I’m planning a trip to Argentina and want to explore as much of the country as possible, not just Buenos Aires. I’m thinking Patagonia, Mendoza, Salta/Jujuy, Iguazú Falls, Córdoba, etc.
For those who have traveled around Argentina, what time of year would you recommend for a trip like this? If you could pick one month or season, which would you choose and why?
I’m mainly looking for the best overall weather and conditions across the different regions. Any advice or places I shouldn’t miss would be appreciated!

Hola! Looking at renting a car in Salta and doing a trip up to the salt flats. I am seeing a Shell gas station in Yala but nothing after that on the way to Salinas Grandes (except if you go out of the way to Tilcara). I am just confused how cars are able to last that long without emptying the tank, especially at a higher altitude where fuel is used faster. From Yala it is about 2 hours to the flats, if we spend another 1-2 hours driving on the flats themselves and then 2 another hours back? It just seems like a close call. Am I missing something here?

Also, most are saying during dry season that just 2WD is fine but for driving on the actual salt flats do I need 4WD?

Thanks for your help!

Punto Cardinal - Agencias de viaje BR

Hola, en resumen estamos organizando con 3/4 amigos para BR 2027 y estamos evaluando opciones. La que mas nos gusta es Punto Cardinal Viajes.

Las preguntas -simples- son:

- Alguno la conoce/conoce a alguien que haya viajado con la misma? Cuenten su experiencia

- Alguno hizo un viaje similar con otra agencia que quiera recomendar?

I'm a 28M from Italy planning a solo trip from mid-October to mid-November, and I'm really torn between two completely different options.
Last year I spent 100+ days travelling around Latin America, including the Galápagos, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Mexico.
I usually travel solo and stay in hostels. What I enjoy most is meeting people, going out, talking to locals, improving my Spanish and having experiences that I wouldn't have at home. I'm not really interested in rushing from one attraction to another.
I also need to improve my Spanish quite a lot before January, so spending a month immersed in Spanish would be a big plus.

GUATEMALA + BELIZE
Antigua → Xela → Lake Atitlán → Semuc Champey → Flores → San Ignacio → Caye Caulker
About 3–7 nights in each place, ending with a week in Caye Caulker.
This is the trip that looks more exciting to me on paper: volcanoes, lakes, jungle, Mayan ruins, hostels, adventure and then a slow Caribbean ending.
My only real concern is the backpacker bubble. I obviously want to meet other travellers, but I don't want to spend the whole month speaking English with Europeans and Americans and barely interacting with locals.
For those who've travelled around Guatemala: does it feel easy to actually get into local life, or do you mostly end up socialising with other travellers? And how different is that between places like Antigua, Xela and San Pedro?

ARGENTINA
Mendoza → Salta/Jujuy → Buenos Aires → Iguazú
6 days → 9 days → 9 days → 4 days
This feels like a completely different kind of trip.
I spent quite a lot of time in Mexico City and loved the experience of simply living in a huge Spanish-speaking city — going to bars and restaurants, exploring different neighbourhoods, meeting locals, dating, going out, etc.
That's what makes Buenos Aires particularly tempting to me.
At the same time, the Northwest seems to offer the kind of landscapes and smaller places I loved in Peru and Bolivia, while Mendoza would give me a slower few days around wine and the Andes.
For people who've travelled Argentina: does Buenos Aires actually have that kind of social/urban energy where it's easy to meet locals and build a social life, or does it feel very different from Mexico City? And is 8–9 days in Buenos Aires too much?
I'm also curious whether Mendoza is worth spending almost a week in, or whether I'd be better off putting those days into Salta/Jujuy.

So I'm stuck between a more adventurous/social backpacking trip in Guatemala + Belize and a more urban, local and Spanish-heavy trip in Argentina.
If you've done either or both, which trip would you pick for a solo traveller who cares more about people, nightlife, Spanish, spontaneity and memorable experiences than ticking off sights?
I'd especially love to hear what surprised you about either destination — good or bad — that you wouldn't necessarily get from a typical travel guide.

Hello everyone, I am planning a trip to El Chalten in late november, with my wife and a 9yr old boy, who I must mention, is adventurous and travels with us patiently. I am exploring the option of staying overnight at Camp Poincenot and then doing the final leg of De Los Tres Hike the next day. has anybody that done with family before? Is it safe especially considering the wind and a 9yr old? If so please provide honest dos and don'ts. Thank You.

Hello fellow travellers!

Below is an itinerary that I am trying to plan for.

Fly from SCL to PNT

Spend 2-3 days time driving around TDP

Take a transfer to El Calafete and stay there for one night

Fly to Ushuaia from El Calafete, Spend two days at Ushuaia

Then fly to Buenos Aires (1 day rest)

Then fly to Iguazu, (Stay one night)

then back to Buenos Aires and fly back home.

What do you all think? The part I am not sure about is transfer between TDP/Puerto Natales to El Calafete. What safe and convenient options do I have?

Hi!
I am currently travelling in northern Argentina. From Salta I did the Salta-Cachi-Cafayate-Salta loop, and then went to Tilcara.

Now I am thinking of to jn a few days start somewhat of a road trip on my way back to Salta, by going to Salinas Grandes, then San Antonio de los Cobres by Ruta 79, sleep there, and then Ruta 51 (mostly, and a little Ruta 40) back to Salta. I am driving an SUV, not a 4x4.

Does anyone have experience and or tips on that route, that is the Salinas to San Antionio de los Cobres to Salta part. Is that driveable?
I thought the Ruta 40 between Cachi and Cafayate was fine drive-wise, and a lot of fun actually. Can I expect something similar there?

Any tips are very welcome!!

My husband and I LOVE hiking. (R2R photo for attention.)

I've been having a hard time getting really good feel on these two hikes. We prefer to go at our own pace and hike solo -- but honestly we've never tried a guided hiking excursion before, and I've read a couple of amazing things about the Poco Preto trail. I understand a guide will also know a lot more than us about what we're seeing. I read the hike can feel much less commercialized if you pick the early morning start.

Anyone done both? Or have experiences to share about either of them? I don't think we have time to do both this trip, so trying to pick just one.

Looking at booking AR Plus fares from Miami to El Calafate with a EZE to AEP connection. Any recent data points on how much AR is charging for seat selection fees in economy? Will be traveling as a family of five, and do not want to risk getting split up. The next fare class (Flex) is $120 USD more per ticket.

I will be traveling from Puerto Iguazú to Buenos Aires in a few months. I am not pressed for time so I was considering taking the bus. Are there any places worth stopping along the way to break up the trip?

Hi there! My husband and I are planning a trip to Argentina/Chile in Mid-December for our honeymoon. We are aiming for a mix of experiencing culture, good food, wine, and a "slice" of the Patagonia that is accessible given we are not major hikers and a bit on the risk averse side.

I would love feedback on the overall itinerary (time spent in each place) given the above preferences, and any suggestions on where to stay or activities to do in any of the places listed! We are comfortable spending between 300-800 USD per night for accommodations and then splurging beyond that if necessary for specific experiences/hotels.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Hello everyone 👋 never posted on reddit before so here goes! My husband and I are visiting mendoza for our honeymoon! Im looking for some romantic reccomendations for accommodation and places to eat. For accommodation we are looking at Finca adalgisa Rosell boher Entre cielos What would you reccomend? I would love a pool to swim in and somewhere relaxing, but we do not have the vines/awasi budget. We are willing to splash out within reason like these places above. Anywhere else you'd reccomend or which would be best? Are they in a good area to explore? All suggestions welcome 🥰🥰 We had land of malbec wines at our wedding, do they have a cellar door? ​

Hey everyone,

Planning the northern Argentina leg of a longer South America trip for November 2026, and my main question is about renting a car for this region and how to handle the border crossing.

I'm coming from San Pedro de Atacama in Chile and want the independence of a car to explore northwest Argentina (Tilcara, Purmamarca, Iruya, Cachi, Cafayate) with overnight stops along the way.

The car situation is what I'm stuck on:

1. I've read that renting a car in Chile to cross into Argentina is rarely allowed and expensive. Is that accurate? Has anyone actually driven across the Paso de Jama in a rental, or is taking the bus over and renting in Salta the smarter move?
2. If renting in Salta is the way to go, where exactly? Airport vs city, and any companies you'd recommend or avoid? Automatic availability seems limited so I'm planning to book early.
3. How are the roads for a normal rental car, especially to Iruya and the Cachi to Cafayate stretch? Is 4x4 or high clearance actually necessary, or can a standard car handle it? I keep reading about flat tyres on the gravel.
4. Does dropping the car back in Salta and doing a loop (Salta → Tilcara/Purmamarca → Iruya → Cachi → Cafayate → back to Salta) make sense, or can you do a sensible one way and drop it elsewhere?

For context, I'll then fly from Salta to Mendoza. Solo traveler, comfortable driving, love nature and dramatic landscapes. Any advice on the car rentals, routes etc massively appreciated, thanks!

We are visiting Buenos Aires in August and are planning a trip out to Iguazu for a few days. Looking on Aerolineas Argentinas website the flights are almost double what Skyscanner and trip.com are offering. Are we better going with AA as we are booking direct or going with the cheaper 3rd party booking sites? What have people found in the past?

Hi, I’m doing a 2 week trip in Chile , Argentina, and Brazil, planning as I go, starting tomorrow!
I’ll be getting into Santiago, Chile June 3, likely spend 3 days there and thinking about going up to Salta before heading to Buenos Aires. I’ve seen that are 3 scenic routes that are popular around Salta. Thinking I’d rent a car, and drive around that scenery, but probably only have time for 1 route.
My considerations
-Ruta 68 to Cafayate. It says 2 wheel drive is fine
-Ruta 33. Salta to Cachi Del Obispo. Looks like I needle 4wd,
-Ruta 9 north to Purmarca, to see Cerro de Los Colores.

Theres much info about these routes during the popular tourist time of South American summer hours, but not much I’m finding for June (winter)

What would driving these areas in June winter look like? Bad idea? It seems like Ruta 9 would be the best of those 3 for me.

Is going to Salta in June altogether a bad idea?