Wine, Steaks and Tango
Argentina, a country known for tango, steak and wine, is the perfect place to indulge yourself in the pleasure of life, with the possibility of seeing some spectacular landscapes as well. The best of both worlds some might say with world class hikes celebrated with a nice meal among friends!
This backpacking Argentina travel guide gives you tips on activities to do, route suggestions, budget and safety tips to help you plan your trip to one of the world’s biggest countries!
How much time do I need?
If you want to do the whole country you can spend months in Argentina, with a minimum of probably a month. This includes the North and the South as well as the major cities and the majestic waterfalls in Iguazu.
If you have less time you can easily do the southern Argentina in a week or two, and the same for the northern part. Adding days in Buenos Aires is also quite common as it’s an amazing city and one of my favourites in the world!
Routes
Many backpackers enter Argentina from Chile, either arriving first at Salta or Mendoza. If you go all the way South in Chile, you might start your Argentina adventure in El Calafate or Ushuaia. Starting in the South pass through Bariloche before going to up Buenos Aires.
If you start in Salta you might visit Cordoba or Mendoza before heading to Buenos Aires. Once in Buenos Aires you can take the ferry to go to Uruguay, or fly down South if you haven’t already. Lastly head North to Puerto Iguazu to marvel at the extraordinary waterfalls. From there cross over to Brazil for another adventure.
If you started in Puerto Iguazu head down to Buenos Aires and from there you have all the options of visiting Uruguay, heading South or to places like Mendoza, Cordoba and Salta.
Top Activities
There are many cool activities in Argentina mostly related to hiking, wine and eating, as well as history. Here are some of my favorites!
Wine in Mendoza
Mendoza is famous for its wine and wineries. Head out from the city centre to the vineyards and rent a bike. Grab a map and go out and experience some of the best wines Argentina has to offer. Some vineyards have restaurants so make sure you get some delicious food as well, to absorb all the wine!
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is a capital full of life and various attractions. Visit the famous Aires Recoleta Cemetery, wander through the neighbourhoods and see a tango show! There’s plenty of things to pass time in this beautiful city, as well as restaurants, cafes and bars!
Iguazu
Heading up to Puerto Iguazu is a must to get a spectacular view of the insane amount of water that passes through there. Spent a full day exploring the different circuits and don’t miss the Devil’s Throat. Eat at one of the restaurants there or head back to the small town.
Ushuaia
The most Southern city in the world is a popular tourist destination. Experience what is is to live in this remote place and enjoy beautiful nature and wildlife. If you have the cash for it, explore the option of a cruise to Antartica to cross off one of the rarest places to visit.
El Calafate
For any nature lover and hiking enthusiast, a visit to El Calafate is a must. See glaciers and hike in Patagonia for a wonderful experience and a great option in combination with Chile.
Bariloche
Bariloche in Argentina is another stunning stop on your trip. Explore the beautiful lakes, hike the mountains or maybe go on a horseback ride in the countryside. It is also a great place to hang out on the way to Patagonia with plenty of food and activities in town!
Cordoba
Wander the historical city of Cordoba, visiting its many cathedrals and museums. Spend a few days exploring the streets or head out of town to explore more of the Argentinean Sierras!
Salta
Wander around the town of Salta in Northern Argentina. A place full of nice museums, music and squares to sit down and watch life pass by. By heading out of town you can visit the Argentinean salt flats, or visit the colourful mountains of Purmamarca, Tilcara and Humahuaca!
Budget
For Argentina expect to spend around $40 dollars a day. This includes stying in dorms, eating mostly local food and using local transportation. This also means getting cash from Western Union or making sure your card gets the blue dollar rate or close to it. As of 2023 this is true for all VISA cards.
Because of high inflation in Argentina, the blue dollar rate gives tourists close to half price on the official exchange rate for Argentinean Pesos.
Food
Argentina is heaven for meat-lovers with some of the best quality steaks in the world. With a favourable exchange rate you can eat really well in Argentina without breaking the bank. No need to hold back on the steaks and wine even as a frugal backpacker. For me it was a joy to finally “splash” a little on good food after eating local meals for many months!
Accommodation
For a bed in a dorm in Argentina expect to pay around $10-15 depending on the city. Patagonia can be on the higher end as well as Buenos Aires in certain areas. Breakfast is usually included and most hostels in Argentina is good quality and often has locals using them for work and pleasure as well. Great for meeting Argentinean people for a deeper dive into the culture!
Transportation
Long distance travel in Argentina is a backpackers dream. Comfortable buses are plentiful and take you anywhere you want, no matter the distance. For the really long once you might even get food and drinks served!
For those shorter on time, domestic flights are easy and sometime quite the cheap option. Aerolineas Argentina is the national airline, with Latam serves most of the continent.
When to go
For warmer weather, visiting between November and March is definitely recommended. During this time, hiking in Patagonia is more accessible as the Argentinean winter can get quite cold. Spring time in Argentina between August and November might be the optimal in terms of weather and less tourists during the shoulder seasons.
Safety
Argentina is generally a very safe country. In most places you will feel completely safe, with the exception of some areas in the capital of Buenos Aires. Like any big city in the world, avoid certain neighbourhoods and don’t wander around after dark outside of crowded places. By following a few precautions you will have a great time, just remember to always travel with insurance!
Safety Tips:
- Always have some cash at hand in case someone wants to rob you. Better to hand over a few notes than to be caught with nothing or lose your credit card.
- Always keep your valuables safely on you on night buses and never put your backpack in the overhead compartment.
- In large crowds be careful with your belongings. Things in your pocket can easily be taken, but also smaller backpacks, bum bags etc. Make sure you secure them to avoid pickpockets in these situations.
- Do not wander around alone at night in places you are not familiar with. If you have to, stick to well lit streets as much as possible. Preferable where there are more people. If you need to use your phone for maps, do it discreetly and never wave your phone or wealth around.
- Don’t wear flashy things and leave your expensive jewellery at home.
- Bring a padlock and use the lockers in hostels for all your valuables.
- Be careful with how much you drink, accepting drinks from others or the use of drugs. There are many stories out there, so try not to overdo anything unless you have people with you to take care of you.
By taking some precautions you will be fine in Argentina, and come back with wonderful memories of this beautiful little paradise.
Resources
So, are you ready for an adventure to Argentina? Here are some of the resources I personally use when I travel. Great value and support, in addition to the best deals out there!
BOOKING – The best place to book accommodation. In my experience the site with the best prices, deals and selection. Perfect for a budget traveller.
HOSTELWORLD – The best place to find hostels, and also has group chats for all your bookings and places you’re going to make it easier to meet people. Perfect for solo travellers!
SKYSCANNER – When I need to find the cheapest days and ways to fly somewhere, Skyscanner is always the first place I go.
GET YOUR GUIDE – A massive marketplace for inspiration and booking of tours and activities for each place you visit.
AIRALO – What I use to stay connected on the road. A slightly more expensive option than buying local sim cards, but nothing beats having e-sim installed and ready to go as soon as you cross the border.
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