✨ Why This Trip?
The Big Picture
Argentina is one of the most varied countries on the planet and this itinerary covers five completely different worlds. You start in Buenos Aires — one of the great cities of the Americas, with the food, nightlife, and architecture of Europe and the energy of South America. A day trip to Montevideo gives you a completely different pace: calm, colonial, and underrated. Then you fly north to Iguazú Falls — two days at one of the most spectacular natural wonders on the planet, where Devil's Throat drops 80 metres of thundering water in front of you and a speedboat drives you directly into the cascade. Mendoza is for the palate — Malbec at altitude, horseback riding through endless vineyards, and some of the best steak you will ever eat. Then the world changes entirely: Los Glaciares National Park delivers Perito Moreno, one of the only glaciers in the world that is still growing, and one of the most extraordinary natural spectacles on the planet. Standing on 30 metres of blue ice while it calves thunderously into the lake is not something you forget.
🇦🇷
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The Paris of South America · San Telmo · Palermo · La Boca
Days 1–4
💃 Must-Do Experiences — Buenos Aires
🎫 Powered by Viator
Tango at a San Telmo Milonga
Skip the tourist dinner-tango shows and go to a real milonga in San Telmo instead — a neighbourhood dance hall where porteños come to actually dance. El Arranque and La Catedral are the two most beloved. Arrive after 11pm (tango starts late), watch from the edges, and if you're brave, join in. Even as a spectator, watching true tango danced by the people who grew up with it is one of the most electric experiences Buenos Aires offers.
Book Tour →
Parrilla Crawl — Eat All the Steak
Argentine beef is not hype. A proper parrilla (wood-fire grill) in Buenos Aires — Don Julio in Palermo, La Brigada in San Telmo, or El Pobre Luis in Belgrano — will serve you a bife de chorizo or entraña that redefines what beef can taste like. Order a bottle of Malbec, eat a provoleta (grilled cheese) while you wait, and take your time. This is not fast food — this is the whole point of coming here.
Book Tour →
Recoleta Cemetery — The Most Beautiful Cemetery in the World
This sounds odd until you're inside it. Recoleta is a city of marble mausoleums — grandiose above-ground tombs packed together like mansions in a miniature city, dating back to 1822. Evita Perón is here, in a relatively modest crypt given the scale of her legend. Free to enter, stunning in the late afternoon light, and deeply fascinating as a portrait of Argentine history. One of the most unique sights in South America.
Book Tour →
🏨 Where to Stay — Buenos Aires
Duque Hotel Boutique & Spa, Palermo
⭐⭐⭐⭐ · ~$120–180/night · 9.1 on Booking.com
A beautifully restored 1920s mansion in the heart of Palermo Soho — 20 individually decorated rooms, rooftop terrace with city views, a small spa, and one of the best breakfasts in the neighbourhood. Surrounded by Palermo's best restaurants, wine bars, and boutiques. The kind of hotel that feels genuinely boutique rather than just branded that way. Excellent value for Buenos Aires.
Book on Booking.com →
⛴️
Buenos Aires → Montevideo · Morning Buquebus Ferry (~2.5h)
Leave your luggage at your Buenos Aires hotel — this is a day trip and you'll be back tonight. The Buquebus high-speed ferry runs multiple times daily from Puerto Madero. Take the earliest morning crossing (~7–8am) to maximise your time in Montevideo. You clear immigration onboard. Book in advance as it sells out, especially on weekends.
🇺🇾
Montevideo, Uruguay
Day Trip from Buenos Aires · Colonial Old Town · Rambla waterfront · The calmest capital in South America
Day 5
🌊 Must-Do Experiences — Montevideo
🎫 Powered by Viator
Walk the Old Town & the Rambla at Sunset
Start in Ciudad Vieja — Montevideo's compact, walkable Old Town — at Plaza Independencia, then wind through the colonial streets to the Mercado del Puerto, an iron-frame market hall from 1868. Have a chivito (Uruguay's legendary steak sandwich) and a medio y medio (half still, half sparkling wine) for about $12. Then head to the Rambla, Montevideo's 22km waterfront promenade and the heart of daily life — joggers, families sharing maté, fishermen casting into the Río de la Plata. Walk east toward Pocitos as the sun drops behind the city. The light on the water here is extraordinary.
Book Tour →
⛴️
Montevideo → Buenos Aires · Evening Ferry Back (~2.5h)
Leave your luggage at your Buenos Aires hotel before catching the morning ferry to Montevideo — this is a day trip, not an overnight. Take the evening Buquebus back to Buenos Aires (~2.5h) and spend one final night in the city. This way you explore Montevideo completely hands-free, then fly to Mendoza fresh the next morning. Book the return ferry for around 6–7pm to give yourself a full afternoon on the Rambla.
✈️
Buenos Aires → Puerto Iguazú · Fly (~2h)
Direct flights from Buenos Aires Aeroparque to Puerto Iguazú take about 2 hours. Aerolíneas Argentinas and LATAM both run multiple daily services. Puerto Iguazú is a small, relaxed border town — the falls are 20 minutes away. Book a hotel on the Argentine side for easy early morning access to the park before the crowds arrive.
🇦🇷
Iguazú Falls, Argentina
One of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World · Devil's Throat · Jungle & toucans
Days 6–7
💧 Must-Do Experiences — Iguazú
🎫 Powered by Viator
Devil's Throat, the Argentine Side & Brazilian Panorama — One Tour Does All Three
Devil's Throat (Garganta del Diablo) is the centrepiece — a U-shaped canyon where 14 cataracts converge into a single 80-metre thundering drop, with a viewing platform suspended directly above it. Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly said "Poor Niagara!" when she first saw it. Most full-day tours combine this with the Argentine Lower Circuit walkways and a crossing to the Brazilian side, which gives you the sweeping panoramic view of the entire 2.7km arc of falls that the Argentine side can't offer. The two perspectives are completely different and together they tell the full story of Iguazú. Get to the park at 8am, train straight to Devil's Throat first, then work your way through the Lower Circuit before crossing to Brazil. Book a guided tour — they handle the border crossing and logistics so you don't waste a minute.
Book Tour →
Gran Aventura Speedboat — Into the Falls
An open zodiac speedboat that drives directly into the curtain of falling water. You go in twice. Both times you are completely, entirely, laughing-uncontrollably drenched. The ride runs through the Lower Circuit jungle first — coatis and toucans overhead — before the boat accelerates straight toward San Martín Falls. It is absurd and brilliant and absolutely do not bring anything you don't want destroyed by water. Many tours include this as an add-on to the Argentine side visit — book it for the afternoon to round out one of the best single days of adventure travel in South America.
Book Tour →
🏨 Where to Stay — Puerto Iguazú
Rincón Escondido B&B, Puerto Iguazú
⭐⭐⭐⭐ · ~$80–130/night · 9.1 on Booking.com
A genuine hidden gem — 7 rooms, lush tropical garden, outdoor pool, and one of the best hosts in Puerto Iguazú. Owner Pablo greets every guest personally, briefs you on the falls, calls your taxi, and will happily hold your bags late so you can squeeze in a final swim. Free continental breakfast every morning, free bikes, and walking distance to the town's best restaurants. If you want boutique charm without the boutique price tag, this is the one. The kind of B&B that gets mentioned in reviews with actual affection.
Book on Booking.com →
✈️
Iguazú → Mendoza · Fly (~3h via Buenos Aires)
Most flights from Puerto Iguazú to Mendoza connect through Buenos Aires (~3–4h total). Fly out afternoon of Day 7 after your Brazilian side morning. Aerolíneas Argentinas is the main carrier on both legs. Mendoza is 760m above sea level in the Andes foothills — slightly cooler, much drier, and smelling of eucalyptus. You'll know immediately why the wine is special.
🇦🇷
Mendoza, Argentina
Malbec capital of the world · Andes foothills · Wine country & horseback riding
Days 8–11
🍷 Must-Do Experiences — Mendoza
🎫 Powered by Viator
Malbec Wine Tasting — Luján de Cuyo & Maipú
Mendoza's two main wine regions — Luján de Cuyo and Maipú — produce some of the world's best Malbec, and visiting the bodegas (wineries) is nothing like a stuffy European château tour. Many are working family estates with tasting rooms in converted barns, olive groves, and views straight up to the snow-capped Andes. Achaval Ferrer, Zuccardi Valle de Uco, and Catena Zapata are the three you shouldn't miss. Book at least two bodegas per day and eat lunch at whichever has the best kitchen. They all have kitchens.
Book Tour →
Horseback Riding Through the Vineyards
One of the best ways to see Mendoza's wine country is on horseback — riding through vine rows at sunset with the Andes turning pink behind you is an image that doesn't leave you. Several estancias outside Mendoza offer half-day and full-day rides through working vineyards with wine tastings at the end. No experience necessary. The horses here are calm and the guides are excellent. Bring sunscreen — the Andean sun at altitude is fierce.
Book Tour →
Day Trip to Aconcagua & the Andes
The RN7 highway west from Mendoza follows the Mendoza River up into the Andes toward the Chilean border, passing the Aconcagua Provincial Park — home to the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere at 6,961m. You don't need to climb it. A guided day trip takes you to the base camp viewpoint where Aconcagua fills the entire sky, through the dramatic Uspallata Valley, and past the Puente del Inca — a natural stone bridge spanning a turquoise sulphur river. One of the most striking landscapes in South America, two hours from Mendoza's city centre.
Book Tour →
🏨 Where to Stay — Mendoza
Lares de Chacras, Chacras de Coria
⭐⭐⭐⭐ · ~$110–175/night · 9.4 on Booking.com
A beautiful family-owned boutique hotel in the village of Chacras de Coria, 15 minutes from Mendoza city centre and right in the heart of wine country. Ten individually decorated rooms with stone and timber Andean architecture, a pool and jacuzzi in a lush garden, an excellent wine cellar you can access yourself, and a restaurant serving regional dinners paired with local Malbec. Surrounded by vineyards, with several bodegas within walking distance and some of the best restaurants in Mendoza right on the village square. Warm, personal service from a team that feels like family. Consistently one of the most-loved small hotels in Argentina.
Book on Booking.com →
✈️
Mendoza → El Calafate · Fly (~3h, usually via Buenos Aires)
Most flights from Mendoza to El Calafate connect through Buenos Aires (~3–4h total). Aerolíneas Argentinas is the main carrier. El Calafate is a small town built entirely around tourism to Los Glaciares National Park — there is one reason to come here and it is Perito Moreno. Book your park visit for the morning after you arrive to give yourself the full day.
🇦🇷
El Calafate & Los Glaciares National Park
UNESCO World Heritage · Perito Moreno Glacier · Patagonian steppe
Days 12–17
🧊 Must-Do Experiences — Los Glaciares
🎫 Powered by Viator
Ice Trek on Perito Moreno Glacier — The Big One
Perito Moreno is one of the few glaciers in the world still advancing rather than retreating — a 30km wall of blue ice that pushes forward 2 metres per day and periodically collapses into Lago Argentino with a sound like a cannon. The mirador walkways give you extraordinary close-up views of the face for free. But if you do one thing here, strap on crampons and walk on the glacier itself — the "Mini Trekking" or "Big Ice" tours take you onto the ice surface where you navigate crevasses, seracs, and blue meltwater channels. They end with a whisky on a glacier chip. There is nothing on Earth quite like it.
Book Tour →
Kayak Perito Moreno — At Water Level, Up Close
This is the glacier from a completely different perspective — sitting in a kayak at water level, paddling directly in front of the ice wall, watching it tower above you. The tour includes 1.5 hours on the water in a Gore-Tex dry suit with guides in kayaks alongside, followed by hot drinks, a box lunch, and two hours of free time on the walkways. Transfer from El Calafate included. No previous kayaking experience required. One of the most memorable ways to experience Perito Moreno — and hearing the ice calve from water level is something else entirely.
Book Tour →
Day Trip to El Chaltén & Mount Fitz Roy
El Chaltén is 3 hours north of El Calafate and is Argentina's trekking capital — a tiny village at the base of Mount Fitz Roy, the jagged granite spire that defines Patagonian photography. The Laguna de los Tres hike (8h return, 1,200m elevation gain) takes you to a glacial lake directly beneath the Fitz Roy massif. On a clear day, it's one of the most spectacular views in the world. A guided day trip from El Calafate makes the logistics simple — they drive you there, you hike, they drive you back.
Book Tour →
🎟️ Los Glaciares Park Entry
Los Glaciares National Park charges a foreign visitor entry fee of approximately
USD $25–35 (payable in ARS at the official rate or USD cash). Buy your entry ticket online in advance at
the park website or through your tour operator. The walkways and mirador viewing platforms are included in the entry fee. Ice trekking tours are booked separately through licensed operators — Hielo y Aventura is the main official provider and books out fast in summer (November–March).
🏨 Where to Stay — El Calafate
Esplendor by Wyndham El Calafate
⭐⭐⭐⭐ · ~$110–200/night · TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice · Top 10% globally
The standout boutique hotel in El Calafate — a stylish, design-forward property with stunning panoramic views of Lake Argentino and the Andes from almost every room. Individually designed rooms with dark timber and Patagonian materials, an indoor heated pool, spa, and a restaurant serving proper Patagonian lamb and local wines. Located centrally, within easy walking distance of the town's restaurants and shops. Staff consistently praised for helpfulness with tours and glacier logistics. The best-reviewed hotel in El Calafate that won't require a second mortgage.
Book on Booking.com →
💡 Trip Planning Tips
💡 Key tips: Buenos Aires is one of the world's great restaurant cities — book Don Julio at least 2 weeks in advance or join the walk-in queue at 7pm. The Buquebus ferry to Montevideo books out on weekends — reserve your tickets at least a week ahead at buquebus.com. At Iguazú, get to the park gates the moment they open (8am) and go straight to Devil's Throat — the difference between arriving at 8am and 10am is hundreds of people. Bring a dry bag or a waterproof phone case for the Gran Aventura speedboat — you will be completely soaked, this is not an exaggeration. In Mendoza, rent a bike in Maipú for the day rather than taking taxis between bodegas — it's the traditional way and costs about $10. Los Glaciares National Park is best visited October–April (Patagonian summer) — outside this window many services close and weather is severe. Perito Moreno ice trekking requires booking 1–2 weeks ahead in high season (January–February). Argentina operates a complex currency system — always carry USD cash as the unofficial exchange rate gives significantly better value than official bank rates. Bring warm layers even in summer; Patagonia weather changes in minutes. El Chaltén has no ATMs that reliably accept foreign cards — withdraw cash in El Calafate before going.
🐧 What About Ushuaia?
Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world — and it's genuinely extraordinary, with penguin colonies at Estancia Harberton, the End of the World train, and Tierra del Fuego National Park on your doorstep. Walking among Magellanic penguins in their natural habitat is one of those rare wildlife experiences that lives up to every expectation. But here's the thing: if there's even a chance you'll do Antarctica one day, save Ushuaia for then. Almost every Antarctica expedition cruise departs from Ushuaia, which means you'd fly in a few days before embarkation, explore the city and its penguins, and then sail south through the Drake Passage. Doing it as a standalone side trip now and then again as your Antarctica gateway would be a shame — it deserves to be the beginning of the greatest trip of your life, not a box ticked early. Add it to the list. Keep it sacred.
The Ultimate Argentina Itinerary — Everything You Need to Know
Planning the best Argentina itinerary means choosing between too many incredible places. This 17-day Argentina and Uruguay route is designed to hit the true highlights — Buenos Aires tango and steak, a day trip to Montevideo, the raw power of Iguazú Falls, Malbec wine tasting in Mendoza, and glacier trekking in Patagonia — without feeling rushed.
If you're wondering what to do in Argentina, start in Buenos Aires and give it four full days. The city rewards slow exploration — late-night milongas in San Telmo, Sunday markets in La Boca, hours lost in a parrilla over a bottle of Malbec. Then fly north to Iguazú before the crowds arrive, take the train straight to Devil's Throat, and get completely soaked on the Gran Aventura speedboat. From there, fly west to Mendoza for vineyard mornings and Aconcagua views, then south to El Calafate for the glacier.
What makes this the best Argentina itinerary is the balance — adventure, culture, food, and scenery across very different landscapes, connected by short domestic flights. Whether you're searching for the ultimate Argentina travel guide or just trying to figure out how many days you need, 17 days gives you enough time to actually feel each place rather than just pass through it.
