From Buenos Aires to the End of the World: My Journey Through Argentina
Argentina had been on my list for a long time, and this trip with The Muse Collection and Deluxe Argentina gave me the opportunity to experience three completely different sides of the country—Buenos Aires, the mountains and lakes of Bariloche, and finally Ushuaia at the very southern tip of Argentina.
And when I say different, I mean completely different.
First Stop: Buenos Aires
We started in Buenos Aires at the Faena Hotel in Puerto Madero, and you really couldn't ask for a more memorable introduction to the city. Faena is theatrical, dramatic and definitely not your typical luxury hotel. Think crystal candelabras, bold red interiors and even unicorn heads adorning the walls. It's a hotel with a very distinct personality—and one I think you either immediately connect with or realize you want something a little more traditional.
Our first day gave us a great introduction to Buenos Aires, taking us through some of the city's southern neighborhoods, including colorful La Boca, historic San Telmo and modern Puerto Madero.
And, of course, you can't come to Buenos Aires without experiencing tango. After dinner, we finished the evening with a tango show—one of those experiences that may sound touristy until you're actually sitting there watching it. The music, dancing and drama are such a huge part of the culture here that it really does deserve a place in a first-time Buenos Aires itinerary.
Bariloche: A Completely Different Argentina
The next morning we flew to Bariloche, and this is where Argentina completely changed.
If Buenos Aires feels European and cosmopolitan, Bariloche feels almost Alpine. Mountains, forests and incredible blue lakes surround you, and it honestly feels like you've landed in another country.
We stayed for two nights at Villa Beluno, a beautiful boutique property and member of The Muse Collection. This was much more my speed—intimate, peaceful and completely connected to its surroundings.
One of my favorite evenings of the trip was actually spent right at the hotel. We had a cooking demonstration while tasting Argentine wines and local flavors, followed by dinner. Anyone who knows me knows that a cooking class or food experience is always going to be right up my alley, and I love incorporating these types of experiences into my clients' trips. They give you such a different connection to a destination.
The following day was all about being outside. We did a soft mountain trek with incredible views over the lakes and forests, followed by a short navigation on the lake that afternoon.
This is exactly why I loved Bariloche. You can hike, get out on the water, drink fantastic Argentine wine, eat incredibly well and then come back to a beautiful hotel. It has that combination of adventure and luxury that I am always looking for when I'm scouting destinations.
Ushuaia: The End of the World
From Bariloche, we traveled all the way south to Ushuaia, often referred to as the End of the World.
Just getting here makes you realize how enormous Argentina is. Ushuaia sits on the island of Tierra del Fuego at the very southern tip of the country, surrounded by mountains and the Beagle Channel.
We stayed at Los Cauquenes Resort, right on the Beagle Channel, which made a beautiful base for exploring the area.
Our full day in Ushuaia was probably one of the most memorable days of the entire trip.
We started in Tierra del Fuego National Park, walking some of its easier trails and taking the famous End of the World Train through this incredibly remote landscape.
From there, we boarded a small boat and headed out onto the Beagle Channel. There is something surreal about cruising these waters and realizing just how far south you actually are.
Later that afternoon, we visited Arakur, another five-star hotel option in Ushuaia. The property sits within its own natural reserve surrounded by native forest, so before touring the hotel we were able to hike through part of the reserve.
We ended the day with dinner overlooking Ushuaia and the bay—which was a pretty spectacular way to finish our time at the End of the World.
Back to Buenos Aires
We returned to Buenos Aires for one final night, this time staying at Casa Lucía.
This gave us a chance to experience a completely different side of the city. We spent the afternoon walking through Recoleta, one of Buenos Aires' most elegant neighborhoods, where the French-influenced architecture is another reminder of just how European this city can feel.
We also visited the Park Hyatt before dinner, giving me another luxury hotel option to compare for future clients.
One of the biggest benefits of these trips for me is getting inside multiple hotels rather than simply reading about them online. A hotel can look beautiful in photos, but until I see the rooms, understand the location and experience the atmosphere myself, it's difficult to know exactly which client I would put there.
One Last Taste of Argentina
We saved one of the most quintessentially Argentine experiences for our final day.
Leaving Buenos Aires behind, we headed into the Pampas—the seemingly endless plains surrounding the city and the historic home of Argentina's gaucho culture.
We visited a beautiful farmhouse, explored its vegetable garden, went horseback riding and sat down for a traditional Argentine asado.
If you're unfamiliar with asado, calling it a barbecue really doesn't do it justice. It's a huge part of Argentine culture and as much about gathering together as it is about the food.
It was the perfect way to finish the trip before heading to the airport for my flight home.
Why I Would Combine These Three Destinations
What surprised me most about this trip was just how different each stop was.
Buenos Aires gave us food, culture, architecture and nightlife.
Bariloche gave us mountains, lakes, hiking, wine and that wonderful Alpine atmosphere.
And Ushuaia gave us something completely different again—Tierra del Fuego, the Beagle Channel and the experience of traveling quite literally to the End of the World.
If you're going all the way to Argentina, I wouldn't necessarily make it a one-stop trip. Combining Buenos Aires with one or two of the country's incredible outdoor destinations gives you a much better sense of just how diverse Argentina really is.
And this is exactly why I take these trips. Seeing the hotels firsthand, meeting the people on the ground and actually experiencing the logistics between destinations allows me to build a trip very differently than I could by simply researching it from home.
Argentina is a destination where those details matter—and after experiencing it myself, I have a much better idea of how I would put all the pieces together for my clients.
Thinking about Argentina? Let's start planning.