Country guides
South & Central America
Things to do in Argentina
From the colourful and bustling of Buenos Aires to the breathtaking Andes Mountain Range in north, Argentina has no shortage of sightseeing opportunities. Boasting a plethora of different habitats and environments to explore, it would take visitors a good few months to see everything this South American gem has to offer.
The northern regions of the country offer an exciting blend of colonial heritage, natural beauty and an indigenous flavour, while the spectacular Iguazu Falls, surrounded by the lush forest of the Iguazu National Park, are a must see. Visitors can enjoy a day of wine tasting in Mendoza, or head west towards the Chilean border and marvel at the Andes Mountain Range. The curious mix of desert, snow-capped mountains, sandy beaches and majestic glaciers in the Patagonia region is extraordinary, and the world's southern-most city, Ushuaia, nestled on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, is a departure point for those keen on a trip to Antarctica and also offers some of the best brown trout fishing in the world.
The sights and sounds of Buenos Aires are a major draw for many. Travellers can stroll along the tree-lined parks and boulevards, visit Evita Peron's grave at La Recoleta Cemetery, explore La Boca, the city's most popular barrio, and take in the Latin American flair by enjoying a romantic night of tango.
Buses are the most cost effective way to navigate the country and, for longer journeys, domestic flights are available at affordable prices. The best time of year to visit Argentina is during the autumn months from March to June, when the weather is a little cooler.
With so much to see and so little time, there will never be a better choice than packing up and heading off to Argentina for the adventure of a lifetime.
Cabildo
Sitting opposite the Casa Rosada on the Plaza de Mayo, the Cabildo is an old colonial building fronted by rows of breathtaking arches. Construction began in 1610 and ended in 1894,…
Cabildo
Sitting opposite the Casa Rosada on the Plaza de Mayo, the Cabildo is an old colonial building fronted by rows of breathtaking arches. Construction began in 1610 and ended in 1894, with the interior housing museums dedicated to its illustrious past and boasting relics, religious icons and paintings by Enrique Pellegrini. The changing of the guard is a popular attraction, with the troops being members of the revered Regimiento de Patricios and dressed in traditional uniforms unchanged for nearly 200 years. Craft markets are hosted on the back patio on Thursdays and Fridays, from 11am to 6pm.
Casa Rosada
The famous Casa Rosada is iconic, rousing images of fiery political rallies or the tragic romance of Eva Peron. The Italianate-style mansion is fronted by palm trees and fountains,…
Casa Rosada
The famous Casa Rosada is iconic, rousing images of fiery political rallies or the tragic romance of Eva Peron. The Italianate-style mansion is fronted by palm trees and fountains, its edifice painted pink when it was converted into a presidential palace. The building has since been declared a National Historic Monument of Argentina. Today, the building houses a small basement museum, and each evening, a small platoon of mounted grenadiers emerges from the guardhouse to lower the flag on the plaza, adding a touch of pomp and ceremony to the striking building.
Plaza Dorrego
Plaza Dorrego lies in San Telmo, the bohemian artists' quarter of Buenos Aires and the birthplace of tango. The tiny square is surrounded by elegant houses, now mostly converted in…
Plaza Dorrego
Plaza Dorrego lies in San Telmo, the bohemian artists' quarter of Buenos Aires and the birthplace of tango. The tiny square is surrounded by elegant houses, now mostly converted into antique shops and bars whose tables overflow onto the street. There are numerous excellent museums nearby, including the Museo Historico Nacional and the Museo de Arte Moderno. On Sundays, the plaza hosts the Feria de San Telmo. Visitors won't find too many bargains, but they may find an interesting souvenir or two. Once the stallholders pack up their wares, the square becomes a stage for informal tango dancing, popular with locals and tourists alike.
Iguazu National Park
The Iguazu National Park is a huge subtropical rainforest covering 135,000 acres and is home to thousands of different species of flora, fauna and birds, including colourful parrot…
Iguazu National Park
The Iguazu National Park is a huge subtropical rainforest covering 135,000 acres and is home to thousands of different species of flora, fauna and birds, including colourful parrots and hummingbirds. It is most famous for the Iguazu Falls, which were declared a National Heritage Site by UNESCO. The deep flowing waters of the river tumble down 275 falls, the most famous of which is Devil's Throat. On the border with Brazil, it drops 230ft (70m), almost twice the height of Niagara Falls. As well as enjoying the stunning views from the series of platforms, visitors can enjoy kayaking and other watersports on the river. Iguazu is home to the Guarani people, as well as ruins of Jesuit missions. Some activities available to visitors include a ride on the Ecological Jungle Train, a meal at La Selva Restaurant, and a trip to the San Martin Island at the heart of the falls. Travellers can also enjoy a trek along the Green Trail or Macuco Trail, a walk along the Upper Circuit or the Lower Circuit or a full moon hike accompanied by national park guides.
Website www.iguazuargentina.com
Mendoza
Mendoza Province rests at the foot of the dramatically beautiful Andes and is Argentina's main wine-producing region, peppered here and there with vineyards offering tours and tast…
Mendoza
Mendoza Province rests at the foot of the dramatically beautiful Andes and is Argentina's main wine-producing region, peppered here and there with vineyards offering tours and tastings. Known for its malbec, it also produces some good cabernet sauvignon. The city of Mendoza is characterised by wide, leafy boulevards and a massive network of canals. Well worth seeing is the Enoteca Giol wine museum while those visiting in late February shouldn't miss the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia, an annual grape-harvest festival accompanied by concerts and local celebrations. Bodega La Rural is one of the biggest wine farms in the area, offering tours that demonstrate the entire wine-making process.
Near the border with Chile lies Mount Aconcagua. At 23,000 feet (6,900m), it is the highest mountain in the Western hemisphere. The mountain and its surrounds are wonderful for hiking and mountain climbing, although it's important to note that during low season, tourists are allowed only short hikes for safety reasons. Throughout the year, hiking without an official guide is discouraged, but even driving along the roads surrounding the mountain will give plenty of scenic views. Additionally, Mendoza is home to La Lenas, one of the biggest and most famous ski resorts in Argentina.
The Pampas
The vast flat plains of the Pampas are Argentina's agricultural heartland and the birthplace of the gaucho cowboys. Lying southwest of Buenos Aires is the location of Argentina's f…
The Pampas
The vast flat plains of the Pampas are Argentina's agricultural heartland and the birthplace of the gaucho cowboys. Lying southwest of Buenos Aires is the location of Argentina's famous beef and grain industry, the source of the country's wealth. The area is festooned with small agricultural towns, which are home to the majority of Argentina's population. The area provides some of the best horseback riding in the world, and excursions are available to different ranches where visitors can feast on asado after a day's horse riding. Visitors to the area can also attend a doma, a gaucho gathering held every Sunday. The domas consist of rodeo-like events, horse racing and other games and competitions, as well as a market of stalls selling gaucho-inspired crafts. There are also some interesting animals that live only on the pampas, including the rhea, the pampas deer, the pampas fox, several armadillo species, the white-eared opossum, the Elegant Crested Tinamou, and more.
Patagonia
Adventurous travellers are drawn to the savage beauty and rich wildlife of Patagonia. This region of contrasts and extremes, stretching across Argentina and Chile, runs from the Co…
Patagonia
Adventurous travellers are drawn to the savage beauty and rich wildlife of Patagonia. This region of contrasts and extremes, stretching across Argentina and Chile, runs from the Colorado river, south of Buenos Aires, across to the southern tip of South America. Many people visit the famous wildlife reserve of Peninsula Valdesgo between July and April, where southern right whales, elephant seals and other rare marine mammals come to breed in their thousands. However, those going further south should visit only in the summer months if they wish to avoid temperatures that plummet to -13F (-25C).
In villages along the valley of the Río Chubut, visitors can explore the cultural legacy of the Welsh pioneers, and nearby at Punta Tombo lies the continent's largest penguin colony. Keen fly-fishermen come from around the world to test their skills in the region's rivers, the best known of which is the Río Gallegos. On the western fringe, along the Andes, visitors will find the most impressive of Patagonia's great lakes and national parks. The Parque Nacional Perito Moreno, home to the aquamarine gem of Lago Belgrano, has excellent trekking possibilities, as does the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. Here visitors will find one of the world's natural wonders, the vast Perito Moreno Glacier, a great river of ice that breaks off into Lake Argentino.
Tierra del Fuego
This island territory at the tip of South America is shared by Chile and Argentina and is a place of staggering scenery. Though further south, the region doesn't reach the extreme …
Tierra del Fuego
This island territory at the tip of South America is shared by Chile and Argentina and is a place of staggering scenery. Though further south, the region doesn't reach the extreme temperatures of neighbouring Patagonia. The principal tourist destination is Ushuaia, a base for those visiting the dramatic Canal Beagle, trekking in the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego, and hiking the mountain ranges of southern Tierra del Fuego, with its magnificent scenery of lakes, snow-capped peaks and beechwood forests. Ushuaia is also the place to go if travellers want to visit Antarctica, since many ships depart from there to visit colonies of penguins, seals, sea lions and seabirds. The Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is another drawcard, the area hosting a few small ski resorts, both downhill and cross-country. Visitors to the north of the island are usually keen fly-fishermen heading to the Río Grande, the world's best brown-trout river.
Website www.tierradelfuego.org.ar/