Backpacking Argentina: our travel blog articles

During our world tour, we spent more than 2 months in Argentina, this incredible country known for its Buena Onda (good vibes). To prepare for your next trip, discover our practical guide with the ideal itinerary, our favorite spots, information on accommodations, transportation, and more. Hasta luego amigo :)

Map of our articles on Argentina

Find all our articles written about our trip to Argentina on the map below.

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When to visit Argentina?

With its 2.8 million km², Argentina is the 8th largest country in the world! More than 3,600 km separate the extreme north of the country from Tierra del Fuego. Due to its geography, there are several climates within the territory. Keep in mind that the seasons are reversed in Argentina!

Northeastern Argentina

The climate in northeastern Argentina is rather tropical: rainfall is abundant and temperatures are warm. During the austral summer, between October and March, humidity is constant and it gets very hot. To visit the famous Iguazú Falls, the best period is during winter, between April and September, to enjoy mild temperatures and relatively dry weather.

Northwestern Argentina

Northwestern Argentina includes the entire Salta region with the Andes Mountains to the west. The climate here is more extreme. Temperature differences between day and night are significant, and the weather is rather hot in summer. Be careful of the "altiplanic winter" which occurs between January and March. Rainfall can be torrential! The best time to visit Salta is between April and October, during the winter months.

Central Argentina

Central Argentina is divided into 2 climate zones.

To the west, the climate is largely influenced by the Andes Mountains, which block all humidity from the Pacific Ocean. In Mendoza, there is a semi-arid climate with very little precipitation throughout the year, and temperatures remain quite mild. Between October and March, as it's summer, it's warmer which is more pleasant, but otherwise, there's no better month to visit the province of Mendoza.

To the east, in the Buenos Aires region, rainfall is constant throughout the year, in both the dry and wet seasons. The climate is more temperate with a warmer summer. In short, the Argentine capital can be visited all year round!

Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego

A hostile land par excellence, Patagonia is swept by (very) strong winds and subject to heavy precipitation. In the Lake District near Bariloche, the best time to travel corresponds to the dry season between October and March. To enjoy the park with fewer travelers, prefer autumn between March and May.

Tierra del Fuego and the southern province of Santa Cruz also experience extreme weather conditions. Wind and precipitation are legion. We remember Torres del Paine National Park on the Chilean side, where we had all kinds of weather in a single day! The best time to visit Ushuaia, hike in El Chaltén, and see the Perito Moreno glacier corresponds to the months of December, January, and February.

Itineraries for a trip to Argentina

In total, we spent more than 2 months in Argentina. We traveled the country from north to south, crossing the border several times to explore Chile. Here are several itinerary ideas depending on the duration of your trip: 15 days, 1 month, and 2 months (ours!).

Argentina in 2 weeks

We won't say that visiting Argentina in 15 days is impossible; we'll say it's complicated! In terms of transportation but especially in terms of stops. Ideally, you'll have to choose one region to optimize your stay, otherwise, you risk spending time on planes connecting the different extremes of this huge country. We really recommend spending more time to be able to tour the country. We've divided this section into 2 parts: visiting the must-sees of northern Argentina in 15 days and the south for the same time period.

Northern Argentina in 15 days

• 3 days in Buenos Aires: visit the Argentinian capital and its many historical and cultural attractions (Montserrat and La Boca neighborhoods, El Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore, the presidential palace, tango show...).
• 2 days at the Iguazú Falls: South America's most famous waterfalls can easily be visited in 2 days. You can choose to visit only the Argentinian side (more interesting apparently) or the Brazilian side on the second day.
• 6-7 days on the northern and southern loops of Salta: set out to conquer the roads around Salta to discover breathtaking landscapes. We loved this area!

• 3 days in Mendoza: aaaah Mendoza! We stayed there for 1 month and fell in love with this city where life is good! Between its huge park, a very pleasant city center, its vineyards, and all the excursion possibilities, we bet you'll love it too!

Southern Argentina in 15 days

• 3 days in Buenos Aires: visit the Argentine capital and its many historical and cultural attractions (Montserrat and La Boca neighborhoods, El Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore, the presidential palace, tango show...).
• 3-7 days in San Carlos de Bariloche: if a visit to the "little Switzerland" of Argentina is a must, it's primarily for its surroundings! The Seven Lakes Route, the multiple hikes and treks... Allow 3 days to visit the area and 7 days if you're tempted by treks and hikes in Nahuel Huapi Park.

• 5 days in El Chaltén: impossible to mention Argentine Patagonia without mentioning El Chaltén, the paradise of treks and hikes! Walk to the foot of the magnificent Fitz Roy and discover incredible panoramas!
• 1 day facing the Perito Moreno glacier: located in Los Glaciares Park, the Perito Moreno Glacier is a must-see! A path runs along this immense block of ice for breathtaking views.

If Ushuaia is a mandatory stop for you and you wish to include it in your itinerary, you can substitute a few days in Bariloche and El Chaltén for 2-3 days in Tierra del Fuego.

Argentina in 1 month

This is the minimum duration to discover Argentina according to us! For a 1-month itinerary, we combined the northern and southern itineraries.

• 3 days in Buenos Aires
• 2 days at the Iguazú Falls
  
• 6-7 days around Salta
• 3 days in Mendoza

• 3-7 days in Bariloche
• 5 days in El Chaltén: 5 days on site is a minimum to enjoy it best. Weather conditions are very changeable, and it's better to have sunshine to see the peak of Fitz Roy!
• 1 day in El Calafate to visit Perito Moreno
• 3 days in Ushuïa and Tierra del Fuego: go hiking at the end of the world in Tierra del Fuego Park!

2-month trip to Argentina

Spending 2 months visiting Argentina is certainly a luxury! You can do almost anything! Here's the north-to-south itinerary we recommend.

• 4 days in Buenos Aires
• 1 day in Tigre: visit the Venice of Argentina by exploring its canals on foot or by boat for a nature break from the Argentinian capital.
• 2 days to visit Iguazú Falls
  
• 3 days in Iberá National Park: this park in northeastern Argentina is the perfect ground for observing wildlife in a unique environment. Several hiking trails crisscross different sections of the park.
• 6-7 days of a road trip around Salta
• 3 days in Villa Unión: explore Talampaya National Park for an immersion in a desert environment that would make the American West pale! It's also a good base for visiting the pretty Laguna Brava.

• 3 days in Córdoba
• 3 days in Mendoza
• 3-7 days in Bariloche
• 2 days on the Seven Lakes Route
• 5 days in Puerto Madryn: choosing means giving up. As we made quite a few trips back and forth between Chile and Argentina, we didn't go all the way to the eastern edge of Argentina, to Puerto Madryn, the Valdés Peninsula, and Punta Tombo. On the program for this stop: incredible marine fauna including whales and Magellanic penguins, as well as orcas, sea lions, and elephant seals.
• 7 days in El Chaltén
• 1 day in El Calafate to see the Perito Moreno Glacier
• 5 days around Ushuaïa in Tierra del Fuego Park
  

Itinerary for a trip through Chile and Argentina

Are you on a world tour? Then we can only advise you to alternate stops between Argentina and Chile! Border crossing is very easy, and visiting the neighboring country will prevent you from traveling too much. Here's the itinerary you can follow for 2 months:

• 5 days in Lauca and Sajama Parks: straddling the border between Chile and Bolivia, these 2 little-known parks are worth the detour! Whether you’re climbing the Parinacota Volcano, enjoying the breathtaking scenery, or admiring herds of alpacas, this region will leave you in awe.
• 4 days in Mendoza: we loved Mendoza and its sweet life! Strolling through the city center and San Martin Park, tasting the local wine, cooling off with a good ice cream... In short, we took a 1-month break here and can't recommend this stopover in Argentina enough!
• 7 days of a road trip around de Salta: Northern Argentina boasts colorful mountains, charming towns like Humahuaca, the stunning Salinas Grandes, and desert landscapes in Quebrada de las Flechas and Garganta del Diablo in the magnificent Quebrada de las Conchas canyon... There's so much to offer in northern Argentina for an unforgettable road trip!

• 4 days in Valparaíso
• 3 days in Santiago
• 5 days on Easter Island
• 3 days in Puerto Varas
• 5 days on Chiloé Island
  

• 5 days in Bariloche: we really enjoyed Argentina's Little Switzerland, between Llao-Llao Park, the Cerro Campanario summit and the Grey Refuge trail. Don't forget to rent a car to drive along the 7-lake route, which is a real beauty! And if you love hiking, head for Nahuel Huapi National Park.
• 3 days in El Chaltén: It's impossible to think of Argentina without mentioning the legendary Fitz Roy (one of the most breathtaking sunrises of my life!). This iconic peak is part of the renowned Los Glaciares National Park, which also features the spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier. In short, there's no shortage of activities from this charming village, including hikes to Lago de Los Tres, Laguna Torre, and Laguna Capri. If you're a hiking enthusiast, this is an unmissable destination!
• 2 days in El Calafate: The Perito Moreno Glacier is undoubtedly THE glacier of Patagonia. This icy giant leaves no one indifferent with its impressive size and dazzling colors.
• 5 or 9 days in Torres del Paine National Park

As a bonus or to replace one or two stops, you can continue to Tierra del Fuego in Ushuaia and then head back up to Buenos Aires before continuing your long journey.

Coming to Argentina: flights and plane tickets

There's a good chance you'll land in Buenos Aires, at Ezeiza International Airport. It's a good way to head up to Iguazú Falls before crossing the country from north to south. It's also the only airport accessible with a direct flight from Europe. For a round-trip flight from Paris, expect to pay 1000-1200 euros with a stopover.

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The cost of a trip to Argentina

Currency

The currency in Argentina is the Argentinian peso, abbreviated ARS and symbolized by $. The country has been going through an economic crisis for several years now, and unfortunately, the Argentine peso isn't worth much today... Before we detail our budget, check the exchange rate before leaving.

The Blue Dollar

It's impossible to talk about a travel budget for Argentina without mentioning the famous Blue Dollar. But what is this blue dollar doing in the land of the Argentinian peso?

Let's go back to the country's economic context to understand the existence of this dólar blue. You know, Argentina has been suffering the full brunt of the economic crisis for more than 10 years now... Even if it would be unkind of us to rejoice for Argentinians, we won't hide from you that for us, it was a windfall! The Argentine peso devalues a little more each day, and inflation in the country is soaring... In short, Argentinians no longer have confidence in their currency, and we understand them!

People were therefore actively looking for a more stable safe-haven currency, and the dollar (or even the euro) became the currency to invest in! To such an extent that the black market for dollars exploded a few years ago!

As a result, you have on one hand the official exchange rate, that is set by banks. On the other hand, you have the unofficial exchange rate or Blue Dollar, more advantageous than the official one, obtained on the black market.

Today, it's much less interesting than it was 10 years ago. To give you an example, during our trip, the official rate was 1 US dollar = 8 Argentinian pesos and the unofficial rate was 1 US dollar for a range between 14 and 15.4 Argentinian pesos, which is a rate 75-80% higher than the market! At the time of writing, the official rate is even better than the black market (1 dollar = 1040 pesos versus 1020). Check before your departure anyway, you could save some money depending on market fluctuations!

Example: we withdrew the equivalent of 800 euros from an ATM in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile and went to exchange all of it for dollars (in Chile, finding dollars legally is no problem, and the rate is very reasonable). In short, it's with dollars that we crossed the border, and once in Salta, we went to exchange all of it in the street. Basically, we arrived in a parking lot with the equivalent of 800 euros in dollars, exchanged our money for pesos, and left immediately with the equivalent of a little more than 1400 euros! Or if you prefer, at the official rate, we would have an Argentine budget of roughly 720 pesos per day for 2 people, but thanks to the unofficial exchange, our budget increased to 1250 pesos!

If the rates are interesting, don't hesitate to ask your hostel for advice on where to exchange your currency, often it happens in cuevas. It's certainly a black market, but it's still very official. To tell you, we even exchanged once in a bank, in the banker's private office!

If you have a Visa or Mastercard, consider checking the MEP rate (check the current rate on this site), it will be applied during your transaction. It's often close to the Blue Dollar, which prevents you from carrying too much cash. Card payments are well accepted throughout the country, but keep some cash on you, especially for small businesses away from large cities.

Tip: to limit bank fees, make sure your bank doesn't charge you fees for a withdrawal abroad, or subscribe to an online bank like N26.

Total budget

As you'll understand, backpacking in Argentina is not cheap, unlike its neighboring country, Chile! Parks have established entrance fees, visits are quite expensive, and transportation has also increased. In short, to enjoy this magnificent country, you have to dig into your wallet...

For 2 and a half months in Argentina, we spent a total of 4896 euros, or 68 euros per day for 2, which gives a daily budget of 34 euros per person. We're not giving you the total in pesos given that the rate has changed a lot. Nevertheless, if you're careful with your budget, this is the minimum amount to keep in mind when preparing your trip to Argentina. If you plan to treat yourself, aim for an average daily budget of 55 euros per person.

What visa to visit Argentina?

Good news if you're a French, Belgian, Swiss, or Canadian citizen: for any stay less than 3 months, you are exempt from a visa! To extend your stay, you must leave the country and enter again or go to the immigration office in Buenos Aires, at least 10 days before the end of your exemption. You just need to present your passport and pay 20-30 euros for the authorities to authorize you to stay on Argentine territory for an additional 3 months.

Vaccines needed to enter Argentina

There are no mandatory vaccines to be done before traveling through Argentina. However, the Pasteur Institute advises doing some vaccines as a precaution:

• hepatitis A and B;
• yellow fever, especially in the north of the country;
• typhoid fever;
• rabies.

Find more health-related advice for Argentina on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Festivities in Argentina

Before establishing your itinerary, take a look at the different festivals that take place throughout the year. It's a unique opportunity to experience a cultural event with locals!

• February-March: passing through Iguazú Falls, don't miss the Corrientes carnival, one of the most beautiful carnivals in Argentina! If the northeast is not planned in your itinerary, then pass by the Humahuaca carnival, north of Salta, to experience a colorful experience!
• March: the Mendoza region is famous for its excellent wines, and during the Fiesta de la Vendimia (harvest festival), Argentinians celebrate the famous nectar through music, shows, gastronomy, tango... This festival dedicated to wine is one of the largest in South America. In short, not to be missed!

• August-September: place to tango, an emblematic dance so dear to Argentines! The World Tango Championship takes place in Buenos Aires, the cradle of this art inscribed on UNESCO's intangible heritage. The greatest champions from around the world compete during 13 frenzied days.
• November: to learn more about gauchos, the guardians of large cattle herds in the pampas, head to the Fiesta de la Tradición, in San Antonio de Areco, near Buenos Aires. The traditional festival honors these South American cowboys who play an important role in Argentine cultural identity. On the program: parades, dances, shows, campfires, asados...

Typical Argentinian food

Argentina is a culturally rich country, but it doesn't lag in terms of cuisine! Here's a brief overview of the typical dishes you'll definitely taste during your trip.

Maté

Impossible to mention Argentina without mentioning maté. You'll meet many Argentines with a funny cup in hand. Their gourd contains yerba maté leaves, a South American holly, which is infused before drinking the whole with a bombilla, the filtering straw. Its bitter taste confuses more than one, be warned!

Wine

What better than a good glass of wine to accompany an asado or a parrilla?! Argentinian wine is renowned throughout the world, and the Mendoza region is ideal for tasting the famous nectars. Don't miss doing a wine tasting during your trip!

Empanadas

Empanadas are an integral part of the Argentinian culinary landscape. These small stuffed turnovers with meat, vegetables, or cheese, are enjoyed at any time of day! You'll find all kinds of them in all corners of the country.

Choripán

It's the Argentinian version of the Chilean completo or the hot dog with a South American sauce. Here, the sausage is replaced by chorizo, and it's served in a piece of bread with chimichurri, the quintessential Argentine sauce based on herbs. You'll find choripán almost everywhere; it's a popular street food dish in the country.

Asado

Backpacking in Argentina is the assurance of tasting one of the best meats of your life, if not the best! Asado is an art here and it's synonymous with conviviality. In restaurants, you'll find it under another name, parrilla.

Dulce de leche

Dulce de leche is to Argentinians what peanut butter is to Americans. This milk jam is deliciously caramelized and you'll be hooked in no time! Used at every opportunity, it's enjoyed alone or becomes the base of many desserts.

Alfajores

Alfajores are cookies that Argentinians love. They most often consist of 2 shortbread cookies stuck together with dulce de leche and coated with chocolate or coconut.

Ice cream

As a result of Italian immigration, ice cream has become an important element in Argentine culinary culture. You'll find excellent ice cream shops (heladerias) throughout the country. We still have fond memories of the ice creams in Mendoza.

Practical information and resources for traveling to Argentina

Time difference

There are 4 hours less between France and Argentina, or even 5 hours when we switch to summer time in Europe.

Official language

The official language of Argentina is Spanish. Before leaving, try to learn some basic notions; it's always appreciated by locals!

Power outlet

Power outlets in Argentina are type C and I. Type C outlets are the same as in Europe, but for I, you'll need a universal adapter.

Internet

To find your way, get a translation, and make reservations, you can easily use the Wi-Fi of hotels, restaurants, cafes...

Readings before leaving for Argentina

Before traveling to Argentina, we recommend this book:

• the Lonely Planet, a must-have for planning your trip.