palaeontologists to analyse fossils.

After breakfast, you’ll be met by your private driver and transferred to the airport for your domestic flight to Buenos Aires. On arrival at the airport, you’ll be met by your private driver and transferred to the Palermo area to spend one last night in Legado Mítico.

Spend the evening soaking up your final day in Argentina. You may like to practise your tango at a lively tango hall, do some shopping for any last-minute souvenirs in the chic boutiques around the Palermo neighbourhood, or simply relax and indulge with Argentine wine and some delicious traditional cuisine.

Enjoy a final breakfast before being met at your hotel by your private driver and transferred to Ezeiza International Airport for your return flight home.

After two whirlwind weeks spent exploring Argentina’s lively cities, epic natural wonders and wildlife-rich wetlands and coastline, you’ll be leaving with numerous special stories and memories to share. You’ll have discovered all the weird and wonderful creatures of Argentina, set in a scenic paradise.

If you’d like to continue your luxurious adventure, you can fly to Chile for more incredible nature or head to the end of the world in Ushuaia. From the southernmost city in the world, you can board a cruise ship for Antarctica, home to some of the world’s most remarkable wildlife.