One of Argentina's primary draws is its unique geography. Everything is included in it, from arid deserts to muggy jungles, lengthy coastal beaches to the towering Andes. Argentina's cultural, artistic, and architectural heritage is as diverse as its geography, which stretches from the subtropical north to the subantarctic areas of stunning Patagonia in the south. These influences come from all over the world.
With its great barrios, which include vibrant artistic communities like La Boca, historic Recoleta, and trendy areas like Palermo, Buenos Aires occasionally evokes thoughts of Europe rather than Latin America. The greatest spot to start exploring is in this vibrant capital city, which is also the ideal place to learn the tango, the most well-known of all Argentinian dances.
The country's natural treasures, especially the stunning Iguaz Falls, the largest series of waterfalls in the world, are also major draws, and for some tourists, they represent the country's greatest allure.
Use this helpful list of Argentina's top tourist attractions to ensure you find all the greatest places to go and activities to do.
1.Iguaz Falls
At Argentina's border with Brazil, the breathtaking Iguaz Falls are located, with Iguazu National Park on the Argentinean side and Iguaçu National Park on the Brazilian side. These enormous waterfalls, which are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are unquestionably one of South America's most breathtaking views.
Because to a network of easily accessible walkways and viewing platforms created to provide the greatest views, including some near the bottom of the falls, a location known as the Devil's Throat, visitors can get pretty close to these thundering falls.
Iguazu is actually made up of between 150 and 300 distinct falls along its roughly three-kilometer edge, with the exact number shifting according on the season. The falls range in height from 60 to 82 metres and are all equally beautiful. It's rather simple to go to, especially if travelling from Buenos Aires, as it is serviced by an international airport in Argentina (and one in adjacent Brazil).
2. Perito Moreno Glacier
The little hamlet of El Calafate serves as the primary entry point for travellers travelling to the Los Glaciares National Park, which is located in Patagonia and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The majority of visitors embark on excursions from this location to view the park's well-known glaciers, especially the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier, a vast 30-kilometer-long ice formation and the third-largest freshwater reserve in the world, located just 78 kilometres from the town.
The big tourist centre for the glacier, which bears the name of a 19th-century explorer, is only a two-hour drive from El Calafate. Ice trekking tours, which range from a one-hour stroll across the ice formation to larger five-hour excursions, are offered for people who desire to climb the glacier.
The 3,359-meter-tall Mount Fitz Roy, a breathtakingly gorgeous mountain that spans the border with Chile and is reputedly more difficult to climb than Everest, is another significant aspect of Los Glaciares National Park.
3. Tango, Recoleta, and La Boca in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, one of the most beautiful and largest cities in South America, is frequently the first impression that most visitors will receive of Argentina before continuing on to well-known tourist locations like Patagonia.
The wise ones, however, will stay longer and explore the numerous lovely museums and art galleries situated in the magnificent old colonial structures dispersed across the city's districts or barrios.
Visit La Boca, the most vibrant district in Buenos Aires, which is also home to the eccentric Caminito Street Museum. La Boca is known for its brilliantly painted homes, humorous sculptures, cafés, music, and street tango dancers.
Another must-see is fashionable Recoleta, home to the Recoleta Cemetery and its magnificent mausoleums housing the remains of notable Argentinians like Eva (Evita) Perón, as well as a number of public gardens, museums, art galleries, cafés, and speciality stores.
If you have time, you should also check out Palermo and Belgrano, which feature expansive boulevards and opulent homes, as well as the charming Plaza de Mayo in the city's centre.
4. Tierra del Fuego National Park
Tierra del Fuego National Park, which covers 156,000 acres, stretches from Beagle Channel to the Chilean Border and northward to Lago Kami. There are trails for hikers of every skill level, making it a hiking paradise.
Adventurers can use the town of Ushuaia as a base to explore the park's breathtaking environment, which includes everything from high waterfalls, deep woods, and mountains to stunning glacier-fed lakes like Roca and Fagnano.
Senda Costera, a coastal trail from Ensenada Bay to Lake Roca that offers the ability to witness a diverse range of animals, including Andean condors, is one of the most well-known routes.
Take a ride on the magnificent Southern Fuegian Railway, a beautiful old steam train that travels through the park to Caadon de Toro, if you'd rather take in the sights in comfort.
5. Puerto Madryn and the Peninsula of Valdés
One of the most protected areas along the Patagonian coast is where the city of Puerto Madryn is located on the shores of Golfo Nuevo. The city, which was founded by Welsh immigrants in 1886, is one of the most well-liked cruise destinations in Argentina due to its deep-water port and an abundance of natural reserves.
Water sport aficionados are drawn to its rocky shoreline, especially windsurfers who relish braving the ferocious Patagonian winds. The Valdez Peninsula, a significant environmental reserve recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rich fauna, offers plenty of activities for nature lovers.
Visitors typically depart the reserve having seen everything from right whales (here to mate and calve), along with elephant seals, sea lions, and orcas. Guided tours of the area are essential. Also, it serves as a crucial nesting location for migrating shorebirds, particularly Magellanic penguins.
The Natural Science and Oceanographic Museum, housed in a stunning historic structure overlooking the port, offers information on the environment of this lovely shore. The museum has exhibits of Patagonian plants and animals, including a whale skeleton and an intriguing big squid exhibit.
6. Ushuaia: The Last Frontier
Patagonia, in the southernmost tip of Argentina, is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, which feature a dramatic blending of the Andes with extensive stretches of grasslands and plateaus. At Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the globe, most adventures begin.
This town on Beagle Channel, which was first established as a penal colony in the early 20th century and is now a well-liked starting point for expeditions to Antarctica or around Cape Horn, is surrounded by a distinctive landscape of mountains, sea, glaciers, and woods on the edge of the Tierra del Fuego National Park, with its breathtaking scenery and diverse flora and fauna.
The End of the World Museum and the San Juan de Salvamento Lighthouse, often known as the End of the World Lighthouse, were both constructed in 1884 on the Isla de los Estados. You can see displays here on the natural history of the area, life among the aboriginal people, and early penal colonies.
Due to its extensive collection of nautical artefacts and scale replicas of illustrious ships, including Darwin's Beagle, the Maritime Museum of Ushuaia, located in the town's renowned old military jail, is well worth a visit.
The Beagle Channel, so named because it runs through the centre of the national park, was created by Charles Darwin's ship, and you may go on a boat and travel across it in Ushuaia.
7. Bariloche and the Seven Lakes Road
San Carlos de Bariloche, also known as Bariloche, is a bustling city located in Patagonia's northern Lake District and Nahuel Huapi National Park.
in the height of the northern summer, skiers, especially those from the Northern Hemisphere seeking snow, swarm to Bariloche for the adjacent Cerro Catedral, the tallest of its summits and a well-known ski resort.
Cerro Catedral, one of the biggest ski resorts in South America, has more than 100 kilometres of skiable terrain and is renowned for its breathtaking views of Nahuel Huapi Lake, which is located in the midst of the national park.
Highlights
— Lee Harrison, (@MalvernWorld) January 17, 2023
⭐⭐Explore the sights and sounds of Buenos Aires
⭐⭐Visit one of Argentina’s biggest attractions - the Perito Moreno Glacier
⭐⭐Be awe-inspired by the dramatic scenery of Southern Patagonia
⭐⭐Visit the wo - https://t.co/Kgm8TpMgi6 pic.twitter.com/54QCCWcAkN
The mountains, lakes, waterfalls, woods, glaciers, and extinct volcanoes of the park may all be explored from Bariloche, which is a hub for active adventure. Despite the abundance of hiking, rafting, cycling, and climbing opportunities in the area, tourists can visit the alpine lakes of Nahuel Huapi, Espejo, Escondido, Falkner, Villarino, Correntoso, and Machónico by taking the Trail of the Seven Lakes.
8. Mendoza,
Mendoza is unquestionably one of Argentina's most stunning cities. Its Art Deco buildings make it a favourite among outdoor aficionados year-round. Skiers from all over South America flock to the well-known resorts of Las Leas, known for its challenging terrain, and Los Penitentes, located just 25 kilometres from Chile's border, when the snow starts to fall, to experience some of the best ski slopes in the Andes.
These same places are popular in the summer with hikers and climbers, many of whom have their sights set on the 6,960-meter-tall Aconcagua mountain. Whitewater rafting and trail riding are two more outdoor pursuits; some equestrian stables even offer overnight camping excursions.
Mendoza, which is also well-known for its production of olive oil, is home to numerous museums, annual festivals, and a vibrant Central Market (Mercado Central), where people shop for fruit, meat, and seafood as well as where tourists may find food stalls and establishments for eating.
9. The historic Cathedral of Cordoba
The second-largest city in Argentina, Córdoba, is located in central Argentina and is five hours' drive from Buenos Aires. It is frequently utilised as a stopover on journeys into the Andes. Early 16th-century colonial times are when the majority of the city's most beautiful older structures were constructed.
Discover the city's historical core surrounding Plaza San Martin, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stunning Cathedral of Cordoba, a magnificent fusion of Baroque and Neoclassical styles, can be found here. It was first constructed as a Roman Catholic church in this location in 1580.
https://utravelo.com/en/activities-in-hartford-connecticut
The building, much of which is from the 18th century, has beautiful frescoes and murals painted by renowned Argentinean artist Emilio Caraffa, a native of Cordoba, in its opulent interior.
Also take note of the distinctive silver altar and a significant assortment of gold votive offerings. Some notable Argentinians rest in peace in the crypts located below.
You may take tango classes at the Cabildo, a cultural hub, and mingle with residents who frequent the space to dance, which is one of the most popular things to do in Argentina.
10. Mar del Plata beaches
On the Atlantic coast, 400 kilometres from Buenos Aires, in the relatively new city of Mar del Plata, are some of South America's best beaches. Almost eight kilometres of the coastline are highlighted by stunning cliffs and windswept dunes in addition to the lovely beaches.
The Chica and Grande beaches are closest to Mar del Plata's current cruise ship ports. Sea lions frequent these beaches as well; several of them hang out near the city's fishing wharves.
The city, which was once a playground for the wealthy, is now a mix of elegant old houses and contemporary resorts along the beautiful shoreline with its many parks, squares, and gardens.
The fantastic Juan Manuel Fangio Museum, which honours one of the greatest Formula One racers in history and houses more than 100 cars and 500 trophies, is located in Mar del Plata. An display honouring the original automobile, an 1886 Daimler, is a highlight.
A trip to the Mar del Plata Aquarium, which features numerous aquatic attractions like dolphin and seal performances, penguins, tortoises, and flamingos, is one of the most well-liked family activities.
11. Cafayate
Cafayate is a small town with just over 12,000 population that is situated in the province of Salta in the northwest of the nation. Despite being lovely and having some worthwhile attractions, such as an archaeological museum with artefacts from the local Indigenous people, the majority of visitors arrive here on their route to the Quebrada de Cafayate (or Quebrada de las Conchas).
The quebrada, a region famous for its imposing reddish rock formations, offers one of South America's most breathtaking drives along Route 68. More than 60 kilometres of paved roads wind through the vibrant sandstone, providing many opportunities for stops to see the coasts of the River de las Conchas, towers made of sandstone and clay, and tight gorges.
12. Southern Fuegian Railroad
This gauge steam railway, also referred to as the "Train of the End of the Earth," is thought to be the southernmost railway in the world. It used to connect the prison colony at Ushuaia with other communities, but these days it offers a lovely tourist journey into Tierra del Fuego National Park.
The train leaves the End of the World station along new tracks (the old ones are still visible nearby), passing by a heavily forested ravine with stunning peaks all around. The valley is covered in greens and reds throughout the year, but in the winter, everything is coated in a thick layer of snow. Before entering the national park, the train stops so that passengers can take pictures at a nearby waterfall.
Onboard, first-class travellers will have the opportunity to sample some regional favourites including empanadas, a fried or baked pastry filled with cheese or meat, and alfajores, biscuits filled with thick caramel.
13. Miniature Ruins of San Ignacio
A number of Jesuit missions were established in the northern province of Misiones, close to the Brazilian border, back in the 1600s, during the time of Spanish colonial rule. The mission housed nearly 3,000 Indigenous people at one time, but as the Jesuits left the nation, the structures were left in ruins. The San Ignacio Mini are the biggest and still best-preserved mission ruins in the nation and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The first mission, which was huge and had a monastery, a cabildo (administration office), a cemetery, and a variety of dwelling areas, was constructed in red-brown stone in the Guaran Baroque architectural style. The best-preserved area of the ruins is the church, which was 74 metres long and 24 metres wide.
A scale replica of the original San Ignacio Mini is displayed at the small on-site museum that chronicles the history of the mission.
14. Querrada de Humahuaca
Deep ravines in Argentina are referred to as quebrada, which means "broken" in Spanish. A excellent example of a stunning ravine with a wild river running through it in the summer is the 155-kilometer-long Quebrada de Humahuaca in the country's northwest (the river dries up in winter).
This dry valley, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was once a vital commerce route and a part of the Inca Empire. Currently, the majority of visitors come here for its beauty, a combination of reds, pinks, and oranges that almost appear to have been painted on the hills around.
An additional must-see is Iruya, a little village nearby the quebrada with about 1,000 residents. At a height of almost 2,700 metres, it is built into the slope and provides breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and lush valleys. Dirt roads, historic homes, and vibrant festivities with Indigenous-inspired features may all be photographed in the town.
15. Theatre Colón
Due to its exceptional acoustics, the major opera house in Buenos Aires is regarded as one of the top opera theatres in the entire world. The Teatro Colón, which was constructed in 1908 to replace an earlier theatre that had been there, was once a very popular venue for some of the largest international opera companies and a favourite of Luciano Pavarotti. There have been performances here by Rudolf Nureyev, Maria Callas, Plácido Domingo, and Julio Bocca.
The interior of the theatre is much more spectacular than the exterior of the structure. It has slightly fewer than 2,500 seats, is entirely decked in reds and golds, and features elements of both French and Italian architecture. The beautiful cupola of the theatre was painted by artist and production designer Ral Soldi.
The theatre is also renowned for its top-notch scenic and costume departments.
16. Mount Aconcagua
Aconcagua is undoubtedly stunning as the Southern Hemisphere's tallest mountain. The mountain is in the Andes, near to Chile's border, and has a top elevation of 6,961 metres. As one of the Seven Summits, the ultimate climbing list that contains the highest mountains on each continent, Aconcagua has unique significance for climbers.
The mountain is located inside the boundaries of Aconcagua Provincial Park, a wilderness area where visitors can engage in outdoor pursuits including skiing and hiking. The Horcones-Confluencia trail transports hikers to the basecamp on the ascent to the summit for those who are up for something a little more difficult. The track is 14 kilometres long and rises 538 metres.
The park's Laguna Horcones, a gorgeous blue lake fed by glaciers, is another well-liked destination.
17. Salinas Grandes
These magnificent salt flats, the third largest in the world and located 180 metres above sea level, span two provinces and cover an area of more than 4,700 square kilometres. Aside from empty roads, walnut tree plantations, lagoons, red sandstone mountains, and the occasional herd of cute vicuas, this is a lonesome, barren, and breathtakingly gorgeous environment.
If you visit during the day, there will probably be workers there because this is an active salt flat. They'll be happy to take you around and explain how the salt is scraped and washed if you speak any Spanish. If not, you can simply stroll around and take in their breathtaking beauty, which is unbounded.
The majority of travellers begin their journey in Purmamarca, a nearby village where little over 2,000 people make a living by either working in the salt flats or hawking goods to tourists in the town market. Moreover, excursions to the adjacent Cerro de los Siete Colores as well as treks to the salt flats depart from here (The Hill of Seven Colors).