Planning the perfect 10-day Argentina trip

The importance of planning your Argentina trip 

Argentina is BIG. It’s the second-largest country in South America, and roughly a third of the size of the USA. This means that Argentina has something for everyone, from skiing in Patagonia, to sensational vineyards in Mendoza, pre-Inca fortification ruins in Salta, and performances at one of the world's best opera theatres - Teatro Colón. 

Argentina’s vast size makes planning your trip carefully very important, especially if you are limited on time. Trying to see everything that this country has to offer is an overwhelming task, unless you have several weeks (or months!) to explore. I recommend focusing on a few key destinations and giving yourself at least three days in each place.

Getting to Argentina 

The most direct flight route to Argentina from the UK is with British Airways from London. This journey has only a very short stop in Rio and takes a total of 16.5 hours. If you would prefer to break up the journey, there are several options for stopovers, such as Rio or Miami.

My Argentina itinerary 

On my trip, I spent two nights in Buenos Aires, three nights in Mendoza, two nights in Bariloche, and then one final night back in Buenos Aires. These three destinations provided a brilliant mix of city life, culture and adventure. However, for me, the best part about Argentina was the food and drink scene. World-class steak tastes that little bit better when you’re sitting in a sunny vineyard in Mendoza with a glass of local malbec!

Argentina in May 

I visited Argentina in May, which is autumn in Argentina. However, Argentina is a country that is ALWAYS in bloom, so it’s beautiful throughout the year. During my trip, the low autumn sunshine was crisp and bright, and the colours were deep reds, rich oranges and yellows. 

If you travel to Argentina in May, my best advice is to pack for all conditions! During my outdoor cooking class in Mendoza, I had to wear a sun hat, as the temperature was around 25 degrees. On the other hand, when I went horseback riding in Bariloche (Patagonia), I needed thermals, gloves and a woolly hat.

Beginning in Buenos Aires

Let’s start with the brilliant city of Buenos Aires. It takes around 75 minutes to reach the city from the airport. I was met outside the airport and transferred straight to my hotel in Recoleta. This central location is fabulous as there are shops, restaurants and bars all within walking distance. 

I stayed at the 4-star Hotel Palladio Buenos Aires, equipped with a pool, jacuzzi, gorgeous garden-view rooms, and a spacious hotel bar. The rooms are modern, bright and spacious. 

If you’re after a smaller, more boutique property, I recommend staying in the neighbourhood of Palermo Soho. This vibrant area is considered one of the safest areas of Buenos Aires.

Explore the famous flea markets

Buenos Aires is famous for its flea markets, so try to stay over the weekend. Palermo has a very trendy market every Saturday, which is popular with the younger, hip locals. San Telmo Market, held on Sundays, is known for its incredible selection of antiques. After it closes, the locals take to the street for a spot of tango. It’s an unmissable experience that costs absolutely nothing. 

Be sure to bring some dollars

One thing that took me by surprise was the difficulty I experienced withdrawing cash. I strongly recommend taking US dollars and changing them over there. Some hotel bars don’t accept US dollars, so it’s good to have both currencies.

My cemetery and city tour 

A must-do in Buenos Aires is a tour of the cemetery in Recoleta, which contains the graves of many notable people, including Eva Peron. The cemetery gets very busy as the day goes on, so think about arriving early and avoiding the queues. We combined the cemetery with a city tour around the main sites and attractions with an incredibly knowledgeable guide. It was a great introduction to Argentina!

Staying on a traditional estancia

After a few days in Buenos Aires, I headed out of the city to my favourite property of the entire trip – Estancia La Bamba de Areco. It took us about two hours to get there by road. We arrived through a rather dramatic entrance, met by a gaucho on horseback. We were treated to our first - and definitely the best - asado (Argentinian BBQ) of the trip before setting off on horseback around the estancia.

Estancia La Bamba de Areco sits amongst polo fields that are used during the season, so you can watch live matches three times a week. It’s a great place to treat yourself to a spot of luxury. You’re supplied with an abundance of beautiful local food on a full-board basis, and there’s a wide selection of activities such as riding, hiking, cooking classes and fishing on offer. I loved every moment of my stay.

Tasting Malbec in sunny Mendoza

Next, we drove back to Buenos Aires to take a short flight to Mendoza with Aerolineas. The plane journey took 1 hour and 45 minutes. It’s essential to note that the baggage allowance in economy is 15kg, and the airline will charge approximately $ 15 for any excess weight, so packing light is recommended.

Mendoza is a city in the Cuyo region, which is the heart of Argentina’s wine country. It is renowned for its delicious malbec, so if you like a drop of red, you’ll be in heaven. However, even if you don’t like wine, there are plenty of amazing things to do here, such as hiking in the Andes, relaxing at a thermal spa, or eating in the city centre. It’s graced with 300 days of sunshine each year, too, so you’re almost guaranteed good weather! 

I’d personally recommend spending three nights in this region, with one night in Mendoza and two nights in either the Uco or Central Valley. You can take day trips to the vineyards from the hotels in Mendoza, too, if you would prefer to use the city as your base. You can also visit Maipu, which is close to Mendoza and famous for its olive oil.

Where to stay in the winelands

For those who DO like wine, you are seriously spoilt for choice, as there are over 1000 producers and 30 vineyards in these valleys. My favourites were Awasi Mendoza and Finca Adalgisa, which are two very different properties. 

Awasi Mendoza is a gorgeous property offering a luxurious experience, set among a 55-acre vineyard. There is a spa, an extensive cellar, horseback and bike vineyard tours and free wine tasting every night. All rooms are equipped with a cold plunge pool and either a mountain or vineyard view. It’s true decadence.

On the other hand, Finca Adalgisa is an early 20th-century manor house and vineyard estate just twenty minutes from Mendoza. The vines are over 100 years old, and they produce some incredible small-batch wines that you can (of course) taste. You can also take a local cooking class here and dine family-style on Sundays with the other guests. 

Two other hotels worth mentioning are Casa De Uco and The Vines. These are both top-end wine estates offering incredible views with authentic wining and dining experiences. The whole area is gorgeous, so it’s pretty hard to go wrong.

The trip to beautiful Bariloche

After eating some of the best steak of my life, accompanied by the smoothest of malbecs, I headed back to the airport and flew directly to Bariloche. It’s another journey that takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. The snow-capped mountains that you see from the aeroplane windows make for some great photos as you come into land.

Bariloche is located at the foot of the Patagonian Andes. It sits on a large glacial lake called Nahuel Huapi, and there’s an alpine feel to the whole place. This town wouldn’t look out of place in Switzerland with its wooden ski resort-style architecture. It’s incredibly popular for skiing, rafting and hiking. The ski season runs from July to October, and the summer peak season runs from December to April.

Exploring Argentina’s Lake District

We spent two nights in Bariloche, but I definitely recommend hiring a car here and exploring the Lake District. The roads are beautiful, and the views are breathtaking. If you can spare the time, take a couple of days to relax and soak in the scenery. 

A highlight for me was the Cerro Campanario cable car. The viewpoint at the top is totally unmissable. It offers you the chance to look down on Lake Nahuel Huapi in all its natural glory, and it’s something that will leave you speechless.

Back in Buenos Aires 

At the end of my whirlwind adventure in Argentina, I flew back to Buenos Aires for one final night. I was lucky enough to experience a traditional tango show and a delicious dinner at Faena Hotel in the port area, with sumptuous food and its very own champagne bar. Safe to say, I ended the trip in style!

My thoughts about Argentina 

Ten days was the perfect duration for a first-time visit to experience the highlights of Argentina. It was a wonderful taster, and now I can’t wait to return. The three areas that I visited were completely different, and the contrasts took my breath away. I feel as though I’ve just scratched the surface of Argentina, and I’m excited to explore further and deeper.

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