Argentina
"Tango nights, Andean vineyards, and glaciers at the end of the road"
Argentina runs from subtropical waterfalls to Antarctic-facing glaciers, and every stretch feels like a different country. Buenos Aires alone justifies the flight — grand boulevards, late dinners, milongas that start at midnight — but the Andes, Patagonia and the Iguazú falls are what turn a trip into an expedition.
Best Time to Visit
October to April for Patagonia, March to May and September to November for Buenos Aires
Dec – Feb (Summer)
Patagonia's peak: long days, open trails, but book El Chaltén and Calafate early.
Mar – May (Autumn)
Mendoza's grape harvest, golden Patagonian forests, pleasant Buenos Aires.
Jun – Aug (Winter)
Ski season in Bariloche; the far south largely shuts down.
Sep – Nov (Spring)
Jacarandas in the capital, wildlife season on the Valdés Peninsula.
Getting Around
A very large country: fly for the long hauls, take long-distance buses for everything else.
✈️ Domestic Flights
Essential for Patagonia and Iguazú. Aerolíneas Argentinas has the widest network.
🚌 Long-Distance Buses
Cama and semi-cama seats recline nearly flat; overnight routes save a hotel night.
🚇 Subte & Colectivos
Buenos Aires' metro and buses are cheap; you'll need a SUBE card.
🚗 Rental Car
The way to do Ruta 40, the Lake District and Mendoza's wine roads.
💡 Carry cash and check exchange rates before you go — payment rules for foreign cards change often.
Suggested Itineraries
Arrive Buenos Aires
Settle in Palermo, evening parrilla and Malbec.
Historic Centre
Casa Rosada, Cabildo, Colón Theatre tour, Recoleta.
San Telmo & La Boca
Antique market, street tango, football stadium tour.
Fly to Iguazú
Afternoon on the Argentine side's lower circuit.
Devil's Throat
Upper circuit and Garganta del Diablo, boat under the falls.
Back to the Capital
Fly back, Palermo Soho shopping, farewell milonga.
Departure
Sunday San Telmo fair if the timing works, then Ezeiza.
🌱 Psst — you don't have to do it all. The best souvenirs are slow mornings and one unplanned detour you'll still be talking about years later.
Highlights
Must See
- Buenos Aires barrios
- Perito Moreno glacier
- Iguazú Falls
- Mendoza vineyards
Local Cuisine
Insider Tip
Distances are enormous — internal flights save days, and overnight buses are genuinely comfortable in cama class.
More sparks for Argentina
Stories, films and books to keep the daydreaming going.
In Patagonia
by Bruce Chatwin · Patagonia, Argentina & Chile