Who is this Argentina round trip suited to?
The trip combines four landscapes over 16 days: Buenos Aires, the Iguazú Falls in the subtropical northeast, the Andean valleys around Salta with the Quebrada de Humahuaca and Cafayate, and glaciers and hiking trails around El Calafate and El Chaltén. It suits travellers with good fitness who want to mix city and nature and are willing to take four domestic flights in return. The best time to travel is November, December or March.
Hardly any route shows Argentina's range so densely. Within two weeks you move from the humid forest along the Río Iguazú to the dry valleys of the northwest, where Humahuaca sits at around 2,950 m, and on to the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. This ice field is shared by Argentina and Chile, measures around 12,500 km² and feeds the great glaciers of Los Glaciares National Park.
The rhythm changes deliberately: two city days to arrive, then nature days with early starts, interspersed with travel days involving flights. The longest days are the excursions from Salta, with several hours in the vehicle, and the hike to the Laguna de los Tres, at 20 km round trip. Anyone who shies away from long hikes will also find trails of under an hour in El Chaltén, for example to the Mirador de los Cóndores.
Less suited is the route for anyone who dislikes flying, prefers to stay long in one place, or copes poorly with wind and cold: El Calafate stays cool even at the height of summer, and El Chaltén is considered very windy. Anyone avoiding heat and humid air will also not have an easy day in Iguazú.
Best months are November, December and March. Then Patagonia is within its seasonal window, Buenos Aires and Iguazú are pleasant in spring or autumn, and in Salta the rainy season is either just starting or already tapering off. January and February are possible but wetter and hotter in the north.
Sources: Visit Argentina, Instituto Nacional de Promoción Turística · Administración de Parques Nacionales · Administración de Parques Nacionales · Wikipedia · Wikipedia
Why this order, and how do you travel from one stage to the next?
The route starts and ends in Buenos Aires, because international flights land at Ezeiza and domestic flights from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery connect the regions. From north to south it follows the flight connections: Iguazú–Salta exists twice a week nonstop, Salta–El Calafate with a connection, El Calafate–Buenos Aires again nonstop.
| Route | Mode of transport | Duration or distance | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival – Buenos Aires (EZE) | Flight from your own departure airport | nonstop from Madrid, Frankfurt, Miami, New York, São Paulo, among others | 74 nonstop destinations |
| Buenos Aires (AEP) – Puerto Iguazú | Nonstop flight | 1 h 55 min, 1,049 km | around 49 flights a week |
| Puerto Iguazú – Salta | Nonstop flight or via AEP | nonstop 2 h 05 min, 1,110 km | nonstop only 2 times a week |
| Salta – Cafayate | Day trip via National Route 68 | 192 km, around 3 h 30 min | through the Quebrada de las Conchas |
| Salta – El Calafate | Connecting flight | from around 4 h 45 min | via Córdoba or Buenos Aires |
| El Calafate – Perito Moreno | Excursion by bus or car | 80 km | fully paved |
| El Calafate – El Chaltén | Bus or transfer | 213 km | final stretch via Route 23 |
| El Calafate – Buenos Aires (AEP) | Nonstop flight | around 3 h, 2,066 km | around 14 flights a week |
| Buenos Aires (EZE) – Return flight | Flight to your own departure airport | to Miami around 9 h 10 min, to Madrid around 12 h | nonstop or with a connection |
Buenos Aires has two airports: Ezeiza for long-haul, around 35 km southwest of the city, and Aeroparque Jorge Newbery for domestic flights. The route avoids switching between the two on the same day; hence the night in the city before the return flight.
The excursions from Salta and to the Perito Moreno are most easily done with a driver or a guided tour. Anyone driving themselves needs, according to the Federal Foreign Office, an international driving licence, and the FDFA advises against overland driving at night. The direction can in principle be reversed; then the trip begins in Patagonia, and the flights must be rechecked for the new date.
There is no nonstop connection Salta–El Calafate: Aerolíneas Argentinas, the only airline offering a connecting itinerary on this route, does not even list Salta on its own site among the direct connections from El Calafate (as of September 2026); only Córdoba, Bariloche and Trelew appear there.
Sources: FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · Visit Salta, Ministerio de Turismo y Deportes de Salta · Secretaría de Turismo de El Calafate · Administración de Parques Nacionales · Administración de Parques Nacionales · Argentina.gob.ar, Ministerio de Transporte · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Aerolíneas Argentinas
Day by day
- 01
Day 1
Arrival in Buenos Aires
Arrival → Buenos Aires
The first day is given over to the journey from your own departure airport to Buenos Aires-Ezeiza (EZE). According to FlightConnections, Ezeiza is connected nonstop to 74 destinations in 21 countries (as of September 2026): from Europe among others Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam and Frankfurt, from North America Miami, Atlanta, Houston, New York and Dallas, in Latin America São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Bogotá, Panama City and Mexico City, plus Auckland and Tel Aviv. Anyone travelling from far away is usually flying overnight and lands on day 2. Important for check-in: since Decree 366/2025 Argentina requires health insurance for the whole stay, and airlines check the proof before boarding. Keep your policy and passport within easy reach in your hand luggage.
- 02
Day 2 · Overnight: Buenos Aires
Arrival in Buenos Aires, Plaza de Mayo and San Telmo
Ezeiza → Buenos Aires
Landing at the international airport Ezeiza, around 35 km southwest of the city, followed by a transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon a first, deliberately relaxed walk: to Plaza de Mayo with the Casa Rosada and from there on foot into the old quarter of San Telmo. If arrival falls on a Sunday, the Feria de San Telmo market is set up on the Plaza Dorrego. Buenos Aires sits on UTC−3 year-round, as Argentina does not change the clocks; anyone who has crossed several time zones is best going to bed early. That is admittedly hard, since dinner here is eaten between 8 and 11 pm, often an asado. Practical note: the Federal Foreign Office explicitly warns of pickpocketing and scams in San Telmo, La Boca and at Retiro station; valuables and a backup card stay in the hotel safe.
- 03
Day 3 · Overnight: Buenos Aires
Recoleta, Teatro Colón and La Boca
Buenos Aires
A full city day. In the morning the Recoleta cemetery, where more than 90 tombs are protected as national monuments, then the Teatro Colón, which the city's tourism office counts among the most important sights in the city. In the afternoon head south to La Boca to the Calle Museo Caminito, another classic on the tourism office's list. Between the districts you travel by Subte, which has six lines and, like the city buses, is paid for with the rechargeable SUBE card. In the evening, tango is on the programme: it originated in Buenos Aires and Montevideo and has been part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2009. For the way home, the BMEIA recommends radio taxis or app-based ride services; street taxis take only pesos. In the capital much can be paid by card, but a stock of cash is still worth having for Iguazú and the northwest.
- 04
Day 4 · Overnight: Puerto Iguazú
Flight to Puerto Iguazú
Buenos Aires (AEP) → Puerto Iguazú
From Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, the airport for domestic flights, it takes 1 h 55 min nonstop to Puerto Iguazú. The 1,049 km route is flown around 49 times a week (as of September 2026); a morning flight leaves the afternoon free. Puerto Iguazú lies at the tri-border point with Brazil and Paraguay, around 18 km from the falls; a walk along the riverbank with a view across into the neighbouring countries is enough for the first day. Health: for Misiones province, where the falls lie, healthytravel.ch recommends the yellow fever vaccination, to be given at least 10 days before arrival. Dengue, chikungunya and Zika occur nationwide according to the Federal Foreign Office, so use mosquito protection here even during the day. The operator sells park tickets online up to 30 days in advance.
- 05
Day 5 · Overnight: Puerto Iguazú
Iguazú Falls: Garganta del Diablo and circuit trails
Puerto Iguazú → Iguazú National Park → Puerto Iguazú
Be at the park entrance early: the national park opens at 8 am, last admission is at 4 pm, and it closes at 6 pm. First, the park train Tren Ecológico de la Selva takes visitors to the Garganta del Diablo station; from there a 2,200 m long walkway leads across the river to the edge of the roughly 700 m long gorge, the heart of the falls. This is followed by the Circuito Superior at 1,850 m and the Circuito Inferior at 1,450 m with many steps. The falls are spread across roughly 2.7 km of width, with 20 larger and 255 smaller individual falls, most of them on the Argentine side. The park covers over 67,000 ha and has been UNESCO World Heritage since 1984. Feeding animals is prohibited, and the main trails and the train are wheelchair accessible. The day pass costs 60,000 pesos (as of September 2026). Full-moon walks are offered on five nights a month; if the dates line up, ask at the ticket counter.
- 06
Day 6 · Overnight: Salta
Flight to Salta and evening in the old town
Puerto Iguazú → Salta
Twice a week Aerolíneas Argentinas flies nonstop from Puerto Iguazú to Salta, 1,110 km in 2 h 05 min (as of September 2026). On other days the route runs via Aeroparque in Buenos Aires: 1 h 55 min there, then 2 h 15 min onward to Salta. Salta sits at 1,187 m in the Valle de Lerma and has around 700,000 inhabitants. Late afternoon is worth spending in the old town with the Catedral Basílica, a national architectural monument, and the Basilica of San Francisco with its 54 m high bell tower. The Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña (MAAM) holds the Inca children found on the volcano Llullaillaco. A cable car runs from Parque San Martín up to Cerro San Bernardo, where a cross has stood over the city since 1901. In the evening: empanadas and folk music at one of the peñas.
- 07
Day 7 · Overnight: Salta
Quebrada de Humahuaca: Purmamarca, Tilcara, Humahuaca
Salta → Quebrada de Humahuaca → Salta
A full-day excursion north into Jujuy province, most easily done with a driver or a guided tour. Beyond San Salvador de Jujuy at 1,259 m begins the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a 155 km long valley running north to south and UNESCO World Heritage since 2003. The first stop is Purmamarca beneath the brightly banded Cerro de los Siete Colores, then Tilcara with the Pucará fortress, and finally Humahuaca at around 2,950 m. Lunch is the cuisine of the northwest: humitas, tamales or a plate of locro. Anyone wanting to see the Salinas Grandes instead of Humahuaca continues from Purmamarca a further 66 km to around 3,450 m. The FDFA advises not to underestimate altitude sickness in the Andes; anyone feeling unwell stays in the lower part of the valley. The night is spent again in Salta, a good 1,700 m lower than Humahuaca.
- 08
Day 8 · Overnight: Salta
Cafayate and the Quebrada de las Conchas
Salta → Cafayate → Salta
Today heads south into the Valles Calchaquíes. Cafayate lies 192 km from Salta, and the tourism office reckons around 3 h 30 min each way via National Route 68. The drive is itself the destination: in the Quebrada de las Conchas, coloured rock walls alternate with formations such as the Garganta del Diablo and the Anfiteatro, plus sand dunes that reach up to 15 m in height. Around Cafayate the vines grow at 1,600 to 3,100 m; the province markets the area as the highest wine route in the world, with the white Torrontés as its flagship variety. Lunch is at a bodega with tasting, followed by wine ice cream in Cabernet, Malbec or Torrontés flavours and a look inside the 1885 cathedral. Anyone who prefers to meet people from the valley books an offering from the Turismo Rural Comunitario programme with crafts and horseback rides. At around seven hours of driving, this is the longest day on the road of the whole trip.
- 09
Day 9 · Overnight: El Calafate
Travel day to El Calafate
Salta → Córdoba or Buenos Aires → El Calafate
Today the country is crossed lengthwise. There is no nonstop connection between Salta and El Calafate; the fastest flights connect via Córdoba and take from around 4 h 45 min, via Buenos Aires from around 5 h 25 min (as of September 2026). Connections need buffer time, because according to the BMEIA domestic flights are often delayed by several hours; no programme is therefore planned for this day. El Calafate lies on Lago Argentino, whose surface is only 177 m above sea level. After Salta, the south is a temperature jump, as the climate table shows: from now on a warm jacket, hat, gloves and windproof layer belong in the daypack. In the evening a short walk through town and an early dinner is enough, because the glacier excursion begins in the morning. Tomorrow's park entry ticket is also sold online by the national park administration.
- 10
Day 10 · Overnight: El Calafate
Perito Moreno Glacier
El Calafate → Perito Moreno Glacier → El Calafate
The Perito Moreno Glacier lies 80 km from El Calafate along a continuously paved road. After 40 km of steppe, southern beech forest of ñire, guindo and lenga follows behind the park entrance. At the glacier, walkways and viewing platforms open up the front, with one area accessible for wheelchairs. The calving edge is around 70 m high, almost as high as the Buenos Aires Obelisk at 67.5 m, and the ice area, at 254 km², is somewhat larger than the capital, at 203 km². Anyone wanting to get onto the ice books the Mini Trekking, with around 1 h 30 min on the glacier, or «Big Ice», at about 5 h; crampons are provided by the operators. Boat trips and kayak tours pass in front of the face. On site there is a restaurant, toilets and first aid. Los Glaciares has been UNESCO World Heritage since 1981; the day entry costs 50,000 pesos (as of September 2026). Mobile coverage in the park is weak or absent.
- 11
Day 11 · Overnight: El Chaltén
Drive to El Chaltén and short viewpoint trails
El Calafate → El Chaltén
By bus or transfer it is 213 km north, the last stretch along Route 23 beside Lago Viedma. The Viedma Glacier, at around 975 km² the largest in Argentina, lies within the same national park. El Chaltén was founded in 1985, has around 1,861 inhabitants (2022) and carries the title «Capital Nacional del Trekking». The first stop is the national park administration's visitor centre with current trail conditions; registration is compulsory there for trekking and climbing in remote areas. In the afternoon two short trails start right from town: to the Mirador de los Cóndores, 1 km and 100 m of elevation gain in around 45 min, with a view over the village and the valley of the Río de las Vueltas, and onward to the Mirador de las Águilas with views over the steppe and Lago Viedma. Pets are not allowed in the park, drones are prohibited, as are open fires.
- 12
Day 12 · Overnight: El Chaltén
Laguna de los Tres beneath the Fitz Roy
El Chaltén → Laguna de los Tres → El Chaltén
The big hiking day. It is 10 km and 750 m of elevation gain each way to the Laguna de los Tres; the park administration estimates around 5 h for the way up. The final section is very steep and tricky in rain and wind. In return, you stand at the top closer than anywhere else to the 3,405 m high Fitz Roy, which the Aonikenk called Chaltén and revered as a sacred mountain. Along the way lie the Mirador Fitz Roy and the Laguna Capri, both after around 4 km and good turnaround points if the weather turns. Set off early so nobody has to descend in the dark; there is no mobile network on the trails, and the weather on the mountain often differs from that in the village. The park administration recommends hiking boots, water, food, a rain jacket, gloves, sunglasses, sun protection and a headlamp. Rubbish, including mate leftovers and fruit peels, is carried back down.
- 13
Day 13 · Overnight: El Chaltén
Laguna Torre or reserve day
El Chaltén → Laguna Torre → El Chaltén
This day is the reserve for weather: anyone who had to postpone the Laguna de los Tres because of a storm catches up today. Otherwise, the second classic leads into the valley of the 3,102 m high Cerro Torre. It is 10 km each way to the Laguna Torre with only 250 m of elevation gain; the park administration reckons around 3 h 30 min for the way up, ending in a view of glacier and lake. Shorter is the Mirador Torre after 3 km. Anyone with stamina can climb the Loma del Pliegue Tumbado, 10 km and 1,000 m of elevation gain in around 4 h, with views of both the Fitz Roy and Torre ranges at once; the final stretch is marked by yellow posts. As a rest-day option, the Chorrillo del Salto, a 20 m high waterfall 3 km outside town, suits well, on foot in around 40 min. In autumn the park's wasps become more aggressive; keep food well sealed.
- 14
Day 14 · Overnight: Buenos Aires
Back to El Calafate and flight to Buenos Aires
El Chaltén → El Calafate → Buenos Aires (AEP)
In the morning, the 213 km back to El Calafate airport. The airport asks passengers to be at check-in 2 hours before departure. To Buenos Aires-Aeroparque you fly nonstop in around 3 h; there are roughly 14 flights a week, the first departing at 8.20 am, the last at 10.20 pm (as of September 2026). Why not head straight for the return flight? The long-haul leg does not depart from Aeroparque but from Ezeiza, and domestic flights can, according to the BMEIA, be delayed by several hours. The night in Buenos Aires takes this pressure out of the plan. In the evening there is time for one last late dinner, ideally near the hotel, and for repacking: hiking clothes go to the bottom, passport and insurance proof back on top.
- 15
Day 15
Last day in Buenos Aires and return flight
Buenos Aires (EZE) → Return flight
A free day in Buenos Aires, for example for whatever was cut short on the third day. If it's a Sunday, the market on Plaza Dorrego is worthwhile. In the afternoon, transfer to Ezeiza, 35 km southwest of the city. From Ezeiza you fly nonstop or with a connection to your own departure airport; FlightConnections lists, for example, around 2 h 40 min to São Paulo, around 9 h 10 min to Miami, around 12 h to Madrid and around 13 h 20 min to Frankfurt (as of September 2026). Spend remaining pesos beforehand; exchange only at banks and official bureaux de change, since street money changers are illegal.
- 16
Day 16
Arrival after the return flight
Return flight → Arrival
After short routes, for instance to São Paulo or Lima, arrival is often already the previous evening; after a long-haul flight with a connection, landing happens only during the course of this day. Anyone who develops a fever in the days that follow should tell their doctor that the trip passed through areas with dengue.
Where do you stay overnight on this route?
Overnight stays are split across six stages at five places: twice in Buenos Aires, plus Puerto Iguazú, Salta, El Calafate and El Chaltén. Standard is a four-star hotel with breakfast; which property it will be is decided by the generator only from live availability for the travel date. In El Chaltén the supply is small, so early booking pays off for December through March.
| Stage | Nights | Location | What to look out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buenos Aires | 2 + 1 | central, near a Subte station | short distances to San Telmo, Plaza de Mayo and Recoleta |
| Puerto Iguazú | 2 | in town, around 18 km from the park | air conditioning, early breakfast start for the park day |
| Salta | 3 | old town around the cathedral | starting point for both day trips |
| El Calafate | 2 | in town on Lago Argentino | easy reach of glacier-tour meeting points |
| El Chaltén | 3 | in the village, trails start at the edge of town | small supply, book early |
In Buenos Aires, location matters more than amenities: a hotel near a Subte line saves a lot of time on both city days. For the last night it may be worth a property from which the drive to Ezeiza is straightforward.
In Puerto Iguazú you stay in town and drive to the park in the morning. In Salta the best base is the old town, where peñas and restaurants are reachable on foot in the evening; estancias in the province's wine region are an alternative if you plan to stay overnight in Cafayate.
El Calafate has the wider selection in Patagonia. In El Chaltén, a village with around 1,861 inhabitants, supply is limited; for the hiking days a property that serves an early breakfast or provides packed food helps.
Sources: Iguazú Argentina S.A. · Wikipedia · Visit Salta, Ministerio de Turismo y Deportes de Salta · Visit Salta, Ministerio de Turismo y Deportes de Salta · Wikipedia · Argentina.gob.ar, Ministerio de Transporte
How can the trip be planned shorter, longer or with children?
The trip becomes shorter at 12 days if Salta is dropped. It becomes longer with Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, a night in Cafayate, or a second day in Iguazú. In the southern winter, Patagonia is better swapped for Mendoza, and with children you choose shorter trails and only one of the two long driving days from Salta.
Shorter: 12 days
Without Salta, nine nights remain: 2 in Buenos Aires, 2 in Puerto Iguazú, 2 in El Calafate, 2 in El Chaltén and 1 before the return flight. From Iguazú to El Calafate you then fly via Buenos Aires, with both legs available nonstop. Anyone wanting to keep the northwest instead drops El Chaltén and visits only the glacier.
Longer: 19 to 21 days
- Ushuaia: El Calafate–Ushuaia is flown nonstop in 1 h 20 min over 566 km, around 7 times a week (as of September 2026). Two to three nights are enough for the Tierra del Fuego National Park and a boat trip on the Beagle Channel; between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia there are nonstop flights of 3 h 40 min.
- Cafayate with an overnight stay: instead of the day trip, one to two nights among the vines, plus Cachi at 2,210 m, 162 km from Salta.
- Second day in Iguazú: the 7 km long Sendero Macuco to the Salto Arrechea closes at 3 pm; on a second visit day within 72 hours, admission costs half price. Alternatively the Brazilian side near Foz do Iguaçu, with a border crossing.
- Tren a las Nubes: a full day from Salta with check-in at 6.15 am, bus to San Antonio de los Cobres and train to the La Polvorilla viaduct above 4,200 m; in bad weather the trip can be cancelled.
Other season
From June to September the northwest is dry and ideal, but Patagonia is cold; around El Chaltén, snow and mud make the trails more difficult according to the park administration. Then Mendoza suits better than the south: Buenos Aires–Mendoza takes 2 h nonstop. In January and February Patagonia has high summer, Salta then experiences the peak of the rainy season, and Iguazú is at its hottest.
With children
Children up to age 6 pay no entry fee in the national parks. According to the Federal Foreign Office, minors need an original birth certificate; if a child travels with only one parent, the other parent's written consent is required. In Iguazú the main circuit trails and the park train are wheelchair accessible. In El Chaltén, the Mirador de los Cóndores and Chorrillo del Salto work well, the steep Laguna de los Tres less so. From Salta, one excursion is enough instead of two.
Sources: FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · Secretaría de Turismo Ushuaia · Secretaría de Turismo Ushuaia · FlightConnections · Visit Salta, Ministerio de Turismo y Deportes de Salta · Iguazú Argentina S.A. · Administración de Parques Nacionales · Tren a las Nubes S.E., Provincia de Salta · Tren a las Nubes S.E., Provincia de Salta · Wikipedia · Administración de Parques Nacionales · Federal Foreign Office, Germany
What is the best time to travel for this route?
The route connects regions with opposite seasons: the tourism office recommends Patagonia from December to March, the northwest in the southern winter, and Buenos Aires and Iguazú in spring and autumn. The best compromise is November, December and March; January and February also work but bring rain to Salta and heat to Iguazú.
Average daily highs and lows and monthly rainfall at four stops along the route
| Buenos Aires | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 30 | 29 | 26 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 26 | 29 |
| Low °C | 21 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 19 |
| Rainfall mm | 104 | 121 | 123 | 98 | 74 | 54 | 72 | 71 | 83 | 109 | 101 | 94 |
| Puerto Iguazú | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 33 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Low °C | 22 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 21 |
| Rainfall mm | 147 | 129 | 117 | 124 | 163 | 108 | 85 | 70 | 121 | 211 | 159 | 179 |
| Salta | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 30 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 30 |
| Low °C | 18 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 17 |
| Rainfall mm | 184 | 164 | 116 | 57 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 29 | 65 | 141 |
| El Calafate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 20 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 19 |
| Low °C | 8 | 7 | 5 | 0 | -2 | -4 | -4 | -3 | -1 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Rainfall mm | 71 | 62 | 75 | 71 | 71 | 68 | 61 | 63 | 51 | 54 | 57 | 68 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station AEROPARQUE JORGE NEWBERY (6 km, 6 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station CATARATAS INTL (9 km, 240 m), auf 170 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SALTA (10 km, 1246 m), auf 1152 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station EL CALAFATE AERO (17 km, 199 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
The table shows the contrasts: Salta is almost dry from May to September and gets most of its rain from December to March. In Puerto Iguazú it rains in every month. El Calafate stays cool even in the southern summer, and in El Chaltén the wind adds to that.
The southern hemisphere summer runs from 21 December to 20 March. During these months there is fire risk in Patagonia; according to the travel advisories, this led to evacuations and access bans in national parks in early 2026. It is worth checking the travel advisories before departure.
Sources: Visit Argentina, Instituto Nacional de Promoción Turística · Wikipedia · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Administración de Parques Nacionales
What does TalkTravel book, and what do you pay for on site?
The generator books the flights from your departure airport and back, the four domestic routes, 13 hotel nights with breakfast, and the transfers between airports, hotels and El Chaltén. On site you pay national park entry fees in pesos, most meals and tips. This page does not state a price; it results from live flights and hotels for the chosen date.
- Flights: from your departure airport to Buenos Aires-Ezeiza and back, economy as standard; domestic flights Buenos Aires–Puerto Iguazú, Puerto Iguazú–Salta, Salta–El Calafate with a connection, and El Calafate–Buenos Aires.
- Hotels: 13 nights in the four-star category with breakfast, spread across six stages.
- Transfers: airport–hotel at each location, plus the return trip between El Calafate and El Chaltén.
- Excursions: the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Cafayate and Perito Moreno are planned in as programme items and are booked as tours where available; the ice walk is an option.
| National park | Day pass | 3-day flexi pass |
|---|---|---|
| Iguazú | 60,000 ARS | 120,000 ARS |
| Los Glaciares, including El Chaltén | 50,000 ARS | 100,000 ARS |
On a second day within 72 hours, the national parks grant a 50% discount. Tickets are available online from the park administration; identification is checked at the entrance because the rate depends on it.
You need to organise yourself: the travel health insurance that Argentina has required since Decree 366/2025, which according to the Federal Foreign Office must cover emergencies, hospital stays and repatriation, and the yellow fever vaccination, if it is deemed sensible after medical advice.
Peso prices change quickly. This page therefore does not state an exchange rate or a trip price.
Sources: Administración de Parques Nacionales · Iguazú Argentina S.A. · Argentina.gob.ar, Información Legislativa · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · healthytravel.ch, Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine · FlightConnections