Guide to travel to Argentina: What to do and Where to Go

Some Memories from my Trip

My Adventures in Argentina

Argentina always ranks amongst the best Countries in most of my Countries World Maps Comparisons, and for a reason! It is a wonderful country both in terms of beauty and culture which distinguishes itself from other American countries by providing unique assets. Its culture is definitely a highlight. Argentina’s European feel makes it one of the most European city in the Americas, feeling more like walking in an Italian city than anything else. Its traditions also shine in its music, Milongas, and Tangos being the most obvious. One of my favorite past time when I go to Buenos Aires to find some local restaurant which showcases a tango show. Not the touristy ones, but the more local ones which are only musical, where you will get 2 to 3 musicians playing whatever song may be requested by the crowd. A great way to enjoy a good Argentinian meal with wine!

I have lived in Buenos Aires for 4 months in 2016 and since then, I have come back several times as it is close to Brazil where I lived for so long. Over these dozen trips, I have pretty much traveled to most the country’s highlights, from east to west and from north to south all the way to the end of the Patagonia. This is why I felt comfortable in writing this Argentian guide to future tourists, travelers and digital nomads who would wish to choose Argentina as their new home for a while.My personal favorite city is around Mendoza and Cordoba, where the atmosphere is much more relaxing than busy Buenos Aires. People are also much more friendly than in the capital, even Argentinians outside Buenos Aires proud themselves that they are much more down to earth than the “porteños” (people from Buenos Aires). I personally love Buenos Aires, but I must agree with them on this.

El Chalten, Patagonia, Argentina

The financial benefits of settling in Argentina is always changing. Massive Inflation rates, and occasional currency manipulation and devaluation make the country’s affordability change year by year. For instance, when I was first in Argentina in 2006, I could get a prime quality steak (bife de lomo) with sides and a glass of wine for as little as 3$… two years later, that same meal cost about 12$ and another two years later over 20$… Fast forward to 2015 and most backpackers skipped Argentina all together! Then the currency got devalued in 2016 and Argentina became affordable again, but with 25% inflation per year, it won’t be long that the dollar will be less and less powerful.

For any Digital Nomad looking for a great place to stay, I still recommend anywhere in Argentina as being a great place. It is still pretty cheap, but overall, you get high-quality standards! Buenos Aires and many other cities offer European standards of living in beautiful buildings, incredible dining selections for a fraction of western European and North American prices, and great night clubs for those weekends! So for those looking for a comfortable place to stay where they can satisfy most of their North American Lifestyle needs while in South America, definitely consider Argentina.

Crime is a Concern, as it has been rising in recent years, so the special concern is required. But under no circumstances, anyone should think twice of coming because of security concerns. The risk is worth it, Trust me. Usual common sense is necessary, like not walking in deserted streets at night alone and making sure the area is safe to walk. Taxis are always a good idea after dark, but watch out for those clever taxi drivers, which have more scams under their sleeves than anywhere else I’ve seen. The Usual trick I have seen twice while being there is to change your “big” bill for a fake one, claiming he doesn’t have change and handing it back.

Overall, I love Argentina, and you will definitely love it too.

3 Best Argentina Itineraries You Must Do On Your Next Trip

Itinerary 1: Buenos Aires and Surroundings

This is what most people will do, having only a week or less of vacation. Buenos Aires by itself is a great city to spend a holiday and provides a great base to explore the surrounding attractions! After Spending a few days in Buenos Aires, it is worth spending a day or two in Mar del Plata, considered the best beach in Argentina. It’s pretty cold to be a holiday beach (sea lions love the area for its cold waters), so best months to visit are December and January. Outside these months the beach is pretty empty, but being a city of over a million people, it will always offer the usual city life.

Uruguay offers the best beach options south of Brazil, and Argentians know this. No wonder you will see them all invading their northern neighbor in the Summer! So including a side trip to Punta del Este in Uruguay in January is a must, with a nice little stop in Montevideo and Colonia, a cute little town on the other side of Rio de la Plata.

Close to Buenos Aires (and also considered a suburb) is La Plata, a part of the city that stretches on the shores of El Rio de la Plata. It’s a great place to stop for a day or two at one of the many Kite surf clubs to learn the sport or to ride and River’s shallow waters. The waters are a little brownish, making it no Hawaii… But it’s as clear as it gets to Argentinian Standards.

Other stops that could be considered are Tigre, a little town westward and also a little further, Santa Fe and Rosario, Leonel Messi’s home town and a nice city in the summer. I had the chance to discover it with local friends of mine during holiday season, where people love to hang out on an island in the middle of the River to enjoy sunny days and party all day!

El Chalten, Patagonia, Argentina

Itinerary 2: The Essential South Loop Around Argentina

This is the must do trip of Argentina, the “cream de la cream” of its destination in the south. This itinerary will probably take around 3 to 4 weeks so plan more time than you need because chances are you will want to stay extra days while you discover new options on the way. Start in Buenos Aires and follow the itinerary one. Catch a bus and Go straight to Bariloche, where you will meet more Brazilian tourists in search of satisfying their dream of touching Snow than local Argentines. This place is stuffed with activities so you can reserve a few days.

Continue down with the good bus service going along route National 40, where you will cross villages in the middle of deserted valleys that seem to appear from nowhere. Eventually, you will arrive at the highlight of Argentina in my opinion: El Chalten and El Calafate. This is where I managed to shoot some of my best photography in my online studio emporiostudio.com, thanks to the beauty of its glaciers, blue lakes, and stunning hiking trails. Next stop is Ushuaia to reach the most southern city, where you can plan tours and hikes around the area and islands and also a visit to the penguins.

On the way back up I recommend flying to avoid backtracking, but coming back through the coastal road is also an option, through Puerto Madryn.

Itinerary 3: The Road to Patagonia

Start by including the Itinerary 1’s recommendations, then start going west towards Rosario for a day, and all the way up Puerto Iguazu to visit its majestic Water Falls. Make sure to include a visit on the Brazilian side as it is much more enjoyable to see it from that angle. For those countries that need a Brazilian visa, a one day visa is available to visit the falls from Puerto Iguazu. Take a Bus to Salta in the north, a nice peaceful city that many travelers use on their way to Bolivia. If you have extra time, I highly recommend doing a 3-day adventure to Uyuni, in Bolivia, where you will find the biggest Salt Flats in the world, a great place to stack up some wonderful pictures for that Instagram account.😃 Continue to Cordoba for a few days, Argentina’s Second city and a place that I have long wanted to discover more on a future trip. Then reach Mendoza to experience a bit of Wine culture, visit a Malbec winery and treat yourself with some of my favorite wines in the world. If it’s winter, it’s worth stopping skiing in Las Leñas, king of ski resorts in the Andes. Continuing to Santiago de Chile is another option, the road is amazing by itself, crossing through the Peaks of the Andes.

The Digital Globetrotter’s Argentina top 5 Lists

Here is a collection of my Top 5s for Argentina, following my previous series of articles on Argentina. Feel free to reach out if you have other ideas to improve my lists.

Top 5 Favorite Buenos Aires Neighborhood

1. Recoleta
2. Palermo
3. San Telmo
4. Puerto Madero
5. La Boca

Top 5 Favorite Cities

1. Mendoza
2. Buenos Aires
3. Cordoba
4. Rosario
5. Mar del Plata

Top 5 Best Nature

1. El Chalten
2. El Calafate
3. Ushuaia
4. Bariloche
5. Las Leñas

Top 5 Food & Drinks

1. Meat (Argentinan cut)
2. Malbec Wine
3. Empanadas de carne picada
4. Alfajor
5. Milanesa a la Napolitana

Top 5 most Scenic Places

1. Iguazú Falls
2. Perito Moreno Glacier
3. Bariloche
4. San Telmo
5. Mar del Plata

Top 5 Festivals and Events

1. Oktoberfest in General Belgrano
2. Buenos Aires Tango Festival
3. Carnival
4. Folklore National Festival in Cosquín
5. Vendimia in Mendonza

Emporiostudio

Here are a few pictures I shot from this country and that I expose in my Photography Studio emporiostudio.com. To visit the studio Click Here or click on a picture to go directly to the country collection.

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