Argentina

Home to the Pearl of the Atlantic, Argentina is a diverse country in South America. What is the Pearl of the Atlantic you might ask? It’s a town named Mar del Plata on the South Atlantic Ocean with beautiful, but packed beaches in the summer months. In this nation of diversity you’ll find both the highest point in South America, Cerro Aconcagua at 22,843 feet, and the lowest point, Salinas Chicas at 131 feet below sea level.

Regions and Cities of Argentina

The country is divided into regions, the most commonly visited are the Andean Northwest, Chaco, Cuyo, Mesopotamia, Pampa, Patagonia, and the Province of Tierra del Fuego. The largest cities in Argentina are Buenos Aires (the capital), Cordoba, La Plata, Mendoza (well known for its wine production), and Rosario. There are also a number of medium sized cities including Bahia Blanca, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepcion del Uruguay, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Salta, Santa Fe, Tucuman, and Ushuaia.

Argentina Climate

The climate varies depending on your location. Buenos Aires and Pampas are cool in the winter and hot during the summer. The deserts of Cuyo are exceptionally hot and dry by summer and moderately cold and dry during the winter. The Andes are cool in the summer because of the elevation and frigid in the winter, depending on altitude. Patagonia is cool in the summer and cold in the winter. Extreme temperature changes within a single day are common; pack a variety of clothing and dress in layers.

Popular Destinations & Sights

Some sights you may want to see while visiting Argentina includes the incredible Iguazu Falls (located in the northeast portion of the country) and the Andean Lake, which is around the city of Bariloche. For a superb beach, the spectacular Mar del Plata, also known as the Pearl of the Atlantic is a hotspot in the summer. In Patagonia, visit El Calafate, the primary destination when visiting the Glaciers National Park. The Perito Moreno Glacier is said to be a must when visiting Argentina.

Get your skis waxed, as there is great skiing in the Andes during the winter. A couple of well-known resorts include Las Lenas and San Carlos de Bariloche.

Nature preserves are abundant around Puerto Madryn and Peninsula Valdes. Here you can see wild penguins, sea lions, birds, and even whales a certain times of the year.

Getting to Argentina

The primary international airport in Argentina is Buenos Aires International Airport Ezeiza (EZE) and you can get here from other cities in South America, North America, and Europe. For domestic travel in Argentina, you will need to connect to the domestic airport, Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP). This airport is on the other side of the city, but shuttle buses, which take approximately 40 minutes, connect the two airports.

If visiting another city in Argentina, many travellers find it easier to fly to a neighbouring country and then take a short flight to the smaller airport. All major cities in Argentina and tourist destinations such as Perito Moreno and Iguazu Falls have airports nearby.