Things to Do in Argentina

On the south shore of Lake Lacár in San Martin de los Andes, Quila Quina exists as a fusion of holiday homes and culture. Here on this string of sandy beaches looking out at Lanin National Park, modern lakefront vacation homes combine with the Mapuche village of Curruhuinca for an Andean village like no other. On a sunny day, take the ferry from San Martin de los Andes to the happening Quila Quina port, where shops sell wooden, handmade crafts from native Mapuche residents. Hire a kayak or windsurf board and brave the chilly lake temps, or bask on one of the sandy beaches that dot the winding lakeshore. A number of short walks lead out from the village towards secluded beaches and coves, and you can even access some mineral springs just a short hike from the village. Before catching the ferry back to San Martin de los Andes, sit on the dock with some coffee or chocolate and watch as the sun fades gently behind the snow-capped Andean peaks.  

Considered one of Argentina’s most postcard-worthy towns, Purmamarca lies in the province of Jujuy just north of Salta, beneath the shadows of the spectacular Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colors). The area's collection of adobe houses and 17th-century Spanish colonial church are pretty in their own right, but the backdrop of jagged hills displaying layers of red, purple, yellow and orange makes for a particularly vivid sight in the early hours when the rising sun illuminates the natural tapestry.

With a population around 50,000, Puerto Madryn is one of the fastest growing cities in Argentina. While it was originally founded by Welsh settlers, little remains of that Welsh heritage today. Instead, it has become a major tourist destination for visitors looking to enjoy the beaches, wildlife and outdoor activities of the nearby Valdes Peninsula. 

How to Get to Puerto Madryn
Cruise ships dock about four miles from the center of town. Taxis are metered and are the best way to get into the city if you are not participating in a shore excursion organized by your ship.

One Day in Puerto Madryn
Visiting Puerto Madryn is really more about exploring the surrounding area than the city itself. It is the jumping off point for excursions to the nearby Valdes Peninsula, a wildlife sanctuary for birds and marine life. Visit sea lion colonies, spot sea elephants, drive past guanacos, foxes, armadillos and ostriches or hop on a boat to go whale watching. If you enjoy snorkeling or diving, head to Punta Pardelas Beach, one of the best scuba diving areas in the country. Hiking or biking are also great ways to spend a day on the Peninsula.

Another option is to join an excursion to the Punta Tombo Penguin Reserve, about two-and-a-half hours from Puerto Madryn, to get an up close view of Magellanic penguins and llama-like guanacos.

If you’d like to get a feel for the area’s Welsh roots, arrange a trip about 90 minutes out of Puerto Madryn to Gaiman, one of the few villages in the area to still maintain Welsh traditions.

If you do decide to stick around town, you might start your visit with a stroll along Almirante Brown Boulevard. Enjoy a variety of cafes, shops, beach activities and sweeping ocean views. Then, climb up to the Tehuelche monument for even better views of the entire area. Learn more about the flora and fauna of the region by visiting the Ecocentro, the Provincial Oceanographic and Natural Sciences Museum or the Paleontological Museum.

Port Information
The local language is a form of Spanish known as Castellano. While the official currency is the Argentinian peso, US dollars and Euros are widely accepted. Money can be changed at banks around the city and ATM's are available throughout town as well. Credit cards are also generally accepted, but it may be difficult to cash traveler’s checks.

The first 30 miles (50 km) of the road from Cafayate to Salta in northwestern Argentina has become a tourist destination in its own right, in large part due to the spectacular scenery of Quebrada de Las Conchas (Canyon of the Shells). The site comprises a series of red rock formations eroded into various shapes that have earned each their own nickname.

One of Buenos Aires’s most famous landmarks, the Obelisco (Obelisk), is located in the center of Plaza de la Republica. Erected in 1936 to commemorate the first (and ultimately unsuccessful) founding of Buenos Aires by Pedro de Mendoza on its 400th anniversary, the monument stands in the center of Avenida 9 de Julio where it intersects Corrientes. 

Following the Rio Grande Valley through northern Argentina and all the way to Bolivia is the beautiful Quebrada de Humahuaca, a colorful, craggy gorge with walls striped in shades of pink, red, lavender and gray. The multi-hued landscape is so unique that it earned a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list, but its natural beauty isn't the only reason to visit.

Potrerillos is an artificial lake surrounded by snow-dotted mountains and cypress forests on Mendoza’s doorstep. A dammed waterway on the Mendoza River, the lake measures 12 km long, 3 km wide (7.5 miles long, 2 miles wide). Popular as a day-trip and weekend destination from Mendoza, it’s the outdoor venue for rafting, paragliding and lakeside hiking.

The region has developed into a popular resort area, and a cluster of hotels, resort villas, clubs and sports facilities have sprung up to cater to day-trippers and visitors looking for outdoor activities. Choose from kayaking, guided treks, horseback riding, mountain biking and fly-fishing for trout.

The cultural heart of the historic San Telmo barrio, Plaza Dorrego is the second-oldest square in Buenos Aires and famous for its a vibrant weekly market. Named after the soldier and two-times Governor of Buenos Aires, Manuel Dorrego, the Plaza was once the center of the city’s 19th-century residential district, until clusters of tango venues and bars sprung up around the square in the 1930s.

Today the colonial square remains a lively hub of bars and cafés, with many historic venues holding tango shows and live music. Sunday is the most popular day to visit Plaza Dorrego when the square hosts the world famous San Telmo antiques market, accompanied by live musicians and tango dancers performing sultry numbers on the sidewalk. Sprawling along the adjourning Defensa Avenue, the Feria de San Pedro Telmo (San Telmo Market) offers up a colorful array of stalls selling antiques and curios alongside handicrafts, souvenirs, leatherworks, silver, tango memorabilia and local artworks. Browsing the peculiar medley of goods is a favorite pastime of both locals and tourists and post-shopping, the plaza’s many cafés are bursting with punters sipping coffee and soaking up the street entertainment.