6 Best places to visit in Argentina
From North to South
Argentina has tons to offer travelers, with one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, incredible sights, and a unique, welcoming culture.
1. Humahuaca
To start, we have the Quebrada de Humahuaca, or the Gorge of Humahuaca, a more rural area in the northern region of Jujuy. Cerro Hornocal, or the 14 Coloured Mountains, is one of the many ranges of the Quebrada. You can take a Jeep out there, which only takes 45 minutes, and enjoy the fantastic viewpoints of mountains that developed their vivid colors over 600 million years ago while still underwater.
Pacha Manka
An authentic little spot inside an original adobe building. It serves local cuisine, including grilled goat cheese, Locro, a local-style stew, and even llama filet! However, one of the best things you could do is go on August 1.
Every year for centuries, the locals throw a nine-day carnival, essentially a giant city-wide party that goes exceptionally late into the night. Musicians parade through the streets and are traditionally invited into people’s homes for drinks and food, where they continue to play for the parties that enter with them. The men even dress in diablo costumes and carry basil leaves because of their well-known aphrodisiac qualities. And, if you’re well-liked, you’ll be invited to walk around the local mountains to dig up a little Diablo doll buried the previous year. An experience that likely cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.
2. Puerto Iguazu
Still in the north of Argentina, but much closer to the Eastern coast, is Puerto Iguazu, home to Iguazu Falls. This place is one of the most breathtaking in the world and has much more than just the 4th tallest waterfall on the planet. It has 275 waterfalls cascading down into one of the most lush and beautiful ecosystems on the planet. Tour boats will pull you close enough to the falls to get wet and even glimpse the infamous Devil’s Throat, the 4th tallest waterfall on the planet. Sheer power and chaos stun most visitors into silence.
The surrounding jungle is a teeming ecosystem; it is no leisurely walk through an artificial park! There are Jaguars, Anacondas, Ocelots, Howler Monkeys, and even Caymans, so please do not wander without an experienced guide. With safety at the forefront, awe and wonder will follow kindly when you see species of animals and colorful plants in their natural habitat, putting any zoo you’ve seen to shame.
3. Ibera Wetlands
Moving South, only a couple of hours in a car ride, we come to the Ibera Wetlands. This is one of the world’s most natural and untouched landscapes that is accessible to the public. Here, you can stay in the luxurious ranch hotel called the Puerto Valle, which includes organic gardens, barbecuing areas where local food is served on select nights, and even a library with a cozy fireplace. But, most important is their location and the activities they offer.
The ranch sits on the edge of one of the stunning wetland rivers called the Parana. The hotel will take you around in boats so you can see a great deal of the expanse, kayaks for you and a few others to experience the river, as well as horseback rides where you’ll be able to roam the banks to see the myriad of wildlife in the jungle banks, as well as the creatures who dwell around the water. One of the most memorable things people notice is a family of cute and cuddly capybaras, though you probably shouldn’t get close enough to find out how cuddly!
4. Buenos Aires
After seeing a good amount of tranquil nature and wild animals, all while falling asleep to stars shining and crickets rioting, it’s time to stay up all night and go as crazy as you can imagine.
The city is divided into smaller districts called Barrios. Some are famous for certain things, like the La Boca area, renowned for its tango street dancing, amongst a beautiful rainbow architecture from Spanish and Italian influences.
You have to see La Bombonera
The home stadium of the famous futbol player, Maradona. The games are always electric, and the stadium’s 49,000 seats get packed with screaming fans in love with the game and culture.
But when the night starts, around 9:30 PM, which would still be considered quite early by most locals, the first thing to do is eat some famous steak while you watch a tango show. The Cafe de Los Angelitos will give you this experience accentuated by its steeped history because of its fame for being visited by great artists and celebrities, primarily in the 40s and 50s. Once you finish around midnight, it’s time to start the actual party and head to San Telmo.
The San Telmo barrio is famous for its Plaza Dorrego, an open space surrounded by gorgeous old architecture but filled with an outdoor party that will easily last until 7 AM. If staying up that late won’t be too easy after a massive steak with wine, you can ease into the plaza by sitting in one of the perimeter cafes for some incredible South American coffee. At the same time, you watch local masters tango in free form with the tourists hosting clunking feet, red cheeks, and radiant smiles. Once you need a break from moving like that, say around 2:30 am, head over to the La Puerta Roja, a local bar with some couches and a pleasant atmosphere filled with gregarious, excited people taking a dance break. Order a couple of Cuba Libres to get you back into that unreserved state because you’re about to take a ride. Get in a taxi and say, with as much clarity as you have left, “Milion.”
The driver will know exactly where to go, and after a couple of minutes, you will pull up to an old stone mansion where most of the young people go to get some artisan drinks, dress up a bit, and sit in beautiful old rooms or the back garden to enjoy some Argentinian dishes like Ceviche and empanadas. It’s time for the club once you’ve had your fill and probably more coffee.
Palacio Alsina is a three-level discoteca featuring some of Argentina’s best DJs. The dancing is no joke, so make sure you’ve had enough cocktails at Milion because it’ll be hard to dance like the locals will want you to with a drink in each hand. Finally, once you stumble out of this incredible space around sunrise or later, you can head to bed and dream about the night you’ll never forget.
5. Mar Del Plata
After those long nights in the bustling capital of Buenos Aires, it’s time to unwind and layout to relax in the quiet beach town of Mar Del Plata. If you like to surf, rent a board from Uva Surf Shop and head to Miramar for some white sandy beaches and a more significant swell if you’re going in late Summer/Autumn.
If surfing isn’t as much your thing, head to Playa Los Acantilados for a secluded beach experience where you can lay out without anybody bothering you. If you want beach volleyball and some cute people to meet, head to Grand Beach, where you’ll see hundreds of people on the beach. You can rent a cabana to have your snacks or get out of the sun for a bit.
Once you’re done you can head back into town and have a meal at Oceanside Restaurant and have some like, I don’t know, tenderloin medallion in portobello sauce, mushrooms, and dried boletus in Malbec reduction with creamed spinach gratin. This town will be the tropical beach setting you need to recharge after having been in Buenos Aires.
6. Bariloche
The last place on this list displays the variety Argentina has to offer. Bariloche is a mountain town with gorgeous views of the beaches and tall forest trees. This little town is often compared to a ski resort town with many water sports and nature. In the Winter, it is an excellent place for skiing, and in the summer, it is a great place to hike, climb, river raft, and more.
The city is known for boutique chocolatiers like Rapanui, which closes at 1 a.m.; don’t forget you are still in Argentina! The party will go on through the night in most towns, and Bariloche is not exempt. Stop at Puerto Rock for a reasonably priced all-night club with rock music.
Last but not least, see some whales. A company like Boris Patagonia will bring you out to see some of Argentina’s most magnificent creatures in the water. Once you’ve seen the whales breaching, you can at least say you’ve been to Argentina. Now, to consider moving there…
Want to get moving?
You can schedule a full itinerary with a reputable company like Zicasso. They will guide you well on your journey, facilitating your seeing the world and expanding your horizons!
