Argentina Trip Planner: Buenos Aires, Patagonia, the Wine Country, and Beyond

Seven days fits Buenos Aires and Iguazú, ten covers Buenos Aires, Mendoza and El Calafate, and fourteen adds Bariloche or Salta. The regions are far apart, so plan domestic flights between them. Budget about US$40-70 a day as a backpacker, US$110-200 mid-range, or US$390+ for luxury.

Most travelers don't. Citizens of the US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia can enter Argentina visa-free for up to 90 days as tourists, with a passport valid for at least six months. You can extend once for another 90 days at a Dirección Nacional de Migraciones office for a fee of around US$50. Since July 2025, all foreign visitors must also show proof of travel health insurance covering their stay — confirm the current rules on the official migraciones site before you book.

Argentina is generally safe by regional standards, and Patagonia, Mendoza, and the wine country feel low-risk. The main concern is petty theft in Buenos Aires: pickpocketing and bag-snatching around crowded spots like La Boca, San Telmo market, and busy subte stations. Keep valuables out of sight, use a money belt or zipped bag, and take registered taxis or a ride app at night. Violent crime against tourists is uncommon.

It depends on the region, because the country spans subtropics to sub-Antarctic. For Patagonia (El Calafate, Bariloche, El Chaltén), go in the southern summer, roughly November to March. For Buenos Aires and the wine country, spring (October-November) and autumn (March-April) are mildest. Iguazú Falls run powerfully year-round but are most pleasant April to June, after the summer rains and before the cold. A multi-region trip in the shoulder months balances all of them.

Seven days covers Buenos Aires plus one natural wonder like Iguazú Falls. Ten days is the sweet spot for the classic loop: the capital, Mendoza's Malbec country, and the Perito Moreno Glacier at El Calafate. Two weeks lets you add a second Patagonia region (Bariloche's Lake District) or the red-rock northwest around Salta. The country is too big to rush, so match days to regions rather than trying to see everything.

Fly between the headline regions. Distances are continental — Buenos Aires to El Calafate is a three-hour flight — so domestic carriers like Aerolíneas Argentinas and Flybondi are how most travelers connect Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Iguazú, Bariloche, and Patagonia. Book early, as routes sell out and prices rise. Within Buenos Aires, the subte (metro), buses, and ride apps cover the city; in Mendoza and Patagonia, a rental car or organized day tours reach the wineries and parks.

Simpler than it used to be. Argentina lifted its currency controls in 2025, so the old 'blue dollar' gap has largely closed and the rates have converged. Paying with a foreign Visa or Mastercard now applies the favorable MEP rate automatically and often gives the best deal, so cards are the easy default. Still carry some US dollars or pesos for small vendors, markets, and cash discounts. Inflation remains high, so confirm prices as you go rather than trusting older figures.

Start with the asado: beef cooked over wood at a parrilla, ordered as bife de chorizo or ojo de bife, with chimichurri. Eat empanadas (the Salta and Tucumán styles are prized), provoleta grilled cheese, and milanesa. For sweets, try dulce de leche in everything and alfajores cookies. Drink Malbec from Mendoza, and join the ritual of sharing mate, the bitter herbal tea passed around among friends.

It helps a lot outside Buenos Aires and the main tourist hotels. English is common in upscale hotels, wineries, and tour operators, but bus drivers, small restaurants, and shops often speak only Spanish. Argentine Spanish has its own accent and slang (the 'sh' sound for 'll' and 'y', and 'vos' instead of 'tú'). A translation app and a few basic phrases go a long way.

It varies by region and changes with inflation. Buenos Aires and the wine country are reasonable for mid-range travelers, who do well on the equivalent of US$110-200 a day with a boutique hotel, good meals, and city transport. Patagonia is the costly exception: El Calafate and Bariloche lodges, glacier excursions, and remote logistics push budgets up. Domestic flights add a recurring cost, so factor them in early.