10-Day Patagonia, Argentina Trip & Travel Guide

Who is ready for an unforgettable Argentinian vacation?

After Katie shared the highlights of the trip to Patagonia that she took with Molner, we had many questions to see her entire itinerary. We highly recommend reading Katie’s full essay if you want a first-hand sense of the sights and sounds—and the food! – from this beautiful part of the world, since no one can capture it like her. Speaking of food, Katie notes that they tried to eat locally instead of at tourist spots (which certainly made some amazing kitchen, as you have seen), and enjoyed trying local specialties such as Mate, a herbal drink, and Rapunzelsa famous Argentinian chocolate.

If you’ve already checked out Katie’s travelogue and want a quick and easy reference point for where they’ve been and what they’ve seen, we’ve got you covered. Below, take a look at Katie and John’s daily schedule in this amazing region. It will give you a great start in planning your own trip! (And if you want to plan your visit with the same people who planned Katie’s vacation, check it out Blue Parallel Luxury Travel – and of course Carla Thorsonhis trusty travel agent.)

Katie Couric and John Molner’s 10-day Patagonia itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Buenos Aires and check into the hotel, the Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires.

1 pm: Lunch at Los Salones del Piano Nobile, one of the hotels stellar dining deals. This one specializes in modern international cuisine, and offers lovely views for outdoor dining.

3 p.m.: Walking tour collectedwhat you do Vogue called the “most elegant district” of the city. Sights include the opulent Recoleta Cemetery, France squareand the National Museum of Fine Arts.

8 pm: Dinner at fervoran elegant restaurant in the Recoleta neighborhood that serves delicious charcoal-grilled meat and fish specialties.

Day 2

10 am: After breakfast, start the day with a world famous tour Colon Theatre, a historical work that is considered one of the best in the world. Then continue the visit in the Plaza de Mayo, including the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Cabildo and Casa Rosada (or “the pink house”), the official workplace of the Argentine president.

1 pm: Lunch at homemadea neighborhood favorite that provides a tastefully crafted menu focused on local flavors in a vintage, yet modern atmosphere.

Afternoon: Explore San Telmo, the oldest neighborhood of the city and the birthplace of tango. Stroll through its historic streets browsing the quaint antique shops, or sit and enjoy a coffee in Plaza Dorrego.

8:15 pm: Dinner at Anaph, a renowned restaurant owned by Mica Najmanovich and Nico Arcucci. The chefs incorporate Asian techniques into Italian dishes, using Middle Eastern flavors and French preparations as a representation of their heritage, travels, and every country in the world. Katie says this was one of her favorite meals of the trip: “Delicious steak, fresh tomato salad, wonderful bread, and all kinds of small plates in a very residential neighborhood. Delicious!”

Late evening: Cocktails at King of Copasa renowned bar located in the vibrant neighborhood of Palermo Soho.

Day 3

Take a domestic flight to Bariloche“The most charming town in Patagonia,” according to Travel + Leisure. Check in the second hotel of the trip, the beautiful one Villa Beluno.

1 pm: Lunch at Hazelnutthe hotel restaurant, which specializes in dishes inspired by French and Italian cuisine and uses fresh ingredients from the villa’s greenhouse.

4 pm: Head to the Llao Llao Peninsula for a walk through the Coihue forest, enjoying the placid view of the lake through the clearings in the evergreen trees. On the way, Katie and John stopped in the middle of the woods for a tasting Mate, a herbal drink whose name rhymes with “milk”. Katie felt it was an acquired taste, but she was happy to try it!

8 pm: Dinner at Soul, one of the best restaurants in Bariloche’s culinary scene, focusing on simple but delicious dishes with local ingredients. Guests feel at home in the cozy setting of the restaurant’s cabin, tucked into the woods in the Circuito Chico area of ​​the Llao Llao Peninsula.

Day 4

10:30 am: After breakfast, head to López Bay, a beautiful area along the coasts of Lake Nahuel Huapi to enjoy a hiking excursion. Reach the peaks at Los Palotinos, a spectacular viewpoint on the Tristeza arm of Lake Nahuel Huapi, where you will have a panoramic view of the area, or take an easier route. In any case, a picnic in this breathtaking place is a must!

Late afternoon: Return to the hotel to clean up, rest, relax, and maybe even enjoy a spa treatment.

8 pm: Dinner at The farmhousean intimate lakeside restaurant located on the Llao Llao Peninsula, offering a cozy atmosphere with simple yet satisfying meals and excellent service.

Day 5

10 am: After breakfast, take a boat trip to Lake Nahuel Huapi. Stop at Victoria Island to walk through the woods and paths in front of the blue lake, then enjoy a picnic lunch.

Late afternoon: Return to your hotel for a swim, a massage, or just a rest.

8:30 pm: Dinner at The Seagullan intimate Italian restaurant serving international and regional cuisine with a Mediterranean approach.

Day 6

8:30 am: Head to Rincon Chico for a fishing excursion in the Limay River, the largest drainage basin in the region. It usually produces both medium-sized migrating rainbows and brown trout.

Early afternoon: Disembark at Estancia Rincón Grande, a captivating Patagonian ranch flanked by a picturesque landscape and majestic mountains in the distance. Enjoy a Patagonian lunch cooked using the traditional curanto method, which involves cooking food underground, with meals prepared in a 30-centimeter pit.

Late afternoon: Go horseback riding to explore the semi-arid region near the property with low vegetation, adapted to limited rainfall and known for its unique wildlife.

8:30 pm: Dinner at Cerveceria Patagonia. Bariloche is the center of Argentina’s beer culture, thanks in part to its German and Swiss heritage. Patagonia is one of its finest breweries, with excellent beers and a beautiful location on a wooded peninsula.

Day 7

Morning: Take a domestic flight to Calafate, a city on the southern border of Lake Argentina. Check in Aeolusa small and intimate hotel with incredible views of the surrounding landscape, and enjoy lunch at the lodge.

Afternoon: Choose between a hike or a horseback ride on the surrounding mountain valley, which offers you an excellent introduction to the landscape of southern Patagonia. Then return to the hotel to freshen up.

7 pm: At the hotel lobby, enjoy a wine tasting followed by a gourmet dinner with expansive views of the sun setting over the Patagonian steppe. Eolo’s restaurant uses regional products from Argentina while applying international gastronomic techniques and aesthetics.

Day 8

10 am: Head to Los Glaciares National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a boat tour around the south face of the Perito Moreno Glacier and evidence of pieces of ice “calving” from it. As you run parallel to the glacier, you will be struck by the height of this spectacular ice wall.

Afternoon: Transfer to the spectacular catwalks and the balcony in front of the Perito Moreno Glacier to enjoy the panoramic perspective of this natural wonder. Afterwards, enjoy a picnic lunch on the catwalks in front of the glacier itself.

Evening: Once back at your hotel, take a load and enjoy a delicious dinner at Eolo’s restaurant.

Day 9

8 am: Head to Puerto Bandera, where you board a boat Estancia Cristina for a day of amazing exploration. On the way, cruise towards Upsala Glacier for a front view. On the way, you will sail through breathtaking scenery, dodging icebergs. Keep your eye and ear out for falling chunks of ice and moving icebergs!

Mid-morning: Arrival at Estancia Cristina for a 4×4 mountain excursion through the forest. On the way, enjoy an incredible panoramic view of the Upsala Glacier.

Afternoon: Walk to the top of the mountain and return to the estancia, a four-hour walk downhill through the forest, surrounded by impressive views of the beautiful Patagonian landscape, and ancient fossil witnesses in the rock formation. On the way, stop mid-walk and enjoy a boxed lunch.

Late afternoon: End the day with a boat trip back to Puerto Bandera, then return to the hotel.

Evening: Enjoy another magnificent dinner at the Eolo Lodge.

Day 10

Morning: Check out from Eolo and take a domestic flight back to Buenos Aires.

1 pm: Lunch at Guinea Pig Housea boutique, mansion-house restaurant that brings together a somewhat unusual combination of local flavors – a florist, a chef, and a bookseller – under a historic roof.

3 pm: Visit BAD, a beautiful museum also known as Museo de Arte Latinoamericana de Buenos Aires. One of Katie and John’s favorite finds here included a Frida Kahlo self-portrait.

5:30 pm: After packing up at the museum, head to the airport and have a quick dinner as you prepare to board your flight home.