Last year, I spent two and a half months traveling in Argentina. From six weeks in Buenos Aires to Patagonia, I covered a good amount of ground. There was a lot to appreciate in the country. Patagonia was by far my favorite region, followed by Mendoza and Cordoba. If and when I return, it'd be to visit Iguazu Falls, Bariloche, and Salta.
Highlights
- My First 24 Hours in Buenos Aires, where I met up with friends Mike and Stephanie.
- Ice Climbing on Viedma Glacier was a dream come true, and we got to walk under it.
- Perito Moreno Glacier
- Flying a plane over the Beagle Channel in Ushuaia
- Tango Porteno dinner show in Buenos Aires
- Learning to dance tango
- Boca Juniors soccer match
- Graffiti tour
- Buenos Aires Zoo
- Japanese Zen Gardens
- Proximity to Uruguay (an easy day trip to Colonia or Montevideo by ferry)
- Churches of Cordoba
- Che Guevara's house in Alta Gracia
- Bicycle wine tour in Mendoza (one of two wine tours I did there)
- A scenic bus ride from Mendoza to Santiago
Lowlights
My Canon S100 camera broke on the last day of my Patagonia trip, on the flight from Ushuaia back to Buenos Aires.
I later learned it was due to a manufacturer defect. Luckily, Eric and Shaun of Overyonderlust.com had a friend coming to visit from the USA, and he was willing to receive and bring me a replacement S100.
Coming back to a hostel to find my storage "locker" ajar and immediately thinking the other guy in the room (who'd checked out while I was gone) had robbed me. All my belongings, money, and passport were OK, but I'm now much more careful about securing my belongings.
Food & Drink
- Easily the best steaks I've had in Latin America
- Copious amounts of Argentine wine
- Alfajores
- Gelato is the best I've had in Latin America, and it competes with the Europeans.
- Dulce de Leche
- Mate, their herbal tea
- Eating my way through Patagonia (King Crab chowder and the lamb, especially)
- The Best Parillas in Buenos Aires
- 5 Restaurant Recommendations in Palermo Soho
Average Cost Per Day
I don't have exact figures, but I was surprised at the cost of living in Argentina. It was higher than I expected. I'd estimate 25% higher than Colombia or Peru.
Sample Expenses:
- $800 - Studio apartment rental in Buenos Aires' Palermo Soho neighborhood (via Airbnb)
- $140 - Cost of entry/tourist visa for American citizens
- $120 - Boca Juniors game (when booked as an organized trip through a hostel)
- $50 - Hourly rate for private tango lessons
- $20 - Cost of a dorm room at a popular hostel in Buenos Aires (old building, average facilities)
By comparison, I found Uruguay to be about 25% more expensive than Argentina.
