Argentina

All You Need to Know About Argentina

Argentina is a diverse and gorgeous Spanish speaking country located in South America. It is the second largest country in South America, with the third largest population. The country is full of vast landscapes, good food and wine, endlessly stunning trekking options and a very fast paced version of the Spanish language. It was the first stop on my South American trip and is a great place to kick start a Patagonian adventure.

Highlights

Argentina has so many different options for a variety of travellers and travelling styles. From vibrant and lively cities, to stunning outdoor landscapes, world famous wine regions, salt flats and the biggest waterfall system in the world. 

Patagonia

If you haven’t thought about including Patagonia in your Argentinian or South American itinerary then you need to rethink your plans. Patagonia was by far my most favourite place I have ever visited and well and truly exceeded my hopes and expectations.

Patagonia is quite a large region full of a variety of different National Parks, treks and towns. It stretches across the South of both Argentina and Chile.  It is full of so many different landscapes, mountains, glaciers and lakes that you literally won’t believe your eyes. There are a variety of different itineraries and destinations to visit in Patagonia depending on your fitness level, passion for hiking and camping, and also budget.

Here are a few of my favourite spots and hikes on the Argentinian side of Patagonia.

Bariloche

This is the gateway to Patagonia in Argentina and has a bit of everything to suit almost all types of travellers. There is an enormous amount of multi-day treks for both campers and refugio hut goers. There are elaborate and stunning hotels and lodges on the lakes and also very homely and alternative style hostels. It is the perfect way to ease into the real outdoors as you can experience small town luxury, lake side relaxation as well as some challenging and stunning treks in and around Bariloche including the hike to Refugio Frey and Cerro Tronador.

El Chalten

This is often a lot of traveller’s favourite destination in Patagonia. The town itself has a very quaint and cool vibe to it. The surrounding treks and mountains are absolutely breath taking. The local cafe’s and restaurants serve up some of Argentina’s best food and drinks and the National Parks are free.

The must do hikes for this region are to Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. If you have your own gear or are willing to hire it, you can combine these two day hikes via the linking trail and complete it in three days. This allows you to experience sunrise at both peaks. If you are a more experienced trekker and have your own gear it would also be worthwhile trying to complete the Huemel Circuit. This trail is very challenging and dependent on the weather conditions, but is also one of the only locations you can view the Southern Patagonian ice fields from.

Iguazu Falls

You haven’t seen a waterfall until you’ve seen the waterfalls at Iguazu. Located on the border of Argentina and Brazil, the Iguazu Falls makes up the largest waterfall system in the world. It truly is an awe inspiring spectacle to witness. You can access the falls easily from both Argentina and Brazil and if you have the necessary visa for Brazil you can visit both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides while you are there. 

The easiest way to reach Iguazu Falls in Argentina is from Buenos Aires either by plane or bus. The bus trip is around 18 – 22 hours with the option for full fast lay cama beds. The cost of the bus ticket changes significantly from time to time, so sometimes the flight can be cheaper so it is always worth comparing prices for both. The flight is obviously a lot more time efficient and more suitable for those on a tighter schedule but I found the bus trip to be ok.

Buenos Aires

For some, particularly those traveling from Australia and New Zealand, Buenos Aires is often a starting point for a much larger South American adventure. It is the capital city of Argentina and regularly has flights to and from Auckland, New Zealand. It is a very unique city with an interesting past involving a lot of European influence and internal division between the city and the rest of Argentina. The free city walking tours here really are quite interesting with a lot of different tours to choose from. You can find amazing street art, captivating live performances in Summer, a party scene that lasts well into the next morning and several other entertaining attractions.

Mendoza

Argentina is quite famous for it’s wine, with Mendoza being the place to go if you want to experience, learn and taste what this region is famous for. There are a huge variety of tour options available including full days, half days, cycling tours and even some that include trips to olive oil factories as well. It is a very popular destination for couples and people travelling with a more flexible budget but it is still possible to visit here and enjoy it even on a backpackers budget. 

Important Details 

If you are planning a trip to Argentina then here are the important details:

The Currency

The currency in Argentina is Argentinian Pesos (ARS). There was a black market for the Argentinian currency a little while ago, but there isn’t really now that the currency has stabilised. Now you are better off bringing Argentinian Pesos with you from home as you will get the best exchange rate with the fewest fees. ATM fees in Argentina are very high with ATM’s often low or out of cash meaning you will need to withdraw money multiple times and be charged each time. Most places accept ARS as well as USD and EUR. So this is also an option to bring ARS and then some backup USD or EUR, especially if you are travelling to other countries in South America while you are here.

The Language 

While the national language is Spanish, you will find that the people in Argentina speak a much quicker version than what you would find in Spain. They also have a few words that are different to traditional Spanish as well as a few slang words thrown in just to confuse you. Whilst a lot of the younger generations in the bigger cities and people in the tourist areas speak some degree of English, it is recommended to learn some Spanish to make your experience in Argentina more enjoyable and genuine. 

The People

You will find the people in Argentina to be quite friendly, generous and helpful. Buenos Aires is a little different to the rest of the country, given the size of the city, but in most other regions I experienced nothing but generosity and friendliness. The owners of the hostels are almost always willing to go above and beyond to ensure your experience in Argentina is memorable. The locals you meet on the street are usually eager to help you if you are stuck. If you at least try to speak Spanish then shop assistants, tour operators and members of the general public will be friendly and approachable. 

Modes of Transport

There are two main modes of transport in Argentina which vary in price, comfort and efficiency.

Travel by Bus

The most popular form of transport in Argentina for backpackers and long term travellers on a budget are long distance buses. The buses in Argentina are of a pretty high standard, are usually quite comfortable and safe, and on most occasions cost less than a flight. The only downside is that it obviously takes more time to travel by bus between destinations.

Given the level of quality of the bus companies though, this can sometimes be a good option for a tired traveller to have the chance to travel without thinking, to listen to music, read a book or just switch off for a few hours. I often found the long-distance buses gave me a chance to process the experiences I had before arriving at my next destination. 

My two favourite bus companies in Argentina were Via Bariloche and Andesmar. While you can purchase bus tickets at the terminal, during peak seasons the popular companies and routes can be sold out a few days in advance. On quite a few occasions I booked online before hand to ensure I had my preferred company and seat. I found these booking companies, Plataforma10 and Omnilineas, the most user friendly and reliable when booking my bus tickets online. They are also useful to find out the bus timetables and costs in advance, even if you plan on booking the tickets at the terminal.

Travel by Plane

The other alternative is to travel by plane. Traditionally flights in Argentina can be very expensive and almost always transit by bus is cheaper. Recently though, a new airline Flybondi have started offering much more affordable budget flights between a lot of destinations across Argentina. There are still a few places you will need to book either a more expensive flight, or a bus, but it is definitely worth checking this airline before booking elsewhere. 

When to Visit

The best time to visit Argentina depends on why you are visiting and where you want to go. It is possible to visit Iguazu most of the year as it is a very hot, humid and tropical climate. Patagonia however, can only be visited in and around Summer from October to April with the peak season from November to February.

If Patagonia is a priority for you then try to plan the rest of your time in Argentina and South America around it. I started my journey in Argentina in February and finished my time in Patagonia at the beginning of April. It does start getting cold by mid March so if you would prefer warmer weather and don’t mind the crowds you could try to get to Patagonia a little earlier than this.