I am in Ushuaia just now, fascinating but 3 times more expensive that Cordoba or Mar del Plata, and twice the price of Bariloche or Iguazú.   El Calafate is also very expensive.   I am in a rush because I want to visit the Acquarium and it is already 5.30 p.m.


My friend and I will be in Bs As in January 2007 and are planning to visit the rest of your beautiful country from 13 January until 11-12 Feb (we are flying back to England then).  We want to see as much as we can but also take the time to enjoy the various places we will visit and rush around all the time.  Given the size of the large distances to cover, we are not sure we can fit everything in. Ideally we want to see Cordoba, Mendoza (with perhaps Aconcagua tour), Bariloche and the lake district, Esquel, Peninsula Valdez, Puerto Deseado, Tierra del Fuego, El Calafate and Torres del Paine in Chile.  

1st question: is this list realistic (if so could we add a few days to go to Santiago de Chili from Mendoza)  
2- what is the best itinary / order in which to see all these places
Buenos Aires-Iguazú-Buenos Aires-Córdoba-Bariloche-Esquel-Puerto Madryn (Península Valdez) and then down south.  Flight from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires.
2 - how much time would u recommend in each  Iguazu 3 days, Cordoba 5 days. Bariloche at least one week, Puerto Madryn 3 days, Puerto Deseado a couple of days, Ushuaia 4 days, El Calafate 3 days, I have never been to Torres del Paine (6 hours by bus from Calafate).
3- transort wise is it best to take autobuses which I know are very good - do we need to book them in advance and when ?  Buses are excelent; you can use the luxury buses on most of the route, except south of Comodoro Rivadavia, where you only have standard coche cama (sleeping coach, but the seat does not lie completely flat),  South of Río Gallegos, service is not very good.
4. Will we be able to book flights once we are there or is this out of the question due to high tourist season ?  Try to purchase the visit Argentina fare.  To get a good price you should purchase your international flights by Lan Chile or Aerolíneas Argentinas.  Lan Chile is far more reliable, always on time...
5- Do you recommend taking tours in all the national parks or can we hire a car and visit the parks ourselves   Tours are cheap in Bariloche and in Cordoba.   In Iguazu you can use the local bus service, it runs every half hour to the falls, both Brazilian and Argentine side from the Puerto Iguazu bus station.  You may need a visa for crossing to Brazil.
6-  Do you recommend to book all accommodation before travelling (this wil give us less flexibility to improvise)  January is high season in all the country except in Iguazú.  Advance reservations are advisable.  Hotel prices will also be higher than until the end of December and after March.

Enjoy your trip.

Robert Raymond Ingledew Moore

Thank you in advance for your help. Again please answer in Spanish if it is easier for you.