| Author | Message | ||
     Alex Golant New member Username: Alexgolant Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2010 |
Hello everyone, my wife and I are going to Argentina for 9 days in November-December. We'd like to see Buenos Aires, Iguazu, and a part of Patagonia. We fly in to BA on Friday morning, and leave the following Saturday night (late flight). This is our tentative plan: Friday-Sunday in BA fly to El Calafate Monday morning Mon-Wed in El Calafate fly to Iguazu (via BA) on Thursday morning Thursday-Friday in Iguazu fly to BA on Saturday morning and fly home Saturday night Is this a reasonable way to see these parts of Argentina? Should we prolong or shorten our stay in any of the areas? Any recommendations specifically for El Calafate? We love the outdoors, and would love to do some short hikes/treks (may be even one overnight) if possible. Also, how do people feel about Ushuaia vs El Calafate vs Bariloche as far as places to visit in Patagonia. Thanks! Alex | ||
| Carlos Gelbart New member Username: Buellwinkle Post Number: 24 Registered: 1-2010 |
You will not end up spending much time in BA, don't know how important that is, but it's a very large city with lots of things to see and do. Iguazu is a one day thing, at least for us it was. Fly the night before, stay at the Sheraton which is mediocre hotel with very high prices but because it's in the park it lets you get start early in the morning, before the tourists come in from town. This allows you to cover the lower loop in about 3 hours and that includes taking the boat ride to the inside of the falls. By then the crows come and eat lunch, take a walk through the upper loop which is less exciting and be done in an hour. Then take the train to Devils Throat, another 1 1/2 hours. By then you will be exhaust, go to the airport and go back to BA. We chose Ushuaia over Calafate because my wife wanted to see penguins and go to the "End of the World". It was great, but becuse the flight is long, you will need 1 day to fly in, one day to visit and go on tours and final day to fly back. Calefate is mostly glaciers and having seen plenty in Alaska, it was not a priority for us. If you go in the middle of summer, you may be able to visit Antarictca. Definately spend time in BA, a lot more stuff to do than Iguazu or Caleafate/Ushaia. | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 2026 Registered: 12-2004 |
Also, double check on the flight Calafate - Iguazu as it may connect in Bs As and it could mean a lost day. By the time you arrive in Iguazu the park and excursions will be done already. Calafate, Ushuaia and Bariloche are all extremely different and they all represent different aspects of patagonia. Can't compare them. It's about personal taste. Bariloche will require at least 4 nights. Too much to see. If you decide for Calafate, check El Chalten for nice trekking routes. You need another day for this. Finally, you may want to think where to leave your luggage the return date in Bs As or you may be carrying everything with you until the time comes to go to Ezeiza. You are going to need a bathroom for sure. Your return trip home will be long. | ||
| Carlos Gelbart New member Username: Buellwinkle Post Number: 25 Registered: 1-2010 |
A long trip back in an undestatement. We flew back from Ushuaia to Los Angeles, that was about 30 hours of traveling. The flight from Ushuaia to Newberry Airport is 4 hours. Then you need 2 hours to make it back to Ezeiza Airport where you need to be there 2 hours before the flight and the it was 16 hours back, So literally 20 hours of flight time and about 6 hours of wait time at airports and transfer time and I would not do that again. Also consider that airlines in Argentina are not like U.S. airlines. They changed our flight schedule a few times from when we bought the tickets to travel date and then ended up changing our airport from Ezeiza to Newburry. | ||
| Alex Golant New member Username: Alexgolant Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2010 |
thanks for the input guys. any specific recommendations for tour operators around el calafate? we'd love to do something/see things off the beaten path. thanks. | ||
| Alex Golant New member Username: Alexgolant Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2010 |
does anyone know anything about the Hotel das Cataratas at the Iguassu Falls? How does it compare to the Sheraton there? thanks. | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 2028 Registered: 12-2004 |
Las Cataratas > cheaper  Alex, I usually do not push our services at the forum. Not the best place. But noone has answered you yet. Erna, the owner of this site, can give you estimates and ideas on Calafate with no commitments. Then, you can shop around. The "contact us" link on top will get your message to her. And if Carlos or anyone else wants to put a word for their own travel agent that is perfectly fine! | ||
| Carlos Gelbart Junior Member Username: Buellwinkle Post Number: 26 Registered: 1-2010 |
You cannot compare the two. The Sheraton is the only hotel inside the park, everything else will be a cab ride away and if you come more than one day, you will pay the entrance fee for each of you each time (the gringo rate I think is $25 per person). The only reason for staying at the Sheraton is you get about a 2 hour head start on the crowds. If you enjoy Disneyland type crowds, having strangers in your pictures and walking real slow behind people and you have at least two full days, waiting for a cab, by all means, stay in town. The downside is the Sheraton is an older hotel, it's comperable to a 2 1/2 star hotel in the U.S. at best and it's very expensive. The upside is you can get great views of the waterfalls from your room, you'll get good service and the food was good with prices Americans are used to. |
