Argentina
Buenos Aires
THINGS TO DO:
Buenos Aires is like New York City, in that it is certainly a conglomerate of neighborhoods. Each has a unique vibe that varies from the next. If you can appreciate amazingly curated steak and delicious wine, this is the city for you.
If there’s time, try to hit each neighborhood as they all have many different things to offer.
Recoleta: One of the more traditional and well-kept neighborhoods in the city. Check out the Recoleta Cemetery where the rich and famous are buried. Grave of famous and influential Eva “Evita”Perón is here.
Palermo: This trendy area is a lot like NYC’s west village. With cobblestone streets lined with high-end stores and incredible restaurants, it looks like a city right out of Europe.
La Boca: This is the notorious, extremely colorful part of town. While it is very touristy, it’s great for souvenirs and to grab a nice meal while watching couples tango (most restaurants will have people dancing while you eat).
Tigre: Nestled right on the river, we recommend exploring this part if you’re looking for something different to do outside the heart of the city. Take a boat cruise and tour the beautiful Tigre Club Museum, which is filled with fine art.
San Telmo Feria: Vast flea market that spans blocks and blocks. It happens every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Definitely recommend any walking tour your hotel or hostel can hook you up with it.
La Puente de La Madre: Picturesque bridge on the port.
Take a stroll down Florida Avenue to shop and people watch.
La Casa Rosada: “The Pink House,” equivalent to The White House in the United States.
In the Plaza de Mayo, mothers of “los desaparecidos” march every Thursday. We recommend being there for their powerful march and learning a bit of history.
Buenos Aries has hundreds of clandestine torture chambers scattered about the city. ESMA and Olympic Garage are two that we recommend touring.
Teatro Colón: One of the best opera houses in the world.
Palacio de Aguas Corrientes: A French Renaissance Palace built to be a water pumping station.
Confitería Del Molino: The inside is closed, but it’s still beautiful.
Others
Iguazu Falls: The falls are north of BA, dividing Brazil and Argentina. We highly recommend going to “las Cataratas” for no more than one day/two nights. Spend a day exploring the falls (by boat) and the rainforest (by foot). If you’re up for an adventure (more or less, trying to skip the Brazil visa process and cost), you can stay in Misiones, Argentina and hire a taxi to take you to Iguazu at night from the side.
Day trip to Colonia: You can head into Uruguay for the day! It’s easy – you just take a 45 minute ferry. The beach town is adorable.
PLACES TO EAT
Lunch
Café Tortoni: Opened in 1858, this is the oldest cafe in the city. Grab a quick bite and take in all of its charm.
Marks Deli: Trendy spot for sandwiches and salads.
Oui Oui: Incredible place to grab lunch or a mid-day meal.
Dinner
El Último Beso: Go here for tea time at 5 p.m., which is an Argentine tradition.
Guidos: A delectable Italian restaurant, but don’t expect a big menu. The owner chooses what you eat and it’s completely worth it.
Parrilla Mirasol: Located in Puerto Madero, has AMAZING Argentine barbeque.
Cabanas Las Lilas: Your go-to if you want a quality steak and wine dinner. Side note, swing by Faena for cocktails by the pool after.
La Cabrera: Upscale steakhouse with delectable, juicy plates.
Don Julio: Another top-shelf steakhouse known for their in-house rub.
Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt: Have lunch on the terrace at this hotel in Recoleta. Expect amazing food and a superb atmosphere.
Ocho Once Maison du Chef: An email reservation is required beforehand, which is best to do way in advance while still in the states. It’s a private chef restaurant, which basically guarantees a personal, exquisite experience.
Volta: The ice cream in Buenos Aries is bomb – you can spend an absurd amount of money coming back to this place day after day.
Milion: Popular place for young people. They have a great bar and outdoor seating area.
Foodie Tips
Eat pizza in Palermo. Many Argentinians have Italian heritage, so there’s Italian food everywhere and it’s actually really good, especially in Palermo.
Before you leave you must have Choripan!! It is a chorizo sandwich that you should be able to find most cafes or vendors, and it is delicious.
PLACES TO DRINK
Victoria Brown: Exquisite cocktail bar.
Boliche: Popping nightclub in the heart of the city. Gets pretty busy around 2 a.m.
Bombo Tiempo: Best on Monday nights.
La Biela in Recoleta: An amazing coffee shop.
The Drunken Unicorn: Fun name, fun place, late nights assured.
Asia de Cuba: If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll hear the secret password for this place that allows you to bypass paying cover.
Frank’s Bar: A secret speakeasy that must not be missed. (Shhh!)
Florerio Atlantico: Another speakeasy below a flower shop. You didn’t read it here!
Birkin: Possibly the only coffee shop where you can get iced coffee.
PLACES TO STAY
Park Tower: An outstanding luxury hotel in the heart of the city.
TRANSPORTATION
Public transportation in Buenos Aires is easy. The train and buses are cheap and will get you most places. Still, snag a map so you know where you’re going. Uber is also easy and convenient. Watch your phone on public transport! Theives are known to snatch your iPhone right out of your hands.
When taking taxis, especially from the airport, take the blue and white ones (Taxi Ezeiza), not the yellow and black ones. The blue and white taxis offer a flat fare from the airport, making them cheaper!
Always pay your cab drivers in the smallest bills possible. Many will say they don’t have change for it and hand you back a FAKE bill.
GENERAL TIPS
Bring as many American Dollars in cash as you feel comfortable traveling with. You will not be able to withdraw dollars from the ATM and the exchange rate is extremely poor at any bank – however, if you’re heading to Uruguay, we recommend using the ATMs there! Exchange shops before you leave, in the airport, or in town will have more favorable rates. Florida Street is full of them.
Try their Yerba Mate: A traditional Argentinian tea that is often shared between a group while relaxing and socializing.
Mendoza
THINGS TO DO
Rent bikes and hop between vineyards: Take a bus to nearby Maple and then rent bikes from there. It’s not a far trek and will be well worth it. If you’re weary about getting there, your hostel will be able to help out with directions!
Another great way to tour the wineries is through Malbec Symphony. They’ll pick you up in a private car from your hotel – and you can get a 10% discount if you pay in cash. Request Mariano Facca as your guide! You have options to go horseback riding, take cooking classes, and of course drink all of the wine.
Take the bus to the Termas Cacheuta hot springs – they’re absolutely beautiful and offer different packages depending on how luxurious you want your spa day to be and how long you want to spend there. Public buses run from the Mendoza Bus Terminal on the Buttini buses. You can buy tickets near stand 56. The buses leave around 9AM, 10:30AM, and 1:30PM. They return at 3:45PM, 6:30PM, and 9:20PM.
Go skydiving – you can often book this through your hotel or hostel so ask around for best rates!
PLACES TO EAT
Beer Garden: Best pizza and beer in town, what better combo do you need?
Casa de Campo: If you find yourself needing a break from vineyard hopping, this is a great lunch spot in Maipu.
Each of the wineries will serve small plates as well, so be sure to eat while you go!
PLACES TO DRINK
Drink your days away at the vineyards! Some notable ones are Bodega Tempus Alba and Doña Paula, which has an incredible view of the Andes.
TRANSPORTATION
Getting from Buenos Aires to Mendoza is a journey, so fly when you can. If this is too expensive though, then there are overnight buses that are very affordable — but the trip is about 15 hours.
GENERAL TIPS
Salta has really amazing Spanish-Colonial architecture. If you’re close enough, we definitely recommend seeing it. It’s small, but the city center is really cute and there’s a ton of artifacts to see! Plus, so many hiking opportunities close by. Definitely trek up San Bernardo hill for a really good view.
Córdoba is the second biggest city and worth popping into if you’re looking to fill the calendar. It has some nice parks, a local university, and a famous square with a gorgeous cathedral. If you’re there on a Wednesday night, you should go to a club Maria Maria (get there before 1 a.m. to avoid a large cover)!
Bariloche is essentially one of the northernmost points of the Patagonia Mountain Range. What you can do there depends on which season you go. During Argentinian summer, activities are a little more limited since it’s generally a ski town. During winter, it is reminiscent of a city in Switzerland! There’s a plethora of stunning mountains plus unlimited opportunities to hike. We recommend hitting the 17 km, Cerro Lao Lao, Cerro Campanario, and if you have time Refugio (especially Frey). It’s also a famous chocolate town!
