The Wanderlust Guide to the Best of Argentina
Dance the tango in Buenos Aires, hike the Andes, spot penguins on the Atlantic coast and ride horses in Patagonia – Argentina is a country that will keep you moving
Vast and inscrutable, Argentina’s magnificent landscapes stretch from spectacular waterfalls in the north across expansive drum-flat pampas, fringed by the Andes on one side and the Atlantic on the other, to the glaciers, lakes and mountains of the deep south.
City slickers love the pace of Buenos Aires, where handsome locals jostle for your attention with the Parisian-style architecture. In Mendoza you can ski down the foothills of Aconcagua (South America’s highest peak) before dropping into a local winery and gorging on a giant steak with a glass of fine red.
For the ultimate wilderness experience, head south to Patagonia. The Tierra del Fuego National Park adjoins Chile’s Torres del Paine, a dramatic barrier of jagged, glaciated mountains that stand guard at the bottom of the world.
The biggest problem you’ll have when travelling through Argentina is fitting everything in.
Laguna De Los Tres, Patagonia (Shutterstock)
Looking for inspiration?
Stretching from the Tropic of Capricorn to the fringes of the Antarctic, Argentina has it all – wilderness and wine, peaks and penguins, cosmopolitan cities and hard-bitten cowboys. And with a little help from Chris Moss’s Argentina travel blueprint, you’ll be able to dig out the best bits and plan your perfect itinerary.
Perhaps you’ve already got your heart set on a road trip to Patagonia. Check out Chris’s article on his road trip to Argentina’s deep south and get ready to unleash your inner Chatwin. If you fancy a bit of a stroll over mint-blue ice while you’re down there, make sure you drop by Jasper Winn’s piece on glacier hiking.
Should you find yourself in the north of the country Mark Eveleigh suggests heading west, the most traditional and timeless part of the country. Oliver Marshall states the case for dropping by (but not over) the spectacular Iguaçu Falls. And Lyn Hughes marvels at the life aquatic on the Argentina’s great wetlands, the Esteros del Iberá, learning the difference between a capybara and a caiman.
More information
Argentina travel blueprint: Trip of a lifetime – Chris Moss
Road trip to Patagonia – Chris Moss
Glacier hiking: Argentina – Jasper Winn
Driving north-west Argentina – Mark Eveleigh
Travel Icon: Iguaçu Falls – Oliver Marshall
Argentina’s greatest wetlands – Lyn Hughes
