Journey to Patagonia: A Family Adventure in Argentina with WSJ+

We’re working with WSJ+ to create entirely customizable and private trips for you, their members. Our Travel Experts are here to inspire you before working with you to make your trip entirely your own. This month, we’re introducing a new highlight itinerary to Argentina that you can embark on today. Totally private, take it ‘as is’ or customize it to your heart’s content. This is what we do.

Culture meets adventure on this week-long family escape to Argentina. From the vibrant streets of Buenos Aires to the Patagonian beauty of Bariloche, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained. You’ll learn to craft empanadas, kayak across glacial lakes, mountain bike through ancient woodlands and even dance the tango. Better yet, there’s a night spent beneath the stars in a luxurious private camp on an uninhabited island. Perfect for an end-of-year getaway, you’ll get a true sense of Argentine wilderness on this unique, luxury family adventure.

To add extra magic to your time away, WSJ+ members will enjoy a complimentary closed-door Asado dinner experience for the whole family. Taking a seat at the chef’s table, you’ll discover traditional Argentine cooking techniques and classic dishes, as well as learning to prepare your own chimichurri sauce.

Exclusive to WSJ+ members

This trip has been designed exclusively for WSJ+ members, drawing on our travel experts’ in-depth knowledge of Argentina and family travel. The experience, however, is yours and yours alone, with all of our trips private and customizable. What you’ll find below, therefore, is simply a suggestion. Our Travel Experts will work with you to devise an itinerary based on your inquiry, budget, group size, and desires. Typically, this will include everything from the experiences you do (and the guides that will take you there) to the hotels you’ll bed down in and the trains, planes and automobiles that will take you in between. We can also help with international flights, if you like.

WSJ+ members will receive:

• Immersive experiences tailored to your interests. This could include anything from private tango lessons to empanada cooking classes.
• Exclusive benefits to elevate your experience, including a complimentary closed-door Asado dinner experience for the whole family.
• Stays in Argentina’s most luxurious hotels and lodges.
• Access to expert guides throughout.
• Unrivalled expertise in planning your trip to Argentina.

What’s traveling to Argentina like right now?

• Black Tomato have been safely sending many happy clients to Argentina over recent times.
• Our travel experts are always on hand to provide up-to-date COVID travel advice.
• Argentina’s borders are open to US travelers, with direct flights from New York making access incredibly easy.
• There are no testing requirements to enter Argentina; however unvaccinated travelers aged 18+ are recommended to take a COVID test within 24hrs of arrival.

What to do

Landing in Buenos Aires, you’ll start your family vacation in Argentina exploring this vibrant city before heading off into the wilds. With so much to see, we’ll set you up  in the company of one of Black Tomato’s knowledgeable guides as they lead you through the city’s diverse neighborhoods on a private tour tailored to the age and interests of your family. Elsewhere, in an experience perfect for any budding dancers, we’ll arrange a private tango lesson in a traditional conventillo in La Boca. We’ll also take you on a bike tour of the city to showcase some of its best street art and graffiti murals before whisking you off to an exclusive dinner at Fogón Restaurante in Palermo. Here, you’ll sit down to a closed-door Asado, watching as the chefs showcase traditional Argentinian techniques and recipes, whilst preparing your own chimichurri sauce.

From Buenos Aires you’ll then fly down to Bariloche, Argentina’s epic Lake District set in northern Patagonia. To get you acquainted with all this stunning scenery, we’ll take you out on a short stroll of the area before stopping for a mate tasting. This traditional non-alcoholic South American drink has a long history with the act of sharing a cup seen as a symbol of friendship. From here, you’ll then take to the lake with a private guide to enjoy a hiking and kayaking adventure before splitting off into a scenic and secluded location for a picnic lunch.

For something extra special, we’ll also arrange a night on a private island, with a bespoke private glamping site set up just for you and the family. You’ll have that “middle of nowhere” sensation, whilst still enjoying the comforts of luxurious quarters and a private chef. The next morning, why not hop on a bike and head into the wilderness to explore the mountains and lakes on a cycling tour with all the family? For a final flourish when you return to shore, we’ll arrange a private cooking class that will allow you to take all the newly-discovered flavors of Argentina home with you.

Where to stay

In Buenos Aires, you’ll have the perfect city refuge in the form of the Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires. Complete with an outdoor swimming pool and a secret garden BBQ, you and the family will soon feel right at home. The sense of peace continues on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi at the beautiful Villa Beluno. Surrounded by nothing but pristine nature you can do as little or as much as you desire. To soothe aching muscles there’s also an indoor-outdoor spa in which to unwind.

Anything else?

This experience is yours and yours alone, so feel free to customize it however you wish. Over our years exploring Argentina, we’ve built up a handy network of contacts and exclusive experiences and can help take your experience to the next level. In Argentina, sports fans will love an opportunity to go behind the scenes of one of the city’s best-known teams, Boca Juniors, whilst in Bariloche we can arrange for you to spend a day sailing Lake Nahuel Huapi onboard a luxury yacht, stopping off for a paddleboard wherever you might fancy. Whatever it is you’re interested in, we have the answer.

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