Argentine

Glaciers to Jungles

Best of Argentine Luxury tour

Spanning from the tropics to the sub-Antarctic, Argentina is a country of diverse natural beauty, boasting the majestic Iguazu Falls in the north, and pristine Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia in the south.

With no shortage of vibrant cities, incredible national parks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, not to mention a gorgeous coastline, this magnificent country is a nature lover and traveler’s paradise!

-9 days

Jan 20-28, 2025
Feb 3-11, 2025

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ITINERARY

This incredible 9-day itinerary brings you some of the greatest highlights of a land so beautiful, it is hard to describe. Our adventure takes us to the Iguazu Falls, which at 2800m wide is ranked the widest waterfall in the world, and designated as one of the “7 new natural wonders of the world.“

THE LAND OF GREAT CONTRASTS

We visit too the unique valley glaciers of the Patagonian wilderness, which literally ‘crashes’ into the turquoise waters of the Argentine great lakes, creating massive icebergs and a spectacle and thunder so loud, those fortunate enough to visit will be changed forever.

The sophisticated capital, Buenos Aires, known to many as the “Paris of South America”, is actually a fusion of Italian, French, German, and English Sophistication in a Latin American Setting on the banks of the Rio de La Plata, which has the distinction of being by far the world’s widest river!

All this and much more make for a unique experience that incorporates both natural wonders and vibrant cultural encounters in a way you will never forget.

DATES & PRICES

This bustling modern metropolis has a unique vibe that results from a combination of elements of New York, London, Frankfurt, and Venice, all in a Latin American Setting.

From the old, colorful soccer-famous barrio of Boca in the south, to the modern Puerto Madero Riverfront, and from the Jewish textile shops of Onse in the West, to the French Cafes and “Rodeo Drive” style “Avenida Alvear” of Recoleta in the North, this city has something for everyone.

Those arriving early enough, will explore the downtown region on a half day tour where we will visit the famous Pink House and Plaza de Mayo and will drive along Avenida de Julio - the world’s widest urban thoroughfare with 16 lanes!

Time permitting, we will also visit some of the city’s other highlights, such as the famous soccer district of La Boca, the flea markets of St Thelma, and the chic neighborhoods of Palermo Soho and/or Recoleta.

A welcome rest awaits this evening in the luxurious Alvear Art Hotel which will be our accommodation when in Buenos Aires.
An early morning flight due south takes us to the quaint town of El Calafate, gateway to magnificent Icefields of Southern Patagonia.

The Andes Mountain Range divides this region in two, with Argentinean Patagonia falling mostly in the arid western steppes, until arriving at the regional center of El Calafate on the shores of Lago Argentino, where the dry terrain gives way to the forests of the Andes foothills and massive valley glaciers that slide down the slopes to enter the great lake.

We arrive late-afternoon at our lovely hotel for a light lunch, after which we visit the impressive Glacierium, a modern museum that showcases the science and geography behind glaciers in general and the valley glaciers of the region in particular.

Before dinner you will be able to enjoy a stroll down the quaint streets of Calafate and its incredible lake-side views.
A magnificent drive along Lago Argentina and the nearby mountains takes us to the Southern side of the “Las Glaciares National Park”, and one of the world’s most beautiful glaciers, the famous “Perito Moreno.”

Our first encounter with this wonder of nature will be by boat, which will enable us to get up close to the southern wall of this ice-beauty.

We spend the afternoon admiring the views of the Northern face of the glacier from the extensive walkways designed for this purpose, hoping to catch and even film a calving, which is a spectacular scene where large chunks of ice break off the glacier from the summer thaw and crash into the lake below, with a deafening thunder.
We take a morning flight back to Buenos Aires for our Jewish Interest tour of the city.

Approximately 180,500 Jews live in Argentina, mostly in Buenos Aires as well as Córdoba and Rosario.

On this tour, we visit the famous Jewish area of ‘Once’ and some of its well known synagogues. Time-permitting, we will also visit the new world-class Holocaust Museum, which features descriptions of Jewish life in Argentina during the war and the sore issue of the harboring of Nazi war criminals. We also drive past the Amia memorial to Argentina’s worst ever terror attack and learn about Iran’s alleged role in it. We spend tonight in Buenos Aires at our deluxe hotel before the next exciting leg of our trip.
On Friday morning we fly north to the sub-tropical jungles of Argentinean Mesopotamia, the land of great rivers and the world’s largest waterfalls!

After checking in to our magnificent jungle lodge, we will have some time to enjoy the lovely grounds and prepare for an incredible Shabbos Programme of tefilla, song, and learning in the jungle,

Shabbat Shalom!
Today, we explore the falls from the Argentina side, enjoying the numerous trails in the National Park that reward us with sights and sounds about which most people have only dreamed.

A jungle train takes us to the beginning of the Upper Circuit, where about 1km of paths brings us to one of the most exquisite and panoramic viewing points of the Falls, the Devil’s throat.

We then take a four-wheel jeep drive through the jungle on the constant look-out for toucans and other birds as we drive down to the river, where subject to river conditions, we board a speed-boat that will take us right up to the falls - prepare to get completely soaked!

After enjoying our packed lunch at one of the picnic sites, we continue with the open parts of the lower trail (part has been damaged by flooding) which takes us past spectacular viewing points that are closer to the falls than the upper circuit, and which offer views of the gorge and the islands.

A short walk or train ride takes us back to our vehicle and to our lodge, for a very well-deserved dinner and rest!
Spanning 2800m at the meeting point of Argentina, Brazil, and nearby Paraguay, the mighty “Iguazu River” plunges down to the thunderous roar of the power of water, and the spectacle is indescribable.

Today, we cross the border into Brazil, and view the falls from the Brazilian side of this massive river. Here, the views are incredibly unique, with the whole panorama of the falls being visible.

In truth, it is impossible to describe the splendor and uniqueness of both sides of these incredible wonders of nature. One keeps on thinking the view cannot get any better, and then it improves even more!

On the Brazilian side, we are also able to approach the falls by boat, while getting soaking wet from the spray and waves.
Our tour here would not be complete without a visit to the exotic bird park, home to one of the greatest collections of parrots and Toucans in the world, many of which are indigenous to the region, and some of which we hope to also see in the wild within the park.

This park is a world in its own right, and one can even have a photo taken with a real live Toucan!

Following a day of indescribable sights and sounds, we return to our hotel in Argentina for a delicious dinner, inspired by the largest waterfalls on this planet!
We take a morning flight back to Buenos Aires.

For those with enough time till their international flights home, enjoy some free time for shopping before heading to the international airport to return home, enriched with incredible memories of this gorgeous and fascinating land!

Itinerary

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January 20-28, 2025

February 3-11, 2025

$12,000 (per person sharing); please inquire about single’s supplement

*$11,000 - Early bird discount price for 4 or more people booking together
Luxury 5 Star Hotel accommodation (or closest equivalent when unavailable)

3 freshly prepared kosher meals daily by GKS team, under our strict hashgacha. Packed lunches when out for the day

Snacks and plenty bottled water on excursions; drinks during meals

Quality local kosher wines served at dinner

Experienced English-speaking guides throughout the trip

VIP Air-conditioned vehicle for all transfer and touring transportation

Airport transfers

Excursions and activities per itinerary

All entrance fees

What’s not Included?

Tips – 6% (approx. $300 – 500 p/p)

International airfares

Domestic flights (approx. $800 p/p. For best fares – book early)

Visas and airport taxes

Travel insurance

Hotel upgrades

Bar, laundry, and other hotel extras

Personal expenses
• Trip is subject to minimum of 20 guests signing up- deposit will be refunded if trip does not go ahead, so please don’t pay for flights until we have given the go ahead!

• Schedule is subject to change, but in the event this occurs, the overall standard of the trip will be maintained as best as reasonably possible.

• NO VISAS are required for US/EU/UK/Israeli citizens.

Argentina

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Frequently Asked Questions

Citizens of the U.S., most commonwealth countries, Israel, and South Africa, entering Argentina and most Latin American countries on regular passports (not temporary passports), do not require visas.
In addition, requirements for American citizens to apply in advance for Brazilian visas and to pay Argentinean reciprocity fees have been abolished, granting effective visa free travel to U.S. citizens as well!
As Visa regulations change from time to time and differ from country to country, all clients need to check their own requirements with the consulates of the countries they will be visiting at least 3 months prior to their trip - GKS cannot be held responsible for validity of visa information, and the above info serves only as a guide.
Visitors must ensure that they have at least 4 blank VISA pages (not endorsement pages) in their passport and that their passport is valid for at least 6 months after the end of their trip.
Though we try our best to provide up to date information, GKS cannot take responsibility for accuracy of visa information, which MUST be verified by the consulates of the countries concerned!

Argentina is generally a very safe destination for tourists.
Like in all large cities, certain parts of Buenos Aires and other large cities can be subject to frequent crime, and should be not be walked alone at night.
pickpocketing is common, and valuable should be looked after
Argentina is generally a very Jewish-friendly country that make Jewish residents and visitors feel very welcome.
Like anywhere in the world today, the global terror threat is always there, and we keep all the finer details of our itineraries offline as a precaution, in ALL venues that we operate in around the world- exact venues and final dates of tours are only made known to confirmed participants.

Argentina spans a huge area from the subtropics to the subantarctic, and the climate varies tremendously.
In the North, Iguazu experiences a mild to warm winter and scorching summer, whereas in the far South, Los Glaciares National Park and Ushuaia experience cold summers and freezing winters.
Buenos Aires has a semi-mediterranean style climate with mild-cold winters and hot-humid summers.
Higher elevations even along the equator can get very cold at any time of the year.
In short, check your itinerary carefully and pack accordingly, as you will probably need a variety of summer and winter clothing for your trip!

Argentina has a relatively modern health-care system and good medical care is available in all main urban centres.
The same cannot be said for more remote locations and most other Latin American countries, so travelling with basic medications and first aid is always advisable, as is emergency evacuation and medical/travel insurance.
Yellow fever inoculations or official exemption certificates are required by certain countries for re-entry though actual risk of infection is negligible- consult your travel clinic.

The unit of currency in Argentina is the peso which is currently valued at about 830.65 ARS = 1$, although currency fluctuations can be rather drastic, as can the variance in the actual exchange rate offered- The current inflation rate is VERY high and the currency is highly unstable.
Certain ATMs in the region accept most foreign Visa cards , but are UNRELIABLE, and a good combination of local currency, $US cash, and cards is usually the best way to go.
Many vendors in the region will ONLY accept cash, but many are all too eager for $US.
The GOOD NEWS is that being on an organized trip, you only really need cash for the small things, so its nothing to worry about!