Crucero Santa Cruz
Visitors on Argentina tours flock to view the magnificent glaciers of Southern Patagonia, especially for the unforgettable experience of watching skyscraper-size chunks drop from the turquoise face of Perito Moreno. Our Crucero Santa Cruz Tour Extension eliminates the tourist frenzy from this otherworldly experience, spending three glorious days among the glaciers of Los Glaciares National Park. This remote 6,600 sq mile region of rivers, lakes and fjords contains sixty-three glaciers, some blin... READ MORE >>
Itinerary
Day 1: EL CALAFATE - PUERTO BANDERA
Day 2: UPSALA AND SPEGAZZINI GLACIERS
Day 3: PERITO MORENO GLACIER - EL CALAFATE
Be Inspired
Most Popular Argentina Trips & Tours
| Trip | Price | Days | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australis Glacier Cruise & Patagonia Hiking | $6,855 | 12 Days | Mt. Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre, Cape Horn, Tierra del Fuego National Park, Los Glaciares National Park, Perito Moreno Glacier |
| Buenos Aires, Iguazu & Rio de Janeiro | $4,095 | 9 Days | Buenos Aires , Iguazu Falls, Rio De Janeiro |
| Classic Patagonia | $3,495 | 7 days | Buenos Aires , Perito Moreno Glacier, Glacier National Park, Mt. Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre |
| Classic Patagonia & Torres del Paine | $6,425 | 10 Days | Los Glaciares National Park, Torres del Paine National Park, Perito Moreno Glacier, Classic Treks to Mt. Torre and to Mt. Fitz Roy |
| Essence of Patagonia | $3,365 | 7 Days | Buenos Aires, Four Balconies Tour, El Calafate, Perito Moreno Glacier, Estancia Cristina, Glacier Cruise |
Itinerary
- Day 1: EL CALAFATE - PUERTO BANDERA
In the later afternoon you will be picked up at your hotel in El Calafate and transferred to the Puerto Bandera pier thirty miles away. There you'll go aboard the Crucero Santa Cruz and receive a safety briefing and orientation from your guide before embarking for Punta Avellaneda across the Brazo Norte of Lake Argentino. (D)
- Day 2: UPSALA AND SPEGAZZINI GLACIERS
After maneuvering around craggy icebergs, you'll arrive at the first incredible sight: the 300-ft high walls of the Upsala glacier, one of the largest in the park. Next you’ll travel through a narrow channel (Canal de las Americas) to reach the glacier's face where a relaxing lunch will be served on board with plenty of time to enjoy the amazing vistas. The next stop is Spegazzini, the park's tallest glacier, rising in places to 443 feet above sea level. With its ice river descending through a rocky slope falling over the lake, Spegazzini glacier is a spectacular sight, backlit by a colorful sunset. (B,L,D)
- Day 3: PERITO MORENO GLACIER - EL CALAFATE
After a delicious breakfast, you'll cross the Canal de los Tempanos, surrounded by numerous ice formations. Along the way, you'll stop for lunch at Bahia Alemana (German Bay). Saving the best for last, you'll spend the rest of the trip near the Perito Moreno Glacier, gazing at its 200-ft high ice walls. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered one of South America's most astonishing sights. Being here at the right moment, with no other audience but your fellow passengers aboard the Santa Cruz, you'll agree. You will be returned to Puerto Bandera by 4 PM and be transferred to the city of El Calafate or the airport, depending on your next travel plans. (B,L)
Weather
When to Visit- jan
- feb
- mar
- apr
- may
- jun
- jul
- aug
- sep
- oct
- nov
- dec
Due to the country's geography and location, Argentina & Patagonia offers a wide variety of climates. The Argentine mainland is mostly temperate, with seasons reversed from those in the northern hemisphere. The northern areas of Salta and around Iguazú are tropical, while southern Patagonia's weather is often cold and windy and always unpredictable.
Winter (from the end of June to the beginning of October) may be cold with some rain in certain areas of Argentina, while the Northwest enjoys sunny days and warm temperatures.
Summer (from December to March) is hot and sometimes humid in Buenos Aires; warm and dry in the Northwest with intermittent summer rains; and cold but sunny and sometimes windy in Patagonia.
BUENOS AIRES | Min-Max Air Temp | Avg Rainfall |
| JAN | 69-83 | 3.9 |
| FEB | 67-81 | 4.2 |
| MAR | 67-78 | 4.9 |
| APR | 58-71 | 3.5 |
| MAY | 53-65 | 2.8 |
| JUN | 47-58 | 2.2 |
| JUL | 47-58 | 2.4 |
| AUG | 48-61 | 2.6 |
| SEP | 51-64 | 2.6 |
| OCT | 56-70 | 4.4 |
| NOV | 61-76 | 4.1 |
| DEC | 66-81 | 3.8 |
*Temperatures in °F, Rainfall in Inches
EL CALAFATE | Min-Max Air Temp | Avg Rainfall |
| JAN | 45-65 | 0.5 |
| FEB | 42-65 | 0.3 |
| MAR | 37-61 | 0.5 |
| APR | 32-54 | 1.0 |
| MAY | 28-45 | 1.2 |
| JUN | 27-41 | 0.8 |
| JUL | 29-39 | 1.0 |
| AUG | 33-43 | 0.8 |
| SEP | 44-50 | 0.6 |
| OCT | 37-56 | 0.5 |
| NOV | 41-61 | 0.4 |
| DEC | 44-64 | 0.6 |
*Temperatures in °F, Rainfall in Inches
USHUAIA | Min-Max Air Temp | Avg Rainfall |
| JAN | 41-57 | 1.5 |
| FEB | 51-56 | 1.8 |
| MAR | 39-54 | 2.1 |
| APR | 36-49 | 2.2 |
| MAY | 32-43 | 2.1 |
| JUN | 29-40 | 1.9 |
| JUL | 28-39 | 1.4 |
| AUG | 30-42 | 1.8 |
| SEP | 32-46 | 1.6 |
| OCT | 36-50 | 1.4 |
| NOV | 38-53 | 1.4 |
| DEC | 40-56 | 1.7 |
*Temperatures in °F, Rainfall in Inches
BARILOCHE | Min-Max Air Temp | Avg Rainfall |
| JAN | 43-70 | 0.9 |
| FEB | 42-71 | 0.9 |
| MAR | 39-66 | 1.2 |
| APR | 35-58 | 2.1 |
| MAY | 33-50 | 5.3 |
| JUN | 30-44 | 5.5 |
| JUL | 29-43 | 5.1 |
| AUG | 30-46 | 4.6 |
| SEPT | 31-51 | 2.3 |
| OCT | 34-57 | 1.5 |
| NOV | 38-63 | 1.0 |
| DEC | 41-67 | 1.3 |
*Temperatures in °F, Rainfall in Inches
MENDOZA | Min-Max Air Temp | Avg Rainfall |
| JAN | 64-90 | 1.4 |
| FEB | 62-87 | 1.3 |
| MAR | 57-81 | 1.1 |
| APR | 50-74 | 0.5 |
| MAY | 42-66 | 0.2 |
| JUN | 35-60 | 0.2 |
| JUL | 35-59 | 0.3 |
| AUG | 38-65 | 0.1 |
| SEP | 70-43 | 0.3 |
| OCT | 51-77 | 0.4 |
| NOV | 57-84 | 0.6 |
| DEC | 63-88 | 1.0 |
*Temperatures in °F, Rainfall in Inches
SALTA | Min-Max Air Temp | Avg Rainfall |
| JAN | 61-81 | 7.0 |
| FEB | 61-79 | 6.4 |
| MAR | 59-77 | 4.6 |
| APR | 54-73 | 1.4 |
| MAY | 46-70 | 0.3 |
| JUN | 39-66 | 0.1 |
| JUL | 37-68 | 0.2 |
| AUG | 39-72 | 0.2 |
| SEP | 45-75 | 0.8 |
| OCT | 52-79 | 1.0 |
| NOV | 57-81 | 2.5 |
| DEC | 61-82 | 5.4 |
*Temperatures in °F, Rainfall in Inches
Maps
- Included in tour cost
- All airport/hotel transfers
- All hotel accommodations
- All listed activities
- English-speaking certified guides
- Entrance fees for all scheduled tours, national parks & archaeological sites
- Meals as indicated
- Southern Explorations pre-departure services
- Excluded from tour cost
- Airport taxes, international and local
- Domestic airfare within South America
- International airfare to and from Central & South America
- Tips and gratuities
- Medical & travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Trip Dates
- Weekly Departures. Contact us for details.Available
Our trip was marvelous from start to finish. Southern Explorations is the only way to really enjoy Patagonia. Because the territory is so vast, having everything planned maximized our experience and minimized the logistical aspects and associated worry. This was our second trip with Southern Explorations and will definitely take another one. - Anne Whitehair (Private Patagonia Lakes & Glaciers)
Luxury Patagonia’ exceeded our every expectation. The arrangements, the accommodations, the guides, the food as well as every location visited were as close to perfect as one could hope. The care and assistance from Southern Explorations prior to our departure was meticulous and informative. We will never forget this trip – one of the best in our lives. - Rosemary and Geoff Pierson, Massachusetts (Patagonia)
This was a trip of a lifetime. The highlight was the Explora Lodge with unbelievable hikes and horseback riding. Also, the Perito Moreno Glacier was fantastic. I wouldn't change a thing. - Kyle Craig, Colorado (Patagonia)
Everyone at the SE office was helpful and returned calls promptly. We just cannot say enough about how enjoyable our entire trip was. - Kathy & Peter Brackett (Argentina)
My father and I really loved Luis. He is just a super dependable, humble, smart and kind person. We invited him to dinner with us twice at Los Cerros because we enjoyed his company so much. My father and Luis spent most of dinner sharing stories about their passion for the mountains and discussing all the same books they’ve read about climbers who’ve climbed thee highest peaks around the world. I even had lunch with Luis in Buenos Aires while he was home for the holidays. Please make sure that Luis knows how much we appreciated him as a person as well as his skills as a guide. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide. We enjoyed all the hotels. The staff at the Sheheun in El Calafate were very attentive and kind. I liked the fact that it was a few blocks out of the main street. We had a lovely view from our room. I cannot say enough about Los Cerros. The hotel was lovely. Everyone on staff was so friendly - the airport transfer driver, the wait staff, the receptionists, and the manager. They treated both my father and I like royalty and yet like family. I really hope to return. I thought the entire staff with whom I had contact at Southern Explorations - Jonathan, Justin, Eric and Marisa - were incredibly competent, communicative and genuinely enthusiastic about what they do. I felt from the very beginning that I could trust you folks. I just had a good feeling about you all. Thanks so much. It was an unforgettable trip with my dad. - Virginia Roberson (Patagonia)
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. The Hosteria del Fuego in Ushuaia was our best experience. I have never slept so well while on a trip. All accommodations exceeded my expectations, however. We especially enjoyed the picnic lunch in Ushuaia. Also, the tea in Gaiman was outstanding. We would definitely consider Southern Explorations again if they offered a trip to a desired destination. We have a lot of other places we want to go, though, so wouldn’t know when we might go back to South America. - The Rambow Family, Houston (Patagonia)We just returned from our South American adventure this morning, but I wanted to write you to thank you for helping us put together a fantastic vacation. Our friends called it the 'trip of a lifetime', that included the 'hike of a lifetime' and the 'kayak paddling day of a lifetime' for them. You made it so easy to have a great adventure. Thanks again for all your help. - Heidi and Michael Rotberg (Argentina Mountains & Wineries)
Thank you for planning an amazing trip for us. Everything was beyond wonderful... and ran so smoothly. We so enjoyed our guides...who took us on harder hikes, just like we wanted. We especially loved El Chalten... and of course the Eolo Hotel. I think the glacial hike was one of the most beautiful walks we have ever taken. So appreciate all the effort your agency put into our trip. I WILL definetely travel with you again. - Lisa Goldman (Luxury Patagonia)
It was a wonderful trip and Southern Explorations really did a marvelous job of putting everything together for us. Thank You. We have had nothing but fantastic memories and have spoken to many people about Southern explorations and what a nice job you guys did putting everything together. Peru and other South America ventures will happen. I will be in touch. - Steve Andryk (Wisconsin) (Luxury Patagonia)
We were extremely pleased with the services provided by Southern Explorations...not only the extensive itinerary for Patagonia, but also the care and attention to detail that was delivered at every step of the way. It sure made this trip easy for us...everything was extremely well organized. We enjoyed the variety of activities and loved the guides....they were truly outstanding. - Joyce & Garry Mammel, Canada (Patagonia)
Southern Explorations created an amazing custom trip to one of the most beautiful places on earth. They worked with us to fine tune the details of what our perfect vacation to Patagonia would be. The reservations, the accommodations, the transfers and the guides were spot on, very informative and professional. Will we use Southern Explorations for our next trip to the southern hemisphere? You can be certain of that. - Jim Balsitis and Kathy Kalp (Patagonia)
I chose Southern Explorations for the combination of interesting itineraries and your high rating on customer satisfaction. I made the right choice. I will gladly recommend you to others. - Pat Harding, Texas (Iguazu, Lakes District, Mendoza & Santiago)
From arrival to departure this trip, from an organizational stand point, felt like a ballet… seamless and fluid. We couldn’t have done it without you – Thanks Southern Explorations! - Lori Schrader, New York (Patagonia)
Our experience planning a trip to Patagonia in South America with Southern Explorations exceeded my highest expectations! Everything was incredibly well organized, the hotels they booked for us were very nice, the guides and people who transported us all spoke our language (English). When my husband got very sick and we had to alter our plans, they were on top of rebooking flights and canceling excursions, and handled all of the logistics for us. I would highly recommend the services provided by Southern Explorations, and will certainly use them for all future travel planning that we do!! - Kristi Holland, Alabama (Patagonia)
Our words to describe our trip are Spectacular, Exciting, and Remote! We got to see basically everything we had hoped for, and more! - Ann Huston, California (Patagonia)
My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed all the activities in Patagonia and Southern Explorations made the trip smooth and easy. From the hotels, to the food, to the guides, and the outings, we loved it all. We would recommend it to all our friends and family! - Miriam Derman, Illinois (Patagonia)
- Argentina - Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: How do I choose an itinerary?A: We offer a variety of pre-planned tours online and we’d love to design a custom trip just for you. Take a look at what we have online, then call an Adventure Travel Coordinator to discuss the trip that best fits your timeframe, budget and interests.Q: Can I make changes or additions to these tours?A: Yes! We are happy to modify any tour to meet your needs and also add pre and post-excursion extensions. If you sign up for a group departure we cannot change the group portion, but we can add extensions before and after.Q: When is the best time to go to Argentina?A: Argentina’s large size and geographic orientation means it covers many climatic zone and different areas are better to visit during different times of the year. In the south, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego are best visited from October through April. In the north, the season is inversed and your best time to travel is from April through November. Buenos Aires and the wine country around Mendoza can be visited year round.Q: What is the weather like in Argentina?A: The weather ranges from temperate summers and cold, snowy winters in the south to rainy summers and dry, warm winters in the north. You will find a detailed weather chart on the Overview page of each trip. You can also call your Adventure Travel Coordinator to discuss the weather trends for your trip.Q: What is a typical day like in Argentina?A: The typical day varies widely from trip to trip, but all tours will have full days with guided exploration. There will be time for rest and relaxation, as well as independent exploration of the cities and towns we visit. Due to the remote nature of Argentina’s most scenic areas, some long travel days will be required.Q: How physically fit do I need to be to enjoy a trip to Argentina?A: As long as you are able to walk a couple of miles at a leisurely pace and comfortably navigate uneven terrain, you will be able to enjoy most of our tours. Some of our more adventurous tours include activities like kayaking, ice climbing and hikes up to 12 miles. Please check the physical ratings on our trip pages or contact your Adventure Travel Coordinator to see if a particular itinerary is a good fit for you.Q: How much time do we need to visit Argentina?A: Because of the vast size of Argentina we recommend at least seven days. If you wish to visit multiple regions within Argentina we recommend 12 days or more.Q: How far in advance should I book?A: As a rule, the further in advance you can plan, the more options you will have. We recommend planning a trip at three to nine months in advance, but if you want to stay at very specific luxury hotels or travel over a holiday then we recommend planning nine months to a year in advance.Q: What are your booking and cancellation policies?A: Click here to see our booking and cancellation policies.Q: Do you use certified guides?A: The guides on all of our tours are experienced, fluent in English and hold a degree in a related field. The guides are experienced in the outdoors and trained in basic first aid. We tend to use the same guides as they are accustomed to the trips we offer and understand the Southern Explorations commitment to quality.Q: What kind of accommodations can I expect?A: We primarily work with 4-star hotels in Argentina and the occasional 3-star property, provided they meet our standards. We also work with several amazing 5-star properties. All of our hotels are clean, comfortable, well-located, offer en suite bathrooms and have been personally vetted by a Southern Explorations staff member.Q: Do tours include airfare?A: We will confirm all airfare within South America and this price is listed separately from our base tour costs. You are responsible for booking international flights to/from Argentina.Q: How many people are on your tours?A: Our Argentina trips are generally limited to 8 travelers, although some areas (all-inclusive lodge stays and cruises) may require that we form larger groups with other travelers.Q: Will I get more information on packing, vaccines, currency, electricity, etc.?A: After booking you will receive a link to our online trip portal, which includes all of the need-to-know information that is specific to your itinerary. This includes packing lists, restaurant recommendations, tipping guides, FAQs, vaccine recommendations and currency information. Your Adventure Travel Coordinator will also be a great resource for any other information you may need.Q: I read about a “Reciprocity Fee” to enter Argentina, do I need to pay that?A:
There is no longer a “Reciprocity Fee” required for travelers carrying US, Canadian or Australian Passports. If you carry a passport from a different country please check with your nearest Argentine consulate for more information.
