10-Day Argentina Itinerary (2026): Buenos Aires, Iguazú, Patagonia, Mendoza

Day 1 — Buenos Aires First Steps

Land at Ezeiza (EZE) and settle into Palermo Soho, the city’s leafiest barrio for a first night; a taxi or the official airport shuttle runs roughly 25,000–40,000 pesos (about USD 20–35) for the 45-minute ride into town. Shake off the flight with a slow wander through Plaza Serrano and the surrounding streets of independent boutiques and cafes, then cross into Palermo Bosques for the rose garden and lakes. Book a table for dinner at a neighborhood parrilla and order bife de chorizo with a glass of Mendoza Malbec — a good steak dinner runs about 25,000–40,000 pesos (roughly USD 20–35) per person. Insider tip: Argentines eat late, so restaurants rarely fill before 9pm; arrive at 8 and you will have the room to yourself while you adjust to the rhythm of the city.

Day 2 — Recoleta & City Icons

Start in Recoleta at the famous cemetery, an open-air city of marble mausoleums where Eva Peron is buried (foreign visitors pay about US$14–15, card or online only; free for Argentines); it opens around 8am and the quiet early hours are best before tour groups arrive. Walk to the neighboring Centro Cultural Recoleta and the grand Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (free entry) for Argentine and European masters. In the afternoon head downtown to Plaza de Mayo to see the pink presidential palace, the Casa Rosada, and the Catedral Metropolitana. Ride the historic Subte Line A, one of the oldest metros in the southern hemisphere — a single fare is only a few hundred pesos with a SUBE card. Insider tip: buy a rechargeable SUBE card at any kiosco early; it is the cheapest, fastest way around town and many buses will not take cash at all.

Day 3 — San Telmo & La Boca

Time this day for a Sunday if you can, when the Feria de San Telmo unfurls antiques and craft stalls for ten blocks down cobbled Calle Defensa from Plaza de Mayo to Parque Lezama (roughly 10am–5pm). Duck into the covered Mercado de San Telmo for empanadas and a coffee among the wrought-iron stalls. Later, take a taxi south to La Boca and the brightly painted Caminito, the birthplace of tango, and glimpse La Bombonera, the Boca Juniors stadium. Cap the night with a tango show in San Telmo; historic halls run about 40,000–90,000 pesos (roughly USD 35–75). Insider tip: stay on the main tourist streets of La Boca and leave before dusk — the surrounding blocks are best avoided, so plan your visit for daylight and take a registered taxi both ways.

Day 4 — Fly North to Iguazu

Transfer across town to Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP), the domestic airport right on the river, for the roughly 1-hour-45-minute flight north to Puerto Iguazu (IGR); Aerolineas Argentinas, JetSmart and Flybondi all fly the route, with fares often around USD 90–180 one way if booked ahead. You leave the temperate pampas for humid subtropical jungle near the Brazil and Paraguay borders. Check into town and, if time allows, drive to the Hito Tres Fronteras, the marked point where three countries meet across the rivers. Insider tip: the airport sits about 25km from town, and taxis are pricey, so arrange your hotel transfer in advance. Try the regional surubi, a river catfish, at a local spot — a main course runs roughly 15,000–28,000 pesos (about USD 12–24).

Day 5 — Devil’s Throat & Boat

Dedicate a full day to the Parque Nacional Iguazu on the Argentine side; the gate opens at 8am and the international entrance fee is around 45,000 pesos (roughly USD 30–35), payable by card or pesos. Ride the free Tren Ecologico de la Selva straight to the Garganta del Diablo station and walk the catwalk over the river to the thundering Devil’s Throat; go early before the walkway crowds build, and note the last train back leaves around 3:30pm. Then loop the Circuito Superior and Circuito Inferior for face-on views of dozens of cascades. For a thrill, book the Gran Aventura boat that motors under the falls (around 90,000 pesos, roughly USD 75, minimum age 12). Insider tip: pack a dry bag and a rain layer — the boat and the Garganta spray will soak you to the skin.

Day 6 — South to El Calafate

Fly back south, almost always connecting through Buenos Aires, to reach El Calafate (FTE) on the edge of Patagonia; from Aeroparque the direct leg runs about 3 hours 20 minutes, and same-day connections from Iguazu make for a long travel day, so leave early. El Calafate is a small, walkable town strung along Avenida del Libertador, gateway to the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. Recover with a stroll to the Laguna Nimez reserve on the shore of turquoise Lago Argentino, where flamingos and waterfowl gather (small entry fee, about 8,000–12,000 pesos). Insider tip: this is Patagonian lamb country, so book dinner at a parrilla and order cordero al asador, lamb slow-roasted on an iron cross by the fire — expect roughly 25,000–45,000 pesos (about USD 20–38) for a hearty plate.

Day 7 — Perito Moreno Glacier

Set out for the star of Patagonia, the Glaciar Perito Moreno, about 80km west on paved Ruta 11 — roughly a 1-hour-15-minute drive. The park entrance for foreigners is around 45,000 pesos (about USD 30–35). Spend the morning on the tiered pasarelas, the metal boardwalks that face the 5km-wide, 60-metre-high ice wall; wait quietly and you will hear the crack and boom of calving ice crashing into the channel. Wear grippy shoes as the grates get slick. For a closer look, book ahead for a minitrekking excursion with crampons on the glacier itself (guided ice walks run roughly USD 150–220). Insider tip: buses run by Caltur and Chalten Travel from town, but a small-group tour with hotel pickup (about USD 80–100) saves the fuss and gets you to the walkways before the midday coach convoys arrive.

Day 8 — Ruta 40 to El Chalten

Board a morning bus for the scenic 3-hour ride north to El Chalten, Argentina’s self-styled trekking capital, traveling the storied Ruta 40 and Provincial Route 41 alongside Lago Viedma; Caltur and Chalten Travel run several daily departures and a seat costs roughly USD 40–55 return. There are no ATMs you can rely on and card coverage is patchy, so bring cash. On arrival, most of the trails begin right from the village edge inside Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. Ease in with the short walk to the Mirador de los Condores and Mirador de las Aguilas for sweeping views over the Rio de las Vueltas valley and, on a clear day, the Fitz Roy skyline. Insider tip: stop at the park’s Ceferino Fonzo visitor center for the free trail briefing before you commit to tomorrow’s big hike.

Day 9 — Laguna de los Tres

Tackle the classic Laguna de los Tres trek to the foot of Cerro Fitz Roy, the granite spire on the national flag of this region — roughly 20–25km round trip over 8–10 hours, with a brutal final kilometre of steep scree gaining about 400 metres. The trailhead is at the top of Avenida San Martin and the trail is free, though since late 2024 a park access fee is paid online in advance, so sort it the night before. Set off by 7am to reach the lagoon before the wind and cloud roll in. Pause at Laguna Capri for your first framed view of the peak. Insider tip: weather at the top can be savage even on a calm day in town, with gusts of 80–100 km/h and far colder air, so carry windproof layers, plenty of water and snacks — there is nowhere to buy anything on the mountain.

Day 10 — Laguna Torre & Farewell

Take it easier on your last full day with the gentler Laguna Torre trek, about 18km round trip over 6–8 hours to a glacial lake facing the needle of Cerro Torre; the climbing is mostly in the first couple of kilometres, then the path flattens through lenga forest and open valley. If legs are tired, turn back at the Mirador Cerro Torre, a fine viewpoint just a few kilometres in. Back in town, reward yourself with craft beer and a slice of cake at one of the village’s cozy cafes. In the afternoon, catch the bus back to El Calafate for your onward flight to Buenos Aires and home, or overnight in Calafate near the airport. Insider tip: build a buffer — Patagonian weather closes the small airport without warning, so never plan the trek and your international flight for the very same day.

Skip El Calafate’s tourist-trail Patagonia and go straight to El Chaltén instead — the same week, half the cost, and arguably better mountain hiking (Fitz Roy + Cerro Torre). El Calafate is for Perito Moreno Glacier only; El Chaltén is for everything else.