Recommended Stay Time

7 nights: 2 nights in Buenos Aires, 2 nights in El Calafate, 2 nights in Bariloche, 1 night in Buenos Aires (to fly back)

Currency

Argentinian Peso

Transport

South of Peru, Argentina has the same problem with the lack of low cost airlines, but once in Buenos Aires you can find cheap flights to the Patagonia. The capital city, Buenos Aires, has a decent public transport system, and you can get everywhere in buses, metro, trains, taxis or bicycles.

The southern cities of Bariloche and El Calafate run basically on buses and licensed taxis, but most hostels can arrange transportation to the main tourist attractions. I do recommend renting a car to make the most of the roads and sights.

Hotel

Buenos Aires offers many different hostels and hostels starting at 5 euros the night. Anywhere near el Obelisco, marked in the map, is great to be able to travel around. In the Patagonia, hotels are a little more expensive, which is why Airbnb is a better option.

Activities

Buenos Aires is packed with cultural activities. There are hundreds of theaters of many different sizes, many of them in Avenida Corrientes, a main road filled with restaurants, concert halls and stages. There is a show for everyone, I personally prefer comedies or stand up shows like “Mas Respeto que Soy tu Padre”, a favourite in my family. You can find tickets that fit all budgets, but you must definitely go watch at least one.

If you’re interested in a slightly different activity, visit Recoleta, the old graveyard just outside the city center. Huge mausoleums, crumbling gravestones and some very curious burial sites make the cemetery an unusual location for an evening walk.

You should also walk around Puerto Madero, the walkway next to the river, where you’ll find many restaurants and nice bars. Do not forget to window shop in Galerias Pacifico, the indoors mall with beautiful architecture and a glass ceiling.

The Patagonia is an entirely different trip. Whether you visit in the summer or wintertime, it is always beautiful and offers hundreds of activities.

When in El Calafate, the favourite attraction is Perito Moreno, an ancient glacier that surprises visitors every time. It is huge, and offers many different hikes for all tastes and physical effort. The forrest around the glacier can be explored in search of breathtaking views. The town itself is also very pretty, cozy, and perfect for a beer or hot chocolate after walking all day.

Bariloche, like El Calafate, gets very cold in the winter, but offers many different opportunities to explore the area. If you have the budget, do not hesitate to go skiing. I’ve skied in the Alps and the Rocky Mountains, but nothing compares to the soft slopes and incredible sights of the Andes. There are also many viewing points along the many roads that make excellent photo opportunities.

Food

Argentina has incredible food, whether in the capital or down in the Patagonia. A classic meal is the “asado” , meat and vegetables roasted in a bbq. Argentinian meat is famous world wide, and after tasting it you’ll see why. Restaurants like Piegaris, Happenings and Don Julio have many options for all types of budgets, and incredible mouth watering dishes. If you’re craving pasta, Amici Miei has a roquefort and cacao fettuccini that makes me cry. These are all in Buenos Aires.

Packing Tips

Argentina can get very cold in the winter, so make sure to pack warm clothes and hiking shoes. Summers are hot too, so light pants and sneakers are also very necessary.

Written by Sofia Bedoya-Lira