Argentina travel guide: when to go, where to go and how to plan it together

November 8, 2026 · 8 min read

Argentina is long. It runs from the subtropical jungle at its northern border to the cold, windy islands at the bottom of the world,. What you see depends on how much of that you choose to cover: tango and steak in the capital, red-rock canyons in the north-west, vineyards beneath the Andes, enormous waterfalls, and glaciers and granite peaks in Patagonia.

Dinner starts at ten, friends gather around a table for hours, and a shared gourd of mate is passed around parks. This guide covers when to go, where to go, a fourteen-day route built on a few flights, and what changes when you are planning it with friends.

Capital: Buenos Aires
Currency: Argentine peso ($)
Languages: Spanish
Plugs: Type C and I, 220 V
Driving: On the right
Time zone: UTC-3, no daylight saving
Best time to go: October to November and March to April
Daily budget: About US$90–180 a person a day, mid-range, 2026

When to go

Argentina is in the southern hemisphere, so the seasons are reversed: summer is December to February.

Spring (September to November) is a lovely time for Buenos Aires, with jacaranda trees in flower in October and November and mild days. It is good for Mendoza and the north-west, and in Patagonia it is still cold and windy early on. Summer (December to February) is the season for Patagonia: long days, trekking at El Chaltén in Los Glaciares National Park, and the best weather for the glaciers. It is also the busiest and most expensive time, with Argentine school holidays in January and February. Buenos Aires is hot and humid, and many residents leave in January, so some places shut for a while. The north, including Iguazú, is hot and wet.

Autumn (March to May) is among the best seasons. The grape harvest happens in Mendoza in February and March, the leaves change colour in the Lake District and Patagonia in April, and crowds thin out. The north-west is dry and clear.

Winter (June to August) is the season for skiing around Bariloche and Las Leñas. Buenos Aires is cool, not freezing. Patagonia is cold and many trails and lodges close. The north-west is dry, sunny and cold at night, and the north is at its most comfortable. Southern right whales visit the Valdés Peninsula from about June to December, so winter is also a good time for that side trip.

Holidays to know: Easter week and the winter break in July are busy for domestic travel. Carnival, in February or March, is celebrated in the north-west with water, flour and parades.

Where to go

Buenos Aires

A big, handsome, European-looking city with barrios that each feel different: the cafés and bookshops of Recoleta, the cobbled lanes and street art of San Telmo, the tree-lined streets and bars of Palermo, the colourful houses of La Boca. See a tango show, visit a local football match if you can, and stay out late. Four days. For a day-by-day plan, see the 3-day Buenos Aires itinerary.

Iguazú Falls

Hundreds of waterfalls spread across the border with Brazil, set in the subtropical forest. The Argentine side has long walkways that go right to the water and the huge Garganta del Diablo, the Devil's Throat. Two days lets you see the park and, if you wish, the Brazilian side. Fly from Buenos Aires, about 1 hour 45 minutes.

Mendoza

The wine capital of Argentina, in the foothills of the Andes, famed for its Malbec. Visit wineries in Luján de Cuyo or the Uco Valley, cycle between cellars and look up at Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside Asia. Three days.

Salta and Jujuy

In the north-west, a landscape of red canyons, cacti and high-desert salt flats, with colonial towns such as Salta and villages on the Quebrada de Humahuaca, which is a World Heritage site. Roads climb above 4,000 metres, so allow time to adjust. Four to five days, best with a car or a small group tour.

Bariloche and the Lake District

Lakes, forests and snowy peaks in northern Patagonia, with the Seven Lakes road, cycling and chocolate shops. Skiing in winter, hiking in summer. Three days.

El Calafate and the Perito Moreno Glacier

A huge glacier that can be seen from walkways opposite its face, and sometimes heard cracking. El Calafate is the base. Two nights.

El Chaltén

The trekking capital of Argentina, at the foot of Fitz Roy. The day walks start from the village itself and lead to some of the best mountain views in South America. Two or three nights, with a spare day in case the weather closes in.

Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego

The southernmost city in the world, with boat trips on the Beagle Channel to see sea lions and penguins, and a national park of forests and coast. It is a long way, so it suits a longer trip.

A 14-day itinerary

Days 1–4: Buenos Aires. Arrive, rest, and walk a different barrio each day. Book a tango show and dinner, and see the Recoleta Cemetery.

Days 5–7: Iguazú. Fly from Buenos Aires, about 1 hour 45 minutes. Walk the Argentine side early, before the crowds, and the Brazilian side the next day if you want a wider view.

Days 8–10: Mendoza. Fly via Buenos Aires. Spend a day at wineries, one cycling or hiking, and one resting.

Days 11–14: El Calafate and El Chaltén. Fly via Buenos Aires; the leg to El Calafate takes about 3 hours. See the Perito Moreno Glacier, then take the bus to El Chaltén, about 3 hours, for a night and a day walk. Fly out from El Calafate.

With more time, add Salta, the Lake District or the whale season on the Valdés Peninsula. If you have only a week, choose Buenos Aires plus one region.

Getting around

Argentina is big, and domestic flights are the way to cover it. Most flights go through Buenos Aires, so a trip from Iguazú to Mendoza may have a connection. Book early for Patagonia in summer, and check baggage rules on each airline.

Long-distance buses are the other pillar of travel. The coche cama sleeper classes have wide, flat seats and meals, and routes cover the whole country. They are an excellent way to travel overnight, though journeys of 12 to 20 hours are common.

In Buenos Aires, the subte (metro), buses and ride-hailing all work, and taxis are cheap. In cities, ride-hailing apps are easier than hailing a cab on the street.

Driving is the best way to see Salta and Jujuy, Patagonia and the wine regions. Distances are long, fuel stations are far apart in the south, and gravel roads are common. Read our guide to renting a car abroad before you go.

Money and costs

Argentina's money rules have changed a number of times in recent years, and the way visitors pay and exchange currency has too. Before you go, check how foreign cards are working and what your bank advises, and carry some cash as a backup. Cards are accepted in most cities, but small towns, markets and some buses want cash. For the general principles, see our guide to how to pay abroad.

Restaurants usually expect a tip of around 10% for good service if it is not included. Tip tour guides and hotel porters a small amount.

Food is a highlight and good value: steak, empanadas, pasta, pizza, dulce de leche and alfajores. Wine, even good wine, is cheap compared with Europe. Patagonia is more expensive than the rest of the country, both for lodging and for food, and it is the part of the trip where prices rise.

Rough daily costs a person, in 2026:

Budget: about US$45–85, with hostels, simple meals and buses.
Mid-range: about US$90–180, with hotels, restaurant dinners and several flights.
Comfortable: US$250 and up, with boutique hotels, wine estate stays and private guides.

Planning Argentina as a group

Argentina suits groups: big dinners, shared barbecues, wine days and houses with grills are the heart of local life. The planning challenge is the distance.

Choose the flights first. Domestic flights are the biggest decision and the one that locks in dates. Book them as soon as the group agrees on regions, and make sure all of you are on the same flights.

Late dinners. Restaurants fill from nine at night. A table for eight on a weekend needs booking, and many of the best parillas (grill restaurants) take reservations only for a set time.

Stays. Apartments in Buenos Aires and cabins in the Lake District or El Chaltén suit groups of four to eight and often come with a kitchen. Our guide to splitting a villa fairly applies just as well to a cabin.

Wine days. In Mendoza, hire one driver or tour for the group rather than letting someone drive between tastings.

Costs. One person pays for the cabin, one for the wine tour, one for the dinner. Log every cost in pesos or dollars when it happens, so you can settle at the end in a few payments.

Before you go

Entry rules: check the official government site of Argentina and your own government's travel advice before you book, as requirements depend on your passport.
Travel insurance that covers medical costs, hiking and cancellations.
Connectivity: an eSIM or a local SIM works in towns and cities, with gaps in Patagonia and the Andes.
A plug adapter for Type C or I at 220 V. Type I has flat pins, so a European round-pin adapter will not fit.
Health: ask a travel clinic about vaccines, particularly if you are visiting the north. Bring sun protection, as the sun is strong in the Andes and at high latitudes.
Customs: greet with a kiss on the cheek, share mate if it is offered, and expect to eat late. Argentine Spanish has its own accent and the word vos for "you", which people will forgive you for not using.

What to pack

Layers are the rule, especially in Patagonia, where four seasons can pass in a day. Bring a windproof and waterproof jacket, a warm fleece, a hat and gloves, and walking boots. A sun hat and sunscreen are needed even in cool weather.

For Buenos Aires, smart casual clothes for evenings, since people dress up to go out. For Iguazú, light clothes, a rain poncho and insect repellent. Our hiking trip packing list covers the trekking basics.