Argentina Destinations: 22 Incredible Places to Visit in Argentina (You Didn’t Know Existed)

If you’re planning a South America trip, it may be difficult to decide on which places to visit in Argentina. I know that I was actually unfamiliar with the pure scope and extensivity of Argentina destinations before my trip. But after ending up spending over two months there, I can attest that Argentina is one of the most incredible, varied, naturally gorgeous, culturally diverse, and culinarily incredible countries on earth.

I worked my way through all the things to do in Argentina from Patagonia in the south, to Buenos Aires in the east, to the Iguazu Falls in the north, to Salta and Jujuy in the west. I didn’t even plan on spending too much time in Argentina, but now I can happily say it’s my favorite country on Earth.

Argentina truly has everything – from cold and alpine rocky mountains, to barren wine country, to amazing European-esque cities, to thick jungle, to the most colorful highland desert landscapes you’ll ever see. With each new Argentina destination, my mind was blown more and more until I decided that it truly couldn’t get any better – this was one of the most amazing countries on earth.

Want to read more about Argentina? Make sure to check out the posts I have linked below and also my Complete Argentina Bucket List here.

Places to Visit in Argentina: Destinations in the South

Here are the best places to visit in Argentina’s south, a mostly mountainous, chilly, and scenic region including Patagonia.

Ushuaia

Known as the “End of the World,” Ushuaia is the adventurous gateway to Antarctica and the southernmost city in the Americas. Flights and cruises to Antarctica will all leave from here, the closest point to it that you can get.

Ushuaia understandably gets very cold in the southern hemisphere winters, and is well-known for islands full of penguins, incredible mountainous scenery,  colorful houses, and Tierra del Fuego National Park.

Ushuaia Things to Do

• End of the World Train
• End of the World Museum – Learn Indigenous Culture
• Tierra del Fuego National Park Trekking
• Martillo Island Penguins
• Beagle Channel Cruise

Ushuaia Places to Stay:

• Compare prices on Ushuaia Hotels or Ushuaia Hostels.

El Calafate

El Calafate is another adventure hub of southern Patagonia, and is an important stop on any Argentina itinerary. It’s the best known for the Perito Moreno glacier, which is easily the most incredible glacier I’ve ever seen.

However, it’s also a great hub for day trips to other viewpoints, Torres del Paine National park in Chile, boat tours through different arms of glacier lakes, a few other glaciers, and some gaucho-run ‘estancias’ out in the remote mountain desert.

El Calafate Things to Do and Where to Stay

For info on all tours from El Calafate, what to do, and where to stay in town, check out my guide to El Calafate tours.

El Chalten

El Chalten is a smaller mountain town three hours north of El Calafate also known also for its adventurous activities. It is namely known for a world-famous and mind-blowing hike to Laguna de Los Tres with a view of Mount Fitz Roy, a dramatic and jagged almost-other-worldly view.

The town is small and quaint, with scenic landscapes all around, the possibility for river rafting and rappelling, and kayaking, too.

What to Do and Where to Stay in El Chalten

For all the info on what you can do and where you should stay in El Chalten, check out my classic Patagonia itinerary below, which outlines a two-week itinerary through Argentinian and Chilean southern Patagonia. Book transfers between Argentina destinations in advance on bookaway.

Bariloche

Bariloche is one of the most popular holiday places to visit in Argentina. It has options for both the backpacker and the traveler who has a bit more disposable income, if you know what I mean. There are luxury resorts all over the place, and nice restaurants to complement the high-end mountain and lake views.

Things to do + Where to Stay in Bariloche

I have included Bariloche and the 3 destinations below this in my “Northern Patagonia Itinerary,” in which I highlight the best things to do and places to stay in each destination.

In short, Bariloche is known for some other incredible hikes up to jagged and carnivorous peaks, a famous bike ride around a national park and mountain lakes (with stops at a few different breweries!), for its incredible chocolate, and skiing in the winter.

Villa La Angostura

Villa La Angostura is a hidden gem I discovered while backpacking through as many Argentina destinations as I could. It’s another tiny mountain town full of restaurants and souvenir shops, and has an absolute winner of a hike that was one of my favorites in South America.

Down near Puerto Angostura (just outside of the main town), there’s a huge peninsula with a hike along its backbone. It presents incredible views of the lakes and water on either side of it, and is surely a great spot in Patagonia.

Things to do + Where to Stay in Villa La Angostura

I also elaborated on Villa La Angostura in my Northern Patagonia Itinerary, with lots more details on the hike and where to stay. Check it out here.

El Bolson

El Bolson is like a mountain hippie town, full of eco-lodges, crystal-ridden craft markets, and nature lovers. Like many places in Patagonia, there are lots of incredible hikes to do here as well as markets and shops in town.

Things to do + Where to Stay in El Bolson

Check my Northern Patagonia itinerary, linked below, to read more in-depth about what to do and where to stay in El Bolson and the towns surrounding it.

San Martin de Los Andes

San Martin de Los Andes is a larger Patagonian town than all the rest described here, situated at the northern edge of Patagonia and on some beautiful lakes (surprise, surprise).

Up at this end of Patagonia there are more volcanoes, and there are quite a few in the region of San Martin that you can visit (or you can cross the border into Chile and check out the active Volcan Villarrica in Pucon).

Things to do + Where to Stay in San Martin de Los Andes

Other than that, it’s like a little skiing town with beautiful hikes surrounding it. As with the past 4 places to visit in Argentina, check my Northern Patagonia itinerary for more specifics on what to do and where to stay in each.

Places to Visit in Argentina: Destinations in the Center

Here are some places to visit in central Argentina that you should have on your radar.

Mendoza

Mendoza has to be one of your Argentina destinations if you are making a trip. That is, only if you love wine! Mendoza is known to be the home of Malbec, and actually also has some other incredible wine varietals made in its three different wine regions at the base of the Andes Mountains.

Things to do + Where to Stay in Mendoza

Other than wine tasting, which is a given, Mendoza is actually also a hub to many other adventures.

• River Rafting Adventures
• Visiting Geothermal Spas
• Andes High Mountain Tours
• And of course, wine tasting! There are many different tours.

Check out the wine tasing tour I did in Mendoza here for more information.

Cordoba

Cordoba is one of the most central places to visit in Argentina and a good stopover hub between Mendoza and Salta/Buenos Aires. It’s quite an industrial city, but that doesn’t mean that there’s not much to do! I stayed with a good friend in Cordoba for a weekend and really enjoyed myself. Check out this 2 day Cordoba itinerary if you aren’t sure what to do!

Things to do in Cordoba

• Explore the Town Center + Museums, or take a city tour
• On weekends, check out the street market and trendy bars downtown
• Visit La Cumbrecita
• Visit the mysterious + beautiful Sierras Chicas mountains near the town
  • Really though, there have been tons of conspiracy theories of aliens existing in these Sierras – specifically Capilla del Monte. There have been reported crop circles, mysterious beings, and more… check this article for more!

Where to Stay in Cordoba

Compare the best hotels in Cordoba and hostels in Cordoba here.

Rosario

Rosario may not always be on the tourist trail, but as a happening student city and one of the most populous in the country, it cannot be left out when naming places to visit in Argentina.

Rosario has a happening bar, club, and food scene, rich history, plenty of museums and historical monuments, parks, markets, theaters, beaches, and a lovely waterfront along the Parana river.

Things to Do in Rosario

• Go kayaking in the Parana River
• Take a city bike and explore the city
• Visit some of the best clubs in the world

Where to Stay in Rosario

Compare Rates for Hotels in Rosario and Hostels in Rosario.

Catamarca (San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca)

It may not be the biggest tourist city, but Catamarca is an interesting Argentina destination just the same. Within the town of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca (which is the capital of the province of Catamarca), you can find interesting religious monuments, parks, amazing food, and plenty of bars.

However, the biggest appeal in Catamarca may come from its mountains. The city is in a sort of valley surrounded by high mountains and volcanoes, some even exceeding 6,000 meters! This means that climbing and mountaineering are popular activities in this area.

Things to do in Catamarca

• Mountain climbing and hiking
• Many religious festivals throughout the year
• Fiambala Hot Springs

Where to Stay in Catamarca

Compare prices for the best hotels in Catamarca.

Places to Visit in Argentina: Destinations in the East

Here are some popular destinations in Argentina on the east side, from the capital to some smaller coastal cities.

Buenos Aires

Well… duh! Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, the “Paris of Latin America,” one of the economic centers of South America, and one hell of a bustling city. I totally fell in love with its food, culture, nightlife, and pulse, and I can’t wait to go back.

This is the main of all Argentina destinations, and the place to come to try the classic Argentina foods- parilla steaks, incredible pizza, alfajores cookies, dulce de leche, and more recently, craft beer.

Buenos Aires has a tangible energy that is apparent in all who live there. Whether at bustling nightclubs, speakeasy bars, street art-covered alleyways, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and busy shopping malls, Buenos Aires really has it all – it’s a very livable city, and of course visit-able as well 😉

Tigre Delta

When in Buenos Aires, one of the coolest places to visit in Argentina is the Tigre Delta. You can sail here from Buenos Aires on a day tour and see another summer destination for Argentinians. Read more about it and more awesome Buenos Aires Tours here.

What to Do and Where to Stay in Buenos Aires

Since I wrote an entire 6000+ word guide to Buenos Aires, I’m going to go ahead and send you over to that my Buenos Aires guide to learn ALL about what to do, where to stay, what tours to take, and where to go, eat, and party in Buenos Aires. Enjoy!

Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata, or “la Plata,”  is where Porteños, as people from Buenos Aires are called, tend to vacation (that is, if they aren’t ferrying across to Uruguay!). There are massive expanses of beaches and great parties in the summertime, and oftentimes some of the best festivals in South America.

What to do in Mar del Plata

Mar de Plata is a great weekend destination to relax at the beach, visit museums or water parks, or take a day trip from Buenos Aires. 

Where to Stay in Mar del Plata

Compare prices for Mar del Plata Hotels here or Mar de Plata hostels here.

Puerto Madryn

Puerto Madryn is technically still in the Patagonia region although it’s on the complete opposite (east) coast of the country to other popular Patagonian destinations. It’s got beaches for the summertime, but the most appealing thing about it is its wildlife. There are many Puerto Madryn excursions that will take you to beautiful points of interest and wildlife.

You can whale watch here, and more excitingly actually scuba dive with playful, twisting and turning sea lions. I’ve seen some incredible videos of people paddling through a sea of hundreds of them flitting about through the water – it’s pretty incredible, really. The Peninsula Valdes is also an incredible place to visit.

Things to do in Puerto Madryn

• Whale watching tours 
• Visit nearby nature reserves and the Valdes Peninsula
• Scuba Dive with Sea Lions 
• Penguin Colony Visit 

Places to Visit in Argentina: Destinations in the North

Northern Argentina should now be forgotten as it has a truly different landscape than anywhere else in the country.

Puerto Iguazu + Iguazu Falls

In the northwest corner or Argentina, you’ll find a completely different vibe than anywhere else in the country: a humid, dense jungle! At that, it’s a jungle that borders the largest waterfall system in the world. How’s that for appealing?! I still remember when I got off the plane from freezing Buenos Aires to a pleasant 27 degrees C (about 80F) and was completely stunned.

Puerto Iguazu is a small town that borders two rivers – one that separates it from Brazil, and one that separates it from Paraguay. It’s got a much deeper indigenous culture than a lot of Argentina.

I personally think that the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls is the best, but I recommend visiting the Argentinian side (pictured) of course while you’re here so you can get the best of both worlds!

What to do + Where to Stay in Puerto Iguazu/Iguazu Falls

I also wrote another entire post detailing what to do in Puerto Iguazu, how to visit Iguazu Falls from both the Argentinian and Brazilain sides, and where to stay.

Places to Visit in Argentina: Destinations in the Northwest

Northern Argentina should now be forgotten as it has some of the truly most incredible places to visit in Argentina. Here are the places you need to know about.

Jujuy

This is a province in Argentina’s northwest with lots of treasures to be found. Jujuy city is the capital of Jujuy province, which along with Salta is rich in indigenous culture and incredible landscapes and highlands. The next few destinations below are all in Jujuy province.

Tilcara + Humahuaca Gorge

Humahuaca and Tilcara are small dusty desert towns inside the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Humahuaca Gorge. Tilcara is well known for having the best preserved Pucara, or fortress, used by the pre-hispanic peoples before the Incas. Humahuaca has incredible culture, shopping, and history.

There are many other points of interest along the Humahuaca Gorge that are detailed in my Quebrada de Humahuaca post, as well as a booking link for the tour I did if you are interested. It’s best known for the incredible mountain landscapes with yellow, pink, red, and green that look like they were painted!

Purmamarca

Purmamarca is home to the ‘Cerro de Siete Colores,” or the Hill of 7 Colors. And let me tell you – it’s probably more than seven colors! It’s one of the most spectacular places to visit in Argentina and is a great place to find indigenous souvenirs, too. There are lots of places to stay in Purmamarca, or you can see it as part of tours I will link below.

Where to Stay in Jujuy

To read more about Jujuy province and different Argentina destinations in the north, see my Guide to Northern Argentina’s Salta + Jujuy Provinces.

Salta

Salta is the capital of the Salta province, which is directly next to its slightly greener counterpart, Jujuy. There are similarly colorful desert landscapes and incredible road trips here through gorges and salt flats.

Salinas Grandes

The Salinas Grandes are technically half in Salta and half in Jujuy, and are a massive expanse of salt flats that are still used for extractions to export salt. They’re one of the lesser-known Argentina destinations. But, they’re amazing just the same, and much easier to get to than Uyuni in Bolivia!

You can get to them via Purmamarca and some incredible mountain roads in the Jujuy region, or via a Highway 51 road trip through the El Toro Gorge.

San Antonio de Los Cobres – Tren a Las Nubes

The Tren a Las Nubes is definitely one of the most unique things to do/ places to visit in Argentina. It’s one of the highest altitude train rides in the world at over 4200m elevation, and goes through some watercolored highlands and a magical viaduct.

To get to the train you drive the same road trip linked above, and ride the train at the end. Read more about my experience here!

Cafayate

Although within the Salta province, Cafayate requires its own description because it’s by far one of the top places to visit in Argentina. Cafayate is Argentina’s ‘other’ wine region, producing high altitude (just over 1500m) wines and specializing in a white wine varietal called Torrontes.

The ‘Cafayate Wine route” is a trail of dozens of wineries in the region that you can link together into a big wine tour (over a while, of course!). But, the special part about Cafayate is that there are at least a dozen wineries within walking/biking distance of the main town. Lots of people rent bikes to ride between the closer ones (and there are 4 in town you can walk to!).

Not only is there tons of amazing wine, but there are hikes, cheese farms, and other incredible nature in Cafayate as well. Read my 3-day Cafayate Itinerary here.

Quebrada de los Conchas

The Quebrada de Las Conchas is an area of outstanding natural beauty that falls on the road between Salta and Cafayate. There are almost impossible-looking rock formations in unnaturally bright colors, and it’s all-in-all simply amazing. Read more about how to visit in my post above.

Well, there you have it! Which of these places to visit in Argentina have you been to? Are there more Argentina destinations I should add to the list? Let me know in the comments!

Don’t forget to pin these places to visit in Argentina!