Argentina in 30 days: Optimized itinerary, budget, stages to avoid

I am returning from a wonderful 30-day trip to Argentina (November 5 to December 4, 2024) which I will comment on below.

I am giving you my detailed 30-day itinerary with the stages not to be missed, those to be avoided, the transport and the budget to plan for.

This trip was one of the best of my life! It gave me a complete overview of the natural and cultural wonders of Argentina and part of Patagonia in Chile.

30 Day Tour in Argentina

When I decided to organize my trip, I immediately understood that optimizing a 30-day itinerary in Argentina is crucial.

Indeed, with considerably long distances between major tourist attractions, a well-planned itinerary allowed me to:

  • Minimize long car or bus journeys and thus avoid spending too much time in transport.
  • Limit as much as possible direct domestic flights between provinces which are very expensive.
  • Select the most interesting sites to visit and create a logical, interesting and coherent itinerary.
Last stop on my 30 day trip to Argentina

My 30-day itinerary in Argentina

So here is the itinerary for my 1 month trip to Argentina optimized to limit the number of flights while visiting the most beautiful regions of the country:

  • Day 1 (November 5): Flight Toulouse (TLS) – London (LHR) – Buenos Aires (EZE) with British Airways at 22:10, arrival on November 6 at 11:50
  • Days 2 to 4 (November 6-8): 2 nights Buenos Aires (without car) – Hotel Bevant House
  • Days 4 to 7 (from November 8 to 11): Flight + 3 nights in El Calafate (without car) for Glaciers National Park (Perito Moreno, Spegazzini, Upsala) – Hotel: Sierra Nevada
  • Day 7 to 8 (November 11-12): 1 night in an estancia near El Calafate:  Nibepo Aike Estate 
  • Day 8 to 9 (November 12-13): Return to El Calafate for 1 night – Hotel: Sierra Nevada
  • Days 9 to 12 (November 13-16): 3 nights in El Chalten (car rental) – Route 40 and hikes to Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre – Hotel: La Quinta Estate.
  • Day 12 to 13 (from November 16 to 17): Return to El Calafate for 1 night + car return – Hotel: Sierra Nevada
  • Day 13 to 14 (November 17-18): Bus + 1 night in Puerto Natales, Chile – hotel Bungalow Toore Patagonia
  • Days 14 to 16 (November 18-20): 2 nights in Torres del Paine, Chile (with car) – Hotel Hosteria Pehoe
  • Day 16 to 17 (November 20-21): Route to Puerto Natales and return vehicle – 1 night Puerto Natales – Hotel: Rincon Escondido
  • Day 17 to 18 (November 21 to 22)  : Bus back to Argentina – 1 night in El Calafate – Hotel: Sierra Nevada
  • Days 18 to 21 (November 22 to 25)  : Flight + 3 nights in Puerto Iguazu (without car) Hotel Hidden Rincon
  • Day 21 to 22 (November 25-26): Flight + 1 night in Salta (without car) – Hotel: Del Virrey
  • Days 22 to 28 (from November 26 to December 2): Car rental to visit the Argentine Northwest:
  • Day 28 to 30 (from December 2 to 4): Return flight to Buenos Aires – Hotel Courtyards of San Telmo and return flight to France
Visit Argentina in 1 month

My 1 month tour in Argentina

To get an overview of the regions visited during my 1 month trip to Argentina, here is the Google maps of its complete itinerary:

Transportation for this 30-day tour in Argentina

For my one-month tour of Argentina, here are the modes of transport I used:

  • Domestic flights : I chose the main national airline which is Aerolíneas Argentinas because it has the monopoly and offers the lowest prices. I was very scared because in October 2024, this company was going on many strikes. Fortunately in November, after a showdown by the new President of Argentina, the strikes stopped! The only problem is that Aerolineas Argentinas only allows baggage weighing up to 15 kg in the hold!
  • Car rental : I opted for Hertz and Europcar depending on the regions visited because these agencies were the most reliable and located right next to my hotels. I chose Fiat Cronos type cars but I regretted it because the majority of the roads were stony tracks, especially a good part of Route 40. So, I recommend booking SUVs instead. Note that the average cost of a car rental in Argentina is around €60 per day.
Car rental in Argentina
  • Local taxis : Taxis in Buenos Aires are usually black and yellow and are not very expensive and available at all hours, either on the street or via mobile applications. And to visit the city, I recommend you to take the Tourist bus. Finally, for info, in Salta, I recommend you call Miguel Fuentes (+64 9 387 4027429) which offers tours throughout the North West region and is very, very nice!

Stages of my 1 month tour in Argentina

This one-month tour allows you to discover Buenos Aires and the most beautiful landscapes of Argentina ranging from the glaciers of Patagonia to the colorful deserts of the Northwest, passing the Salinas Grandes and the impressive Iguazu Falls.

Here are the main stages of my journey:

Buenos Aires

Like most travelers, I started my tour by visiting the Argentine capital. See how visit Buenos Aires in 1 day

During my two days, I was able to visit:

  • The Plaza de Mayo and the historic heart of the capital;
  • Magnificent monuments such as the Colom Theater and the El Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore;
  • The colorful neighborhood of La Boca and its famous Caminito;
  • The cemetery and the Recoleta neighborhood;
  • The Museums of Fine Arts and MALBA.
La Boca tourist district

In addition, I attended a Milonga typical where I was able to admire passionate and authentic tango dancers (avoid the hyper expensive and overly touristy tango shows).

Los Glaciares National Park

Then I took a flight to El Calafate, gateway to Los Glaciares National Park.

Visit to Glacier Park

In 3 days I was able to make a navigation on Lake Argentino with approach to the Spegazzini and Upsala glaciers, make a trek on the Perito Moreno but also visit this glacier from the footbridges.

Experience in an estancia in Patagonia

Then I enjoyed a day at Estancia Nibepo Aike:

In fact, I wanted to discover the gaucho way of life and live the experience of a real Patagonian farm, participate in traditional activities and savor the local gastronomy.

Stopover in El Chalten

Taking part of Route 40, I went to this village at the foot of the legendary Fitz Roy!

Fitz Roy Glacier in Patagonia

I was able to enjoy beautiful hikes with spectacular views of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, another icon of Patagonia.

Torres del Paine in Chile

Taking the bus from El Calafate to Puerto Natales, I was able to enjoy the splendid Torres del Paine National Park in Chile.

The walls in Torres del Paine

Its granite peaks, turquoise lakes and diverse wildlife make it one of my favorites of this trip.

Iguazu Falls

Then I took another flight to Puerto Iguazu to see the spectacular Cataratas de Iguazu. See Iguazu Falls Argentina side et Iguazu Falls, Brazil side.

Iguazu Falls

This is the region that disappointed me the most in my entire tour. I explain why in the article: Why I Regret Visiting Iguazu Falls

Northwest: The most authentic region of Argentina

And finally, I finished my tour by discovering the Argentine Northwest. From Salta, I rented a car to explore the whole region.

Last big stage of my tour in Argentina

Thus, I was able to visit the Quebrada de las Conchas, Cachi, Cafayate, the Quebrada de las Flechas, the Los Cardones National Park, the Quebrada de Humahuaca with Tilcara, Purmamarca and its seven-colored mountains, the village of Humahuaca, Salinas Large and el Hornocal of 14 colors!

This region of the Argentine Northwest is (in my opinion) the most beautiful in Argentina because of its breathtaking landscapes and cultural richness.

Arrowhead
Arrows burning

In fact, this region is dominated by the Andes mountain range and offers landscapes with unique and very colorful rock formations such as those of the Quebrada de Humahuaca.

The Calchaquíes Valleys and the Quebrada de las Conchas also have varied landscapes, ranging from salt deserts to red mountains and typical small villages.

This region is the cradle of many ancient civilizations, including the Incas. Archaeological sites such as the Pucará de Tilcara bear witness to this rich history.

Northwest landscape in Argentina
Purmamarca

This is the only place in Argentina where we were able to see and interact with natives. Indeed, Andean traditions are still very present in the daily lives of the inhabitants. Local communities perpetuate ancestral know-how, particularly in crafts and gastronomy, which I really liked.

Typical village visited during my trip to Argentina

Argentina in 1 month: Steps to avoid

Why exclude Ushuaia from your itinerary?

Although Ushuaia is a fascinating destination, there are several reasons why I excluded this stop in my one-month Argentina itinerary.

Indeed, if we seek to optimize costs and limit thefts, we must know that:

  • Ushuaia is one of the most expensive destinations in Argentina. Prices for accommodation, food and activities are generally higher than in other parts of the country.
  • In addition, tourist attractions are limited in Ushuaia: Apart from the selfie in front of the "end of the world" sign, Ushuaia is not considered the most interesting place in Patagonia.
  • Ushuaia is located in the far south of the country, requiring a minimum of 3 days to get there and back. By excluding Ushuaia from my 1 month trip to Argentina, I was able to dedicate more time to other regions such as Patagonia and the northwest.
  • The round-trip flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia costs at least €290 per person, which is a significant part of the budget. By excluding Ushuaia from my itinerary, I was able to save at least €1000!

Why exclude Iguazu from your itinerary?

In my 1 month trip to Argentina, my only disappointment was the stop in Iguazu. If I had to do it again, I would prefer to visit the Mendoza region or spend more time in Patagonia or the Northwest region.

Indeed, the Iguazu Park, whether on the Argentine side or even worse on the Brazilian side, is invaded by mass tourism. This overcrowding makes the experience unpleasant because it is difficult to fully enjoy the landscapes without being disturbed by the crowd.

Furthermore :

  • The prices are very high;
  • The queues are endless. For example, to get on the train or the bus to the falls, you have to wait more than two hours.
  • Access to the overloaded sites, we don't really enjoy the site, we can only take photos between all the tourists who squat in front to take selfies;
  • Iguazu's tropical climate (very hot and humid) makes hiking difficult and less enjoyable.
  • The report Some travellers find that visiting the main circuits can be done very quickly, in just a few hours, which may seem insufficient for such an impressive site6.

Finally, be aware that Iguazu's tropical climate can make hiking difficult, especially on the steeper trails.

In the end, as the Iguazu stage is less pleasant, its tourist interest / cost ratio is not very interesting. Indeed, this stage represents a significant cost: Flights, hotels, transport, park entrances.

Budget for my 30-day trip to Argentina

First of all, I want to clarify things: Those who give you budgets of 2 or 000 Euros per person for a 3-month trip to Argentina are not honest.

Indeed, Argentina is one of the most expensive destinations in South America. I paid close attention to costs and this trip was one of the most expensive with theAustralia, Polynesia and Tanzania (proportionally to the number of days).

For my 30-day trip to Argentina, here is the breakdown of the budget which includes:

  • International flight (Toulouse – Buenos Aires): Cost per person between €1190 So, for two people: 2 380 €
  • Domestic flights (4 flights): Average cost per flight €170 or €680 per person. So, total cost for two people: between 1 360 €
  • Accommodation: Average cost per night €150. So for 28 nights total cost for two people: 4 200 €
  • Food: Average cost per day per person: €40 or €80 for 2 – For 28 days, total cost for two people: 2 240 €
  • Activities, museums and national park entrances: Average cost for 2 people for 28 days: 900 €
  • Local transport, car rentals, insurance and petrol: Average cost per day €50, or a total of 1 400 €

Total budget for my 30-day trip to Argentina: €12 for 480, i.e. €6 per person.

Tips for traveling 1 month in Argentina cheaper

If you have a more limited budget for your 1 month trip to Argentina, you can find cheaper accommodations than the ones I chose. Indeed, by staying with locals, by taking hotels further away from the tourist sites, you can save around 2000 Euros.

So the price of your 1 month trip would drop to €10 for 480 or €2 per person.

And if you choose accommodation with a kitchen, you can also save on your restaurant budget because you can prepare your meals.

Finally, if you choose to travel during the low season (September and February) you can save on flight prices.

And finally, if you want to reduce your budget to €3000 per person for a 30-day trip to Argentina, I recommend not visiting Iguazu. This way you will eliminate a round-trip flight, hotels, restaurants, transportation and park entrances.

I recommend a 30-day itinerary focused on the cheapest and most beautiful regions: Northwest, Argentine Patagonia and Chilean Patagonia.

By following these tips, you can reduce the cost of your month-long trip to Argentina.

Great salt flats at the end of my 30 day itinerary in Argentina

Why is traveling to Argentina so expensive?

Argentina is considered an expensive destination for tourists for several reasons:

  • The country applies high taxes for tourists. For example, on air transport, taxes on a domestic round-trip flight are €59 compared to €24 in Brazil or €25 in Chile.
  • Similarly, for entrances to national parks (Glacier Park, Iguazu Park), it costs 45 Euros for foreigners and much less for residents.
  • The country is so big that for a 1 month trip, you have to take at least 4 internal flights, which is a significant cost.
  • In addition, Argentina has been suffering a long economic crisis since 2001, with galloping inflation. This situation leads to a constant increase in prices, particularly in the tourism sector. At the end of my trip, prices seemed to stabilize following the measures taken by the new President in office.
  • Hotels and excursions are particularly expensive in Argentina compared to those in Peru or Colombia.
  • Restaurant prices are very high in Buenos Aires and especially in Patagonia.

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