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After a fantastic first trip to this incredible country, I can’t wait to share my Argentina itinerary and help you plan the perfect holiday.
Due to my penchant for slow travel, I spent over a month in Argentina however I know most people don’t have that long. For that reason, I’ve put together a 2 week Argentina itinerary. Enjoy!
How to get around Argentina
The two main options are buses and flights. Since buses commonly take around 18 hours between some of the destinations listed below, I suggest flying if you have just two weeks in Argentina. Budget airlines include FlyBondi, Aerolineas and JetSmart.
What type of Argentina itinerary is this?
This is a fast paced 2 week itinerary for people who want to see as much as possible in a short trip. To slow it down, remove Patagonia or Mendoza (and drink wine in Cafayate in Jujuy instead if you’re headed there).
Buenos Aires – 2+ days
BA is a must for your Argentina itinerary. Even if you’re not a city person, you’ll probably fly into the capital. Also, you may need to transit again if you visit Iguazu and/or Patagonia.
I LOVED Buenos Aires; it’s my favourite city in South America. From cool neighbourhoods like San Telmo and Palermo to cultural attractions including museums and galleries, there’s so much to see and do. I also enjoyed the green spaces and the fantastic food and coffee scene!
With 2 days in Buenos Aires, I suggest…
Day 1: explore the centre and Recoleta including the famous cemetery. Don’t miss El Ateneo Grand Splendid voted one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores. Enjoy a steak dinner.
Day 2: explore San Telmo (ideally on a Sunday for the famous outdoor antiques market) and eat lunch in the covered market. In the afternoon, take a walking tour around colourful La Boca neighbourhood known for football and tango. Hit a tango show in the evening.
I recommend BA Free Walks; they have a tour for each notable area. Tip what you think it’s worth.
Top attractions
- Galleries – I visited Belles Artes (fine art), MALBA (Latin American art), Museo Moderno (modern art)
- Teatro Colon – catch a show if you can!
- Palacio Barolo based on Dante’s Divine Comedy – guided tours available
- Recoleta Cemetery – walking tours available
- Plaza de Mayo – historic square
- The parks including the Japanese Gardens
- Puerto Madero – the modern waterfront area.
Eat: pizza at Guerrin, choripan at La Choripaneria, fancy cakes at Confiteria Ideal, ice cream at Cadore and steak and empanadas just about anywhere!
Stay: the best areas to stay are Palermo and San Telmo. If you stay in hostels, I recommend America del Sur (chilled) Viajero or Milhouse (social, party hostels) in San Telmo, and PH Palermo in Palermo.
Patagonia – 3+ days
This world-famous region of snowy peaks, epic hikes and amazing nature was high on my bucket list and I’m so glad I ticked it off!
If you have just 2 weeks in Argentina, I suggest picking either the south, middle or north of Patagonia rather than attempting to squeeze it all in. You’d need 2 weeks+ for all of it!
North: Bariloche – paradise for adventurous sorts with opportunities to hike and kayak. Better yet, it’s known for its many Swiss chocolate shops.
Middle: El Calafate and El Chalten (more details to come).
South: Ushuaia and the end of the world. You won’t have time for an Antarctica cruise but you can still ride the Fin del Mundo train.
For an easy-to-visit region with epic hikes, I recommend the middle. Here’s how to spend your time…
El Calafate: although the town isn’t interesting or charming, it offers access to the majestic Perito Moreno glacier. Splash out to hike on the glacier or take the budget option of admiring it from the boardwalks. Stay at America del Sur hostel, a social base for solo travellers in Patagonia.
El Chalten: this hiker’s haven boasts many trails however the Tres Laguna route to the base of famous Mount Fitz Roy is the winner.
To get to Patagonia, fly in and out of El Calafate and take a return bus to El Chaten.
Day 3: travel from BA.
Day 4: visit Perito Moreno glacier. Stay overnight in El Calafate.
Day 5: travel to El Chalten and do an easy hike to the mirador.
Day 6: hike the Tres Lagunas trail (or any easier one if you can’t handle the icy 500m scramble at the end). Reward yourself with pizza at Laborum.
Day 7: bus back to El Calafate for an evening flight.
Mendoza: 2-3 days
If you love wine, then Mendoza should be on your Argentina itinerary, not to mention your culinary bucket list. It’s one of the top wine regions in the world known for its Malbec and other red varieties.
Although the wineries are out of the city, it’s easy to visit the Maipu valley with an organised tour and Lujan de Cuyo by catching a bus and hiring a bike from Baccus Bikes.
If time is tight, you can spend 2 days in Mendoza with a day in each wine area. If you can, add an extra day to explore the city, eat empanadas and walk in the lovely San Martin park.
Day 8: travel to Mendoza.
Day 9: Wine tasting. Choose Maipu or Lujan de Cuyo.
Day 10: Mendoza. Explore the other wine region or have a city day.
One way to trim down your itinerary is by skipping Mendoza and visiting the other wine region of Cafayate while in Jujuy. More about this next…
Getting to Mendoza: you’ll probably want to take a 1-hour flight from BA since the bus takes around 14 hours.
Salta & Jujuy
Here’s where it gets tricky if time’s tight. I spent 10 days in Salta & Jujuy but you can spend however long you want. Salta is a pleasant city with cultural attractions but it’s the surrounding nature that stole my heart.
Getting there: an 18-hour bus or 1-hour flight from Mendoza, or fly from BA.
Points of interest in Salta state:
- Humahuaca (3.5-hour drive from Salta) famous for the Hornocal AKA the 14 Colour Mountain located at the top of an elevated mountain pass
- Purmamarca (2.45-hour drive from Salta) – known for its 7 Colour Mountain located right in the town. Take the circular Paseo de los Colorados walk to admire the many colourful hills
- Selinas Grande salt pans – the third largest salt pan in the world created 10 million years ago by volcanos. Where could be better for a photo shoot?
With a tight 2 week Argentina itinerary, pick 1-2 places you’re most interested in. Hire a car, take a local bus trip (and be smart with timings so you don’t waste time travelling) or take organised day trips from Salta.
Points of interest in Jujuy state:
- Cafayate (3.5-hour drive from Salta) – a gorgeous wine region with a traditional town at its heart. Just a day is needed to visit the popular goat’s cheese farm and other wineries. There are day tours from Salta or stay overnight.
- Cachi – the appeal is the drive to this cute town along mountain passes and cactus-peppered plains. If you have a car, drive from Cafayate then back to Salta. If not, take a return day tour from Salta.
If you’re going to Chile next, save Salta ’til last and leave by bus destined for San Pedro de Atacama. Solo travellers, I have a girl’s guide to travelling alone in Chile for you!
Day 11: arrive in Salta and stay overnight.
Day 12: day tour to Humahuaca or Purmamarca & the Salt Flats. Stay overnight in Salta.
Day 13: day tour to Cafayate returning to Salta.
Day 14: day tour to Cachi (I’m suggesting staying overnight in Salta the whole time but you could also hire a car and drive from Salta to Cafayate to Cachi to Salta).
Alternative stop – Iguazu Falls
Flying out east and then back again is time-consuming (you’ll likely have to transit in BA before continuing your travels to Mendoza or Salta) but worth it to see these wild and wonderful waterfalls.
Voted a New 7Wonder of nature, Iguazu Falls can be viewed from both Argentina and Brazil. I’ve done both and thought it was more impressive in Argentina because the site is larger with a wider array of viewpoints.
It’s possible to catch a morning flight from BA and see the Falls in the afternoon if you’re in a rush. From the airport, it’s a 30-minute bus ride to the Falls so, if you have limited luggage, there’s no need to visit Puerto de Iguazu town first.
If you want to visit, swap out Mendoza or Patagonia from the above Argentina itinerary.
Note – if you’re heading to Brazil next, it’s easy to cross the border here. If you’re travelling alone, see my guide to solo female travel in Brazil.
FAQs
Is Argentina safe for tourists? Yes, I felt very safe even as a solo female traveller. In particular, Salta and Patagonia are super safe. The main place to be wary is Buenos Aires, in particular areas like La Boca. Act as you would in any big city by not walking at night and keeping your valuables tucked away.
Do I need to speak Spanish? It will certainly help to brush up on at least the basics. Yes, you can usually get by without it in touristy areas but you’ll have a better experience with locals if you’re polite – like anywhere!
What’s the currency? It’s Argentine pesos. Due to the sad financial crash and extreme inflation, the rate against foreign currencies has changed rapidly. Because of this, you can only get small amounts from ATMs so it’s recommended to bring USD or EUR bills for exchange, or send yourself money via the Western Union app and collect it in branch.
Thanks for reading my 2 week Argentina itinerary!
