How many days do you need?
Argentina cannot be done in a week. Practical rule: 2-3 days per destination + 1 day per domestic flight. Calculate:
- 3-5 days: a single city. Buenos Aires alone, or Mendoza alone, or extended weekend in Bariloche.
- 7 days: two contrasting regions (BA + Iguazu is the classic).
- 10-12 days: three regions (BA + Iguazu + Mendoza, or BA + Mendoza + Bariloche).
- 14 days: four regions comfortably (BA + Iguazu + Mendoza + Calafate).
- 21 days: 5-6 destinations, full picture, including Salta + deep Patagonia.
- 30+ days: immersion: add Ibera, Peninsula Valdes, Chalten, Ushuaia, Iruya, Cueva de las Manos.
Classic itineraries by days
5 days — Buenos Aires intense + Iguazu
Day 1-3: Buenos Aires (San Telmo, Recoleta, La Boca, Palermo, tango show). Day 4-5: flight to Iguazu (1h45), one day Argentine side + one day Brazilian side + Three Borders Landmark. Return flight to BA or international departure from Iguazu. Total cost: USD 1,400-2,500 per person with 3★-4★ hotels. Most practical: fly AEP-IGR on day 4 first thing and return day 5 at sunset.
7 days — BA + Iguazu or BA + Mendoza
Two equally good versions. Falls version: 4 nights BA + 3 nights Iguazu (more nature). Wine version: 4 nights BA + 3 nights Mendoza (more wine tourism). Both USD 2,000-3,500. See the detailed 7-day itinerary.
10 days — BA + Iguazu + Mendoza
The most popular itinerary for a complete first visit. Days 1-3: Buenos Aires. Days 4-5: Iguazu (Argentine + Brazilian sides). Days 6-9: Mendoza (Maipu, Lujan wineries + one day Uco Valley). Day 10: return. Domestic flights: AEP-IGR-MDZ-AEP. Cost: USD 2,800-4,500 with 4★ hotel. Variants: swap Iguazu for Salta (NOA version) or for Bariloche (Patagonia lakes version).
14 days — Classic Argentina
The sweet spot: four contrasting regions with time to enjoy. Most-booked version: BA (3) + Iguazu (2) + Mendoza (3) + Calafate (3) + 3 flexible days. Flights: AEP-IGR-MDZ-FTE-AEP. Cost USD 4,000-6,500 with domestic flights and 4★ hotel. 14-day detailed itinerary.
21 days — Grand Tour
The complete circuit: BA + Iguazu + Salta + Mendoza + Bariloche + Calafate + Ushuaia. Covers all 5 Argentine climates and the six iconic landscapes. Cost USD 6,500-12,000. Closed packages available from Say Hueque, Argentina4U, Limmat Tours. 21-day detailed itinerary.
Themed itineraries
Wine route — 10 days
For serious wine tourists: BA (2 nights, signature restaurants + porteno bodegones) + Mendoza (4 nights, Lujan + Maipu + Uco Valley) + Cafayate (2 nights, high-altitude Torrontes) + Salta (2 nights, empanadas + locro). Domestic flights: AEP-MDZ-SLA-AEP, Salta-Cafayate by land (3h). Best time: March-May (vendimia + colors). USD 3,200-5,500.
Adventure and trekking — 14 days
For outdoor lovers: BA (1 night, connection) + Mendoza (2 nights, rafting + Aconcagua) + Bariloche (3 nights, Refugio Frey + Cerro Tronador) + El Chalten (3 nights, Fitz Roy + Laguna de los Tres) + Calafate (3 nights, Big Ice Perito Moreno) + Ushuaia (2 nights, Glaciar Martial). USD 4,500-7,500. Best time: December-March.
Cultural — 12 days
BA (3 nights, tango classes + neighborhoods + Recoleta) + Salta (3 nights, Quebrada de Humahuaca + indigenous communities) + Iguazu (2 nights, San Ignacio Jesuit Ruins) + Areco estancia (1 night, gaucho life) + Cafayate (2 nights, Wine Road). Combines dance, history, religion and gastronomy. USD 3,500-5,800.
Family with kids — 10 days
BA (2 nights, Tigre + Japanese Garden + Planetarium + Temaiken) + Iguazu (2 nights, falls + coatis + Gran Aventura) + Areco estancia (1 night, horse-breaking + asado) + Bariloche (4 nights, lake + chocolate shops + Cerro Catedral cable car) + 1 buffer day. USD 3,000-5,000 family of 4. Avoid Hornocal/Salinas (>3,500m).
Luxury and honeymoon — 14 days
The aspirational route: BA (3 nights Faena) + Mendoza (3 nights Cavas Wine Lodge) + Calafate (4 nights Eolo Lodge) + Bariloche (3 nights Llao Llao) + 1 return day. USD 12,000-25,000 per couple. Includes private transfers, VIP experiences, exclusive wineries and private guides. Book 6+ months ahead.
Itineraries by season
Summer (December-February)
The star season for Patagonia: long days (sunset 10pm), stable weather. Top itinerary: BA + Iguazu + Mendoza + Calafate + Ushuaia (14-21 days). Avoid extended BA (humidity +35°C). Bariloche good but saturated. Book 5-6 months ahead. See best time by region.
Winter (June-August)
Patagonia partially closed. Top: BA + Salta + Mendoza + Bariloche (Cerro Catedral skiing). 14 days USD 3,500-6,000. Salta shines in winter: pristine skies, no rain, perfect Quebrada photos.
Spring (September-November)
Ideal national climate. BA, Mendoza, Iguazu and NOA optimal. Calafate still cold but accessible. Classic 14-day itinerary BA + Iguazu + Mendoza + Salta. USD 3,500-5,500. No high-season saturation.
Autumn (March-May)
March: Mendoza vendimia. April-May: autumn colors in Bariloche and Calafate. Top itinerary: 12 days BA + Mendoza vendimia + Cafayate + Bariloche. USD 3,200-5,000. Best for photographers.
Itineraries by origin
From the USA
Direct flights JFK/MIA/IAH-EZE (10h) or LATAM connection. American, Delta, United and Aerolineas Argentinas operate direct. Tip: leverage minimal time difference (1-2h) to avoid heavy jet lag. Classic 14-day BA + Iguazu + Mendoza + Calafate is the typical itinerary for this origin.
From Europe
Connections in Madrid, Frankfurt or Sao Paulo. Iberia, Air Europa, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and British Airways have direct routes to EZE. For 14-21 days consider an open-jaw: enter via BA, exit via Iguazu (flight to Foz then Brazil-Europe domestic).
From Brazil
Daily flights SP/RJ to Buenos Aires (3h) and to Iguazu (Foz crosses by bridge). Brazilians often prefer Bariloche in winter (skiing) and Calafate in summer. 10-day itinerary: SP-IGR (land) + IGR-AEP + AEP-MDZ + MDZ-AEP-SP. Leverage LATAM Brasil flights with GRU connection.
From Australia / NZ
Direct Sydney-Santiago (Qantas) + 2h connection to Buenos Aires. Or Sydney-Auckland-Santiago-EZE. Total 16-20h. Worth combining with neighbor Chile (Atacama or Torres del Paine). 21-day Argentina + Chile circuit common.
Build your own itinerary
If none of the above fits, build your own. Rules:
- Budget 2-3 days per destination + 1 buffer per domestic flight.
- Combine contrasting regions (city + nature + wine).
- Start and end in Buenos Aires (air hub, best international connection).
- Book domestic flights first: they define the itinerary, not the other way around.
- Leave 1 buffer day at the end for surprises before international departure.
For a personalized proposal use our trip planning wizard.
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