Go white-water rafting along the Atuel Canyon (Cañón del Atuel), a 37-mile (60-kilometer) gorge in the Mendoza Province. This stretch of water attracts all kinds of adventurers, including those looking to kayak, jet-ski, raft, and cycle, and to admire the steep cliffs and dramatic rock formations along the river.
In Ushuaia’s former prison, the Maritime Museum explores the significance of sailing and the sea in the southernmost city in the world. Antarctic explorations generally left from the city, and the museum offers insight into how polar expeditions took place in bygone years. It’s one of four museums housed within the old prison.
Despite its position at “The End of the World,” Patagonia has been inhabited by humans for more than 12,000 years. Just outside of El Calafate, the Walichu Caves (Cuervos Galicho) pay testament to the primitive humans that dwelled here—the cave walls are embellished with drawings depicting daily life in the region, including scenes of hunting, foraging, and art.
The San Telmo Market (Mercado de San Telmo) is a historical indoor market in the eponymous neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Every Sunday, the area around the market hosts the city’s most famous street fair, the Feria de San Telmo, when hundreds of vendors line the streets surrounding Plaza Dorrego, most of them dealing in one-of-a-kind antiques.
On the banks of the Mendoza River and surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Andes Mountains, the Cacheuta Thermal Spa (Termas Cacheuta) offers a picturesque setting for a spa retreat. Fed by natural hot springs, the spa features various thermal baths and hydrotherapy pools, along with mud baths, saunas, and spa treatments.
In the foothills of the Andes and just an hour’s drive from Mendoza, the wild landscapes of Villavicencio Natural Reserve(Reserva Natural Villavicencio) offer scenic hikes through ravines and mountain valleys. A wildlife hot spot, the reserve is also known for its natural springs, the source of much of Argentina’s bottled mineral water.
Capilla de San Eduardo (San Eduardo Chapel) is one of Bariloche’s most-loved buildings. Established in 1938, the neo-Gothic chapel was built from local stone and cypress logs, and designed by Alejandro Bustillo, the same architect behind the Hotel Llao Llao next door. The chapel lies within the Nahuel Huapi National Park and offers excellent views inside and out.
At the meeting point of two countries and two national parks—Argentina’s Lanin National Park and Chile’s Villarrica National Park—Lanin Volcano is one of Patagonia’s highest mountains. A popular side trip from Bariloche or San Martin de Los Andes, the snow-covered volcano is known for its perfectly conical peak and challenging summit hike.
Covering 18 acres (7 hectares) and housing 5,500 plant species from six continents, the Buenos Aires Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanico Carlos Thays) offers an idyllic escape from the city's busy streets. Highlights include a Roman garden, a formal French park inspired by the Palace of Versailles, and an art nouveau greenhouse that was designed for the 1889 Paris World’s Fair.
The single-story winery building seems dwarfed by the majesty of South America’s highest mountain chain, the Andes, towering behind it, but that was the idea. It was designed to be minimalistic—Andeluna Cellars is proud to grow their wines at altitude, and they want you to drink in the view, not just their produce.
Plaza Independencia is one of Mendoza's most popular public spaces. It also happens to be the perfect place to relax, have something to eat, and spend a couple of hours people-watching, listening to live music, or browsing through craft stalls. Locals gather here to soak up the sun, go skateboarding, or watch live street theater performances.
Largely regarded as one of Argentina’s most important museums, the Historical Museum of the North chronicles Argentinean history from its indigenous roots through the colonial era. Housed in the former Town Hall of Salta, the 18th-century building was repurposed as a museum in 1949 and is now protected as a National Historic Landmark.
In 1959, the French Champagne house Moet & Chandon established its first overseas subsidiary, Bodega Chandon. Learn how it pioneered the production of sparkling wines in Argentina by combining traditional French savoir-faire with the diversity of Argentine high altitude terroirs on a visit and tasting.
Old Palermo (Palermo Viejo), the old quarter of Buenos Aires’ largest barrio, is a popular destination where you’ll stroll past grand buildings and gardens. Drop into trendy cafés and fashion boutiques on Plaza Serrano, or unwind in the area’s many parks clustered around Avenue del Libertador.
Glacial Mascardi Lake lies within sprawling Nahuel Huapi National Park, Argentina’s oldest national park. On land, visitors can admire several peaks of the Andes Mountain range, hike along trails, and soak up the sun on one of the beaches that lie along its shore, while water activities include swimming, boating, kayaking, and fishing.
Sitting on the Lujan River at the mouth of the Tigre Delta, this waterside museum boasts the ideal setting for Argentina’s National Naval Museum. The museum is devoted to the country’s naval history and rich maritime heritage and is packed with seafaring memorabilia—from ancient maps and naval weaponry to large-scale models of ships and cabins.
Created in the 1890s following English and French landscaping traditions, the expansive setting of General San Martín Park in Mendoza is home to ornamental fountains, classical statues, a lake, and a rose garden lined with walkways. Go hiking or biking, or stroll along the winding pathways and see dozens of sculptures along the way.
The Estadio Boca Juniors, locally known as La Bombonera, is the Buenos Aires home for Argentine soccer (football) team Boca Juniors. The 2-floor Passion for Boca Juniors Museum (Museo de la Pasión Boquense) is housed within the stadium and chronicles the team’s history, dating back to their modest beginnings as a neighborhood club in 1905.
Celebrate your visit to the world’s southernmost city by exploring the End of the World Museum (Museo del Fin del Mundo). The museum focuses on Ushuaia’s natural and Indigenous history, with collections of taxidermy, weaponry, furniture, and various mementos from travelers throughout history.
Less than one hour from Buenos Aires, Parque de la Costa is one of Argentina’s leading amusement parks. With more than 50 attractions—which range from gravity-defying rollercoasters to classic carousels—there’s something to appeal to both thrill seekers and toddlers.
This smallish ecological theme park just outside Puerto Iguazú offers insight into the history, traditions, and natural environment of the indigenous Guarani people, many of whom still speak their native tongue while living in equilibrium with nature. The site includes craft and produce shops, a restaurant, and a juice and ice cream bar.
The 17th-century San Ignacio de Loyola Church is nestled in the heart of Monserrate, one of Buenos Aires’ oldest neighborhoods. Visually, the church makes an impression with its two towers and marble-white facade. Inside, it's awash with golden grandeur. Its temples, tunnels, and cloisters testify to centuries of history.
One hundred million years ago, before Patagonia was peppered with glaciers and snow-capped peaks, it was a vast plain of lush forests where dinosaurs roamed. La Leona Petrified Forest—a 2,000-acre (810-hectare) depression in the Earth that’s amazingly frozen in time—pays testament to this epoch, giving you the chance to walk through prehistoric Patagonia, complete with huge trees and dinosaur bones.
San Ignacio Miní, one of five Jesuit missions that comprise the Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the most complete and impressive ruins site in Argentina. Founded in 1611 to convert indigenous Guaranis to Catholicism, the mission was left to the elements when the Jesuits departed in 1767.
Discover the intellectual heart of Buenos Aires at the National Library. From its brutalist architecture to its extensive collection, it offers a window into Argentina's history and literature. Whether you're a history buff, a literature lover, or seeking a serene space, this library promises a captivating experience.
The Buenos Aires Museum of Modern Art (Museo de Arte Moderno or MAMBA) showcases a 7,000-piece permanent collection of contemporary art largely from Argentine artists. While paintings and other more traditional mediums are represented, the museum also covers photography, graphic design, printmaking, and works of new media.
Amid the wild landscapes of the Andes mountains and at an altitude of 9,186 feet (2,800 meters), the tiny village of El Alfarcito feels like a forgotten outpost of Argentina’s Wild West. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in character, with a vibrant indigenous community and a daily handicrafts market.
A relatively new kid in the wine game, Finca Decero (“from scratch”) sold their first wines in 2004. Sustainability is at the heart of the operation, and location is everything—the water is fed by glacial melts, and the high altitude means the grapes preserve their natural acidity and absorb more UV light. Almost as delicious as the wines is the view, a panoramic vista over the surrounding Andes mountains. Operating with a strong respect for nature, the biodiversity of the vineyards has been preserved, and local birdlife flourishes here.
Sitting between the Spegazzini Glacier and the Upsala Glacier, the remote Onelli Glacier is an icy expanse that tumbles down into Onelli Lake. Spectacular scenery and fewer crowds are guaranteed if you choose to trek the glacier, which is only accessible by foot.
With exhibits spanning more than 14,000 years of human history, El Calafate Historical Interpretation Center gives you a glimpse into the rich anthropological heritage of Patagonia. Highlights include fossilized skeletons of dinosaurs discovered in the area and recreations of prehistoric cave paintings.
