Is 2 weeks enough for Argentina?

Two weeks covers the main highlights — Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Patagonia, and Iguazu — but each destination rewards more time. If forced to cut, Mendoza can be shortened to 2 nights and one destination in Patagonia dropped. Iguazu Falls is worth its own day regardless of itinerary length.

How much does a 2-week Argentina trip cost?

Costs vary enormously depending on accommodation standard and activities. A mid-range traveller spending on comfortable hotels, parrilla meals, and guided tours should budget roughly USD 150–200 per day including accommodation, food, transport, and activities — excluding international flights.

What is the best time of year to do this itinerary?

October to November and March to April are the most comfortable periods. The Patagonia legs (El Calafate and El Chaltén) require November to April for viable trekking. Buenos Aires and Mendoza can be visited year-round, though Buenos Aires in January–February is very hot.

2 Weeks in Argentina Itinerary | The Argentina Guide

Argentina’s size makes route planning essential — the country spans from the subtropical north at 22 degrees latitude to the subarctic south at 55 degrees, covering 2.8 million square kilometres. Flying between destinations rather than overland travel is standard for a two-week itinerary. Buenos Aires is the hub for all domestic flights, so most routes involve returning to the capital between legs.

Days 1–4: Buenos Aires

Four days is the minimum to scratch the surface of Buenos Aires. The city has distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own character.

Day 1: Arrive, recover, and eat. A choripán from a street stall near the bus station or a long lunch at a neighbourhood parrilla — the adjustment begins with food. San Telmo in the afternoon for the street art and antique atmosphere; the Sunday market on Plaza Dorrego if the timing works.

Day 2: The historic centre — Plaza de Mayo, the Cabildo, the Casa Rosada, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Then La Boca, specifically for the Caminito street and the Benito Quinquela Martín Museum. Return via ferry across the Río de la Plata is possible if combining with a day trip to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. Dinner in Palermo.

Day 3: MALBA (Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires) in the morning, with a strong permanent collection of twentieth-century Latin American art. Afternoon in Recoleta — the famous cemetery where Evita Perón and numerous Argentine presidents are buried, and the weekend artisan market if present. Dinner at a traditional bodegón.

Day 4: Neighbourhood exploration — Villa Crespo and Chacarita for the newer food and café scene; the Mercado de San Telmo; a tango show in the evening or attendance at a milonga for something more authentic and considerably cheaper.

Days 5–6: Mendoza

Fly Buenos Aires to Mendoza (approximately 1.5 hours). Two nights minimum, three if budget and time allow.

Day 5: Arrive midday. Afternoon at a Luján de Cuyo bodega — accessible by bicycle or remise. Dinner in the city on Aristides Villanueva.

Day 6: Full-day Uco Valley wine tour with a driver or guided group. The Uco Valley’s high-altitude vineyards are the most impressive scenically and the most interesting viticulturally. A bodega lunch is the recommended format for one of the two days.

Days 7–9: El Calafate and Perito Moreno

Fly Mendoza to El Calafate (approximately 3 hours, usually via Buenos Aires). Three nights gives a day for Perito Moreno and a day for rest or a boat excursion on Lago Argentino.

Day 7: Arrive El Calafate in the afternoon; evening on the lakeshore.

Day 8: Full-day Perito Moreno Glacier visit — morning bus, 3–4 hours at the boardwalk, afternoon return. If budget allows, the Big Ice glacier trek makes the most of the day.

Day 9: Optional: a boat excursion to the Upsala Glacier across Lago Argentino; or a rest day before the transfer to El Chaltén.

Days 10–12: El Chaltén

Bus from El Calafate to El Chaltén (3.5 hours). Three nights gives two full trekking days.

Day 10: Arrive midday; afternoon rest or a short trail to Mirador del Cóndor to orient to the landscape.

Day 11: Laguna de los Tres — the flagship hike, 21km, 6–8 hours. Start early (7am) to maximise the chances of clear skies at the top.

Day 12: Laguna Torre — the second great hike, 20km, 5–6 hours. A different character from Laguna de los Tres — flatter, through beech forest, with Cerro Torre at the end.

Return to El Calafate by evening bus.

Days 13–14: Iguazu Falls

Fly El Calafate to Puerto Iguazú (approximately 4.5 hours via Buenos Aires; the connection usually requires an overnight or a long layover in Buenos Aires). Two nights.

Day 13: Argentine side of Iguazu Falls — the national park trail network brings you within metres of the cataracts. The Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat) walkway is the centrepiece; the upper and lower circuits cover the main falls. Full day in the park.

Day 14: Brazilian side of the falls (possible on a day trip with a local agency, crossing the international bridge into Foz do Iguaçu) for the panoramic view that the Argentine side doesn’t offer. Or a second day on the Argentine side exploring the Sendero Verde (Green Trail) and Isla San Martín at lower water levels.

Fly from Puerto Iguazú to Buenos Aires (1.5 hours) for international departure.

Logistics Notes

Flights: Aerolíneas Argentinas operates all the domestic routes above. LATAM covers some. Book domestic flights at the same time as international flights — prices rise substantially closer to departure on popular routes (particularly to El Calafate and Iguazú in peak season).

Pesos: Argentina has a complex currency situation. Exchange rates, access to dollars, and payment norms change frequently. Research current conditions immediately before travelling — the situation evolves faster than any guide can track.

Accommodation: Buenos Aires has the broadest choice; El Chaltén has a smaller stock and books out in January. Book all accommodation before arriving, particularly for the December–January peak.

2 Weeks in Argentina: The Classic Itinerary