Argentina Family Trip for AU$13,345 (14 Days): Waterfalls to Glaciers to Steak & Tango

You'll stand on a walkway jutting out over Iguazú Falls — 275 waterfalls thundering into a canyon the locals call "the Devil's Throat" — and your kids will scream with a mixture of terror and joy as the mist soaks them head to toe. Two days later, you'll watch a 50-metre wall of glacial ice crack and collapse into a turquoise lake while your family eats empanadas on the viewing platform. That's Argentina: a country of absurd natural scale where the landscapes are so dramatic they don't feel real, the steak dinners cost less than a pub meal in Sydney, and Buenos Aires has the architecture, tango, and café culture to rival any European capital. Fourteen days sounds long, but Argentina earns every one of them.

The short answer: budget AU$13,345 all-in (USD $8,500) for a family of four on a 14-night Argentina trip with mid-range hotels, domestic flights between regions, and shoulder-season flights from Australia. Buenos Aires, Iguazú Falls, Patagonia glaciers, and Bariloche — four completely different landscapes, one unforgettable loop.

Trip Outline

Buenos Aires (4 nights) → Iguazú Falls (3 nights) → El Calafate & Perito Moreno Glacier (4 nights) → Bariloche (3 nights)

• Days 1–4: Buenos Aires. Arrive AEP/EZE, explore La Boca (colorful streets), San Telmo (tango bars, markets), Teatro Colón tours, street food and café culture, Recoleta Cemetery, parks.
• Days 5–7: Iguazú Falls. Flight to Puerto Iguazú (2.5 hours). Waterfalls hikes (Brazilian and Argentine sides), jungle walks, bird-watching, Jeep safari.
• Days 8–11: El Calafate. Flight (2 hours). Perito Moreno Glacier (trekking on ice or boat tour), Upsala Glacier, hiking, relaxation.
• Days 12–14: Bariloche. Flight (3 hours) or 20-hour bus. Mountain town, lakes, hiking, chocolate shops, scenic drives, family-friendly mountain vibe.

Flights

AU$2,100–$2,500 per person (return, economy, Sydney/Melbourne to Buenos Aires)

• Sydney/Melbourne → Buenos Aires (AEP/EZE) costs USD $650–$850 (~AU$1,021–$1,335) with US connections (Dallas, Houston, Miami).
• Book 10–12 weeks ahead. May–June is autumn in Argentina—perfect weather, fewer crowds.
• Domestic flights: Buenos Aires → Puerto Iguazú, return El Calafate → Bariloche, exit Bariloche or return to Buenos Aires. Typically USD $60–120 per leg (USD $360–600 family for 3–4 legs).
• Family of 4 return: AU$8,400–$10,000. Domestic: USD $360–600 (~AU$565–$942).

Tip: Fly into Buenos Aires, exit from Bariloche (open-jaw) to avoid backtracking. Bariloche → Buenos Aires is scenic by bus (20 hours, not ideal with kids) or flight (3 hours, worth it).

Accommodation

USD $100–$120 per night (~AU$157–$188)

Buenos Aires (4 nights, USD $100/night): San Telmo or La Boca (cultural neighborhoods, walkable, good restaurants). Avoid ultra-luxury Recoleta (overkill). San Telmo has Sunday antique markets, tango bars, and local energy. Budget USD $400 (~AU$628).

Iguazú Falls (3 nights, USD $110/night): Puerto Iguazú town (base for falls tours). Hotels range from basic to mid-range. The falls are a day-trip away; you stay in town and tour out. Budget USD $330 (~AU$518).

El Calafate (4 nights, USD $120/night): Calafate town (glacier base). Hotels book up; reserve early. Town itself is small but has restaurants and shops. Budget USD $480 (~AU$754).

Bariloche (3 nights, USD $100/night): Bariloche town (Mitre Avenue is the main strip, walkable). Surrounded by lakes and mountains; the town itself is pleasant and family-friendly. Budget USD $300 (~AU$471).

Total accommodation: USD $1,510 (~AU$2,371).

Daily Costs (Food, Activities, Transport)

USD $55–$75 per day for a family of 4 (~AU$86–$118)

Buenos Aires (4 days):

• Breakfast (café, medialunas/croissants): USD $6–10.
• Lunch (parrilla/grilled meat restaurant): USD $20–30.
• Dinner (excellent steak houses): USD $25–40.
• Teatro Colón tour: USD $25–40.
• La Boca walk, San Telmo markets: Free.
• Optional tango show (dinner + show): USD $80–120, or skip for local tango bars (USD $10 entry, drinks extra).
• Daily total: USD $60–80 (without tango show).

Iguazú Falls (3 days):

• Breakfast: USD $8–12.
• Lunch: USD $15–25.
• Dinner: USD $20–35.
• Iguazú National Park (Argentine side) entrance: USD $25 per person (USD $100 family).
• Brazilian side day-trip (optional, from Puerto Iguazú): USD $60–80 per family (includes shuttle, park entry).
• Jeep jungle safari: USD $40–60 per family.
• Daily total: USD $55–75 (with one major activity per day).

El Calafate (4 days):

• Breakfast: USD $8–12.
• Lunch: USD $15–25.
• Dinner: USD $20–30.
• Perito Moreno Glacier (boardwalk viewing, free). Glacier ice-trekking (USD $100–140 per person, adventurous; kids 10+) or boat tour (USD $60–80).
• Upsala Glacier full-day tour: USD $100–140 per family.
• Hiking (Laguna Passo, Laguna de los Tres Picos): Free–USD $30 for guide.
• Daily total: USD $55–75 (with one glacier activity per day).

Bariloche (3 days):

• Breakfast: USD $8–12.
• Lunch: USD $15–25.
• Dinner: USD $20–35.
• Scenic drives (Circuito Chico, drives around lakes): Free (unless picnic lunch).
• Hiking: Free–USD $20 for guide.
• Chocolate shops (Bariloche is famous for chocolate): USD $10–20 per family.
• Cable car up Cerro Campanario: USD $25–30.
• Daily total: USD $55–70.

Total daily costs (14 days): USD $770–1,050 (~AU$1,209–$1,648).

Activities & Transport (Beyond Above)

USD $1,800–$2,300 (~AU$2,826–$3,611)

• Domestic flights: Buenos Aires → Puerto Iguazú (USD $90–130 per person round-trip), El Calafate → Bariloche or return (USD $100–160 per person). Total ~USD $400–600 per family. (Already budgeted above.)
• Glacier trekking: Ice-walking on Perito Moreno (USD $100–140 per person, USD $400–560 family). Advanced activity; alternatives are cheaper.
• Boat tours: Glacier boat tours (USD $60–100 per person), Upsala full-day (USD $100–140 per person).
• Iguazú Brazilian side: Adds cost if doing both sides; mostly optional.
• Contingency (meals, tips, attraction entries, snacks, extras): USD $600–900.

Flights, Accommodation & Daily Budget Recap

Item	Cost (USD)	Cost (AUD)
Flights return (family of 4, Australia–Argentina)	$2,600–3,400	$4,082–5,338
Domestic flights	$360–600	$565–942
Accommodation (14 nights)	$1,510	$2,371
Food & local transport	$770–1,050	$1,209–1,648
Glacier & waterfall tours	$800–1,200	$1,256–1,884
Contingency (10%)	$304–516	$477–811
Subtotal	$6,344–8,176	$9,960–12,844
Total (14 days, family of 4)	$6,344–8,176	$9,960–12,844

Why This Itinerary Works

Buenos Aires: Modern, European-feeling, incredible food. Kids get urban culture, plazas, cafés, museums. Adults get world-class restaurants and tango. It's a buffer before/after long flights.

Iguazú Falls: One of the world's greatest natural wonders. The falls are genuinely massive—your kids will be awed. Multiple viewpoints (Argentine side is close-up, Brazilian side is distant views) offer variety. Jungle walks add wildlife element.

Perito Moreno Glacier: Watching a glacier calve (collapse) is mind-blowing. The boardwalk viewing is free; trekking on the glacier is optional but memorable. El Calafate is a relaxation break—less crowded than tourist hotspots, beautiful surroundings.

Bariloche: Mountain town with lakes, chocolate, and hiking. It's a wind-down before the long flight home. Families with older kids love it. Drives around lakes are scenic and low-effort.

Budget Hacks

• Glacier viewing: The free boardwalk at Perito Moreno is stunning. Skip ice-trekking if you're on budget; boat tours are cheaper (USD $60–80 vs USD $120–140).
• Iguazú: Argentine side only is cheaper than doing both sides. Brazilian side adds USD $60–100 per family.
• Meals: Argentina's beef is extraordinary and cheap at local parrillas. Eat lunch as the main meal (cheaper, bigger portions). Dinners at tourist restaurants cost 2x local spots.
• Domestic flights: Book early. May–June prices are lower than December–January (southern summer).

Bottom Line

AU$13,345 (USD $8,500) for 14 days covers flights, accommodation, food, and glacier/waterfall experiences for a family of 4, with contingency for upgrades.

Argentina delivers epic landscapes (waterfalls, glaciers, mountains) with excellent food and reliable infrastructure. The Argentine peso is weak, so your money stretches. Buenos Aires is a cultural anchor. Iguazú and Perito Moreno are both top-tier natural wonders—having both in one trip is rare. Bariloche is a bonus relaxation zone.

It's longer than other itineraries (14 days vs 10–12), which allows for flights, acclimatization, and not rushing. If you have the time, Argentina justifies it—this is a complete South American experience.

Start Planning

SaveToRoam's Argentina 14-Day Family template has Buenos Aires neighborhood guides, Iguazú tour operator recommendations, glacier trekking prep (fitness level, gear), and Bariloche hiking maps.

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