Quick answer: 10-day Argentina itinerary covering Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 through Day 10. Best months: October-April (Patagonia summer + Iguazú accessible). Avoid June-August (Patagonia closed off, cold Buenos Aires).. Total cost: US$2000-3500 mid-range / US$7500+ luxury per person. Internal flight costs add up — budget US$400-600 just for domestic flights..
Ten days for Argentina covers four headline destinations: 3 nights Buenos Aires, 1 night Iguazú Falls, 3 nights El Calafate/Patagonia, 2 nights Mendoza wine country. Internal flights essential (Argentina is the 8th-largest country on Earth). Built across 2 personal Argentina trips.
Day-by-day breakdown
Day 1
Arrive Buenos Aires. Stay Palermo Soho or Recoleta. Easy first evening: parrilla dinner at Don Julio or La Cabrera (book 1 week ahead).
Day 2
Buenos Aires classics: La Recoleta Cemetery (Eva Perón’s tomb) + Plaza de Mayo + Casa Rosada + San Telmo Sunday market (if Sunday) or Caminito La Boca.
Day 3
Tango show + dinner at Café de los Angelitos or Esquina Carlos Gardel. Or alternative: free milonga (local tango dance) at La Catedral Club.
Day 4
Fly Buenos Aires → Iguazú (2h, US$120-180). Visit Brazilian side falls afternoon for the panoramic view + sunset. Stay Iguazú town.
Day 5
Argentine side Iguazú Falls full day: Devil’s Throat catwalk + Lower Circuit + Upper Circuit. World’s most powerful waterfall. Fly Iguazú → Buenos Aires evening.
Day 6
Fly Buenos Aires → El Calafate (3h, US$180-280). Patagonia! Settle in town. Evening: Patagonian lamb (cordero al palo) dinner.
Day 7
Perito Moreno Glacier day: 1.5h drive from El Calafate. Catwalks for hours, calving icebergs. Optional: ice trekking on glacier (US$160).
Day 8
Day trip El Chaltén (3h drive): Fitz Roy + Laguna de los Tres hike (full day, 10h, intermediate). Or shorter: Laguna Capri hike.
Day 9
Fly El Calafate → Mendoza (via Buenos Aires connection, 6-8h total). Settle Mendoza or Maipú. Evening: Malbec wine + steak dinner.
Day 10
Mendoza wine country: Maipú vineyards (closest, easiest) or Luján de Cuyo or Uco Valley (most premium). Bicycle wine tour US$30-50. Fly home.
What to book ahead
- Domestic flights: Aerolíneas Argentinas + LATAM + JetSMART. Book 30-60 days ahead. Internal flight network is essential — Argentina is enormous.
- Iguazú National Park: Visit Brazilian side for panoramic view (1 day) AND Argentine side for immersive catwalks (1 day). Both worth it. US$30 each side.
- Don Julio steakhouse: Book online 2-4 weeks ahead. Buenos Aires’s most famous parrilla — and worth the hype. Walk-in waits 1-2h.
- Patagonia accommodation: Book 3-4 months ahead for December-February peak. October and April have best weather-to-crowd ratio.
A local insider tip
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.
Best time for this trip
October-April (Patagonia summer + Iguazú accessible). Avoid June-August (Patagonia closed off, cold Buenos Aires).
Frequently asked questions
Is 10 days enough for Argentina?
Tight but covers headlines. 14 days adds Bariloche Lake District or salta wine country. 21 days for complete circuit including Tierra del Fuego.
How much does a 10-day Argentina trip cost?
Backpacker: US$1000-1500. Mid-range: US$2000-3500. Luxury: US$8000+. Peso volatility means dollar prices fluctuate.
Best time for Patagonia?
December-February (warmest, longest days but most crowded). October-November and March-April are quieter with great hiking weather.
Is Argentina safe?
Tourist areas safe. Petty crime in Buenos Aires (pickpocketing, distraction scams). Avoid certain neighborhoods at night (Constitución, La Boca after dark).
Cash or card in Argentina?
Both. Bring USD cash and exchange at ‘cuevas’ for the ‘blue dollar’ rate (2x official). Many places accept cards but cash is king for tips and small purchases.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.