Argentina

One of the many amazing parts of Argentina-the Lake District in Bariloche

Overview

The Tango.  Futbol.  Wine.  Glaciers.  Mountains.  Waterfalls.  Red meat.  Gauchos.  Whales.  Penguins.  The end of the Earth.

All are just a small part of what Argentina is about.  The massive, yet curiously laid back capital of Buenos Aires feels both European than South American and offers up a busting metropolis for the city folk.  For any traveler looking for natural beauty , Argentina has a dizzying variety of options.  What if the weary backpacker just wants to chill out and relax?  How does kicking back in a square eating a massive, scrumptious steak dinner, drinking delicious red wine, and watching a tango show sound?  If you can’t find something to entice you in Argentina, then there’s really no hope for you.  It may be time to hang up the backpack and boots.

Highlights-What to Do

Watching tango dancers doing their thing is amazing

Buenos Aires-12 million people populate this capital city, and it’s easy to see why.  Elegant architecture, ridiculously cheap red meat and red wine dinners, tango shows, intense and passionate futbol fans, plenty of green space, and amazingly friendly people make this a must visit when coming to South America.

Iguazu Falls-If you have never been to Niagara Falls before, you may want to head there before coming to Iguazu.  Niagara, while impressive, looks like a slow dripping faucet compared to the monstrosity that is Iguazu Falls.  This place is no joke, and spending some time here will not disappoint.

Perito Moreno Glacier is a must see on a trip into Patagonia

Perito Moreno Glacier-Here’s yet another picturesque natural beauty that calls Argentina home.  Perito is the one of the few remaining glaciers that is still growing, and this thing is jaw dropping.  Going on a sunny day is most advantageous so you can see, and most importantly, hear, the thundering sound of huge slabs of ice dropping off.  It is an indescribable experience (you can go to the Perito Moreno picture post to check out some video to see what you’re in for).

Cafayate-Yet one more of my hidden treasures of South America, we could have spent a good couple of weeks here, maybe longer.  Cafayate is a quiet little town in northwestern Argentina that offers good weather, beautiful natural surroundings (go figure), and many, many wineries.  If riding a bike around the flat little town while going from winery to winery sounds like it’s right up your alley, then Cafayate deserves a spot on your itinerary.

The Lake District-Bariloche and the surrounding areas comprise what is called the Lake District of Argentina.  As you can imagine, there are many lakes, and they are surrounded by mountains, and this obviously makes for some pretty rad views.  Bariloche, while touristy, is still fantastic, and it’s home to our favorite hostel in the world, Pudu.

The little (for now) town of El Chalten set beneath Fitz Roy and the Cerro Mountains

El Chalten-Go there now.  Seriously, stop reading, close the computer (not before bookmarking this site though), and go to  El Chalten before it changes too much.  This is a city that is growing at an alarming rate, and I’m not sure how long it will remain as awesome as it was when we went in 2009.  The hiking and trekking possibilities are endless, and the surrounding areas of El Chalten may well be the most beautiful natural setting I’ve ever encountered.  It’s that great.  So go.  NOW.

Budget

Argentina is a bit more expensive than other South American countries like Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia, but not quite as expensive as Brazil and Chile.  We spent $94/day in our nearly three months in Argentina.  But we were in Patagonia during high season, which skewed the numbers a bit.

It’s definitely possible to get by for much less, probably closer to $70/day for a couple, while still staying in private rooms with private baths.  Argentina is a massive country, so the budget can change from region to region.

When to Go/Weather

Climates vary from region to region.  Parts of the north are subtropical, while the southern tip is obviously cold, what with the glaciers and proximity to Antarctica.  December-February is high season in Patagonia, and that brings big crowds, the best weather (though best is relative when speaking of Patagonian weather), and the highest prices.

Travelers have many options when visiting Argentina, and because it’s such a big country with so much to offer, my suggestion is to prioritize and choose where you go and when based on what you want to do most.  If trekking in Patagonia is tops on your list and you want to be there in the best weather, then plan to go there sometime in December-February and plan the rest of your trip from there.

Transportation

As stated before, Argentina is a huge country.  If you’re crunched for time and want to cover a lot of ground, then you’re going to have to fly.  But if you aren’t in a hurry, then by all means take the bus.  Argentine buses are the best I’ve ever ridden in.  On one 26 hour bus ride (I know what you’re thinking–”NO WAY,” but hear me out), we were served a hot dinner, complete with wine.  Midway through the meal we were offered a wine refill, then we were served coffee and dessert.  I’m not done.  After dessert was cleared, an after dinner drink of champagne or whiskey was our option.  Are you kidding me?  While this wasn’t the norm, almost fully reclinable seats, hot meals, movies, and pure comfort were.  So if you’re going to endure a 24+ hour bus ride, Argentina is the country to do it in.

Once you get down into Patagonia, quality goes down and prices go up, particularly in high season, so plan accordingly.  Booking in advance in high season (Dec-Feb), especially in Patagonia and the Lake District, is also recommended.  Just one more note of interest for those who want to make their journey that much more serene, alcohol is allowed on the bus, so feel free to bring a few liters of Quilmes along with you.

As always with the country pages, click on any of the links on this page for more information, or check below for any posts having to do with Argentina and to get a more in depth description of each city/region, complete with hostel, restaurant, tour guide, and activity information.

• Getting Used to a New Culture-Our first day in Argentina
• Salta
• Cafayate
  • Quebrada de Cafayate (in pictures)
• Puerto Iguazu
  • Tips for visiting Iguazu Falls
  • Iguazu Falls picture post
• Eating your Way Around Argentina
• The Lowdown on Argentine Bus Travel
• Traveling Like Royalty in Argentina
• The Benefits of Slowing Down
• Buenos Aires
  • Buenos Aires Barrios
  • La Boca
  • La Boca (in pictures)
  • Recoleta Cemetary (in pictures)
  • Buenos Aires (in pictures)
  • A Respite from the Urban Chaos
• Patagonia
  • El Calafate
  • Perito Moreno Glacier
  • Perito Moreno Glacier (in pictures)
  • El Chalten
    • A Trekking Guide for El Chalten
    • Hiking Guide to Lago and Glacier Torre
    • Hiking Guide to Lago and Glacier Piedras Blancas
    • Hiking to Laguna de los Tres
  • El Chalten in Pictures
• Trelew
  • Walking with Penguins:  A Trip to Punta Tombo
  • Punta Tombo Picture and Video Post
• When a Destination Sucks:  A Trip to Gaiman
• The Lake District
  • Bariloche
    • Bariloche:  A Foodie’s Guide
    • 5 Reasons Why Hostel Pudu is the Best
  • El Bolson
  • Lake District Picture Post