Argentina and Uruguay twin centre: tango and gauchos

Itinerary in brief:

• 3 nights in Buenos Aires
• 1 night in Colonia
• 2 nights in Estancia Finca Piedra
• 2 nights in Montevideo

Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires     

Today you’ll land in Buenos Aires and meet your transfer service. You’ll be driven to your hotel and given some help to check-in, with the rest of today at leisure, to relax or begin exploring.

Day 2: City tour

Today you’ll be picked up at your hotel to join a half-day city tour of Buenos Aires. You’ll visit some of the highlights including the colourful neighbourhood of La Boca and the stunning Recoleta cemetery, the final resting place of the most famous Argentinian, Eva Peron. After the tour, you’ll have the rest of the day free.

Day 3: Evening tango show

Today is another free day for you to explore the city at your own pace. You could do some shopping in the many boutiques of Recoleta or browse the antique shops of the historic San Telmo district.

This evening, you’ll be picked up at your hotel and driven to a tango venue, where you’ll be served a traditional Argentine dinner while enjoying a live dance show in the city where this style of dance was born. Tango originates from the 1880s and spring up as a dance culture along the River Plate in Buenos Aires. It is one of Argentina’s most famous cultural exports.

Day 4: Ferry to Colonia del Sacramento        

After breakfast, you will be collected and taken to the pier where you will catch the ferry across to the charming city of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. The ferry takes about an hour, and once you arrive, you can walk the short distance to your hotel in the historic centre. We recommend you check in, drop your bags and get out to explore this lovely colonial city, famous for its cobblestone streets and buildings from its time as a Portuguese settlement.    

Days 5 & 6: Estancia Finca de Piedra  

This morning, you’ll pick up your rental car and make the one and a half hour drive to your next stay – the beautiful Estancia de Piedra.

Covering more than a thousand acres in the Mahoma hills, this working, Uruguayan ranch guarantees an authentic countryside retreat with an air of European sophistication. The estancia offers all guests a wealth of activities (some at an extra charge), from vineyard tours and wine tasting to horseback riding and cooking classes. Whether you choose to enjoy the activities or simply preferring to walk around the estate, you’ll find plenty of space to relax and unwind in comfort during your stay.

Day 7: Drive to Montevideo        

After breakfast, you’ll check out and drive the two hour-journey to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. Once you arrive, you’ll drop off your rental car and make your way to your hotel in the historic district with the rest of today free.     

Day 8: City tour

This morning, we’ve included a guided tour of Montevideo to introduce the city’s monuments, parks and gardens, the Old City and the Parliament Building. This immense structure, built at the beginning of the last century, is the pride of Uruguay. You will also drive to Batlle y Ordoñez, a major public central park dedicated to a past Uruguayan president. At the end of the tour, you’ll have some free time in the city so why not go shopping down 18 de Julio Street, lined with attractive shops and cafés?

Day 9: Depart Montevideo 

You will be collected from your hotel and driven to Montevideo airport to catch your onward flight to your next destination.