Argentina - the land of gauchos, fine wine, tango and glaciers, to name just a few. South America's second largest country packs a lot in. From the high Andes to the wilds of Patagonia & the sprawling Pampas, this is a country which will find it's way into your heart & have you returning year after year. One visit is simply not enough to experience the diverse landscapes, wildlife, culture and cosmopolitan cities.
Geography
Stretching its way 2360 miles from the subtropical north where you'll find the incredible Iguazú Falls, to the most southerly city in the world, Ushuaia - the jumping off point for visits to the white continent of Antarctica. At it's widest point the country is 880 miles from the high Andes in the west, bordering with Chile, to the Atlantic on the east, where you'll find whales making their home.
Climate
Because of it's size & geography, Argentina is perfect to visit year round - with something different for each season. Patagonia and the south is really only accessible in our winter months, from October to April, outside of this time most of the hotels will be closed due to the extreme weather. The north is lovely year round, though will be at it's hottest Dec to Feb. The Lake District, with the picture-perfect town of Bariloche is stunning in the spring time, think bright blue skies to match the bright blue lakes. If you're visiting close to winter, you can also strap on a pair of skis and hit the slopes.
My favourite time to visit is the shoulder season to avoid the crowds is either early spring time in October or the autumn in April to May.
Wildlife
Argentina is home to all sorts of incredible wildlife. In the north you will find large cats such as jaguar & ocelot, alongside toucans, flamingos, coaties, and caiman.
The protected Iberá Wetlands in the north are an ideal birding destination with over 300 species. For me the sightings of capybaras (like a giant guinea pig) and caiman are a huge highlight. Nearby Iguazú Falls are a haven for wildlife, where you'll meet the curious coatis (like a racoon), you might find tapirs and giant anteaters, even howler monkeys, the elusive jaguar and birds such as toucan and macaws.
In Patagonia, there's rising numbers of puma, so you may be lucky enough to spot them. You'll find guanaco & vicuña grazing on the plains (a wild relative of the llama), huge condors soar overhead.
Off the coast at the Valdés Peninsula, you'll find many whale and orca call this home. Southern Right Whales visit from June to November & Orca from November to April. In this area, you'll find Magellanic penguin colonies from November to April. If you're in this area, you should also pay a visit to a Welsh tea room for cakes and tea and to learn about the Welsh history in this region, which is fascinating.
Landscapes
The Perito Moreno Glacier (pictured below), in Los Glaciares National park, is one of Patagonia's most popular attractions. At around 74m high, it is colossal, visitors can view it from a boardwalk or by boat. Up until 2020 the glacier was considered stable, but recent analysis has found a noticeable retreat from 2018 until 2023, showing signs of climate change. The closest town is El Calafate, which is a lovely place to spend a few nights, from here you can head out for horse riding or biking. I'd recommend spending a few nights in the frontier town of El Chalten, the perfect spot for hiking, riding and ice climbing and very close to El Calafate.
Argentina is home to some interestingly colourful mountain ranges, Purmamarca's Cerro de los Siete Colores (hill of 7 colours) can be found in northern Argentina in Jujuy Province. This could be visited from the lovely city of Salta, one of my firm favourites. Whilst here, check out Salta Rafting for grade 2 and 3 rapids with great guides. It's many years since I visited, but we used to be accompanied by their beautiful golden retriever (complete with life vest).
The mighty Iguazu Falls, a horseshoe of up to 200 waterfalls, 80m high are set within the Iguazu national park. They should be viewed from both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides with fully appreciate them and be sure to give yourself plenty of time, especially in Argentina as there are loads of great walking trails to explore.
Culture
For culture seekers, Argentina is a wonder - watch tango in the markets of San Telmo or in a beautiful club, catch the Boca Juniors play football, wander the brightly painted streets of La Boca. You can head out into the wilds and explore the wine regions or stay on a traditional estancia.
I would highly recommend staying at least a few days at Estancia Los Potreros for a real taste of country life. You can ride out on the beautifully mannered horses, the Peruvian Paso horses with their unique gait are silky soft to ride & almost regal in stature, whilst the sure-footed and strong criollos are perfect for taking care of the cattle, playing polo and gaucho games (me pictured below, having fun with Tractor). You can even try your hand at polo. Other activities include wine tasting, bird watching, we even tried our hand at making empanadas.
Let's talk food. Argentina's national dish is asado, which is a selection of grilled meat and of course the country is well known for its Malbec wines and steak. The go-to snack is an empanada, these tasty treats can be found all over in bakeries & cafes, they are similar to a pasty with less pastry and filled with cheese, meat, well anything really. If you have a sweet tooth, try the Dulce de Leche - it is delicious.
I'm a vegetarian, so of course most of the above I wouldn't eat, however I was always well looked after, with fresh pasta, stuffed vegetables cooked on the BBQ, fresh breads and cakes. Food is big in Argentina and you'll find everything from relaxed cafes to high end restaurants serving a wide variety of local & international cuisine .
Good to know (UK info)
Flights: You can fly direct from London to Buenos Aires in under 14 hours.
Getting around: From Buenos Aires you can catch buses or self-drive. Due to the huge distances involved, you may also wish to use internal flights.
I would highly recommend self drive or overland transport in Patagonia and in the Lake District. This is the land of epic roadtrips! It's also really cool to watch the landscapes change, one of my favourite journeys is the few days from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls, just seeing how everything changes is captivating.
Time zone: GMT - 3
Currency: Argentina Peso (ARS)
Language: Spanish and several indigenous languages such as Quechua & even a little Welsh in Patagonia!
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay and you don't need a visa if you're a tourist staying up to 3 months.
Always check the FCDO advice before travelling to check the latest government travel advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina/entry-requirements
For medical information head over to Travel Health Pro: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/11/argentina
For a tailormade tour of Argentina, please do get in touch.
01728 850024
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