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<\/p>\nArgentina is the eighth largest nation on the face of the earth, and it squeezes an awful lot inside its ample borders. Cities, wetlands, deserts, mountains, jungles, beaches, glaciers, vineyards, ski fields\u2026 Argentina is as diverse as it is enormous, which is exactly what makes this slab of South America such an enticing destination. The sheer scale of the country makes planning a trip a little daunting, so we\u2019ve got the lowdown on everything you need to know about backpacking Argentina.<\/p>\n
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Argentina covers about 2.8 million square kilometres \u2014 roughly the size of France, Turkey, Japan and Nigeria sticky-taped together \u2014 and all that terrain is a nightmare for the weatherman. When one end of Argentina is sweltering, the other is shivering, or one place is parched while the other is pouring. While the weather in Argentina is as diverse as the country itself, spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) are generally the most pleasant times of year to visit, wedged between the winter hibernation and the hot and sticky crowds during summer.<\/p>\n
The mighty Iguaz\u00fa Falls bordering Brazil and Paraguay are hot and wet year-round, with wild thunderstorms and 30-plus temperatures in summer (January and February) before drier and cooler conditions roll in mid-year (May to July). The towering waterfalls roar their loudest with all that rainfall around Christmas, if you can stand the heat. Same deal with the vast Iber\u00e1 Wetlands nearby.<\/p>\n
The other side of Argentina is a similar story, with scorching and rain-soaked summers making way for comfortable, bone-dry winters. Sitting at the foothills of the Andes not far from the border with Chile and Bolivia, far-flung provinces like Salta and Jujuy are at their best in June and July, when the arid red landscapes resemble something out of the Wild West, and frosty nights thaw out to 20-degree daytime tops.<\/p>\n
Buenos Aires weather is spared from the dramatic peaks and troughs other parts of Argentina experience, with four mild, conventional and positively pleasant seasons. Imagine Sydney, or a slightly wetter San Diego.<\/p>\n
Summers can be steamy in the city \u2014 that\u2019s why so many porte\u00f1os (natives of Buenos Aires) escape to the beaches of Mar del Plata five hours\u2019 drive south, or Punta del Este over the Rio de La Plata in Uruguay \u2014 but spring and autumn are perfect, especially when the jacarandas add a splash of lilac to the Avenida Nueve de Julio when the weather warms up in November. Even in the depths of winter (June and July), top temps never dip below 15 degrees \u2014 perfect weather for nestling into one of the Argentine capital\u2019s famous steakhouses (parrillas), nightclubs (boliches) or tango halls (milongas).<\/p>\n
The climate is similar in C\u00f3rdoba and Rosario \u2014 Argentina\u2019s second and third largest cities, located in the centre of the country \u2014 while Mendoza is a little hotter over Christmas, hitting 30 most days. South America\u2019s wine-making mecca comes alive during harvest season each autumn, when Mendoza\u2019s vineyards glow hues of gold, orange and red in the shadow of the Andes.<\/p>\n
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\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@flylikebutterfly<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Cooler climes make Patagonia the most time-sensitive destination in Argentina \u2014 rock up during the summer peak and you might face a \u2018no vacancy\u2019 sign hanging in the hostel window, come back a couple of months later and it\u2019s been replaced by \u2018closed for winter\u2019. But if you\u2019re planning a long backpacking trip through South America, the snow-capped tip of the continent is a good alternative to sweating it up in the city during summer.<\/p>\n The weather in this brutally cold part of the world is more unpredictable than a Game of Thrones wedding, but planning your trip between November to March will give you the best chance of good conditions to explore Tierra del Fuego. The days are warm(ish), the nights are gentle, and the sun lingers long into the night. Between Easter and October though, expect plenty of hostels, bars and restaurants to shut down for the season.<\/p>\n Past the windswept beaches of the Atlantic Coast lies the Pen\u00ednsula Vald\u00e9s, one place that heats up during the cooler months. A pod of southern right whales cruise into the bay each June to mate, sticking around until December with all the elephant seals, dolphins, sea lions, penguins and other sea birds that flock here.<\/p>\n Perched on the eastern edge of the Andes, Argentina\u2019s Lake District is another winter hotspot. While the glacial lakes and volcanic peaks of the Nahuel Huapi and Lan\u00edn national parks are better tackled during summer, the Andean ski resorts\u2019 season kicks off in June when the snow settles around Bariloche. Too late? No worries. You\u2019ve got the wildflowers that blanket the Lake District each spring to look forward to in the sunshine.<\/p>\n Argentina weather can be volatile. Argentina events, on the other hand, run like clockwork. On top of Easter, Christmas and New Year\u2019s, the country observes a crowded calendar of national holidays, including Independence Day on July 9th<\/sup> when massive crowds flood the Plaza de Mayo with a sea of sky blue and white in front of the Casa Rosada.<\/p>\n Outside the capital, Carnival fever grips the country each February. The biggest \u2014 and most Brazilian \u2014 Carnival takes place in Gualeguaychu, three hours\u2019 north of Buenos Aires. In Mendoza each March, the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia marks the grape harvest season in wine country, and further south in Bariloche, the Fiesta de la Nieve brings the party to the snow.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@juligentx<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n C\u00f3rdoba is more than 11,000 kilometres from the beerhalls of Munich, but the tiny village of Villa General Belgrano throws an almighty Oktoberfest that Bavaria itself would be proud of. And back in Buenos Aires, the capital embraces Argentina\u2019s national dance with the Festival de Tango every August before painting the town rainbow for November\u2019s Pride parade.<\/p>\n The most colourful parties of all are held at Argentina\u2019s canchas \u2014 or football stadiums \u2014 which are packed to the rafters with screaming hinchas (fans) between early August and late May, with a mid-season break over December and January. Witnessing a match at Boca\u2019s La Bombonera or River\u2019s El Monumental is a bucket-list experience for any self-respecting football fan, so don\u2019t rock up in June or July and wonder why these revered sporting cathedrals are so silent.<\/p>\n Polo is another Argentine sporting curiosity that enjoys its time in the sun each spring, when the world\u2019s premier polo players congregate in Buenos Aires to compete in the Abierto Argentino and other major tournaments between October and December. The national rugby team \u2014 Los Pumas \u2014 tackle Australia, New Zealand and South Africa on home soil between August and October, while the Argentina Open brings tennis to Buenos Aires every February.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Argentina\u2019s visa requirements are pain-free for most travellers\u2026 phew! Passport-holders of 80-plus countries don\u2019t require a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. That means citizens of the European Union (and yes, that includes the UK \u2014 let\u2019s not open the Brexit can of worms just yet), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, the United States, plus virtually all Latin American and Caribbean nations can simply rock up with a passport valid for six months and get a 90-day stamp.<\/p>\n One asterisk on that: if you\u2019re arriving by air, you may need to provide proof of onward travel. Argentine officials rarely ask, but your airline might \u2014 they don\u2019t want to fly you straight home if Argentina knocks you back, so do your homework. Land and sea borders should be straightforward, even if customs checks might be a little more thorough than what you\u2019re used to elsewhere.<\/p>\n Some great news for Aussies, Americans and Canadians \u2014 Argentina has torn up the reciprocity fees that used to greet you like a slap in the face when you jumped off the plane. For US citizens, this arrival tax was as much as US$160, which buys an awful lot of bottles of Quilmes in Argentine pesos.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@eduardoequis<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n If your country doesn\u2019t appear on the visa-free list<\/a> but does feature on this one<\/a>, you can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation visa (AVE) for US$50 so long as you have a a B2 tourist visa issued by the US or a category C visa issued by the EU Schengen Zone with three months validity.<\/p>\n And if you\u2019ve fallen so deeply in love with Argentina that you can\u2019t drag yourself away after three months, there are two ways to extend your stay. One is to leave the country for a day or two \u2014 the simplest option being the 75-minute ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia in Uruguay, a nation that also offers visa-free entry to pretty much all the passport-holders Argentina does \u2014 then grab a fresh 90-day stamp upon return.<\/p>\n The other is to brush up on your Spanish by navigating your way through the maze-like Direcci\u00f3n Nacional de Migraciones website<\/a>, where you can apply to extend your visit by 90 days for a small fee. Mind-numbing bureaucracy or a quick trip to an exciting new country\u2026 your choice.<\/p>\n A date with the Migraciones website is also on the cards for visitors planning to work, study or live in Argentina, who must also possess an appetite for months of tedious paperwork with an infamously cumbersome government agency. \u00a1Buena suerte!<\/p>\n From the Falkland Islands (or Islas Malvinas) to David Beckham\u2019s red card at the 1998 World Cup, Argentina and England have shared a tense relationship in the recent past. But if you\u2019re frantically Googling \u2018Argentina visa UK\u2019 trying to figure out if your British passport will be welcome when you land in Buenos Aires, fear not \u2014 UK passport-holders can enter Argentina visa-free for up to 90 days.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When drawing up a list of Argentina highlights, you need to ask yourself what you\u2019re into. Wine or wildlife? Glaciers or gauchos? Stumbling out of a Buenos Aires boliche at 6am or setting your alarm for that time to climb Mount Fitz Roy? Argentina is a huge country with experiences that suit every type of backpacker, and these are the main stops where you should book a hostel.<\/p>\n Buenos Aires is the biggest, brightest and most brilliant stop on this list of Argentina highlights. The capital of the country and one of the Americas\u2019 most vibrant metropoles, this must-see city is an intoxicating cocktail of culture, chaos, colour and craziness that every backpacker needs to taste for themselves.<\/p>\n Sun-kissed parks in every barrio. Cosmopolitan cafes spilling out onto every street corner. Late-night milongas playing sultry tango music and world-class nightclubs pumping into the wee hours of the morning. Parisian architecture and a sophisticated arts and theatre scene to match. Some of South America\u2019s chicest shopping as well as the continent\u2019s wildest football stadiums. The attractions go on, and on, and on.<\/p>\n Wondering where to go in Buenos Aires? The Argentine capital is a humming hive of different barrios, or neighbourhoods. The towering Obelisco marks the middle of Microcentro in the heart of the city, bordered by the narrow cobbled streets of rustic San Telmo to the south and the gentrified former docks of Puerto Madero to the east. Trendy Palermo and upscale Recoleta are where to go in Buenos Aires\u2019 fashionable north, and don\u2019t skip a trip to the colourful homes of La Boca in the city\u2019s south, either.<\/p>\n Check out our hostels in Buenos Aires<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Rosario is another one of the largest cities in Argentina, renowned for its style and sophisticated Italian streak. Perched on the Paran\u00e1 River three hours\u2019 drive north-west of the capital, this city of one million residents doesn\u2019t attract as many backpackers as other Argentina highlights. But Rosario is well worth a visit for history buffs \u2014 there\u2019s the hulking monument to the Argentine flag that was first hoisted here in 1812, the compelling Museo Hist\u00f3rico Provincial museum, and the birthplace of revered revolutionary Ernesto \u2018Che\u2019 Guevara (yep, that dude on all those T-shirts).<\/p>\n Check out our hostels in Rosario<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n The colonial-era Spanish architecture of the historic Jesuit Block makes you feel like you\u2019re standing in Europe, but C\u00f3rdoba is actually Argentina\u2019s second city. And although the buildings might be 400 years old, hundreds of thousands of university students create a young party vibe that backpackers love.<\/p>\n Named the Cultural Capital of the Americas in 2006, C\u00f3rdoba boasts a lively film and arts industry, loads of cutting-edge designers and avant-garde markets, and a pulsating nightlife that rivals Buenos Aires\u2026 almost. And the place comes alive every September when Villa General Belgrano hosts the Fiesta Nacional de la Cerveza \u2014 the National Beer Festival, or Argentina\u2019s answer to Oktoberfest. Cheers to that.<\/p>\n Sitting in the geographical centre of Argentina among the Sierras Chicas mountains, C\u00f3rdoba is also surrounded by trickling streams and gentle hills like the serene Agua de Oro, the plain of the Humid Pampa and the indigenous paintings of Cerro Colorado.<\/p>\n Check out our hostels in C\u00f3rdoba<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n You\u2019ll find another one of the largest cities in Argentina parked right in the middle of wine country. Mendoza \u2014 not far from the Chilean border in the shadow of the snow-capped Andes \u2014 is the biggest wine-producing region in South America, bottling some of the finest (and cheapest) Malbec you\u2019ll ever have the pleasure of drinking out of a plastic cup in the hostel common room.<\/p>\n If your hangover isn\u2019t too bad, hop on a bike to explore the dozens of bodegas (wineries) dotted around Mendoza as well as neighbouring Maip\u00fa, or book a bus tour if you plan on getting so sozzled that cycling is out of the question. And the city itself is a lovely place to knock back a couple of glasses of the local specialty, especially at the bars and restaurants that pop up on the wide boulevards leading to the Plaza de Independencia.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@kymellis<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Mendoza is also a great base to conquer the Andes, including Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas \u2014 head to Confluencia base camp for jaw-dropping views, just don\u2019t try to stuff too many wine bottles in your backpack. The quaint town of Lujan de Cuyo and the grape-growing Uco Valley are other Argentina highlights.<\/p>\n Check out our hostels in Mendoza<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Looking for Argentina beaches? Look no further. This town on the Atlantic Coast south of Buenos Aires is the country\u2019s hottest surf spot and porte\u00f1os\u2019 favourite place to spend a lazy beach break. Argentina beaches won\u2019t knock your socks off if you\u2019re used to the sparkling strips of sand in Australia, California or the Mediterranean, but millions flock to Mar del Plata every summer for some sun, sand and cerveza. The city gets extremely busy in December and January, but the crowds create atmosphere that rivals the nightlife you\u2019ll get used to in the capital.<\/p>\n Check out our hostels in Mar del Plata<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Argentina highlights don\u2019t get any bigger than Iguaz\u00fa\u2026 literally. Stretching 2.7 kilometres long and soaring more than 60 metres high, these 275 roaring falls make up the largest waterfall system on earth, forming the natural border between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. The tumbling water roars louder than any football stadium in Argentina \u2014 and that\u2019s saying something. They don\u2019t call the river Garganta del Diablo (Devil\u2019s Throat) for nothing.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@calamar_ete<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Dodge the coatis (South American racoons) on the walking trails snaking between Iguaz\u00fa\u2019s dramatic lookouts, then take a boat tour to get splashed by the cascades. Puerto Iguaz\u00fa is the town you stay in on the Argentine side of the chasm, then there\u2019s Foz do Igua\u00e7u in Brazil \u2014 it\u2019s worth popping over the border if you don\u2019t need a Brazilian visa.<\/p>\n Check out our hostels in Puerto Iguazu<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n En route to Iguaz\u00fa lies a huge freshwater reservoir linked to the falls, brimming with wildlife, jungle and gaucho cowboy culture. Covering about as much territory as Slovenia or Fiji, these mammoth marshlands house Argentina\u2019s richest array of wildlife \u2014 alligators, jaguars, deer, anacondas, anteaters, monkeys, capybara rodents, you name it. And unlike the fields crawling with critters, the Iber\u00e1 Wetlands aren\u2019t overrun with backpackers yet, so you\u2019ll feel like you\u2019ve got the entire place to yourself.<\/p>\n Welcome to a little slice of Switzerland plonked in Patagonia. With its wooden cottages, deep blue lakes and snow-sprinkled peaks, San Carlos de Bariloche \u2014 usually just called Bariloche \u2014 is a charming launchpad to the alpine wonders that surround it, gazing over the tranquil waters of Lago Nahuel Huapi in Argentina\u2019s peaceful Lake District.<\/p>\n Lace up your hiking boots over summer to tackle Bariloche\u2019s pristine forests, then while much of Patagonia shuts down over winter, the region\u2019s ski resorts like the massive Cerro Catedral open for business. The chilled-out town of El Bols\u00f3n is also worth a stop thanks to spectacular treks like the one to the Cabeza del Indio rock formation.<\/p>\n Check out our hostels in Bariloche<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Over on the eastern edge of northern Patagonia, Puerto Madryn is a wildlife-watching wonderland that every David Attenborough wannabe needs to check out. This small beach town is the gateway to the Pen\u00ednsula Vald\u00e9s, a nature reserve protecting thousands of sea lions, elephant seals, guanacos, rheas, Magellanic penguins and other sea birds along 400 kilometres of Atlantic coast. It might be a little frosty for a swim but winter is still the best time to visit, when pods of southern right whales use the sheltered waters of Puerto Madryn to breed and give birth to their calves.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@pazarando<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Check out our hostels in Puerto Madryn<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n The Perito Moreno Glacier keeps a steady stream of backpackers trekking further south, where there are plenty of quality hostels in El Calafate. This tiny tourist town on the banks of Lago Argentino has been transformed by visitors flocking to the Los Glaciares National Park, home to one of the iconic Argentina highlights.<\/p>\n Thirty kilometres long, five kilometres wide and 60 metres high, Moreno is a dizzyingly large river of ice. But the highlight is when huge chunks of ice crack away from the glacier then crash into the water, producing a thunderous splash that feels like the special effects of a Hollywood blockbuster unfolding before your eyes and ears.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@rjarboe<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Flanked on all sides by mesmerising frost-bitten scenery, there\u2019s more to see around El Calafate than just these awe-inspiring ice blocks. Kayak the Canal Upsala, gawk at more glaciers on a cruise of Lago Viedma, or head to hiking mecca El Chalt\u00e9n, a hippie village that swells with mountain climbers each summer preparing to take on the jaw-dropping Mount Fitz Roy as well as stacks of nearby treks.<\/p>\n Check out our hostels in El Calafate<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Ushuaia \u2014 teetering on the southern coast of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego \u2014 used to be a penal colony because it was so isolated, but now earns its place on any list of Argentina highlights due to its status as the world\u2019s southernmost city. The town itself isn’t exactly easy on the eye, but everything around it is starkly beautiful \u2014 the end-of-the-earth vibe is what makes Ushuaia so special.<\/p>\n Sandwiched between the Martial mountain range to the north and the Beagle Channel to the south, this city is where Antarctic cruises set off from. But even if you\u2019re not making that epic adventure all the way to Antarctica, the Tierra del Fuego archipelago provides a little entree. Hike Glacier Martial and Cerro Castor, stroll the frosty forests of the Tierra del Fuego National Park, check out the archaeological ruins of the millennia-old indigenous Yaghan people, and live out your own personal sequel to Happy Feet on the penguin-peppered Isla Martillo.<\/p>\n Check out our hostels in Ushuaia<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to forget Argentina\u2019s rugged north-west corner when you\u2019re drafting your backpacking trip. But if you\u2019re planning a visit to Bolivia\u2019s much-Instagrammed Uyuni salt flats or Chile\u2019s otherworldly Atacama Desert, you\u2019d be crazy to skip the Argentine provinces of Salta and Jujuy along the way.<\/p>\n This distant nook of Argentina is a buffet of landscapes that look like they\u2019ve been pinched from another planet. The bone-dry Valles Calchaqu\u00edes, the gushing rapids of R\u00edo Juramento, the jagged peaks of the Serran\u00eda de Hornocal in the Quebrada de Humahuaca valley, the barren Salinas Grandes salt flats, the dazzling Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colours), and the dusty towns of Cafayate, Humahuaca, Purmamarca and Tilcara.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@1locoxelmundo<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The city of Salta \u2014 a melting pot of indigenous influences, gaucho touches and grandiose colonial-era buildings \u2014 is a great place to base yourself for day trips out to the surrounding terrain, while San Salvador de Jujuy is the capital of the neighbouring province, another nice town to launch your north-west adventure from.<\/p>\n Check out hostels in Salta<\/b><\/a> or Jujuy<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Argentine peso is about as stable as a three-legged chair. One US dollar bought roughly three pesos \u2014 represented by the $ symbol \u2014 10 years ago, about $6 five years ago, and around $45 at the time of writing, although that could be anything by the time you\u2019re reading this.<\/p>\n The peso halved in value last year alone \u2014 one USD was worth $20 in January but $40 by Christmas \u2014 and the government has released a stack of new banknotes to keep up with inflation, adding $200, $500 and $1000 bills on top of the existing $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5.<\/p>\n ATMs (cajeros autom\u00e1ticos) are everywhere, but they\u2019re a frustrating ordeal. Not all international cards work, so carry a back-up or two just in case. Many ATMs run out of cash, especially in touristy areas or small towns during high season. And withdrawal limits can be bafflingly low \u2014 around US$100 \u2014 with monster fees added on top. Banelco machines offer larger amounts \u2014 look for the maroon B logo.<\/p>\n Credit cards are widely accepted, and some spots even take US dollars or traveller\u2019s cheques, but you\u2019ll need cash for kiosks and smaller purchases. Carry crisp bills if you want to exchange money at a casa de cambio (change house), and examine the watermark on larger notes to sniff out any counterfeits. Stores can be a little funny about breaking big bills for this reason.<\/p>\n Tipping 10-15% at restaurants is customary \u2014 just remember that \u2018gracias\u2019 means \u2018you keep it\u2019, whereas \u2018cambio, por favor\u2019 means \u2018gimme my change, thanks amigo\u2019.<\/p>\n Rampant inflation means Argentina\u2019s not quite as cheap as you might expect it to be, especially when haggling isn\u2019t a part of the culture like it is in other parts of Latin America, but it\u2019s still an affordable backpacking destination. The rough rule of thumb for your Argentina daily budget? About US$50 or AR$2250 a day, depending on where you sit on the backpacker\/flashpacker scale and whether you\u2019re travelling during the summer rush.<\/p>\n A dorm bed in a highly-rated hostel sets you back around US$10 (AR$450) \u2014 sometimes a little more in Buenos Aires or remote areas like Patagonia during high season. A nice meal in a decent restaurant costs a similar amount, which seems like a bargain \u2014 you can demolish a steak and a glass of vino and still receive change from a 500-peso note, which sure beats another pot of instant noodles in the hostel kitchen.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@andrea-leopardi<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Wine is another good-value buy \u2014 you can pick up a quality bottle of Mendoza Malbec from the supermarket for US$5 (AR$225) or a little more in a bar, while beers cost about US$1 (AR$45) at the supermarket and US$2-3 (AR$90-130) in a bar. A 50-peso bill is enough for a street snack like a choripan or an empanada, too.<\/p>\n Entry to museums like MALBA (AR$170\/US$4) and the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (AR$200\/US$5) is reasonable, as is transport in Buenos Aires compared to other major cities. A Subte (subway\/metro) journey costs AR$11.40 to AR$19 (less than US$0.50), depending on how many trips you take on your SUBE card in the month, while a taxi ride from Palermo to the city centre is about AR$200-250 (US$5-6).<\/p>\n The cost of transport between cities, though, punches a hole in your daily budget. Domestic flights often carry whopping price tags, but buses aren\u2019t dirt cheap either \u2014 a ticket from Buenos Aires to Rosario (4.5 hours) is AR$600 (US$13), to Mendoza (18 hours) is AR$1250 (US$28), or to Iguaz\u00fa (18 hours) is AR$2600 (US$58).<\/p>\n So if you\u2019re planning to spend the night in a hostel, pop out to a museum and polish off a couple of empanadas for lunch, save some room for a steak and a glass of wine for dinner, then catch a taxi back to your dorm, you\u2019re looking at US$40 or AR$1800 for the day. Save an extra couple of bucks for a special tour or your next bus and US$50 is a sensible amount for your Argentina daily budget.<\/p>\n You might have heard about the \u2018blue market\u2019 for US dollars from people who\u2019ve visited Argentina in the past, but it\u2019s pretty much useless now. Restrictions on trading foreign currency meant you could get almost twice as many pesos for your green back from illegal currency changers called arbolitos (little trees) on Calle Florida in Buenos Aires a few years ago \u2014 worth the risk to double your money, in many traveller\u2019s eyes. But after recent law changes, the blue market rate is hardly any better than what you get out of the ATM or at an official change house these days, so you should feel no temptation to tango with these shady characters.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can stretch your savings a little further by staying at some of the many awesome hostels in Argentina<\/a>. The average price of a dorm bed is about US$10 (AR$45) \u2014 perhaps a little more for hostels in Buenos Aires \u2014 which is just another reason why Argentina is such a great backpacking destination. From the Iguaz\u00fa heat to the Patagonian frost, these are the best hostels in Argentina.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t begin talking about hostels in Buenos Aires anywhere other than Milhouse, a pair of party hostels whose reputation spans the globe. Choose from Milhouse Hostel Hipo<\/a> on Hip\u00f3lito Yrigoyen and Milhouse Hostel Avenue<\/a> on Avenida de Mayo \u2014 both smack bang in the middle of the city centre, and both boasting lively backpacker bars that pump long into the morning.<\/p>\n Other top-rated hostels in Buenos Aires include boutique HOSCAR-winning property Am\u00e9rica del Sur<\/a> and the ultra-modern Circus Hostel<\/a> in the charming San Telmo neighbourhood, Recoleta\u2019s friendly Benita Hostel<\/a>, and the bohemian digital nomad hotspot Selina Palermo<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7 Selina Palermo<\/em><\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for more some intimate hostels in Buenos Aires, book a private room at the rustic-chic ChillHouse<\/a> or the 140-year-old Telmotango Hostel Suite<\/a> bed and breakfast, which both offer a selection of good value single, double, twin and three-bed private rooms.<\/p>\n Hostel Lagares<\/a> is a small property located in the historic centre of Mendoza, and its rooftop terrace is decked out with a parrilla so backpackers can enjoy a traditional Argentine asado with a bottle (or three) of Mendoza\u2019s famous Malbec.<\/p>\n Hostel Internacional Campo Base<\/a> on Plaza Independencia, the laid-back Hostel Lao<\/a> guesthouse and Hostel Alamo\u2019s<\/a> shady backyard pool are other quality options when exploring Argentina\u2019s wine country.<\/p>\n Hostels in Bariloche can be a little pricey, but some of them are worth every peso. Hospedaje Penthouse 1004<\/a> and Green House Hostel<\/a>\u00a0 both gaze out over the lake, Hostel Alchalay<\/a> is full of new friends, La Justina<\/a> is a cosy cabin and Periko\u2019s Youth Hostel<\/a> is a dependable downtown choice.<\/p>\n Tangoinn Club Iguazu-Party Luxury Hostel<\/a> offers a legendary pool and party atmosphere, while the family-run Tucan Hostel<\/a> might provide a better night\u2019s sleep before you explore Iguaz\u00fa\u2019s awe-inspiring waterfalls. Ambay Suites & Dorms<\/a> and Casa Yaguarete B&B<\/a> are other chilled-out choices.<\/p>\n Home to the Glaciar Perito Moreno in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, El Calafate is your launchpad to some of Patagonia\u2019s most mesmerising landscapes. And there\u2019s a selection of superb hostels to choose from, including another Am\u00e9rica del Sur<\/a> property, Schilling Patagonia Travellers<\/a>, Folk Hostel<\/a> and Patagonia Republic Hostel<\/a> \u2014 all rated at least a nine out of 10 by Hostelworld guests.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@marcellc67<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Hostels in El Calafate are more expensive in the busy summer months of January and February, so try to book your bed in advance.<\/p>\n On the other side of Patagonia, Rio Gallegos is a popular pitstop between El Calafate and Ushuaia. Hostels in Rio Gallegos are limited, although Hysteria La Posada<\/a> earns solid reviews for its squeaky clean facilities.<\/p>\n There\u2019s much more choice further south in Ushuaia, where the comfortable La Posta Hostel and Apart<\/a>, the homely Galeazzi – Basily B&B<\/a> and the social Torre al Sur<\/a> are the top picks in town.<\/p>\n Argentina\u2019s second city has a stack of cool properties to choose from. Alvear Hostel<\/a>, 531 Hostel<\/a> and Aldea Hostel<\/a> are three of the buzziest backpacker joints, while Onas Hostel & Suites<\/a> feels more like a fancy hotel than a budget bed.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0Onas Hostel & Suites<\/em><\/p>\n Che Lagarto<\/a> and Hostel Casa Grande<\/a> are comfy homes away from home on your beach break to this sun-kissed summer town.<\/p>\n The city of Rosario is renowned for its sense of style, and the hostels are no exception. The boutique Bon Voyage Hostel<\/a> and the homely Be King<\/a> both boast Hostelworld ratings of nine or higher.<\/p>\n The north-west corner of Argentina should appear on every backpacker\u2019s Argentina itinerary, and the vibrant Prisamata<\/a> hostel, plus the cosy All Norte<\/a> are good places to stay if you do plan on venturing into these otherworldly landscapes en route to Bolivia.<\/p>\n On top of these major backpacking destinations, Hostelworld also offers properties that cover every patch of this vast country. Discover all of our hostels in Argentina<\/a>!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Argentina\u2019s public transport is another reason why this slice of South America is such a great backpacking destination. Planes, trains, buses, ferries and a small army of taxis form an extensive network of public transport across Argentina, helping you explore every inch of the country.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re flying in from abroad, you\u2019ll almost certainly arrive at Aeropuerto Internacional Ministro Pistarini in Buenos Aires, always known simply as Ezeiza. Local buses into the city take forever \u2014 seriously, two hours, and ain\u2019t nobody got time for that \u2014 but Manuel Tienda Le\u00f3n shuttle buses (AR$400\/US$9) or private taxis called remises (AR$1200\/US$27) are much quicker.<\/p>\n Flying in and out of Argentina might be the only time you\u2019ll visit Ezeiza \u2014 most domestic flights use Aeroparque Internacional Jorge Newbery closer to the centre of the capital. Aerol\u00edneas Argentinas, LATAM, Andes and LADE all operate domestic flights, but with so few airports and minimum prices set by the government, most tickets fall outside of a backpacker\u2019s budget, especially during the summer high season.<\/p>\n Buses (micros), on the other hand, are a backpacker\u2019s best friend. They\u2019re super comfy, mega frequent, and relatively affordable. Long-distance buses usually only have three seats per row instead of the usual four, which is positively luxurious. The ejecutivo (executive) and coche cama (sleeper) classes are the top of the tree, with huge reclining seats like business class on a plane, followed by semi-cama (half-bed) and com\u00fan (common), both also fine.<\/p>\n Security is good, bags are tagged and stored securely underneath, and meals are often included with snacks and drinks sold on board. The only downside is the brutal air con \u2014 don\u2019t forget a jumper (or a ski jacket). The comfortable conditions make the overnight bus an attractive option for saving a few pesos on accommodation, although hostels in Argentina are excellent and inexpensive.<\/p>\n There are dozens of dependable operators, and price depends on the level of luxury you feel like treating yourself to. For the 18-hour trip from Buenos Aires to Mendoza, for instance, you\u2019re paying AR$1250 (US$28) for the semi-cama, AR$2700 (US$60) for the cama, and AR$3000 (US$67) for ejecutivo.<\/p>\n The beating heart of the bus system is Retiro station in Buenos Aires \u2014 this place is Disneyland for public transport in Argentina. But rather than navigating the maze of different companies covering a galaxy of routes, use a comparison site like Omnilineas<\/a> to book your trip.<\/p>\n Despite the extensive bus system, some places \u2014 particularly in Patagonia \u2014 are only accessible via private vehicles, especially outside the height of high season (January and February). You need to be at least 21 years old and hold a valid driver\u2019s license to hire a car, but be warned: the quality of roads is patchy, and the standard of driver can be even worse.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@michaelbaronr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Argentina used to boast a train network to rival anywhere in Europe\u2026 but we\u2019re about 70 years too late to enjoy it. The three main routes left are Buenos Aires (Constituci\u00f3n station) to Mar del Plata (6.5 hours, AR$660\/US$15 or AR$795\/US$18 for first class), Buenos Aires (Retiro) to C\u00f3rdoba (19 hours overnight, AR$500\/US$11 or AR$1750\/US$39 for a bed), and Buenos Aires (Retiro) to Rosario (6.5 hours, AR$300\/US$7). Check out all the routes here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Tren Patag\u00f3nico routes from Bariloche to Viedma and Tren a las Nubes soaring around Salta at an altitude in excess of 4000m are spectacular but touristy, with the price tag to match. And Greater Buenos Aires also has a train network linking the capital with the rest of the province, which you\u2019ll probably only need if you\u2019re planning a day trip to Tigre from Retiro.<\/p>\n There\u2019s not much boat travel within Argentina, but plenty coming in and going out. The ferry from BA\u2019s Buquebus ferry terminal near Retiro sends regular boats to Colonia del Sacramento (75 min) and Montevideo (three hours), a smooth way to tick off another great South American country. Ferries also chug over to Chile from the Lake District as well as Antarctica from Ushuaia, if you\u2019re planning that epic adventure.<\/p>\n A fleet of 40,000 black-and-yellow cabs buzz around Buenos Aires like a swarm of bees \u2014 a cheap and convenient way to get around the capital. These registered radio taxis all have digital metres \u2014 a 10km, 30-minute journey costs about AR$250 (US$6) in BA, and it\u2019s a similar story in other big cities like C\u00f3rdoba, Mendoza and Rosario.<\/p>\n Remises (private taxis) are also available, with fixed prices for set journeys like the trip into town from Ezeiza airport. Probably not in the regular backpacker\u2019s price range, though.<\/p>\n The capital is the only city in Argentina with a subway system, known as the Subte. It\u2019s the quickest way to get around BA \u2014 the trip from Palermo to Nueve de Julio smack bang in the middle of the city takes 13 minutes \u2014 but you need a SUBE card<\/a> to tap on, available from any kiosko (corner store) with a purple SUBE flag. The cost of a trip depends on how many you take in the month, AR$11.40 to AR$19 (less than US$0.50). Services run every couple of minutes between 5.30am and 11.30pm Monday to Saturday, or 8.00am to 10.30pm Sunday.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@eduardoequis<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Above ground, you can\u2019t miss the fleet of no-frills local buses (colectivos) roaring down the street, or the modern Metrobus lines racing down the five main arteries like Avenida Juan B Justo, Avenida Nueve de Julio and the 25 de Mayo expressway. Colectivo lines run all over the city, 365 days a year at infamously infrequent intervals. Again, add credit to your SUBE at a kiosko then tap on.<\/p>\n One handy tool to bookmark is C\u00f3mo llego?<\/a> (\u2018How do I get there?\u2019), which maps your route from Point A to Point B across BA.<\/p>\n The capital has also introduced the EcoBici bike share scheme to make the most of 200km of dedicated cycleways. These bright yellow wheels are completely free \u2014 good for your budget, and even better for the environment.<\/p>\n A similar tap-on card system called Red Bus also exists in C\u00f3rdoba, Mendoza and Salta, while Rosario\u2019s is called Tarjeta sin contacto. Buses and trolleybuses are the way to get around these smaller cities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Unless you have your own private jet \u2014 and if you do, have you got a spare seat on your next round-the-world adventure? \u2014 it\u2019s simply not possible to see every part of Argentina in one week. And if you\u2019ve only got seven days in the country, you\u2019d be crazy not to start in Buenos Aires.<\/p>\n As well as being one of the Americas\u2019 most exciting cities, the capital gives you a glimpse of everything Argentina has to offer \u2014 tango, steak, football, culture and non-stop nightlife. You could easily enjoy a whole week just in Buenos Aires \u2014 it\u2019s one of those places where you need to immerse yourself in the lifestyle rather than race around ticking off landmarks \u2014 but if you\u2019ve only got three days, spend one in the middle, one on the north, and one in the south.<\/p>\n The city centre, Microcentro, is home to most of BA\u2019s famous attractions: Obelisco, Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, Teatro Col\u00f3n and El Ateneo Grand Splendid book store, as well as the rejuvenated docks of Puerto Madero around the corner. There\u2019s no shortage of charming bars and cafes, but the middle of town also boasts Buenos Aires\u2019 most iconic milongas (tango clubs) \u2014 try Maldita and its live orchestra El Atronfe, the intimate El Beso, and La Catedral in nearby Almagro.<\/p>\n Palermo \u2014 a stylish assortment of cafes and eateries \u2014 and Recoleta \u2014 containing the legendary cemetery \u2014 are the barrios to go in the north. This part of the capital is where you\u2019ll find Argentina\u2019s top two museums \u2014 cutting-edge MALBA and the historic Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes \u2014 plus River Plate\u2019s El Monumental stadium a bit further north, if you’re a football hooligan who also dabbles in fine arts. Palermo also boasts BA\u2019s liveliest nightclubs like Niceto and Kika, which don\u2019t warm up until well after midnight.<\/p>\n Stray south to see the cobbled alleys of San Telmo and the colourful houses of La Boca stacked on top of each other, as well as the cancha of Argentina\u2019s other gigantic football club, Boca Juniors, who rock the Bombonera every other Saturday. El Caminito is Boca\u2019s main tourist drag, where steakhouses offering tango shows spill onto the footpath \u2014 a little tacky, sure, but a great one-stop shop of porte\u00f1o culture if you have to drag yourself away from the city after only three days.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@tom-hopcraft<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n So where to next on your Argentina one-week itinerary? You won\u2019t get the chance to see all of the country\u2019s mesmerising landscapes with so little time, and even though Iguaz\u00fa and Perito Moreno are Argentina\u2019s most jaw-dropping drawcards, it makes more sense to head to the north-east.<\/p>\n Why? Because the terrain is so diverse. You\u2019ll get to see dusty towns, lush wineries, dramatic peaks, cloudy rainforest and barren salt flats all a simple day trip from the city of Salta, which itself is an intoxicating fusion of indigenous influences and Spanish colonial culture with some of Argentina\u2019s best steak to boot.<\/p>\n The plane from BA takes a tick over two hours and the overnight bus takes 20, but you pay for the convenience. Spend your first day seeing Salta\u2019s scenic town square and scaling Cerro San Bernardo before renting a car or booking a tour for three day trips \u2014 there\u2019s no shortage of budget-friendly tour operators that cater to backpackers.<\/p>\n Day one takes you to the neighbouring province of Jujuy, with old-world villages like Purmamarca and Tilcara as well as the time-carved Quebrada de Humahuaca valley and the colourful Cerro de los Siete Colores. Surrounded by bodegas, the town of Cafayate is worth a whole day to discover the rocky red landscape and the fruity local Torront\u00e9s wines. Mop up other north-east highlights \u2014 the Salinas Grandes salt flats, the twisting roads through the cloudy Yungas rainforest, and the wild west cacti that blanket the Valles Calchaqu\u00edes \u2014 on day three to round off your one-week itinerary in Argentina.<\/p>\n This 10-day Argentina itinerary starts the same as the seven-day version, but adds three days in Iguaz\u00fa Falls, the country\u2019s most stirring natural marvel. Direct two-hour flights are available from both Buenos Aires and Salta, and it\u2019s a smart investment to avoid an eternity on the bus and give yourself extra time to explore the humid north-west corner of the country.<\/p>\n Iguaz\u00fa forms the natural border between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, and if there\u2019s no visa issues, you should spend one day on the Argentine side and another venturing into Brazil. The two nations provide two perspectives on the UNESCO World Heritage listed wonder \u2014 you\u2019ll get up close and personal with the cascades in Argentina, where you can even take a boat tour into the splash zone, while Brazil offers a better panoramic vista over the 275 falls, so that\u2019s where you\u2019ll snap your best Instagram gear.<\/p>\n An Argentina itinerary 10 days in length leaves room for a day in the nearby Iber\u00e1 Wetlands or a pitstop at the ruined Jesuit missions on the road to Iguaz\u00fa, but that\u2019s best done with your own car or on an organised tour \u2014 public transport would be a squeeze. Failing that, use the extra day to soak up a little more of Buenos Aires.<\/p>\n A fortnight gives you some more time to play with, keeping all the stops that appear above but shuffling them around a little. Begin in Buenos Aires before heading to Iguaz\u00fa, then flying across to Salta and hugging the Andes down to Mendoza and Bariloche for two nights apiece. Both of those extra journeys \u2014 Salta to Mendoza, and Mendoza to Bariloche \u2014 take more than 18 hours on the bus but less than two on the plane. So if flights don\u2019t fit into your backpacker\u2019s budget, remember to book the cama ejecutivo class to make those marathon coach trips a little more comfy.<\/p>\n On your first day in Mendoza, recover from your overnight bus. On your second day in Mendoza, recover from your hangover. With the Andes as its backdrop, this grape-growing region pumps out more bottles of wine than anywhere else in South America, so it\u2019s only right that you enjoy a glass or six of world-class Malbec. You could easily fill two days cycling between Mendoza\u2019s many mountainside bodegas, but adventure-lovers might want to put down their glasses momentarily to scale Cerro Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t delve into the depths of Patagonia on a whistle-stop two-week stay in Argentina, but Bariloche is an accessible entree to this snow-capped region. The picturesque Lake District has weeks\u2019 supply of breathtaking walking trails, so choose a couple to fill the last two days of this fortnight-long plan. If you\u2019ve got the funds to fly, then you might fit in Antarctic Ushuaia or glacial El Calafate instead of Bariloche on this two-week Argentina itinerary.<\/p>\n If you can afford to spend one month exploring Argentina, then you can really see the entire country\u2026 although you may end up stumbling around like an extra on the Walking Dead if you try to sleep in too many overnight buses instead of Argentina\u2019s many great hostels.<\/p>\n These micros are much more comfortable than coaches in other parts of the world, but distances between destinations in Argentina are so vast that even the most luxurious cama ejecutivo starts to feel cramped after a while. Plane tickets are often way too expensive but even one or two flights \u2014 particularly to remote places like Iguaz\u00fa or Salta in the north or El Calafate and Ushuaia in the south \u2014 can drastically cut down the amount of time you spend staring at the road. Naturally though, backpackers will become extremely familiar with the Argentine bus system on this busy 30-day itinerary.<\/p>\n Begin with five days in Buenos Aires, using one of the extra nights for a day trip to riverside Tigre or even on the ferry to Uruguay, and the other to rest your eyes after spending a late night (and early morning) at the boliche. Then break up the long trip to Iguaz\u00fa with two nights in Rosario, a stylish city packed with history in central Argentina.<\/p>\n After three days in the north-east, fly to Salta for another four in the north-west before staying two nights in C\u00f3rdoba \u2014 the city\u2019s classic colonial centre spiced up by a cool student scene \u2014 en route to Mendoza for Malbec, Malbec and more Malbec. If you can afford a flight to Patagonia, happy days. But if you\u2019re a backpacker living off instant noodles and the random ingredients you spot on the shared shelf of the hostel kitchen, then buses it is.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@kyllik<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Start with two days in Bariloche then another two in El Calafate, the gateway to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares and the iconic Perito Moreno. This is a huge tick on the bucket list for many travellers and El Calafate is a 3.5 hour flight from Buenos Aires, so if you\u2019re desperate to hear the crack and splash of this mighty glacier but only have limited time in the country, it\u2019s possible to shoehorn it into a shorter itinerary.<\/p>\n A little further north, blissed-out El Chalt\u00e9n offers more hikes around Mount Fitz Roy than your little legs can handle, and if you\u2019ve got a little bit of leeway in your timetable, pop across the border to check out Chile\u2019s Torres del Paine National Park too.<\/p>\n The bus journey from El Calafate to Ushuaia takes about 16 hours via Rio Gallegos and Chile, but this long and winding road only adds to the feeling that you\u2019re travelling to the end of the earth \u2014 and that\u2019s exactly why you should make the effort to trek it to this ultra-isolated town for three nights. Unless you win the lottery, a full-on cruise to Antarctica won\u2019t fit into your budget, but a cruise of the Beagle Channel provides a little sample of the world\u2019s least visited continent. Take your other two days to wander through the pristine Tierra del Fuego National Park and hop on a penguin tour to Isla Martillo.<\/p>\n There are even more wildlife-watching opportunities in Puerto Madryn, if you\u2019ve got the stomach for another 20+ hour slog on a micro with a change in Rio Gallegos. Take two days to spot whales and co. in the Reserva Faun\u00edstica Pen\u00ednsula Vald\u00e9s, an untouched nautical nature reserve on Argentina\u2019s Atlantic Coast.<\/p>\n And at the end of this 30-day whirlwind you\u2019ve well and truly earned a couple of days with your feet up, so book two nights to enjoy the sand of Mar del Plata \u2014 another 16 hours north \u2014 before the relatively short five-hour trip back to Buenos Aires for your flight out of Argentina. Gee, that\u2019s a busy month.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Like a steaming bowl of locro with a little taste of everything tossed in, Argentine cuisine is a melting pot of flavours from every corner of the globe. Indigenous civilisation and millions of Mediterranean migrants have combined to create a unique menu of dishes covering everything from seafood and sweets to stews and sausages.<\/p>\n Beef lies at the heart of Argentina\u2019s traditional food, of course, and the parrilla (barbecue) brings families and friends (and backpackers!) together. But non-carnivores won\u2019t be left hungry with exquisite empanadas, tasty tamales and delectable desserts on offer. From high-end restaurants to much-loved street snacks, sink your teeth into the best traditional food Argentina dishes up.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@joseignaciopompe<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n A legacy of the legendary gauchos (cowboys) who roamed the countryside in the 18th and 19th Century, no meal means more to Argentina than the beefy barbecues known as asados. Parrillas \u2014 the open-flame grills that are commonplace in Argentine homes and apartment blocks, as well as the word used to describe a barbecue restaurant \u2014 are the centrepiece of the asado, which refers to the social gathering itself, where attendees polish off half their bodyweight in beef and the other half in bottles of Malbec.<\/p>\n A smorgasbord of meats make up Argentina\u2019s national dish. Expect to find chorizo (sausage), ojo de bife (ribeye), tira de asado (short ribs), bife de chorizo (sirloin), morcilla (blood sausage), chinchulines or chinchus (intestines), mollejas (gizzards) and even llama steak slowly sizzling on the grill, lightly seasoned with salt then slathered in chimichurri when they\u2019re ready. Patagonia takes the parrilla to a grisly new level with their asado a la estaca, where entire lambs, goats or pigs are butterflied over the flames.<\/p>\n You won\u2019t be overwhelmed with vegetarian options at a parrilla, but provoleta is a rare meat-free side dish. These discs of provolone cheese are thrown in a skillet with chilli flakes, oregano and tomatoes then left to melt on the grill before being seasoned with chimichurri and olive oil. Caramelised on the outside, gooey on the inside, and deliciously smoky throughout.<\/p>\n No asado is complete without one crucial ingredient: chimichurri, the green salsa spooned over<\/p>\n all that grilled meat. Named after an Englishman by the name of Jimmy McCurry who came to fight for Argentine independence back in the day (if you believe the local legend), chimichurri is a tangy concoction of garlic, parsley, oregano, onion, olive oil and red wine vinegar that\u2019s sometimes used as a marinade but more often added to the buffet of barbecued beef off the parrilla. And yes, it\u2019s borderline treason to use ketchup instead.<\/p>\n Cows are good for more than just their meat in Argentine cuisine, with milk providing the country\u2019s other great culinary obsession. Dulce de leche is caramelised condensed milk \u2014 a thick, gooey paste that\u2019s smeared on toast for breakfast, drizzled over cakes and pancakes for merienda (afternoon tea), or slurped straight from the spoon on a cheeky trip to the pantry. And if you\u2019ve been lucky enough to sample this sickly sweet dessert, you\u2019d know there\u2019s no shame whatsoever in diving directly into the jar. Chimbote and Havanna are a couple of the top brands you can find in stores everywhere.<\/p>\n Argentina\u2019s most addictive substance also appears in its favourite snack: alfajores, a layer of dulce de leche sandwiched between two small shortbread cookies. You\u2019ll spot these desserts everywhere from corner kiosks to fancy restaurants, often coated in dark chocolate, white chocolate or shredded coconut.<\/p>\n El Capitan del Espacio \u2014 with its little space captain grinning on the shiny golden packaging \u2014 is one iconic brand that enjoys a cult following, offering a fruity dulce de membrillo (quince paste) alternative, as well as a super-sized \u2018triple\u2019 with three biscuits and two layers of dulce de leche, kind of like a tiny caramel Big Mac. Argentinian snacks don\u2019t get any better than that.<\/p>\n For years, football fans have seen Lionel Messi and Sergio Ag\u00fcero jump off the team bus clutching a thermos in one hand and a steaming cup in the other. No, it\u2019s not some magical elixir that imparts transcendental footballing ability. It\u2019s mate, the national drink of Argentina.<\/p>\n Mate \u2014 pronounced \u2018mah-tay\u2019, not \u2018mayt\u2019 \u2014 comes from the indigenous yerba mate plant, whose leaves and twigs are dried and chopped up to form this very bitter tea. The leaves are packed into a hollow gourd and doused with not-quite-boiling water, sucked through the bombilla (straw) with a strainer at the bottom that stops you from copping a gob full of herbs, then refilled from the thermos as you pass it around the circle.<\/p>\n Much like the asado, mate is as much about the social ritual as it is about the thing you\u2019re sticking in your mouth. The cebador is in charge of preparing the mate before passing it clockwise around the circle like a bong, except the only buzz is caffeine. And forget your manners \u2014 the word \u2018gracias\u2019 doesn\u2019t mean \u2018thanks\u2019 in this context, it means \u2018I\u2019ve had enough, please stop passing me this cup of hot mud\u2019.<\/p>\n If the taste is too bitter, you can add sugar or honey to the gourd for sweetness. Or try mate cocido instead, where the leaves are brewed like a regular cup of tea before adding milk and sugar.<\/p>\n Every day, the entire nation of Argentina snacks on these little crescent-shaped pockets of meats, vegetables, fruits and whatever else you can stuff inside pastry and stick in the oven. Like a tiny calzone or a Cornish pasty with a Latin streak, empanadas can be savoury \u2014 loaded with chicken, beef, veggies, cheese, olives, you name it \u2014 or sweet \u2014 filled with raisins, jam, sweet potato, cinnamon or dulce de leche, of course.<\/p>\n Almost anything can find its way inside an empanada, but different regions have different specialities. Up north, Salta\u2019s empanadas salte\u00f1as are full of potato, egg, chives and llama meat if you\u2019re feeling adventurous. Lard and a single olive are the signatures of wood-fired empanadas sanjuaninas in San Juan. And C\u00f3rdoba adds sugar and raisins to their ground beef for a sweet twist in empanadas cordobesas.<\/p>\n Known as an escalope to the rest of the world or a schnitty in the rich lexicon of Australia, a milanesa is a thin fillet of beef, chicken, veal or pork coated in breadcrumbs then fried in oil \u2014 always plated with mashed potato, and often served with a fried egg or tomato sauce and melted cheese (a la napolitana) on top.<\/p>\n Named after the Italian city of Milan, the milanesa is one of dozens of foods Argentina has imported from the Mediterranean. Here you\u2019ll find thick-crust pizza, plates of fettuccine, tagliatelle, cannelloni and gnocchi (or \u00f1oquis, to use the hispanicised version), and one beloved Italian dessert.<\/p>\n Helado is another Italian classic that Argentina has pinched and proceeded to drown in dulce de leche. You can\u2019t walk down the block in Buenos Aires without stumbling upon on a heladar\u00eda (ice cream parlour) during summer, particularly the giant Freddo chain, which boasts 150 locations across the country.<\/p>\n Freddo is the king of the Argentine ice cream scene, and its around-the-clock delivery service is a life-saver. The most popular flavour is dulce de leche (duh), but don\u2019t miss the local favourite sambay\u00f3n, made of egg yolks, milk, cream, sugar, Marsala wine and whisky.<\/p>\n When you don\u2019t eat dinner until 10pm, you need a little pick-me-up in the afternoon. That\u2019s why Argentines tuck into merienda (afternoon tea) around 5pm, sipping a mate or a caf\u00e9 con leche (coffee with milk) with a factura (pastry) to nibble on. Medialunas \u2014 extra-buttery croissants dripping with dulce de leche or marmalade \u2014 and submarinos con churros \u2014 a tall hot chocolate with fried doughnuts \u2014 are always a treat.<\/p>\n Chorizo plus pan (bread) equals choripan. That\u2019s the simple equation behind Argentina\u2019s best-loved street food. Another gaucho specialty that\u2019s made its way into the capital, you\u2019ll spot roadside stalls all over Buenos Aires grilling butterflied sausages before whacking them into a crusty white bread roll with a dollop of chimichurri.<\/p>\n Taxi drivers queue around the block for a choripan at lunchtime, and the South American sausage sandwich is your fuel for every trip to the cancha, with dozens of makeshift parrillas feeding famished football fans.<\/p>\n Every 25th of May, Argentines celebrate the anniversary of their nation\u2019s fabled 1810 revolution with a steaming bowl of locro. This meat, bean and vegetable stew began as an Andean peasant dish that just threw together the offcuts of whatever was left over in the kitchen, but now appears on any list of Argentina traditional food.<\/p>\n Carbonada is another casserole from the north of the country that\u2019s perfect for frosty winter nights, combining meat, potatoes, carrots, peppers, corn, apricots and raisins in a hollowed-out pumpkin that\u2019s roasted over the parrilla.<\/p>\n Hot tamales are more than just a terrible cinnamon-flavoured candy \u2014 they\u2019re a legit Argentine dish. This Salta specialty is made of shredded meat and corn flower wrapped in a corn husk then boiled, while the Jujuy recipe mixes mince, corn and red peppers. Tamales are almost identical to another staple of north-western Argentina, humitas \u2014 a sweet-and-salty concoction of corn, onions and goat\u2019s cheese tied up like a Christmas cracker.<\/p>\n Malbec might well be Argentina\u2019s most famous export since Maradona. The French grape was first planted in the 19th Century and has driven Argentina to become the fifth largest wine producer on the face of the earth, with two-thirds of the country\u2019s vino flowing out of Mendoza.<\/p>\n Sitting in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, the differences in altitude around the province provide the microclimates necessary to grow great grapes. Same deal with Salta, C\u00f3rdoba and San Juan, which produce Bordeaux reds such as cabernet sauvignon and merlot as well as whites like chardonnay and sauvignon blanc, not to mention the Malbec that Mendoza is famous for.<\/p>\n This bitter herbal liqueur isn\u2019t a traditional Argentine drink \u2014 it was shipped in from Italy in the 19th Century and only became mega-popular after a local TV ad campaign in the 1980s \u2014 but these days, Argentina guzzles more than three times as much fernet as the country that invented the stuff.<\/p>\n Fernet-Branca is a behemoth of a brand, building a distillery on the outskirts of Buenos Aires \u2014 the only one outside Milan. And its product is rarely thrown down in shots, instead almost exclusively mixed with Coca-Cola \u2014 you\u2019ll fit in with the locals when you order a fernet con coca from the bartender at the boliche.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Argentina\u2019s food reflects the country\u2019s culture \u2014 a colourful combination of European and South American influences that produce a unique flavour you won\u2019t find anywhere else on earth.<\/p>\n Those millennia-old indigenous societies \u2014 particularly the Quechua in the north-west, the Guaran\u00ed in the north-east and the Mapuche in the Pampas \u2014 still flourish, but Argentina\u2019s urban areas have a distinctly European vibe. Buenos Aires is proud of its reputation as the Paris of South America, while uber-stylish Rosario could be a city transported straight out of Italy.<\/p>\n Argentina\u2019s 44 million people consider themselves a \u2018crisol de razas\u2019 \u2014 a melting pot of races \u2014 that\u2019s mainly made up of European immigrants (Italians, Spanish, French and Germans), as well as more diverse corners of the globe in recent decades.<\/p>\n Spanish colonisation means most of the country is Roman Catholic \u2014 the current Pope is Argentine, although perhaps the strongest evidence of Argentina\u2019s Catholicism is that most people live at home with their parents until they get married, which is why so many telos (\u2018love hotels\u2019) exist. But you\u2019ll also spot Orthodox churches, Muslim mosques and Jewish synagogues all over Buenos Aires. In fact, here\u2019s a fun Argentina fact: the capital\u2019s Abasto Mall is home to the only Kosher McDonald\u2019s outside of Israel.<\/p>\n One thing that all Argentines have in common, though, is a relaxed attitude towards time but much more intensity when it comes to expressing themselves \u2014 expect the locals to rock up 20 minutes late then gesticulate wildly once they arrive. PDAs are also par for the course. Fair to say ice cream and fernet aren’t the only things they\u2019ve inherited from the Italians.<\/p>\n Porte\u00f1os carry a reputation for being a bit arrogant \u2014 New York, London, Paris, Buenos Aires\u2026 name one big city where the residents don\u2019t have the same rap \u2014 and Argentines can be blunt, but there\u2019s nothing that can\u2019t be sorted out over a glass of Malbec at an asado. Expect to greet a local \u2014 man or woman \u2014 with a single kiss on the right cheek, and good luck if you\u2019re precious about personal space.<\/p>\n Argentina\u2019s history is long, tragic and likely to spark an argument, so let\u2019s keep this brief. Spain\u2019s brutal colonisation began in the 16th Century and ended with the May Revolution of 1810, the declaration of independence in 1816, and the eventual federation of the republic in the 1850s and \u201860s.<\/p>\n Controversial populist Juan Per\u00f3n and his second wife Eva Duarte \u2014 she of Evita fame, who died in 1952 \u2014 led the country in the 1940s and \u201850s, but Juan\u2019s ill-fated second presidential stint in the 1970s preceded the bloody dictatorship between 1976-83, when the government waged Guerra Sucia (Dirty War) on its own population, capturing at least 30,000 desaparecidos (the disappeared).<\/p>\n Las Madres de la Plaza (the Mothers of the Plaza) bravely demanded justice for their kidnapped family members by protesting in the Plaza de Mayo, and you can still see their banners and graffiti of their iconic white scarves outside the Casa Rosada presidential palace today, as well as weekly Thursday marches. You can also visit ESMA \u2014 the naval school where prisoners were secretly tortured by the dictatorship \u2014 in the north of the capital.<\/p>\n The dictadura (dictatorship) also provoked war with Britain over the Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands) in 1982, a touchy subject to this day. And that\u2019s only one topic to dodge discussing with locals \u2014 modern Argentine politics is best avoided altogether.<\/p>\n Fusing the Spanish, Slavic and Latin influences of the seedy bars and brothels where it originated, the tango is an emblem of Argentina\u2019s patchwork national identity. Tango emerged from the scruffy ports and suburbs of Buenos Aires in the 19th Century, and exploded in the 1930s thanks to superstar singers like Carlos Gardel, who tragically died in a plane crash aged just 44 in 1935.<\/p>\n The melodies are hypnotic, the dance moves are sensual, and the lyrics are mournful \u2014 usually sung in lunfardo, the working-class slang of Argentina. No backpacker can leave the country without visiting a milonga \u2014 the dimly-lit dance clubs where tango dancers strut their stuff \u2014 as well as the legendary boliches (nightclubs) Buenos Aires is famous for, where Colombian-inspired cumbia tracks bust the speakers.<\/p>\n Argentina fact No.1: Lionel Messi is idolised nowhere near as much here as he is in Europe. In fact, the tiny No.10 is considered by many a \u2018pecho fr\u00edo\u2019 (cold chest), a cutting insult that questions his passion for Argentina\u2019s revered blue-and-white shirt. Diego Maradona, on the other hand, retains god-like status.<\/p>\n Instead of Messi, Argentines\u2019 sporting passion lies with their club sides. Boca Juniors and River Plate are the two Buenos Aires giants, while city rivals San Lorenzo, Independiente and Racing make up the rest of los cinco grandes (the big five). The atmosphere at any match will give you goosebumps, particularly Boca\u2019s bouncing Bombonera.<\/p>\n Argentina fact No.2: the national sport is not actually football, it\u2019s pato. Named the Spanish word for duck because a poor bird used to be used as the ball, pato is a horseback hybrid of basketball and polo that gauchos came up with in the 1600s and continues to represent the culture of the Pampas today.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@nidiapiza<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Spanish is the language Argentina speaks, but not as you probably know it. Argentines use a series of Spanish dialects, including Rioplatense around Buenos Aires, which is seasoned with a sprinkling of French and Italian.<\/p>\n One big difference is that Argentines use vos instead of t\u00fa for the pronoun you. Another is the accent on \u2018ll\u2019 and \u2018y\u2019 sounds \u2014 which turns calle (street) into \u2018ca-she\u2019 and mayor (bigger) into \u2018ma-shor\u2019 \u2014 as well as the lack of a lisp on Zs and soft Cs, unlike in Spain, where a beer (cerveza) is pronounced \u2018ther-ve-tha\u2019.<\/p>\n Plenty of words are different \u2014 a car is an auto not a coche, a phone is a celular not a m\u00f3vil, avocados are paltas not aguacates, which is crucial to us millennials \u2014 but if you can only remember one, make it the verb coger. In Spain, this means to take or to get \u2014 \u2018I take the bus\u2019 is \u2018cojo el bus\u2019. In Argentina, coger means something a little more vulgar \u2014 a four-letter word starting with F, in English \u2014 so use tomar (which also means to take) unless you plan on sharing an X-rated conversation with the bus driver.<\/p>\n There\u2019s loads of lively slang that non-natives need to wrap their ears around, too. The most cherished word in Argentina language is boludo, which literally means idiot but is more often employed between friends. Then there\u2019s pibe (lad), mina (woman), pelotudo (a***hole), cheto (fancy), quilombo (literally meaning brothel, figuratively meaning madness), mala leche (literally bad milk, figuratively bad luck), and che \u2014 the verbal crutch that gave the Rosario-born Marxist revolutionary Ernesto Guevara his indelible nickname.<\/p>\n Speaking of Che, he\u2019s the star of the Diarios de Motocicleta (Motorcycle Diaries), a locally-made film that will get you in the mood for your South American adventure. The golden age of Argentine cinema finished in the mid-20th Century but crime classics Nueve Reinas (Nine Queens) and El Secreto De Sus Ojos (The Secret In Their Eyes), as well as acclaimed dictatorship-era drama La Historia Oficial (The Official Story), are must-watch glimpses into Argentina culture.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@sandercrombach<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Argentina is one of the most secure places to visit in Latin America, but it\u2019s still sensible to ask the question: \u2018is Argentina safe?\u2019 Travellers need to use common sense to protect themselves from petty theft. Keep your guard up for all those tired old scams they try all over the world \u2014 getting squirted with ketchup, suspiciously friendly locals, fake charity petitions, yadda yadda yadda.<\/p>\n Always keep your eye on your backpack when you\u2019re at the bus station, and hold on to your bags if you\u2019re sitting at a restaurant on the street or strolling through a busy feria (market). Import restrictions mean that pricey foreign electronics like iPhones and Apple laptops are extra valuable in Argentina, so don\u2019t flash them around.<\/p>\n Public transport is generally safe, but always stick to official taxis \u2014 unmarked cabs can sweet-talk you inside with promises of a cheap fare before ripping you off at the other end. Muggings are some risk in the big cities, as are ATM kidnappings \u2014 if you\u2019re unfortunate enough to get caught up in one, just comply then report the incident to police.<\/p>\n Natural disasters can affect some corners of the country, particularly floods during the rain-soaked summer in the north as well as volcanoes along the Andes, such as the active Copahue on the border with Chile. Freezing winter temperatures can also cause dangerous conditions on the roads, and it\u2019s not much fun to drive anyway \u2014 Argentine drivers tend to treat lane markings, traffic lights and road rules as mere suggestions. As a pedestrian, don\u2019t expect vehicles to stop for the green man.<\/p>\n Argentina\u2019s health system is solid \u2014 hospitals, pharmacies and dentists are good, sanitation standards are high, and tap water is safe to drink pretty much everywhere. Consider vaccines if you\u2019re worried about dengue fever in the north-east of the country. Free healthcare is available, but the quality is hit and miss, so it\u2019s worth investing in travel insurance that covers a private hospital, as well as your valuables in case anything gets nicked.<\/p>\n Short answer, yes. Long answer, you should take the same precautions you would when visiting any big city, but yes. Your mum is always going to worry before you head off to South America, but she\u2019s got nothing major to worry about.<\/p>\n Bag-snatching, pick-pocketing and street robberies do happen \u2014 the Subte (subway system) and the Retiro bus station are particularly happy hunting grounds for chorros (thieves), so don\u2019t whip out your iPhone or $5000 SLR camera in the middle of a crowd. Stick to yellow-and-black radio taxis, and don\u2019t wander too far off the beaten path in La Boca, where the streets can get very sketchy very fast.<\/p>\n Buenos Aires can\u2019t go a week without a massive strike or some other manifestaci\u00f3n (protest) choking the Avenida de Mayo, but steer clear of the police and the protesters and you won\u2019t find yourself in any trouble.<\/p>\n Same advice on a trip to the cancha. There have been almost 100 football-related fatalities over the past decade in Argentina, which is why the government banned away supporters for five years and still bar away fans from matches involving los cinco grandes, including Boca and River. The hinchas don\u2019t have a problem with tourists \u2014 they\u2019re more interested in fighting the cops and each other than some curious backpacker \u2014 so just keep your wits about you.<\/p>\n Argentina currency can be a problem thanks to the rocky economy. Counterfeit 100-peso bills are all over the place, incorrect change scams are easy to pull off with such large notes, and ATMs often run out of cash in busy areas. Major city retailers, such as your hostel in Buenos Aires, should accept credit cards, but this becomes more difficult outside the capital.<\/p>\n As mentioned in the Argentina budget section earlier, recent changes to currency-trading regulations mean the blue market \u2014 which used to provide almost twice as many pesos to the dollar as the official rate out of an ATM or a change house \u2014 isn\u2019t as valuable as it once was, and is not worth the risk for backpackers.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@peterconlan<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a1Buen viaje!<\/b><\/p>\n This guide barely begins to scratch the surface of all the adventures you\u2019ve got to look forward to in Argentina, from the top of the Mount Fitz Roy to the bottom of one of those bottles of Mendoza red. Now it\u2019s time to pack your backpack, book your hostels in Argentina<\/a>, and jump into everything this South American gem has to offer.<\/p>\n Tom Smith is an Australian writer living in Manchester. Obsessed with sport and travel, Tom has watched cricket in Cardiff, football in Fortaleza, baseball in the Bay Area, and there\u2019s still plenty more to tick off the bucket list yet. Read more of his work\u00a0here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1f The ultimate guide to backpacking South America<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1f Central America backpacking guide<\/b><\/a><\/p>\nSouthern Argentina<\/h3>\n
Argentina holidays<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Argentina-festivals-julian-gentilezza-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/p>\nArgentina sport<\/h3>\n
Visa for Argentina<\/h2>\n
Argentina visa requirements<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/La-Boca-eduardo-sanchez-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/p>\nArgentina visa UK<\/h3>\n
Where to go in Argentina<\/h2>\n
Buenos Aires<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Backpacking-Argentina-Buenos-Aires.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRosario<\/h3>\n
C\u00f3rdoba<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Backpacking-Argentina-Cordoba.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMendoza<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Backpacking-Argentina-Mendoza-kym-ellis-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMar del Plata<\/h3>\n
Iguaz\u00fa Falls<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Iguazu-falls-ignacio-aguilar-unsplash-584x875.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIber\u00e1 Wetlands<\/h3>\n
Bariloche<\/h3>\n
Puerto Madryn<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Backpacking-Argentina-paz-arando-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEl Calafate<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Perito-Mereno-rachel-jarboe-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/p>\nUshuaia<\/h3>\n
Salta and Jujuy<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Salta-@davidgauna.ok_-700x875.jpg\")
<\/p>\nArgentina budget<\/h2>\n
Argentina currency<\/h3>\n
Travel costs in Argentina<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Buenos-Aires-andrea-leopardi-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBlue market<\/h3>\n
Where to stay in Argentina<\/h2>\n
Hostels in Buenos Aires<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Best-hostels-in-Buenos-Aires.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHostels in Mendoza<\/a><\/h3>\n
Hostels in Bariloche<\/a><\/h3>\n
Hostels in Puerto Iguaz\u00fa<\/a><\/h3>\n
Hostels in El Calafate<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Best-hostels-in-El-Calafate-@marcellc67.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHostels in Rio Gallegos<\/a><\/h3>\n
Hostels in C\u00f3rdoba<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Best-hostels-in-Mendoza.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHostels in Mar del Plata<\/a><\/h3>\n
Hostels in Rosario<\/a><\/h3>\n
Hostels in Salta<\/a><\/h3>\n
Travelling around Argentina<\/h2>\n
Plane<\/h3>\n
Bus<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Palermo-michael-baron-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTrain<\/h3>\n
Ferry<\/h3>\n
Taxis<\/h3>\n
Buenos Aires public transport<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Buenos-Aires-eduardo-sanchez-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBackpacking Argentina itinerary<\/h2>\n
Argentina itinerary 1 week<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/La-Boca-tom-hopcraft-unsplash-657x875.jpg\")
<\/p>\nArgentina itinerary 10 days<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Iguazu-falls.jpg\")
<\/p>\nArgentina itinerary 2 weeks<\/h3>\n
Argentina itinerary 1 month<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/North-West-Argentina-kylli-kittus-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/p>\nArgentina food<\/h2>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Argentina-food-jose-ignacio-pompe-s-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAsado<\/h3>\n
Chimichurri<\/h3>\n
Dulce de leche<\/h3>\n
Alfajores<\/h3>\n
Mate<\/h3>\n
Empanadas<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Argentina-food.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMilanesas<\/h3>\n
Ice cream<\/h3>\n
Merienda<\/h3>\n
Choripan<\/h3>\n
Locro<\/h3>\n
Tamales<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Argentinian-food-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWine<\/h3>\n
Fernet<\/h3>\n
Argentina culture<\/h2>\n
Argentina people<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Buenos-Aires-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nArgentina history<\/h3>\n
Argentina tango<\/h3>\n
Argentina football<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Backpacking-Argentina-nidia-piza.jpg\")
<\/p>\nArgentina language<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Buenos-Aires-sander-crombach-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/p>\nArgentina travel advice<\/h2>\n
Is Argentina safe?<\/h3>\n
Is Buenos Aires safe?<\/h3>\n
Argentina currency<\/h3>\n
![\"backpacking](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Los-Glaciares-National-Park-peter-conlan-unsplash-584x875.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAbout the author:<\/h2>\n
Keep reading:\u00a0\u2b07\ufe0f<\/h2>\n