ARGENTINA · BUENOS AIRES · PATAGONIA
Argentina
Metropolis, glaciers, waterfalls and wine — a country that deserves several journeys.
Plan the journey
Argentina is measured in flight time and climate zones. Allow at least 16–20 days for Buenos Aires, Patagonia and Iguazú; adding Mendoza or Salta takes the trip to three weeks. Domestic flights save time but may use different airports.
Best time
Patagonia: November–March. Buenos Aires: spring and autumn. Iguazú: year-round, hot and humid in summer. Northwest: often April–November.
Money
Exchange rates and payment conditions change. Use cards plus a cash reserve, check current official guidance and confirm the currency behind every price.
Trip length
16–20 days for three regions; 21–28 days with Mendoza, Salta or Ushuaia.
Buenos Aires
Allow four to five nights for Recoleta, San Telmo, Palermo, Microcentro and the riverfront. Tango makes more sense when a stage show and a local milonga are understood as different experiences. Visit familiar parts of La Boca by day and keep valuables discreet.
Eat at parrillas, empanada shops, classic pizzerias and contemporary restaurants. Dinner starts late, so plan around local hours.
Patagonia
El Calafate is the base for Perito Moreno Glacier. El Chaltén offers day hikes towards Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre; weather-buffer days are essential. Further south, Ushuaia adds the Beagle Channel and Tierra del Fuego.
Wind, fast weather changes and long distances require layers, good footwear and flexible bookings. Check park entry and authorised activities through official channels.
Iguazú, Mendoza & Salta
Allow two full days for Iguazú; the Argentine side offers long trails and close perspectives. Prepare for jungle heat, spray and mosquitoes.
Mendoza combines wine, Andes scenery and excellent restaurants; arranged transport is safer than driving after tastings. Salta and Jujuy bring highland landscapes, coloured valleys and Indigenous culture — acclimatise gradually.
Suggested 18-day route
- Buenos Aires – 5 nights
- El Calafate – 3 nights
- El Chaltén – 4 nights
- Buenos Aires – 1 transit night
- Puerto Iguazú – 3 nights
- Buenos Aires – 2 nights
Food, supermarkets & budget
Lunch menus, bakeries and empanadas help control costs. Large supermarkets and neighbourhood stores cover water and breakfast. Airfares, park fees and accommodation change quickly, so a flexible budget buffer matters more than fixed figures.
Safety & health
- Watch for pickpocketing and distraction theft in cities; use phones discreetly near roads and on public transport.
- Use official or app-booked taxis and leave no valuables visible in vehicles.
- Use mosquito protection at Iguazú and acclimatise gradually in the Salta/Jujuy highlands.
- Wildfires and extreme weather can affect Patagonia and other regions in summer.
- Carry medical insurance including evacuation and trekking activities.
Your journey. Your story. Your horizon.
Argentina becomes manageable by region and unforgettable in scale.