Recreate their hikes, cultural encounters, and meals.
Who’s ready for an unforgettable Argentinian vacation?
After Katie shared the highlights of the trip to Patagonia that she recently took with Molner, we got lots of requests to see their entire itinerary. We highly encourage you to read Katie’s full essay if you’d like a first-person sense of the sights and sounds — and food! — from this beautiful part of the world, since no one can capture it quite like her. Speaking of food, Katie notes they tried to eat local instead of at tourist spots (which definitely turned up some amazing cuisine, as you’ll see), and she enjoyed trying local specialties like Mate, an herbal drink, and Rapuni, a famous Argentinian chocolate.
If you’ve already checked out Katie’s travelogue and want a quick and easy point of reference for where they stayed and what they saw, we’ve got you covered. Below, get a look at Katie and John’s day-by-day agenda in this jaw-dropping region. It’ll give you a great head start on planning your own trip! (And if you’d like to design your visit with the same folks who planned Katie’s vacation, check out Blue Parallel Luxury Travel — and, of course, Carla Thorson, her trusty travel agent.)
Katie Couric and John Molner’s 10-Day Patagonia Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Buenos Aires and check into the hotel, the Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires.
1 p.m.: Lunch at Los Salones del Piano Nobile, one of the hotel’s stellar foodie offerings. This one specializes in modern international cuisine, and it offers lovely views for al fresco dining.
3 p.m.: Walking tour of Recoleta, which Vogue called the city’s “most elegant neighborhood.” Sights include the opulent Recoleta Cemetery, Plaza Francia, and the National Museum of Fine Arts.
8 p.m.: Dinner at Fervor, an elegant restaurant in the Recoleta neighborhood that serves delicious charcoal-grilled meat and fish specialties.
Day 2
10 a.m.: Following breakfast, begin the day with a tour of the world-famous Teatro Colón, a historic opera house that’s considered one of the best in the world. Then continue the sightseeing in the Plaza de Mayo, including the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Cabildo, and Casa Rosada (or “the pink house”), the official workplace of Argentina’s president.
1 p.m.: Lunch at Caseros, a neighborhood favorite providing a tastefully crafted menu focusing on local flavors in a vintage, yet modern atmosphere.
Afternoon: Explore San Telmo, the city’s oldest neighborhood and the birthplace of tango. Stroll through its historic streets browsing the quirky antique shops, or sit and enjoy a coffee in Plaza Dorrego.
8:15 p.m.: Dinner at Anafe, a renowned restaurant by Mica Najmanovich and Nico Arcucci. The chefs incorporate Asian techniques into Italian dishes, using Middle Eastern flavors, and French preparations as a representation of their heritage, travels, and every country in the world. Katie says this was one of her favorite meals of the trip: “Delicious steak, fresh tomato salad, wonderful bread, and all kinds of small plates in a very residential neighborhood. Delish!”
Late evening: Cocktails at Rey de Copas, a renowned bar located in the vibrant neighborhood of Palermo Soho.
Day 3
Take a domestic flight to Bariloche, “Patagonia’s most charming town,” according to Travel + Leisure. Check into the second hotel of the trip, the beautiful Villa Beluno.
1 p.m.: Lunch at Avellana, the hotel’s restaurant, which specializes in dishes inspired by French and Italian cuisine and uses fresh ingredients from the villa’s very own greenhouse.
4 p.m: Head to the Llao Llao Peninsula for a hike through the Coihue forest, enjoying the placid views of the lake through the clearings in the evergreen trees. Along the way, Katie and John stopped in the middle of the woodlands for a tasting of Mate, an herbal beverage whose name rhymes with “latte.” Katie felt it was an acquired taste, but she was glad to give it a try!
8 p.m.: Dinner at Anima, one of the top restaurants of Bariloche’s culinary scene, focusing on simple yet exquisite dishes using local ingredients. Guests feel at home in the cozy, cabin setting of the restaurant, tucked into the woods in the Circuito Chico area of the Llao Llao Peninsula.
Day 4
10:30 a.m.: After breakfast, head to López Bay, a beautiful area along the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi to enjoy a hiking excursion. Head up the peaks to the Los Palotinos, a spectacular look-out point over the Tristeza arm of Lake Nahuel Huapi, where you will have a panoramic view of the area, or take an easier route. Either way, a picnic in this breathtaking spot is a must!
Late afternoon: Return to the hotel to clean up, rest, relax, and perhaps even enjoy a spa treatment.
8 p.m.: Dinner at La Masia, an intimate lakeside restaurant located on the Llao Llao Peninsula, offering a cozy atmosphere with simple, yet satisfying meals and excellent service.
Day 5
10 a.m.: Following breakfast, take a boating excursion to Lake Nahuel Huapi. Stop at Victoria Island to hike through the wooded areas and trails facing the blue lake, then enjoy a picnic lunch.
Late afternoon: Return to your hotel for a swim, a massage, or just a rest.
8:30 p.m.: Dinner at Il Gabbiano, an intimate Italian restaurant serving both international and regional cuisine with a Mediterranean approach.
Day 6
8:30 a.m.: Head to Rincón Chico for a fishing excursion in the Limay River, the largest drainage basin in the region. It usually yields both medium-sized migratory rainbows and brown trout.
Early afternoon: Disembark at Estancia Rincón Grande, a captivating Patagonian ranch flanked by a picturesque landscape and majestic mountains in the distance. Enjoy a Patagonian lunch cooked using the traditional curanto method, which involves cooking food underground, with meals prepared in a 30-centimeter pit.
Late afternoon: Go horseback riding to explore the semi-arid region near the property with low vegetation, adapted to limited rainfall and known for its unique wildlife.
8:30 p.m.: Dinner at Cerveceria Patagonia. Bariloche is the center of Argentine beer culture, thanks in part to its German and Swiss heritage. Patagonia is one of its finest breweries, with excellent beers and a beautiful location on the wooded peninsula.
Day 7
Morning: Take a domestic flight to El Calafate, a city on the southern border of Lake Argentino. Check into Eolo, a small and intimate hotel with unbelievable vistas of the surrounding landscape, and enjoy lunch at the lodge.
Afternoon: Choose between hiking or horseback riding on the mountainside of the surrounding valley, providing you with an excellent introduction to the Southern Patagonian landscape. Then return to the hotel to freshen up.
7 p.m.: At the hotel lodge, enjoy a wine tasting followed by a gourmet dinner with expansive views of the sun setting over the Patagonian steppe. Eolo’s restaurant utilizes regional Argentine produce while applying international gastronomic techniques and aesthetics.
Day 8
10 a.m.: Head to Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a boating tour around the south face of the Perito Moreno Glacier and witness pieces of ice “calving” from it. As you glide along parallel to the glacier, you will be struck by the sheer height of this spectacular wall of ice.
Afternoon: Transfer to the spectacular catwalks and balcony facing the Perito Moreno Glacier to enjoy the panoramic perspective of this natural wonder. Afterward, enjoy a picnic lunch on the catwalks in front of the glacier itself.
Evening: Once you’ve returned to your hotel, take a load off and enjoy a delicious dinner at Eolo’s restaurant.
Day 9
8 a.m.: Head to Puerto Bandera, where you will board a boat to Estancia Cristina for a day of stunning exploration. On the way, cruise toward Upsala Glacier for a frontal view. On the way you will navigate through breathtaking scenery, dodging icebergs. Keep an eye and ear out for falling ice pieces and moving icebergs!
Mid-morning: Arrive at Estancia Cristina for a 4×4 excursion up the mountains through the forest. Along the way, enjoy an incredible panoramic view of the Upsala Glacier.
Afternoon: Hike to the top of the mountain and back down to the estancia, a four-hour trek downhill through the forest, surrounded by impressive views of the beautiful Patagonian landscape, and witness ancient fossils in the rock formation. Along the way, stop mid-hike and enjoy a boxed lunch.
Late afternoon: Finish the day with a boat ride back to Puerto Bandera, then return to the hotel.
Evening: Enjoy yet another magnificent dinner at the Eolo lodge.
Day 10
Morning: Check out from Eolo and take a domestic flight back to Buenos Aires.
1 p.m.: Lunch at Casa Cavia, a boutique, mansion-house restaurant that brings together a somewhat unusual combination of local tastemakers — a florist, a chef, and a bookseller — under one historic roof.
3 p.m.: Visit MALBA, a beautiful museum also known as Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires. One of Katie and John’s favorite finds here included a self-portrait of Frida Kahlo.
5:30 p.m.: After wrapping up at the museum, head to the airport and have a quick dinner while you prepare to board your flight home.
