By Admin | Last Updated August 31, 2019
Argentina in South America is the world’s 8th largest country by area. It covers most of the southern part of the continent. Argentina has borders with Chile to the west, Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil on the northeast and Uruguay to the east. It is a fascinating country to visit. 5,559,000 international tourists visited Argentina in 2016, and this went up to 5,922,000 in 2017. Tourism contributed USD 52.5 billion to the countries revenue in 2017.
A top draw, Argentina is one of the most visited countries in the continent. You will find everything here. Big cities, a stunning coastline, unique culture and food, iconic landmarks, plains, tundra, desert, mountains, waterfalls, islands, and forests. A visit to the country is sure to be an intense experience.
From the snow capped Andes Mountains, to the tranquil coastline, the rugged beauty of Patagonia, to the Iguaza Falls, San Telmo’s cobblestoned streets, Mendoza’s wine country, and a little bit of tango, Argentina is always a fascinating country to visit. It is the perfect mix of sophistication and wilderness. Buenos Aires, the capital city, is often referred to as the ‘Paris of South America’.
Go north to Salta to see the scorched mountains and stunning rock formations. You will find the famous white wine here. Go west to Mendoza to the foothills of the Andes Mountains for skiing vacations and more wine. South is Patagonia, where you will find jagged peaks, lakes, and miles of wide empty spaces. See the penguins at Punta Tombo, the spectacular Iguaza Falls in the country’s borders with Brazil, and the farmhouses and Jesuit chapels of Cordoba.
Buenos Aires | Lovingly called ‘Paris of South America’, Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina. It is one of the largest cities in the continent. See the boulevards like Paris, impressive monuments, and architectural wonders. There are also many nightclubs, restaurants, and bars. |
El Calafate | A city in Patagonia, it is south of Lake Argentino. Calafate is the gateway to the Los Glaciares National Park. |
Ushuaia | The capital of Tierra del Fuego, it is the world’s southern-most city. An industrial hub with many tourist interests. |
El Chalten | A small mountain village in the province of Santa Cruz. Popular as a hiking destination. Choose from many hiking trails, glacier lakes and mountains – trekking capital of the country. |
Iguazu | Bordering Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, the Iguazu waterfall is mighty and scenic. It is twice as wide as the Niagara Falls. Spreading over 3 countries, together, it is the world’s biggest water fall system. |
Valdes Peninsula | A nature reserve, UNESCO World Heritage site. A huge variety of flora and fauna here. |
San Carlos de Bariloche | A city province in Rio Negro, within a national park. There is skiing, mountaineering and trekking. |
Mendoza | Stopover while visiting the Aconcagua Mountains. City with charming streets. It is in some of the best wine growing regions. Foothills of the Andes, where there is skiing. |
Quebrada de Humahuaca | A narrow mountain range in the province of Jujuy, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2003. |
Parque Nacional Talampaya | In the La Rioja province. UNESCO World Heritage site with important archaeological and paleontological sites. |
Most tourists take the flight and arrive at Buenos Aires. Ezeiza International Airport is 20 miles or 35 kilometers from the capital city. It is connected to all major cities in the Americas and many cities in Europe and elsewhere in the world. Aeroparque Jorge Newbery is the domestic and smaller airport in the city.
You can also fly into Ministro Pistarini, which is the country’s largest international airport. It is also close to Buenos Aires.
There are regular domestic flights to Rosario, Mendoza, Córdoba and other cities. The transportation infrastructure is advanced. You will find buses, trains, and even boat service. Argentina railways have a network of 47,000 kilometers.
If you have a passport of these countries, you do not need a tourist visa to visit Argentina –
Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Barbados, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Colombia, Croatia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Finland, France, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Greece, Haiti, Hong Kong, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Japan, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Nicaragua, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Panama, Philippines, Peru, Poland, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Russia, San Marino, Saint Lucia, Serbia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Slovakia, Slovenia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Uruguay, United States, Vatican City and Venezuela.
Month | Temperature ( Max / Min ) Celsius | Rainfall ( Days ) |
January | 33.9 / 19.2 | 9 |
February | 32.6 / 18.1 | 8 |
March | 29.9 / 16.4 | 9 |
April | 25.3 / 11.8 | 10 |
May | 22.6 / 9.7 | 7 |
June | 19.1 / 7.6 | 9 |
July | 19.7 / 5.8 | 8 |
August | 22.3 / 7 | 8 |
September | 24.6 / 9.5 | 8 |
October | 27.2 / 12.8 | 11 |
November | 30.6 / 15.5 | 10 |
December | 33.1 / 17.69 | 9 |
The best time to visit Argentina depends on where you are going, as it is a big country with different climate zones.
Argentina is big, which means, travel costs will be higher. Plus, it is not particularly a cheap country. In Patagonia, it will be even more difficult to stay on a budget.
But you can still save money with a few tips –
Accommodation – Save money by staying at cheap hostels. The accommodation will be more expensive in Patagonia. Hostels can cost $17 USD here, while elsewhere it is around $6 USD. You will also find many camping opportunities. Some hostels allow tourists to pitch up their tents.
Transport – This is where you may have to spend the most money because of the country’s size. Airfare is expensive because there is a tax on non-citizens. A2-hour flight may cost $200 USD. Take the bus wherever possible unless you are rushing.
Hitchhike – This is very common, especially in Patagonia. Many locals and tourists hitchhike and long-distance buses are expensive and not very frequent. But it is not that common in the north.
Food – Eat like the locals. Always look for cheap places for food. You will find many sausage on bread stands, pizza and burger stalls. It may not be the healthiest, but the food is tasty and cheap. Eat at the roadside and you will save a lot of money. For drinks, it is best to buy wine. Beer will be expensive.
Bike Rental – You can also rent a bike for transport. You will find many rental shops in the big cities. Many hostels will also rent out for $10 USD a day. Bike rental is particularly good in the wine country of Mendoza. You can easily visit different wineries on your bike.
Tango – Go to San Telmo in Buenos Aires. Free tango events are held here on Sundays at 8 PM. The renowned La Bomba de Tiempo dance and music event is on Monday. It costs only $6 USD.