Patagonia and Antarctica Adventure

Duration 19 days
Ideal time to visit November–December
Price guide
From
  PP
Scroll to video
man paddling on kayak between ice in Antractica in Iceberg Graveyard, extreme winter kayaking, polar adventure near Pleneau island
Spend three weeks exploring the best of Argentina, Patagonia and Antarctica's epic natural beauty. Begin with a few days in Buenos Aires, enjoying its neighborhoods and a tango show. Then, head to Calafate to see the stunning Perito Moreno and Upsala Glaciers. After visiting Tierra del Fuego National Park you'll board a luxury vessel in Ushuaia, and cross the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula. Explore Neko Bay, Port Lockroy and Deception Island on guided Zodiac excursions. Return to Ushuaia and travel to the peacerful Pampas, to unwind at a luxury estancia.
  • Explore the cultural hub of Buenos Aires with a city tour and tango show
  • Get uo close to Perito Moreno and Upsala Glaciers
  • Spot wildlife in Neko Bay, deep in Antarctica
  • Zoom on Zodiac boats around the mesmerizing Antarctica Peninsula
  • Visit the remote museum and post office at Port Lockroy

Our bespoke trips include

We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:

  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Expert-guided tours
  • Private transfers and internal flights
  • Meticulously selected experiences
  • Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
Black and white illustration of two guides pointing to a building in the distance
  • Days 1–3 Buenos Aires
  • Days 3–6 El Calafate
  • Days 6–8 Ushuaia
  • Days 8–17 Cruising Antarctica
  • Days 17–19 The Pampas
Patagonia and Antarctica Adventure
Price guide
  PP
  • Days 1–3 Buenos Aires
  • Days 3–6 El Calafate
  • Days 6–8 Ushuaia
  • Days 8–17 Cruising Antarctica
  • Days 17–19 The Pampas

Itinerary in detail

Every Jacada trip and safari is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.

Days 1–3

Two nights in enchanting Buenos Aires

Your adventure begins in the vibrant city of Buenos Aires, the historic home of tango and now to a vibrant modern scene of restaurants, bars and culture. Take a tour through its elegant districts, wander down cobbled alleys and collect stories and anecdotes along the way.

Spend time relaxing and exploring the city’s wonders. You’ll have our top recommendations for activities, restaurants and shopping so that you can make the most of your time here. We can always organise additional privately guided tours (perhaps focused on history, culture or art) as well as more specialist excursions such as personal shopping trips, wine tasting and tango lessons.

Make it mine

By day

By night

A private city exploration

Enjoy a fascinating half-day private tour of the elegant districts that earned Buenos Aires the sobriquet of the Paris of South America. Visit La Boca district in the south and then the charming cobbled alleys of San Telmo. Along to the Plaza de Mayo, up the leafy Avenida de Mayo towards the imposing grandeur of the Palace of Congress and then on to the fascinating Recoleta Cemetery.

An evening extravaganza at Rojo tango

Enjoy the best tango show in town, set in the exclusive environs of the Faena Hotel. The Rojo tango is the smallest and most stylish of tango salons. Your evening includes soft drinks and alcoholic drinks such as wine and champagne, and transfers to and from the venue.

Days 3–6

Epic El Calafate

Spend two nights in the spectacular Glacier region of Argentina, with El Calafate as your luxury base. Travelling this far south, deep into Patagonia has a truly adventurous and exciting feel to it. Here, you’re remote and utterly immersed in nature as the stark, harsh landscapes appear to swallow up tiny cars and the dots of hikers on the craggy undulating slopes. A truly magnificent part of the world which is home to the Perito Glacier, an enormous hunk of crystalline ice and snow that crashes and splinters in deep blue waters.

Aerial view of glaciers in El Calafate, Chile

Make it mine

Water adventures

Farm life

Discover Perito Moreno by boat

Take an unforgettable cruise across Lake Rico, where giant icebergs float, dramatically carved off the face of the Perito Moreno Glacier. This one-hour trip takes you onto the lake, stopping at a safe distance from the glacier, but close enough to feel it looming over you. Continue sailing down its textured façade to view the ice in spectacular style.

Witness Upsala and explore Estancia Cristina

Experience the breathtaking Upsala Glacier on a boat trip through the Cristina Canal, with a stop at Estancia Cristina for quad biking or horse riding. Then, take an exhilarating off-road ascent to the continental ice shelter, followed by a 30-minute walk to enjoy stunning views. Conclude your adventure with a boat ride along the eastern side of the Upsala Glacier on Lake Guillermo before heading back to your accommodation.

Days 6–8

Explore Ushuaia

Enjoy your time before your big cruising adventure in the world’s southernmost city, Ushuaia. There’s lots to do in this part of Argentina where succulent lamb dishes are served for dinner and the intermittent rolling clouds and brilliant sunshine cast dramatic shadows over the equally exciting landscapes. You can take a private tour to learn about history or head out on a kayak to explore the Tierra Del Fuego National Park, or perhaps relax at your hotel with a unique view of Patagonia before you.

Tierra del Fuego National Park

Drive west of Ushuaia to the Tierra del Fuego National Park, which borders the Beagle Channel across the valley of the Pipo River and Laputaia Bay. You’ll explore the scenic woodlands and beech forests, marshes and flora as well the history of forest fires, beaver populations, traders and hunters that have shaped this part of the world.

Days 8–17

Ten days cruising Antarctica

Spend ten days exploring the magnificent Antarctic Peninsula on your choice of Jacada’s selected luxury expedition cruises. Part of the continent of Antarctica, the Antarctic Peninsula consists of a 500 mile long mountain chain and numerous off-lying islands, offering the most dramatic scenery and the biggest variety of wildlife in Antarctica. Penguins, seals, whales and glittering icebergs inhabit these waters and on land, you’ll get to explore one of the world’s most pristine natural environments. There’s an abundance of exhilarating activities to enjoy during your cruise.

Cruise highlights

Crossing

Wildlife

History

The Drakes Passage

Your journey to Antarctica begins with a two-day crossing of the Drake Passage, named after explorer Sir Francis Drake, who sailed these waters in 1578. This stretch between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands is a rite of passage, where the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans converge at the Polar Front. Keep an eye out for albatrosses, petrels, and the first sight of icebergs near the South Shetland Islands.

Neko Bay

At the bottom of Andvord Bay there’s a corner of paradise at the foot of a huge glacier. Neko Bay is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful sites in the Antarctic Peninsula. Wildlife is also abundant here, with seabirds such as gulls, Cape petrels, cormorants, and marine mammals such as seals, orcas and whales. Your guides will take you aboard the Zodiacs to get closer to the icebergs or land nearby to the penguin colonies, to observe a sea leopard, lounging on the beach or watch swoop of the Antarctic terns.

Port Lockroy

On reaching Goudier Island, visit Port Lockroy, first recorded by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot in 1903 and later a British base in 1944. Explore a museum showcasing 1950s base life and research on Papua penguins. You can also send letters from the remote post office. Nearby, Jougla Point is home to Gentoo penguins, Blue-eyed shags, and waters inhabited by leopard seals, crabeater seals, and whales.

Days 17–19

The relaxing Pampas

The final destination on this epic trip is the tranquil Pampas plains, where you can experience the best of authentic estancia life on a luxurious ranch. Ride out with gauchos, enjoy an afternoon asado (barbecue), spend some time fishing or take your first polo lessons.

Why book with Jacada

History icon

Pesonalised design

We’ll plan your trip around your personal interests, tastes and preferences, providing honest advice based on first-hand knowledge.

Vector art of vase behind rope drawn in bold and gold line art

Authentic experiences

Our expert guides and brilliant Concierges are hand-picked for their ability to bring your destination to life with care and passion.

Positive Impact

We seek out unforgettable experiences that benefit both local communities and the environment.

Ariel view of waves breaking on a forested shoreline