Argentina is one of the most visited countries in South America, and it is easy to understand why: the country is home to vibrant cities and serene wildernesses, magnificent waterfalls and towering mountains, as well as wetlands that are home to a variety of wildlife, magnificent architecture, a vibrant culture, and world-famous steakhouses.
Argentina is a large country with a total length of 3800 km (2360 miles), so there is a lot of ground to cover. It is the complete South American experience.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is home to sultry tango bars, boisterous football games, lovely barrios (neighborhoods), ancient cemeteries, top-notch museums, and a vibrant nightlife. It has everything you could possibly want from a large city experience.
The Argentine capital is, above all, a great place to eat out. Its parrillas (steakhouses), including Don Julio, which 50 greatest rated the greatest restaurant in Latin America in 2020, serve what may be the world’s best beef. Additionally, there are a ton of international restaurants selling everything from Peruvian to Armenian food, plus an ice cream shop on almost every block.
Due to the size of Buenos Aires, it is advantageous to stay close to the regions you intend to see. Recoleta, Retiro, Palermo, and San Telmo each have a unique combination of attractions, dining options, and local flavor.
The Pampas
The Pampas, or flat, fertile grasslands that make up much of central Argentina, are famed for their cattle industry and gaucho (cowboy) culture. The village of San Antonio de Areco offers a glimpse into rural life with its museum and yearly Dia de la Tradición celebration.
Spend a few nights at one of the several estancias (ranches) dispersed around the area, which provide horseback riding, polo lessons, and conventional asados (barbecues), to get the most out of a trip to the Pampas.
Iguazú Falls
One of the greatest natural wonders in the world is this magnificent chain of waterfalls, which extends over 3 kilometers (1.85 miles) and is surrounded by subtropical rainforests. It is shared by Argentina and Brazil.
Visitors may get a close-up view of the more than 250 cascades and cataracts in the nearby national park thanks to its extensive network of trails, walkways, and bridges. The attraction’s focal point is the Garganta del Diablo (“Devil’s Throat”), a seething mass of white water that erupts in a deafening scream and shoots up enormous clouds of spray.
Parque Nacional Iberá
More than 360 species of birds live in the hot, humid marshes of this recently established national park in northern Argentina, including kingfishers, jabiru storks, and roseate spoonbills.
The reserve, often known as the “Argentine Pantanal,” is undertaking a significant rewilding process that includes the introduction of rare or threatened species like red-shouldered macaws. The ideal way to explore its reed-lined waterways and lagoons is by boat, from which tourists may also expect to see a variety of species and reptiles, including caimans and capybaras, the largest rodent in the world.
Iberá National Park is best explored by boat. The major entrance to the park, the settlement of Colonia Carlos Pellegrini, makes it simple to organize guided boat and kayak expeditions.
Also, Read 9 Top destinations to visit in Norway
Salta
This picturesque city is known as “Salta la Linda” (“Salta the Beautiful”) and is located in the far northwest of Argentina, close to the borders with Chile and Bolivia. Salta is a city full of historic palaces, churches, government buildings, and plazas, some of which date back to the city’s founding in 1582.
Salta is located on the edge of the Lerma Valley, surrounded by mountains. Additionally, it has a rich cultural landscape that includes both atmospheric folk-music venues called peas and top-notch museums and galleries like the Museo de Arqueologa de Alta Monta, which investigates Inca culture and the practice of human sacrifice.
Mendoza province
Argentina is the fifth-largest wine producer in the world, with Mendoza province serving as its hub. The country’s midwest, near the Andes, is covered in vineyards and wineries, many of which provided guided tours, tastings, lodging, and even the opportunity to assist with the harvest.
While Mendoza is well known for its Malbec, the province also makes a ton of other delectable wines, including reds, whites, and rosés.
Try to schedule your trip to take place between February and April, when the grape harvest occurs. The greatest event in Mendoza, the famed Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia wine festival, takes place in March, and lodging will be in high demand.
The Argentinian Lake District
It is simple to understand why Argentina’s Lake District is a popular destination for tourists given the region’s glistening bodies of water, emerald-green woods, and soaring mountains and volcanoes covered in snow.
The charming lakeside city of Bariloche serves as the entry point to this lush region, which is located in Patagonia’s northwest. In the nearby Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, you can choose from a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, and skiing.
Bariloche transforms into Argentina’s top ski destination in the winter, which corresponds to the northern hemisphere summer. The resorts in the area are busy, but the powder is some of the best in the world.
Cueva de los Manos Pintados
The Cave of the Painted Hands is a mysterious site with a mysterious collection of rock art made between 13,000 and 9500 years ago, hidden in a lonely canyon surrounded by the Patagonian grassland. The 800 or more stenciled human hand forms that cover the walls gave this Unesco World Heritage Site its name.
Their function is still a fascinating enigma, whether they are red, white, black, or ochre in color. Along with depictions of hunting, there are also pictures of pumas, guanacos (a wild related to the llama), and rheas. From the communities of Perito Moreno and Posadas, guided tours are available.
Península Valdés
Life abounds in the chilly seas off Peninsula Valdés, a protrusion of northeastern Patagonia into the Atlantic. They are also home to elephant seals, sea lions, and orcas, as well as more than 180 different species of birds. They are a breeding area for endangered southern right whales, which arrive in their hundreds between mid-June and mid-December.
This Unesco World Heritage Site may be reached from the town of Puerto Madryn and provides a range of boat, kayaking, and diving activities, however marine life is frequently visible from the shore. The largest colony of Magellanic penguins in South America is found at Punta Tombo, 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of Puerto Madryn.
Ushuaia
It is said on a well-known sign in Ushuaia that this is the “Fin del Mundo”—the actual end of the earth. More than 3000 kilometers (1865 miles) south of Buenos Aires, on the shore of the Beagle Channel, is where Tierra del Fuego, Argentina’s remote capital.
It serves as the entryway to the untamed Tierra del Fuego National Park, the world’s most southern railway line, various winter sports facilities, and the departure point for cruises to Antarctica, which is just 1000 kilometers (620 miles) away.
