Itinerary Highlights
- Witness the annular solar eclipse near El Maitén, including the striking “ring of fire” phase
- Explore Los Alerces National Park, from ancient forests to glacial lakes shaped by the Andes
- Cruise to the colossal Perito Moreno Glacier and watch ice break from its advancing face
- Travel by boat and 4×4 to the large Upsala Glacier, observing it from a dramatic viewpoint
What's Included
- Flights
- Accommodation Throughout
- Transfers
Kristen Lanskail-Morris
Travel Specialist
In February 2027, experience a rare annular solar eclipse with southern Argentina’s compelling natural areas, journeying from the lively streets of Buenos Aires to the wide-open landscapes of Patagonia.
You’ll begin with time to get your bearings in Buenos Aires, exploring its distinct neighbourhoods alongside a knowledgeable guide and gaining an insight into the country’s culture, history and food. Then head south to Esquel, your base for the eclipse. With expert guidance and a carefully chosen viewing site, you’ll watch as the moon moves across the sun to form the striking “ring of fire” (a rare alignment that brings people from across the world together in anticipation).
Continue in Patagonia by delving into Los Alerces National Park’s exceptional ecology, where glacial lakes, ancient forests and rugged trails converge. Travelling along Ruta 40, you’ll then reach Bariloche in the Lake District, home to forested hills and deep blue waters that provide a different perspective on the Andes – mixing Patagonian wilderness with a uniquely European alpine feel.
The final leg brings you to El Calafate, gateway to the vast ice fields of Los Glaciares National Park. Here, you’ll get to witness the sheer scale and movement of the Perito Moreno Glacier and travel by boat and 4×4 to more remote viewpoints, guided by those who know this landscape best.
Alternatively, instead of ending here, you can extend your journey towards the Antarctic Circle. The Aurora Expeditions ‘Across the Antarctic Circle’ voyage departs from Ushuaia on the day of your departure. Cruise to the White Continent’s secluded bays and coves for the opportunity to observe penguins porpoising and celebrate with a toast as you cross the famed latitude 66°33' South.
Itinerary
Day 1 | 2 February 2027 | Fly UK to Buenos Aires, Argentina
Day 2 | 3 February 2027 | Buenos Aires
Arrive at Buenos Aires, where you’ll be met on arrival by your local English-speaking guide. Then transfer to your hotel for a two-night stay on a bed-and-breakfast basis.
Set out to discover why the city is also known as the ‘Paris of South America’. Wide, tree-lined avenues and Art Deco façades guide you through its contrasting neighbourhoods, from the elegant streets of Recoleta to the lively character of San Telmo, where cobbled lanes and antique stalls speak to the city’s layered history.
In La Boca, brightly painted buildings and tango halls bring colour to the waterfront, while Puerto Madero is a modern contrast with its converted docklands and waterfront restaurants. Transitioning to Palermo, you’ll have access to open parks, museums and relaxed cafés littered with locals. The rest of the day is then yours to settle in and start to get a feel for this layered, characterful capital.
Day 3 | 4 February 2027 | Buenos Aires
Enjoy a private guided city tour of Buenos Aires this morning. You’re collected from your hotel and travel through the city’s key districts, starting at the Obelisk and Plaza de Mayo, where you’ll learn how the city’s political history has unfolded around its grand square and iconic Casa Rosada.
Continue through San Telmo’s colonial streets, often lively with markets and street tango, before heading to the brightly coloured façades of La Boca. Pass through Puerto Madero’s waterfront district, then continue north to Recoleta and visit the cemetery, brought to life by stories of Argentina’s most prominent figures. There’s time to stop for dulce de leche ice cream before returning to your hotel. Alternatively, stay in Recoleta to explore further at your own pace.
This evening, attend a dinner and tango performance at El Querandí Tango Show.
Day 4 | 5 February 2027 | Buenos Aires – Esquel
Transfer to the airport in Buenos Aires for your flight south to Esquel. On arrival, you’re met and driven to your hotel, where you stay for the next three nights on a bed-and-breakfast basis.
Esquel offers a subtle introduction to Patagonia, surrounded by rolling steppe and the distant Andes. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in, rest after your journey or take a gentle stroll to get your bearings in this small frontier town. This is your base for the days ahead, including your planned solar eclipse experience and explorations into the surrounding national parks and wilderness.
Day 5 | 6 February 2027 | Esquel
Set out early for a designated viewing site near El Maitén to witness the annular solar eclipse.
On arrival, everything is in place for safe viewing, with specialist equipment and guidance from your expert team. The eclipse begins around 10:23 am, as the moon slowly crosses the sun’s disc and the light softens. By 11:54 am, annularity takes hold, revealing the striking “Ring of Fire”, with the peak just a few minutes later at 11:57 am, when the halo of the sun is at its most defined. From midday, the effect gradually fades, with the final partial phase ending at around 1:37 pm as daylight returns.
Afterwards, return to Esquel for a relaxed afternoon at leisure.
Please note that this experience is weather-dependent.
Day 6 | 7 February 2027 | Esquel
Set out for a full-day private excursion into Los Alerces National Park.
Travelling through the Andean foothills immerses you in a landscape shaped by glaciers – the valleys, lakes and forested slopes shifting from dense temperate woodland to open alpine meadows beneath rugged peaks. Your guide brings the region to life, sharing insights into its geology.
The ancient Alerce forest is home to some of the world’s longest-living trees, with specimens believed to be more than 3,600 years old. Walk through one of the most intact areas of Patagonian forest, home to endemic and threatened species finding refuge in its protected environment.
Return to Esquel in the late afternoon, with the evening free to relax at your hotel.
Day 7 | 8 February 2027 | Esquel – Bariloche
Check out early for a private road journey along Ruta 40 towards Bariloche. The route takes around four hours to complete, passing through wide-open Patagonian landscapes and sweeping views of Lakes Gutiérrez, Mascardi and Guillelmo along the way.
Bariloche is set on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi, with Swiss-style wooden buildings that sit beneath the looming Andes. Often described as the gateway to Argentina’s Lake District, the town is surrounded by forested hills, glacial lakes and vast national parks, with a strong outdoor culture centred around hiking, kayaking, cycling and skiing.
The rest of the day is at leisure to settle in and explore at your own pace. You stay here for two nights on a bed-and-breakfast basis, with time ahead to discover the region’s lakeside scenery.
Day 8 | 9 February 2027 | Bariloche
Join a guided full-day exploration along the southern shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi.
Key viewpoints include the Llao Llao peninsula and its forested headlands. Your guide shares how this former mountain village developed into one of Patagonia’s most sought-after destinations.
Continue to Mount Campanario and take a chairlift for wide-ranging views across Lakes Moreno and Nahuel Huapi, with peaks such as López and Capilla rising in the distance.
Walk through native woodland in Llao Llao Nature Park, observing the region’s flora and birdlife before ending the day at a local microbrewery for a guided beer tasting. Then return to your hotel.
Day 9 | 10 February 2027 | Bariloche – El Calafate
Fly south to El Calafate.
El Calafate is set on the shores of Lake Argentino and is named after the native calafate bush. This Patagonian town is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site brimming with vast ice fields, turquoise lakes and snow-capped peaks that define the landscape.
Beyond the town, the steppe opens out into one of Patagonia’s most dramatic environments, leading towards the Perito Moreno Glacier and the surrounding icefields. El Chaltén and Mount Fitz Roy are also accessible from this region for those drawn to trekking and remote mountain scenery.
You stay here for three nights on a bed-and-breakfast basis.
Day 10 | 11 February 2027 | El Calafate
Experience a full-day guided excursion into Los Glaciares National Park.
You’ll first travel across the Patagonian steppe to the Perito Moreno sector and board a short boat navigation to the glacier’s south wall. From the water, take in the scale of this advancing glacier, more than three miles wide and over 20 storeys high, with ice regularly calving into the lake below.
Continue to the boardwalks for time at leisure to view the glacier from different angles as shifting light reveals its deep blues and fractured surface. Your guide will also share their insights into its rare status as one of the world’s few glaciers still advancing, moving around two metres per day.
Entrance fees to the national park are included, and a packed lunch is provided during the excursion.
Day 11 | 12 February 2027 | El Calafate
Visit the Punta Bandera harbour for a shared excursion into Los Glaciares National Park.
Sailing along Lake Argentino’s Northern Arm takes you to the Upsala Channel, allowing you to pause for wide-reaching views of the glacier’s vast front before heading towards Estancia Cristina; this remote former ranch was founded in 1914 by British pioneers Joseph and Jessie Masters.
Transfer by 4×4 into the mountains, ascending a 9.5km track through glacially carved terrain to a viewpoint overlooking Lake Guillermo, the eastern face of the Upsala Glacier and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Walk short trails shaped by ancient ice, then return to the estancia for lunch.
End the day at the Costumbrista Museum in the restored shearing shed to learn about the ranch’s heritage. Then take a guided walk around the property, including the Caterina River, chapel and historic farm buildings, before returning to El Calafate for your final few hours in the country.
Day 12 | 13 February 2027 | Depart OR Extend
Make your onward flight at the El Calafate airport and arrive safely back home.
Alternatively, why not extend your time in South America with an expedition cruise to Antarctica? The Aurora Expeditions Across the Antarctic Circle voyage departs from Ushuaia on 13 February 2027, offering the chance to continue south into one of the most remote regions on Earth.
Simply speak with one of our Travel Specialists for more information on tailoring your itinerary.
Kristen Lanskail-Morris
Travel Specialist
Pricing Information & Dates
Kristen Lanskail-Morris
Travel Specialist
Price Includes
- Return International Flights as per the itinerary
- All airport taxes and security charges
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Transfers as specified
- Activities and excursions as specified
- All entrance fees on sightseeing tours as specified
Price Excludes
- Travel Insurance
- Any meals not specified in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Optional excursions
Why Choose Us?
Passionate travel experts
- We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
- Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
- We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences
Personal & tailor-made
- You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
- We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
- Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love
Responsible by nature
- We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
- For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
- We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office check www.gov.uk/travelaware
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