The girls trip to Argentina and Uruguay that I'm DYING to take
text if you want in!
Lately, I’ve been dreaming about planning a trip with all of my closest girlfriends. The kind of trip where we actually have time, uninterrupted, to catch up, laugh until our nonexistent abs hurt, and share long dinners that turn into very deep conversations. I’ve never pulled off a proper girls’ trip before, probably because all of my strong, beautiful female friendships are scattered across the country. But maybe that’s exactly why this one would matter so much… a week carved out for the girls I love but don’t get to see in the same place often, in sunny South America!
I know none of us can make it happen this year (myself included), so I’m setting my sights and manifesting for next year…early March or early November—when it’s freezing in NYC but pleasantly warm in Argentina and Uruguay, and we could catch the shoulder season’s quieter vibe but things are still open!
When I started mapping this out, I knew the focus had to be on things that fill us up: nature, slow meals, gorgeous spaces, art, and lots of time for connection. Nothing too jam-packed. Just a few gentle activities each day, surrounded by good wine, beautiful light, and even better company. Because that’s what it’s all about!
I'm feeling very generous today, so this itinerary isn't paywalled… A Mindholiday rarity, but enjoy!
Starting in Buenos Aires…
You have to fly via Buenos Aires to make it to Uruguay, so obviously I’d want to spend a few days here.
Where we’d stay
I’d book us at the Mine Hotel in the artsy neighborhood of Palermo Soho—it’s chic, cheap, and cheerful—what else can you ask for when booking a girls trip? Also, it has a gorgeous leafy courtyard… We’d spend two nights here while exploring the best the city has to offer.
What we’d do
Day 1: Arrival in Buenos Aires – art, shopping, and aperitivos
Morning: Land in Buenos Aires and check into the hotel. Eat breakfast and lounge/nap by the pool following a red-eye.
Afternoon: Wander the streets of Palermo for street art, architecture, and stylish shopping.
Drop into Galería Mar Dulce for a taste of Buenos Aires’ art scene.
Shop at Jazmín Chebar (and hit up their cafe) and Maria Cher for fun clothes and accessories.
Evening: Toast to day one with cocktails and a relaxed dinner at Casa Cavia, a dreamlike restaurant in a gorgeous 1920s Palermo home where food and design converge.
Day 2: Markets, malbec, and magic
Morning: Coffee at Lattente, followed by a visit to Mercado San Telmo—browse vintage treasures, local crafts, delicious food vendors, and street tango.
Afternoon: Head to MALBA to soak in Latin American modern art.
Evening: Dinner at Parrilla Don Julio (allegedly worth the hype), followed by drinks and dancing at Bar 878.
Moving on to relaxing in the Punte del Este countryside…
Where we’d stay
Hotel Fasano, a modernist marvel tucked into the Uruguayan countryside—the meeting of sleek architecture + raw nature!
What we’d do
Day 3: Arrive in Punta del Este + chill
Morning: Ferry from Buenos Aires to Montevideo (2.5 hours), then drive to Punta del Este (approx. 2 hours). Check into the hotel for some relaxation time following a big morning of travel!
Afternoon: Lounge by the pool or take a slow walk along the property’s gorgeous trails! Enjoy a low-key lunch at Las Piedras on property… overlooks a garden surrounded by trees, and a collection of rare books line the walls! If we are up to it, maybe we take the art + cheese tour that the hotel offers, take a bike/horse ride, or play some tennis on the clay courts.
Evening: Sunset cocktails on the terrace, followed by dinner at the hotel’s namesake restaurant on property. Maybe a wine/weed fueled catch-up and gossip session in robes before bed… Weed is legal in Uruguay!!! My kind of place.
Day 4: Punta del Este – wine + art
Morning: Slow breakfast at hotel and a light workout (yoga or a property walk).
Afternoon: Lunch and wine tasting at Aguaverde Wine Lodge, literally 4 minutes down the road from the Fasano… Followed by Fundación Pablo Atchugarry, another 20 minute drive away. A very cool and must visit sculpture park that’s over 90 acres in size! Wander along the walking paths and take it all in.
Evening: Spa time, followed by a casual dinner and relaxing at the hotel!
Followed by dreamy Jose Ignacio…
Where we’d stay
The Posada Ayana is chic as hell and is steps from the sea. It also is home to iconic artist James Turrell’s Skyspace—a meditative portal to light and silence. Dreamy!! I’m dreaming big, so I am imagining checking into one of their villas which can sleep 6-8 comfortably… but regular rooms would do too, and are much cheaper :)
What we’d do
Day 5: Arrive in José Ignacio – Skyspace, Style & Salt Air
Morning: After a short drive from Punta, check in, wander the sculpture-dotted grounds, and experience James Turrell’s Skyspace for the first time.
Late Morning: Head into town for a relaxed stroll and boutique shopping at Paula Martini and Agnes Lenoble (animal print everything!), two José Ignacio staples.
Afternoon: Settle in for a long, lovely beachfront lunch at Parador La Huella.
Evening: Wind down with sunset views at the hotel, then head inland for a special dinner at Cruz del Sur Farm… Think wild herbs, warm bread, shared healthy dishes, and dinner under the stars!! I’ve heard their pistachio ice cream is a MUST.
Day 6: José Ignacio – Nature, art, + a soft landing
Morning: Relaxed breakfast and chill at hotel… take a morning beach walk!
Afternoon: Visit Rizoma, the cutest must-visit bookstore/cafe that sells stunning ceramics. Then stroll over to Panadería José Ignacio for afternoon coffee + croissants.
Evening: Last night by the beach magic—enjoy the beach some more and have the sunset experience at James Turrell’s Skyspace, followed by dinner at La Susana down the road.
Ending with a night in Montevideo…
In order to fly back to the states, you have to backtrack to Buenos Aires, which wouldn’t be pleasant to do from José Ignacio before a flight. So we would backtrack to Montevideo first, which is a 2.5 hour ferry from Buenos Aires.
Where we’d stay
We’d check in at the Hotel Montevideo, which boasts a beautiful rooftop pool and well appointed rooms. It’s affordable too, making it the perfect Montevideo home base for a girl’s trip!
What we’d do
Day 7: Montevideo – Coastlines and colorful corners
Morning: Drive to Montevideo (3ish hours) and drop our bags at the hotel.
Afternoon: Stroll the Mercado del Puerto for local crafts and street performances—load up on empanadas and helado from food stands but skip a sit down lunch in favor of exploration!. Rent bikes and cruise the Rambla, Montevideo’s beloved seaside promenade.
Late Afternoon: Explore Parque Rodó and people watch… walk to the castle! Pop into the nearby Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales for an art moment.
Evening: Early-ish dinner (by South American standards) at Demorondanga, because they don’t take reservations! There’s no menu here, just a chalkboard with the dishes of the day.
Day 8: Montevideo morning + travel home
All of the direct flights from Buenos Aires to NYC are late red-eyes, so for those of us returning to New York, we’d have a very casual morning in Montevideo before ferrying back to Buenos Aires to catch the flight. We’d likely leave suitcases at the hotel, grab coffee and a pastry at a local panadería (perhaps Saint Germain Boulangerie), and then take a neighborhood walk followed by a lunch at Es Mercat before heading back to the hotel to get bags + freshen up… Then time for the ferry, followed by a 11 hour red-eye flight… :(
The Google maps that I make to accompany my itineraries are usually reserved for paying subscribers, but this one is on me! Enjoy!
Ooh this looks dreamy! Whenever I tell people that Uruguay is at the top of my list, they think I’m crazy!
And highly encourage talking your friends into a girls trip! I just turned 40 and got 6 of my closest friends to go to Mexico City for a long weekend and we had the BEST time!! By the end of the trip they were already asking when the next trip was!!
Argentinian girl talking here ! 🇦🇷Recommendations, if you are planning to move from BS.AS to Uruguay, “buquebus” could be cheaper than an aerplane ! Do not hesitate in contact me if you need something 🤙🏼 and always drink Malbec or Cabernet Franc ♥️