Last updated: April 2026
Argentina in 10 Days: BA + Iguazu + Mendoza
Ten days is the Argentina sweet spot: enough to combine Buenos Aires (3 days), Iguazu (2 days) and Mendoza (4 days) at a comfortable pace. It is the most balanced itinerary for an ambitious first visit: porteno urban culture, the most impactful waterfalls on Earth and South America's most celebrated wine region at the foot of the Andes. Three domestic flights connect the legs. If you want more, 14 days lets you add Patagonia.
TL;DR — what you cover and what you skip
| Length | Covered | Skipped |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | BA + Iguazu | Mendoza, Patagonia, Salta |
| 10 days | BA + Iguazu + Mendoza | Patagonia, Salta |
| 12 days | + Salta or Bariloche | Calafate, El Chalten |
| 14 days | BA + MDZ + Bariloche full | Iguazu or Salta |
Day by day
Day 1: Arrival in Buenos Aires
- Morning: Land at EZE. Transfer to your hotel in Palermo or Recoleta (45-60 min). Rest.
- Afternoon: Easy stroll through Recoleta — Cemetery, Plaza Francia, Floralis Generica. Coffee at La Biela.
- Evening: Early dinner in Palermo. Don Julio (book 30 days ahead) or Las Cabras as walk-in.
- Where to sleep: 3-4-star hotel Palermo or Recoleta
- Day cost: USD 130-200
Day 2: BA — San Telmo, La Boca, Plaza de Mayo
- Morning: Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, Cathedral, Cabildo. If Sunday, the San Telmo street fair is BA at its best.
- Afternoon: Lunch at El Desnivel (San Telmo). La Boca and Caminito. Return by Uber or taxi.
- Evening: Tango show with dinner at Rojo Tango (USD 180) or local milonga at La Catedral Club (USD 8).
- Where to sleep: Same hotel
- Day cost: USD 150-250
Day 3: BA — deep Palermo
- Morning: MALBA (Latin American art museum), Japanese Garden and Rosedal. Brunch at Mute (Palermo Hollywood).
- Afternoon: Galerias Pacifico for shopping. Cafe del Tortoni or La Glorieta. Free time.
- Evening: Classic bodegon (El Cuartito or Pizzeria Guerrin). Drinks at Floreria Atlantico — top 50 worldwide.
- Where to sleep: Same hotel
- Day cost: USD 130-220
Day 4: Flight to Iguazu — Argentine side
- Morning: Early AEP-IGR flight (1h45). Check in Puerto Iguazu. Transfer to the park.
- Afternoon: Iguazu National Park, Argentine side: Upper + Lower Circuits + eco-train to the Devil's Throat.
- Evening: Dinner at Aqva or La Rueda in Puerto Iguazu.
- Where to sleep: Puerto Iguazu or Sheraton inside the park
- Day cost: USD 250-400 (includes flight + USD 45 entry)
Day 5: Iguazu Brazilian side + Gran Aventura + flight to Mendoza
- Morning: Cross to Brazil early (45 min, bring passport). Brazilian walkways (panoramic view, 2h).
- Afternoon: Back to Argentina. Gran Aventura speedboat (USD 75) or Macuco Trail for a quieter option.
- Evening: Flight IGR-MDZ via BA (some direct). Late arrival in Mendoza.
- Where to sleep: Hotel Mendoza downtown
- Day cost: USD 280-450 (two flights)
Day 6: Mendoza — Lujan de Cuyo wineries
- Morning: Wineries in Lujan de Cuyo: Catena Zapata (iconic, book 4 weeks ahead), Achaval Ferrer or Norton.
- Afternoon: Pairing lunch at a winery (USD 80-180). Two more wineries in the afternoon.
- Evening: Dinner at Maria Antonieta or Azafran in Mendoza downtown. Drinks on Avenida Aristides.
- Where to sleep: Hotel Mendoza downtown
- Day cost: USD 180-350
Day 7: Mendoza — Uco Valley
- Morning: Early departure to Uco Valley (1h30 south). Bodega Salentein (stunning architecture) or Zuccardi (Piedra Infinita, award-winning).
- Afternoon: 7-course pairing lunch at Zuccardi (USD 200-300, worth every cent). Bodega Andeluna or Domaine Bousquet.
- Evening: Back to Mendoza. Light dinner or picada with Malbec.
- Where to sleep: Hotel Mendoza downtown
- Day cost: USD 200-400
Day 8: Mendoza — High Mountain
- Morning: High Mountain excursion (Route 7): Villavicencio, Uspallata, Puente del Inca, Aconcagua viewpoint (6,962m).
- Afternoon: Lunch at Las Cuevas (Chilean border). Return same route.
- Evening: Last dinner in Mendoza. Soppelsa ice cream (Mendocino classic).
- Where to sleep: Hotel Mendoza downtown
- Day cost: USD 130-220
Day 9: Flight to BA — Tigre and the Delta
- Morning: MDZ-AEP flight (2h). Check in BA hotel. Lunch at Mercado de San Telmo or Patio Bullrich.
- Afternoon: Train to Tigre (1h). Boat ride through the Parana Delta. Mercado de Frutos.
- Evening: Dinner in Puerto Madero (Cabana Las Lilas) or back to Palermo (Proper, Anchoita).
- Where to sleep: BA hotel
- Day cost: USD 180-300
Day 10: Departure
- Morning: Last shopping at Galerias Pacifico, Palermo Soho or Recoleta fair (Sat/Sun).
- Afternoon: Final lunch at a steakhouse. Transfer to EZE (90 min before).
- Evening: International return flight.
- Where to sleep: Plane
- Day cost: USD 80-150
Variants
- If you prefer Andean culture: swap Iguazu for Salta (Quebrada de Humahuaca, Cafayate, Hornocal). Keep BA (3) + Salta (3) + Mendoza (4).
- If you want more Patagonia: sacrifice Mendoza for Bariloche (Circuito Chico, 7 Lakes Route, Cerro Catedral, Tronador). 4 days Bariloche is standard.
- If you prefer nature: 1 day less in BA, 1 day more in Iguazu (Macuco Trail + Triple Border + Itaipu).
- If you only want wine: 2 days BA + 8 days Mendoza (includes Cafayate by overland or flight, harvest, High Mountain).
Total estimated cost (10 days, excluding international flight)
- Backpacker (USD 1,300-1,700): hostels USD 20-30/night, low-cost food, public transport + buses, low-cost flights. Wine route by bicycle in Maipu.
- Standard (USD 2,300-3,300): 3-star hotels USD 90-130/night, mid-range restaurants, regular flights, 4-winery tour with lunch (USD 150), Gran Aventura.
- Comfort (USD 4,500-7,500): 4-5-star or boutique USD 220-350/night, premium steakhouses, lunch at Zuccardi (USD 250), private tours.
- Luxury (USD 12,000+): Faena, Cavas Wine Lodge, Awasi, helicopter transfers, private sommelier, Aconcagua 4x4.
Domestic flights BA-IGR-(BA)-MDZ-BA: USD 250-450 total. The IGR-MDZ leg almost always routes through BA — plan a transit day.
How to get there
Recommended international airlines: Aerolineas Argentinas (direct from Madrid, Rome, Miami, NYC), LATAM (via Sao Paulo), Iberia, Air Europa, Lufthansa, Air France, Emirates, Qatar, Turkish. From the US (Miami) is 9h direct. From Europe 12-14h direct. All land at Ezeiza (EZE).
Domestic connections: AEP (Aeroparque) handles domestic flights. Aerolineas Argentinas (best network), Flybondi and JetSmart (low-cost). Some low-cost flights depart from El Palomar — confirm the airport. Book 3-4 weeks ahead.
What to pack
- BA: smart-casual, comfortable shoes, umbrella, light jacket even in summer (heavy AC).
- Iguazu: breathable clothes, poncho, grippy shoes, repellent, SPF 50, hat, dry bag, hydration.
- Mendoza: layers (cold mornings, hot midday), jacket for Uco Valley evenings (high desert wind), sunglasses, SPF (altitude). For High Mountain, fleece.
- Universal: Type I adapter, digital passport copy, travel insurance.
Pro tip: Book top Uco Valley wineries 4-6 weeks ahead. Catena Zapata (Adrianna Vineyard tour), Zuccardi Piedra Infinita and Salentein fill up first. Without reservations you end up at mass-tourism wineries — not the premium experience.
FAQ
Are 10 days enough for Argentina?
Yes — 10 days is the sweet spot: enough for BA + Iguazu + Mendoza at a comfortable pace. If you have more energy and want extreme variety, 12-14 days lets you add Salta or Patagonia.
Why not include Patagonia in 10 days?
Logistics: Calafate or Bariloche need at least 4-5 days each (flight + transfers). Squeezing it into 10 sacrifices BA, Mendoza or Iguazu. For Patagonia, plan 14 days or skip Iguazu.
How much does this trip cost?
Backpacker: USD 1,300-1,700. Standard: USD 2,300-3,300. Comfort: USD 4,500-7,500. Luxury: USD 12,000+. Excludes international flight. Three internal flights add USD 250-450.
Best time of year?
March (harvest in Mendoza, peak waterfall flow in Iguazu) and October-November (mild weather in BA, fewer tourists). Skip January (Argentine summer break, extreme heat).
How should I book the domestic flights?
BA-IGR-BA-MDZ-BA, 3-4 weeks ahead. Aerolineas Argentinas has best on-time but is 20-30% pricier. Flybondi and JetSmart are low-cost — luggage extra. Tip: pay in pesos using a credit card via MEP rate if you can.
How many wineries should I book in Mendoza?
Maximum 3 per day (each takes 1.5-2h with tasting). Ideal: 2 wineries + 1 gourmet lunch. Do not drive — hire a chauffeur-guide (USD 100-180/day) or shared tour (USD 80).
Uco Valley or Lujan de Cuyo?
Both. Lujan de Cuyo is closer to Mendoza (30 min) with iconic wineries (Catena Zapata, Norton). Uco Valley is further (1h30) but has the most architecturally stunning wineries (Salentein, Zuccardi, Domaine Bousquet) and the most complex high-altitude Malbecs.
What about currency?
The Argentine peso has high inflation. Change USD at cuevas (informal exchange houses) at the MEP/blue rate, not at official banks (30-40% better). Cash USD is king. International cards are charged at MEP automatically since 2024.
Iguazu Argentine or Brazilian side?
They are different and complementary. Argentine has 80% of the falls and you walk among them (Devil's Throat, walkways). Brazilian has the best panoramic view. If you can only do one, choose Argentine. Doing both in 1.5 days is perfectly feasible.
Good itinerary with kids?
Yes. Iguazu is spectacular for kids (waterfalls, coatis, boat ride). Mendoza with kids: skip premium wineries, do High Mountain (Aconcagua) and Aconcagua Provincial Park, horseback riding. BA: Japanese Garden, Tigre, Planetarium. Don Julio accepts kids up to 12, after that no.
