Grand tour of Argentina March 2025 (page 3 of 3)

Day 26: Buenos Aires Less stifling heat than in Iguazu but still 25°C (77°F). We start by stepping into the grand bookstore El Ateneo, formerly a theater. A really lovely transformation.



We decide to skip wandering through the Recoleta Cemetery and head to the Puerto Madero district instead.







From there, a bus takes us to the La Boca neighborhood. It’s colorful, sure, but a bit too touristy. By comparison, Palermo Soho was nicer and more authentic.







We end our day in the San Telmo district.







Last Argentine steak dinner tonight before watching soccer on TV (Argentina vs. Brazil—Argentina won, and you could tell by the cheers at the end of the evening).

Day 27: Return Taxi transfer to Ezeiza Airport (28,000—odd, since we paid 40,000 on the way there with the same company) Long line at check-in before the 1:15 PM flight to Madrid Day 28: Arrival Arrival in Brussels at 9:50 AM

Hope you enjoyed this travel journal! Patrick

Hi Patrick,

Yes, I loved this travel journal, especially the part about Patagonia—we’ve never been there. We were worried about the weather conditions. I think you were really lucky in that regard! 😉

Thanks Patrick for this really interesting travel journal. It also has the advantage of providing up-to-date info on the destination.

Hi there, I’ve been following this travel journal from the start incognito, since I don’t know this destination at all. Great photos, really enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing!

Hi Patrick,

We got back from Peru last weekend and I just discovered your travel journal. Thanks for sharing!

You were lucky with the weather. My daughter was there at the same time in 2022. In northern Argentina, the weather was terrible, the roads were impassable, and some places were closed.

Wake-up at 6:30 AM (generally, that’ll be our wake-up time every day—early birds catch the worm—and we avoid the crowds of tourists who get up later and explore the country later in the morning).

We did the same in Peru. It lets you visit some very touristy sites before the tour groups arrive. To give you an idea, there were only 7 of us on the famous Vinicunca mountain: two guides, three young French women, and us.

We might visit southern Argentina and Chile next year and add two days to see Iguazu Falls. We’re also tempted by the north, but we’d like to explore that region with a rental 4x4 and check out the most remote spots, like we did in the Sud Lípez in Bolivia. But that takes a lot more preparation, and finding a reliable rental company with dependable 4x4s seems tough.

Anyway, you had a really great trip. 🙂

... we did the "grand tour" of Argentina, with 6 domestic flights to make the most of our 28 days. Below are our stops: ..................... Happy reading.....

Hello and thanks for this feedback. Best regards, JLMA

Hello, I’m planning our trip to Argentina for November 2026 and I’m just getting started. Your travel journal is a fantastic source of information. Could you tell me which airline you took for the Bariloche/Salta flight via Córdoba? Thanks so much. Nicole

Hello, I’m planning our trip to Argentina for November 2026 and I’m just getting started. Your travel journal is a fantastic source of information. Could you tell me which airline you used for the Bariloche/Salta flight via Córdoba? Thanks so much. Nicole

All our domestic flights were booked on the Aerolíneas Argentinas website. No issues with delays compared to other low-cost airlines like Flybondi.

Hi Patbill, I read your travel journal with interest because my trip planned for 2027 looks a lot like what you did! I’m just adding the Valdés Peninsula and skipping Bariloche. I have a few questions: - For the loops around Salta, you mentioned changing cars—did you rent a 4x4? I’ve read several blogs where people said a compact car was enough, even on gravel roads. - Do you still have the contact info for your guide Carolina in Humahuaca, or her last name? - When you crossed to the Brazilian side of the falls, what did you do with your luggage? Are there lockers? Thanks in advance. Sophie

Hi Patbill, I read your travel journal with interest because my trip planned for 2027 looks a lot like what you did! I’ll just add the Valdés Peninsula and skip Bariloche. I have a few questions: - For the loops around Salta, you mentioned changing cars. Did you get a 4x4? I’ve read several blogs where people said a compact car was enough, even on gravel roads. - Do you still have the contact info for your guide Carolina in Humahuaca, or her last name? - When you crossed to the Brazilian side of the falls, what did you do with your luggage? Are there lockers? Thanks in advance. Sophie

Hi there: - Salta loops: We changed vehicles because our trunk wouldn’t open anymore. And yes, a compact car is enough. - Carolina’s WhatsApp is +5493885709358. She’s amazing. - At Iguazu, we stayed 2 nights: arriving from Salta, then one day to see the Argentine side, and the next day to see the Brazilian side. We left our luggage in storage at the hotel before heading to the airport.

hi Patbill, thanks a bunch! 😊

The exchange process in Buenos Aires really made me chuckle: watching the cashier’s hands instead of the machine—that’s the kind of detail you won’t find in guidebooks. And with six domestic flights in 28 days, you definitely didn’t go for the easy version of the trip!

... loops around Salta ... Yep, a city car is enough ...

It depends where you're going: for example, the track to Mirador del Hornocal is very rocky, ....

... loops around Salta ... Yep, a compact car is enough ...

It depends where you're going: for example, the road to Mirador del Hornocal is very rocky, ....

We did the organized 4x4 excursion from Humahuaca. It would’ve been really tough in a compact car otherwise