Travel advice for Argentina
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Argentina
Book your individual trip, stress-free with local travel experts
written by Shafik Meghji
updated 2.07.2019
Just outside Buenos Aires, Argentina is one of South America’s most unexpected landscapes – the Paraná Delta. Part of the continent’s second largest river system, it is accessed via a Victorian-style toy train and the town of Tigre, an idiosyncratic cross between England’s Henley-on-Thames and Italy’s Venice.
With a population of some 12.5 million, Buenos Aires can sometimes feel oppressively urban, hectic and traffic-choked, especially on the stiflingly hot days of January and February. Yet barely 35km northwest of the city centre is a subtropical tangle of tea-coloured waterways and lush islands reminiscent of the Amazon or the Everglades.
The Paraná Delta has long been a popular summer bolthole for porteños (residents of Buenos Aires), who come to sunbathe, swim and eat asados (copious beef-heavy barbecues) at beach resorts accessible only by boat.
10 days / from2650 USD
The Great Lakes and Glaciers of Argentina
Experience the great outdoors, Argentina-style! Marvel at jaw-droppingly beautiful Patagonian landscapes, walk the shores of deep-blue lakes guarded by snow-capped mountains at Bariloche, explore the stunning Perito Moreno Glacier – experience all of this, and much more, with this unique trip!
view tour ⤍13 days / from3180 USD
From Chile to Argentina, across the Andean Lakes
Travel from Chile to Argentina across the stunning Andean Lakes, also known as the Lakes District. Beginning in Santiago, you will travel to Puerto Varas, in Chile, and then across the lakes to Bariloche, Argentina, taking in the stunning mountain scenery, before ending your trip in Buenos Aires.
view tour ⤍14 days / from1933 USD
An adventure across three countries: Brazil, Argentina & Uruguay
A trip filled with history, culture and nature spread out over three beautiful and unique countries, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Visit some of the most stunning sites, like the Sugar Loaf Mountain, Iguazu Falls and UNESCO World Heritage site Colonia del Sacramento, during this 14-day trip.
view tour ⤍13 days / from2581 USD
Argentinean Patagonia: from the Coast to the Andes
Explore the region's most fascinating corners: sea life in Puerto Madryn awaits before you head to the most southern city in the world: Ushuaia. Discover Tierra del Fuego before heading out to El Calafate and Bariloche, really soaking in the Argentinean vibes.
view tour ⤍16 days / from3585 USD
Unforgettable Argentina
Argentina has a lot to offer travellers, in this itinerary you will explore the highlights in just two weeks. From busy Buenos Aires you will fly to Iguazu to marvel at the majestic waterfalls before heading south to Puerto Madryn, Ushuaia and El Calafate. Unforgettable Argentina awaits!
view tour ⤍10 days / from2650 USD
Magical Patagonia and Cultural Buenos Aires
Combine exploring the contemporary city of Buenos Aires, with all its luxuries and grand, historical buildings, together with the wild, rugged land of Patagonia. Take in the culture and observe the landscape and wildlife to gain a complete picture of the true Argentina.
view tour ⤍16 days / from5050 USD
Andean Triangle - Chile, Bolivia and Argentina
Start your South American adventure in Santiago de Chile before exploring the wonders of the Atacama desert. A short hop across the border and you'll find yourself in the middle of the Bolivian salt flat. Afterwards, you'll continue to Argentina with Salta and Buenos Aires.
view tour ⤍13 days / from2500 USD
Argentina: Tango and Glaciers
Visit the grand, edgy and famously seductive Argentine capital of Buenos Aires for tango and culture; then head northeast to see the thundering Iguazú Falls. Finally, it’s off to the end of the Americas to deepest Patagonia for adventure, glaciers and limitless horizons.
view tour ⤍13 days / from6800 USD
Wild Patagonia
Argentina has lots to offer its visitors: a glacier the size of a city, sizzling tango, fashionable barrios, artisan towns, ranches with horses and gauchos and wild untamed natural beauty. From Buenos Aires to Patagonia, you’ll get to see it all in this adventure-laden vacation.
view tour ⤍7 days / from1400 USD
Tango & Wines in Argentina
Argentina is known for its dances and gastronomy scene, both to be discovered on this trip. Explore Buenos Aires on your own and with a guide, including its famous nightlife before heading to the vineyards of Mendoza, one of the most developed wine regions in the country.
view tour ⤍14 days / from2271 USD
Multi-country adventures from salt flats to the Andes
South America is full of wonders and this trip packs Argentina, Chile and Bolivia into 2 weeks. Bustling Buenos Aires, beautiful valleys around Salta, the surreal looking surroundings of San Pedro de Atacama, the salt flat of Uyuni as well as Lake Titicaca are all part of this itinerary.
view tour ⤍10 days / from2120 USD
South American Wines Trail
All wine lovers unite! Start your tour in Buenos Aires before heading to the wine region of Mendoza. Sample some of Argentina's finest wines and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Afterwards, continue to Santiago de Chile with a day trip to Valparaiso.
view tour ⤍13 days / from2756 USD
Argentina and Chile: Dazzling Cities and Magical Landscapes
Santiago is an emerging city, whilst Buenos Aires has long been a busy metropolis. Both offer historical buildings to admire, a local gastronomy scene to savour and sensuous dances to learn. Not to mention the mountainous terrain and desert landscapes outside the cities waiting to be explored.
view tour ⤍14 days / from7857 USD
Southern Argentina & Antarctica
Explore the Antarctica on an intimate cruise from Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Start in Buenos Aires before spending a few nights in El Calafate and Ushuaia to then board your cruise. 4 nights in the Antarctic are the highlight of your trip before heading to Chile's capital Santiago.
view tour ⤍4 days / from420 USD
A city escape to Buenos Aires
Soak in the unique atmosphere of Buenos Aires on this 4-day tour premium tour. Stay at one of the most exclusive hotels and discover Argentina's capital on bike during the day and in style at a Tango show at night.
view tour ⤍13 days / from2756 USD
Argentina and Chile - Wine Country Explored
Get a taste of the wines of Argentina and Chile on this tour of the country's best bodegas. Sway to the rhythm of tango in Buenos Aires before you head to high altitude towns and absorb stunning mountain scenery. Then it's across the border into Chile to sample Santiago's historic delights.
view tour ⤍14 days / from3075 USD
Self Drive on the Atlantic Patagonia Blue Route
Travel across wild Patagonia in your own rental car. Full autonomy and freedom means being able to truly go off the beaten track. You'll come across plenty of wildlife like whales and penguins, as well as following Darwin's footsteps across the steppe.
view tour ⤍13 days / from2600 USD
Argentina's Northern Highlights
Your journey begins in Bueno’s Aires, the Argentine capital and the home of tango, colonial buildings and cobbled streets. Explore museums, churches, and stunning mountain valleys; be awestruck by the roar of the Iguazú Falls; then explore the wineries of the Central Valley.
view tour ⤍7 days / from1400 USD
From the city to the jungle
Visit two of the most fascinating parts of Argentina: First, the electrifying capital of Buenos Aires in all of its glory before heading out to Puerto Iguazu to discover the majestic Iguazu waterfalls.
view tour ⤍14 days / from7500 USD
Luxury Holidays in South America
Experience the best of Argentina and Brazil in luxury. From vibrant Buenos Aires to breathtaking Argentinian Falls, stunning Bariloche, and untamed Patagonia. Conclude in Rio de Janeiro's iconic beaches before immersing in cosmopolitan Sao Paulo.
view tour ⤍9 days / from3300 USD
Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Wine Country
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Argentina's diverse landscapes and vibrant cities. Explore the cosmopolitan charm of Buenos Aires, marvel at the awe-inspiring natural wonder of Puerto Iguazú's majestic waterfalls, and indulge in the renowned wines of Mendoza's picturesque vineyards.
view tour ⤍10 days / from2600 USD
South Argentina and the Ends of the Earth
This trip goes to the southernmost point of Argentina and to the ends of the earth. Begin in Buenos Aires, then travel south to El Calafate and explore the stunning Perito Moreno Glacier, before continuing to the southernmost city on earth, Ushuaia, and the Tierra del Fuego National Park.
view tour ⤍11 days / from15375 USD
Classic Antarctica from Chile
Start and end your trip in Chile and discover the Antarctica on an intimate, Boutique-style expedition boat. Cruise the Drake Passage, visit Cape Horn and fly back to Punta Arenas before returning to the capital Santiago.
view tour ⤍11 days / from3600 USD
Bariloche & Buenos Aires
Explore the stunning landscapes of Bariloche and immerse yourself in nature's wonders. Then, soak up the vibrant energy of Buenos Aires, with its captivating culture, history, and lively streets. A journey of breathtaking beauty and cultural immersion awaits.
view tour ⤍12 days / from2500 USD
Islands & Waterfalls: Ihla Grande and Iguazu
A mesmerizing journey through Brazil and Argentina, starting with the vibrant energy of Rio de Janeiro. Explore the pristine paradise of Ilha Grande, then step back in time in the colonial gem of Paraty. Finally, marvel at the awe-inspiring Iguazu Falls.
view tour ⤍The gateway to the delta is the island-town of Tigre: imagine a cross between an undeveloped Venice and a subtropical Henley-on-Thames, and you’re halfway there. Bounded on all sides by the Luján, Reconquista and Tigre rivers, it is named after the jaguars – which were known locally as tigres – that once roamed here.
A hundred years ago Tigre was one of the most glamorous destinations in South America, primarily thanks to the Tigre Club, Argentina’s first casino, housed in an opulent mansion dripping with French chandeliers, Venetian mirrors, and marble staircases.
Local and international celebrities – from the Prince of Wales to Italian opera singer Enrico Caruso – flocked here to gamble and carouse. British-style rowing, boating and social clubs lined the river banks and there was a packed calendar of races and regattas.
Wealthy porteños built second homes in Tigre itself or country retreats on the myriad islands that dot the delta. Smugglers, bandits and outlaws, meanwhile, holed up deeper into the wilderness, away from prying eyes.
The 1930s, however, heralded the start of Tigre’s decline. In 1933 the casino closed, Buenos Aires’ fashionable set moved off to destinations like the seaside resort of Mar del Plata, and the town’s glamorous buildings fell into disrepair. Fruit and timber exports from the small port and a trickle of day-trippers barely kept the town ticking over.
But in recent years Tigre has undergone something of a renaissance. The Tigre Club has been turned into an art gallery, the promenades that line the rivers have been revamped, its mock-Tudor and Belle Époque buildings have been restored, and tourists have returned.
One of the great pleasures of Tigre is the journey from Buenos Aires. Although you can catch a commuter train, most travellers opt for the far more atmospheric Tren de la Costa, a toy train that runs from the suburb of Olivos. The “Train of the Coast” feels like it has been plucked from the Victorian era – which, in many ways, it has.
Built by British engineers at the end of the nineteenth century, it briefly flourished, before falling passenger numbers prompted its closure in the 1960s. However, it was revived in the 1990s after being purchased by a private consortium.
En route you can hop on and off at a series of eleven red-brick, British-style stations, each of which has its own theme: Estacíon Borges has an art café and a collection of sculptures, Estacíon Barrancas has a lively weekend antiques market, and Estacíon Anchorena is dedicated to tango, with regular classes and displays.
For much of the 30-minute journey the train hugs the waterfront, chugging through leafy suburbs filled with townhouses and golf courses. The train pulls in at the edge of Tigre, near the Puerto de Frutos – a working port and craft market – and the rather tacky Puerto de la Costa, one of South America’s largest theme parks.
The highlight of any visit to Tigre is a boat, canoe or kayak trip into the Paraná Delta. At first you pass island-hotels, sports clubs, houses raised up on wooden stilts and linked via precarious walkways, and the rusty, semi-submerged skeletons of abandoned boats.
Most people content themselves with a short cruise, but to really get away from it all you need to head deeper into the delta, staying overnight in a remote cabin and hiking or horseriding through the forests. Wildlife-spotting opportunities abound here: the region is awash with hummingbirds, pygmy owls, cormorants, as well as colocolos (small wild cats), marsh deer, and capybaras (large rodents).
Viewed from above this labyrinth of waterways, islands and rainforests – which spans almost 22,000 square kilometres – looks like the veins of a giant heart. Down on the water, as the signs of habitation steadily disappear, the wilderness closes in on you. Birdsong, the electric hum of cicadas, and the dull drone of mosquitoes fill the air.
It seems inconceivable that one of the largest cities in Latin America is only 30 minutes away.
Shafik Meghji co-authors The Rough Guide to Argentina. He blogs at unmappedroutes.com and tweets @ShafikMeghji.
Top image © Anibal Trejo/Shutterstock
written by Shafik Meghji
updated 2.07.2019
Shafik is an award-winning travel writer, journalist and co-author of more than 40 Rough Guides to destinations across Latin America, Asia, Oceania, Europe and North Africa. A regular contributor to the Rough Guide to Everywhere podcast, he writes and takes photos for BBC Travel, Wanderlust and Atlas Obscura, among others. His new book, Crossed Off The Map: Travels in Bolivia, will be published in late 2021. Follow him @shafikmeghji on Twitter and Instagram.
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From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Argentina