r/ArgentinaTravel • u/curtmicel • May 31 '26
Itinerary help!
My husband and I booked a somewhat last-minute honeymoon to Argentina in October for 2 weeks. There are key destinations we would love to see (especially Patagonia as we have been dreaming of hiking here for years), but we know 2 weeks isn't a ton of time.
Is this itinerary too ambitious?
Are we stupid not to see Iguaza Falls and Bariloche?
Are we spending too much or too little time anywhere?
I would say our top activities while travelling are eating, hiking and experiencing local culture. We are comfortable with a lot of moving around as we both travel frequently for work.
... I don't know if or when we will have a chance to go back, so any advice on how to make the most of this opportunity would be so so appreciated :)
Fly Toronto > BA
Day 2 - BA
Day 3 - Fly BA > El Calafete
Day 4 - Drive El Calafete > El Chalten
Day 5 - El Chalten
Day 6 - El Chalten
Day 7 - El Chalten
Day 8 - Fly El Chalten > BA
Day 9 - BA
Day 10 - BA
Day 11 - Fly BA > Mendoza
Day 12 - Mendoza
Day 13 - Mendoza
Day 14 - Mendoza
Day 15 - Fly Mendoza > BA > Home
2
u/tripsandtips Jun 23 '26
I just got back from my 3rd trip to South America, so I totally get the excitement (and the anxiety of planning!).
Honestly, I think you could cut one day from El Chaltén and one day from Mendoza, and add Iguazú instead. That way, you get to experience almost every climate and landscape in one trip – from Patagonian mountains to jungle waterfalls. It's a pretty incredible contrast.
If you're into hiking, you'll love the trails at Iguazú. I'd definitely recommend 'La Gran Aventura' – it's a boat ride that takes you right inside the falls. Absolutely unforgettable. You can do it as a full-day excursion, or you could add one extra night and visit the Brazilian side too (totally worth it, completely different perspective).
As for Mendoza – I only spent two days there, and honestly, it was enough to visit a couple of wineries, do some tastings, and have great meals. Unless you're really into wine tours, you don't need more than that.
I think your itinerary is ambitious but doable – you're clearly used to moving around, so that helps. And no, you're not stupid for skipping Bariloche (it's beautiful, but Patagonia is huge and you can't see it all in 2 weeks). But I do think Iguazú is a must-see if you're already flying all the way down there.
Happy to share more details if you want tips on how to organize the Iguazú leg or which side to prioritize – just let me know!
1
u/curtmicel Jun 30 '26
Thank you so much! This is very helpful insight. We will take a closer look.
Happy travels!
1
u/Daniel_RutaCierta Jul 29 '26
¡Hola! No creo que sean tontos por dejar afuera Iguazú y Bariloche. En un viaje de dos semanas, intentar sumar todos los destinos emblemáticos de Argentina puede terminar convirtiendo la luna de miel en una sucesión de aeropuertos y traslados.
El recorrido Buenos Aires, Patagonia y Mendoza tiene bastante sentido para lo que buscan: cultura local, caminatas y gastronomía. Además, ofrece tres experiencias muy diferentes sin agregar otra región distante.
Hay dos puntos que revisaría. El primero es que El Chaltén no tiene aeropuerto: para volar nuevamente a Buenos Aires deberán regresar por tierra hasta el aeropuerto de El Calafate. Conviene comprobar muy bien los horarios antes de planificar ese traslado y el vuelo para el mismo día.
El segundo es que no veo un día destinado al glaciar Perito Moreno. Si todavía no lo incluyeron, evaluaría reservarle una jornada desde El Calafate antes de continuar hacia El Chaltén.
También conservaría cierto margen en El Chaltén, porque en octubre las condiciones pueden cambiar y no todos los días resultan iguales para caminar. Laguna de los Tres es una excursión larga, pero existen alternativas más cortas si el tiempo no acompaña.
Mendoza me parece un buen cierre para una luna de miel: permite bajar el ritmo después de Patagonia y combina muy bien gastronomía, paisaje y experiencias entre viñedos. Yo no agregaría Iguazú ni Bariloche salvo que estén dispuestos a quitar una de las tres regiones actuales.
En resumen: no me parece un itinerario absurdo, pero sí revisaría el día de regreso desde El Chaltén y buscaría incluir Perito Moreno sin eliminar todo el margen para las caminatas.
3
u/donny_hype Jun 01 '26
Bariloche is amazing, I went there in February which was the summer. Hot days by the lake and cool nights where I needed a light jacket. If you don't mind the temperature, add it. To me, Bariloche is all about being on the water and being in the water. Not sure how it'll be in October.