With lakes, forests, deltas, glaciers, mountains and deserts, Argentina is known as being a country of extraordinary diversity and is even nicknamed ‘The Land of Six Continents’. Aside from its incredible natural beauty, the South American nation offers bustling cities like Buenos Aires, some of the best wine in the world, and cute creatures to boot.
Seeing it all in one hit is a serious challenge, but with our ‘compare tour packages’ tool you can choose the right itinerary for you and tick off at least a few of the most popular Argentina tourist attractions.
Get swept up in lively Buenos Aires
Cosmopolitan and colourful, South America’s most European-esque city rivals New York when it comes to lack of sleep. Its collection of neighbourhoods – nicknamed barrios – weave the vibrant social fabric that gives BA a refreshingly diverse immigrant urban centre.
Feel the passion of the Tango
Argentina is the birthplace of the Tango, the national dance of sensual ballroom couples found in theatres and bars strewn across the capital that evolved from its origins in late 19th-century ports and brothels. Many tours visiting cities like Buenos Aires will include a show as part of the itinerary, or you can try your hand at twisting your legs in a tango bar.
Malbec tasting in Mendoza
Argentina’s famed wine region is recognised as one of the eight wine capitals of the world. From humble beginnings with provincial vines rooted from Spain, intricate irrigation systems and a dry climate now fend off any unwanted grape disease to produce some of the finest reds. Many regions run winery – ‘bodega’ – tours where you can savour a glass of local Malbec.
Penguins, llamas and vicuñas
Get up close to the cheeky llamas and their relatives vicuñas, which are farmed in abundance in Argentina for their wool. There are plenty of options for visiting these critters under our tour comparison Argentina, while those who prefer creatures not prone to spitting may like to take a trip to the aptly-named Isla Pinguino to wonder at the waddling Magellanic penguins found there.
Soak up some Iguazu Falls spray
Argentina forms half the home of the spectacular Iguazu Falls – the largest waterfall system in the world and naturally one of the most popular Argentina tourist attractions. The massive Falls are hard to miss in their location bordering the Argentinian province of Misiones and Brazil’s state Parana.
Escape to idyllic San Carlos de Bariloche
German heritage romanced with vistas reminiscent of the Swiss Alps serve as the picturesque jumping ground for the surrounding lakes, forests and snow-capped mountains that form this popular winter sport destination. When summer hits across the Atlantic, plucky Latin American and European skiers head to this lakeside town in the Pantagonia region in search of a fresh dump of snow.
Sip Yerba Mate
Observe the common social circles of mate (“mAH-tay) drinkers, sipping through a metal straw a bitter herbal concoction infused with caffeine. Hot water is brewed over antioxidant yerba leaves, sieved from a calabash gourd. This is essentially the Latin flavour to green tea and is a true staple in the Argentinian diet.
Meet Argentina’s national symbol: Cowboys
Saddle up with traditional Pampas and Patagonian gauchos, and an open invitation to visit a working ‘estancia’ cattle ranch. Prime beef cuts and folklore music are lassoed in, together with a galloping game of ring lancing on horseback. Ponchos obligatory.
Beef, beef and beef
Chew hard in a local parilla, as beef steaks are a delicacy too juicy to miss. Grass-fed cattle industry on the vast country pastures are slow cooked ‘asado’ style. These carnivorous (and cheap) protein fixes come in so many dish varieties even the most ravenous carnivore could not run out of options.
Don’t Cry for Me Argentina
Eva Perón, wife of popular 1940s President Juan, yelled to the world stage when Madonna played her in the movie Evita. Her social measures for the poor and working class have since led to belting renditions of her anthem, and thereafter visits to her final resting place in Recoleta cemetery.
To the edge of Tierro Del Fuego
This ends-of-the-earth archipelago at the southern-most tip of the continent is shrouded in mystery amid spectacular vistas of lakes, snowy mountains and trees sculpted by wind long before humans ever stepped foot in the ‘Land of Fire’. Nearby Ushuaia is the world’s most southerly city before the next great expedition – Antarctica.
Falkland Islands-Islas Malvinas
This hotly-contested archipelago in the South Atlantic is officially under control of the British crown – though Argentinians have been known to dispute that once or twice, including during the Falklands War in the 1980s. Here you’ll find a somewhat bizarre mix of English pubs and red phone boxes, a road named after Maggie Thatcher, and plenty of penguins.
Courtney Gahan is a serial expat, traveller and freelance writer who has bartered with Moroccan marketeers, seen the sun rise at Angkor Wat and elbowed her way through crowds on NYE in NYC