Argentina

Traveling in Argentina can be quite budget-friendly! If you’re a backpacker, a budget of 25-30 euros per person per day is enough in most of the country. You might need to double that down in regions such as Mendoza and the Patagonia region, such as Bariloche and Ushuaia, where everything is more expensive (especially the activities).

For those on a very tight budget, you might want to explore some of the volunteering opportunities available on Worldpackers. Volunteering through this platform is one of the best ways to travel almost for free, as accommodation and food are usually provided!

The official language of Argentina is Spanish, and it’s worth noting that Argentinian Spanish has some distinct characteristics compared to the Spanish spoken in other parts of Latin America and Spain, including unique vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation features.

It is quite hard to communicate in English while in Argentina, so you either learn a few Spanish words or Google Translate will be your best friend! Here are some Spanish words to help you get by:

• Por favor: Please
• Habla inglés?: Do you speak English?
• Una mesa para dos, por favor: A table for two, please.
• Cuánto vale?: How much does it cost?

Whether you need a visa to travel to Argentina depends on your nationality. Many nationalities, including citizens of the US, Canada, the European Union, Brazil, and Australia, do not require a Visa for short tourist or business visits to Argentina.

Since it varies from country to country, we recommend checking Passport Index website, where you can select your passport and see all the countries you can travel to, with or without a visa.

Yes, Argentina is considered safe for travelers! You definitely need to be more cautious with your belongings in Buenos Aires and be aware mainly of pickpockets. Overall, we visited a lot of different cities and regions in Argentina and felt pretty safe all around.

In any case, we always recommend getting travel insurance for your trip. Better safe than sorry! We use Heymondo and highly recommend it.

The best time to visit Argentina largely depends on the regions you plan to visit and the activities you’re interested in, as the country’s vast size means its climate varies significantly from region to region.

Buenos Aires and the Pampas: Fall (March to May) and Spring (September to November) are the best time to visit, with mild weather and vibrant colors all around.

Patagonia and the South: If you want to see snow and ski, the months of July to September are the best. If you want to do a road trip, the summer months of December to March are recommended!

Iguazu Falls: The best time to visit is between late March to May and August to October. During these periods you’ll find fewer people, good water levels, and pleasant weather.

Northwest Argentina: This region, including Salta and Jujuy, is best visited during the dry season, from April to October, when the weather is milder and roads are more accessible.

Here are some of the must-try dishes you can’t miss when in Argentina:

• Choripán: A popular street food consisting of a grilled chorizo sausage, sliced and served in a crusty bread roll, typically topped with chimichurri sauce.
• Empanadas: Savory pastries filled with a mixture of meat (commonly beef, jamon, and cheese or chicken).
• Medialunas: A traditional sweet pastry that looks exactly like a mini croissant, but sweeter.
• Dulce de Leche: A sweet, caramel-like spread made from slowly cooked milk and sugar, used in various desserts and pastries.
• Alfajores: Sweet biscuits sandwiched together with dulce de leche, often coated in chocolate or powdered sugar, a beloved traditional treat.
• Parillada: A traditional Argentine barbecue featuring a variety of meats, usually including cheaper cuts of meat such as intestine, sausages like chorizo and morcilla, flank steak, and ribs.
• Asado: The good Argentine barbecue! Order some Ojo de Bife and Chorizo for some of the best meat you’ll ever have.

• Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world! Plan your itinerary accordingly, as traveling between different regions can take time.
• It’s advisable to have cash on hand as some places may not accept credit cards, especially in smaller towns.
• If a place does accept your credit card, they might ask for a personal document to confirm the card is really yours.
• Cashiers often take your card in their hands to process the payment. Be aware of what they are doing with it as they might get your credit card information.
• Withdrawing money from ATMs is very expensive here, so we recommend using Western Union instead.
• For a travel debit card with the best conversion & withdrawal fees, we recommend Wise.
• Tips are pretty common in Argentina and they’re called “propina”. Propina can only be paid in cash and is normally a 10% fee.
• If you find yourself in a small town, apps like Uber and Cabify might not work – you will need to ask for a Taxi old-school style. Good thing is that all taxis are metered here.