Hidden, World
Welcome to Argentina
Beautiful, defiant and intense, Argentina seduces with its streetside tango, wafting grills, gaucho culture, and the mighty Andes. It’s one formidable cocktail of wanderlust. From mighty Iguazú Falls in the subtropical north to the thunderous, crackling advance of the Glaciar Perito Moreno in the south, Argentina is home to a vast natural wonderland. Diversity is a big part of it. The country that boasts the Andes’ highest snowbound peaks is also home to rich wetlands, rust-hued desert, deep-blue lakes, lichen-clad Valdivian forests, and Patagonia’s arid steppes. Wildlife comes in spectacular variety, from penguins and flamingos to capybaras, giant anteaters, whales, guanaco herds and more. In this vast country, stunning sights abound and big adventure awaits.
Bariloche
With its chocolate shops, Swiss-style architecture and picturesque setting of pristine lakes and snow-capped mountains; San Carlos De Bariloche appears more like a village in Switzerland. The nearby mountains are a hot spot for snow skiing, containing one of South America’s largest ski stations at Cerro Catedral.
Iguazu Falls
Walk along with Iguazu’s impressive collection of waterfalls and feel the mist from the stunning Garganta del Diablo. Surrounded by tropical jungle and home to incredible biodiversity, tour the falls on an Eco-train and discover why Iguazu Fall is one of the true natural wonders of the world. Without a doubt, Iguazu Fall from the Argentine and Brazilian sides will be sure to impress.
Los Glaciares
Los Glaciares National Park covers the region known as Andes Australes of the Argentine territory, in the Southwest of Santa Cruz province on the shared border with Chile. This unique natural wonder has been declared a “World Heritage Site of Humanity” by UNESCO in 1981. The National Park includes a scenario of mountains, lakes, and forests, a large portion of the Andes Mountains covered with ice and snow to the west and the arid Patagonian steppe to the east.
Ushuaia
When to go & weather
High Season (Nov–Feb & Jul)
- Patagonia is the best (and most expensive) December to February.
- Crowds throng to the beaches from late December through January.
- Snow falls at ski resorts from June to August.
Shoulder (Sep–Nov & Mar-May)
- Temperature-wise the best times to visit Buenos Aires.
- The Lake District is pleasant; leaves are spectacular in March and April.
- The Mendoza region has its grape harvests and wine festival.
Low Season (Jun–Aug)
- Good time to visit the north.
- Many services close at beach resorts, and mountain passes can be blocked by snow.
- July is a winter vacation month, so popular destinations get busy.
Sample Itinerary – 7 Days
There’s plenty of choices just outside Argentina’s capital, from small and alluring cobblestoned towns to bigger, more exciting cities and bustling soft-sand beach resorts. Tigre, with its hidden waterways and busy delta, is a popular porteño getaway for a day or two. Take a day trip to peaceful San Antonio de Areco, which has a history of gaucho culture, or tidy La Plata, with its huge cathedral. Perhaps you’d prefer a weekend at the beach? Pinamar and Villa Gesell make great summer escapes, as does Mar del Plata, the biggest Argentine beach destination of them all. Head inland to Tandil for a couple of days; it’s a pretty town near scenic hills and a large recreational reservoir. And then there’s Uruguay, just a (relatively) short boat ride away. Colonia del Sacramento is truly charming; filled with cobbled streets and atmospheric colonial buildings it makes a great day trip.
Fast Facts
Capital: Buenos Aires
Currency: Argentine peso, Argentine austral
Language: Spanish
Recommendations: The Andes, Iguazú Falls, Buenos Aires