Argentina is a country of superlatives—booming metropolises, giant skies, and landscapes that pull you from jungle to ice in a few flight hours. In 30 days, you’ll taste its spirit: tango and steak in Buenos Aires, Malbec and mountain light in Mendoza, vast icefields in El Calafate, and penguin-dotted channels in Ushuaia, with thunderous Iguazú Falls in the subtropical north.

Spanish colonists met waves of Italian and other European immigrants here; today’s culture is a tapestry of influences that birthed tango, parrillas, and a café tradition that runs on medialunas and strong espresso. Football (soccer) is religion, mate is ceremony, and the word “asado” means friends around a wood fire.

Practical notes: Distances are huge—plan for flights between regions. Seasons are flipped (Patagonia’s prime is Nov–Mar). Card payments are widely accepted, but carry small pesos for kiosks and taxis. In big cities, use common-sense vigilance against pickpockets in busy areas.

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires fuses Belle Époque grandeur with neighborhood soul. Stroll leafy Palermo, antique-hunt in San Telmo, visit Evita’s resting place in Recoleta, and time a sunset along Puerto Madero’s docks. A night at a tanguería or a Saturday at a football stadium will make you feel like a porteño.

Days 1–3: First tastes of the city (Recoleta, Centro, San Telmo)

• Sights: Plaza de Mayo and the Casa Rosada balcony; Teatro Colón’s gilded halls; Recoleta Cemetery’s marble mausoleums; San Telmo Market (empanadas, antiques) and Sunday street tango on Defensa.
• Eat + drink: Breakfast at Café Tortoni (since 1858; churros with hot chocolate). Pizza al molde at El Cuartito (thick-crust, fugazzeta stuffed with cheese). Steak at Don Julio (book early; try bife de chorizo) or La Brigada (cuts sliced with a spoon).
• Special tour: Local Foodie Adventure in Buenos Aires with Sherpa Food Tours

  

  Sample bodegón classics, empanadas, and pizza while learning the story of immigrant flavors.

Days 4–6: Palermo layers + evening tango

• Sights: MALBA for Latin American art; Bosques de Palermo’s rose garden; street art walks in Palermo Soho; Reserva Ecológica for a riverfront sunset walk.
• Cafés + casual bites: Salvaje Bakery (sourdough, laminated pastries), Lattente (third-wave coffee), Chori (choripán with chimichurri), and El Preferido de Palermo (milanesa napolitana; vintage pink corner).
• Tango night: La Ventana Tango Show in Buenos Aires

  

  in historic San Telmo. Pair with a late steak or a vermouth at La Fuerza; finish with cocktails at Florería Atlántico (hidden under a flower shop).
• Private orientation: Buenos Aires City Private Tour with Local Guide

  

  gives you context, shortcuts, and story-rich stops.

Optional day trip (slot on Day 6): The Delta or the Pampas

• Tigre Delta by boat: Rustic islands, stilt houses, and weekend villas. Consider Tigre Delta Small-Group Tour

  

  for a relaxed navigation day.
• Gaucho estancia: Ride horses, feast on an asado, and watch folkloric dances on the Pampas with Gaucho Day Tour Ranch at an Estancia.

  

• Where to stay: Browse VRBO Buenos Aires or Hotels.com Buenos Aires. Top picks: Alvear Palace Hotel (classic Recoleta glamour), Palo Santo Hotel (eco-chic in Palermo), Circus Hostel & Hotel (budget-friendly in San Telmo), Milhouse Hostel Avenue (social hub downtown).
• Getting in: Fly into EZE (international) or AEP (domestic). Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Taxi to Palermo/Recoleta is ~45–70 min depending on airport and traffic.

Puerto Iguazú (Iguazú Falls)

Days 7–9: The world’s great waterfalls

Trade city boulevards for jungle paths and thundering cataracts. Iguazú Falls straddles Argentina and Brazil; the Argentina side offers long boardwalks, a little train, and the jaw-dropping Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat).

• Must-do experiences: 2-Day Iguazú Falls with Optional Airfare from Buenos Aires

  

  covers both sides with logistics handled; or supercharge your visit with the adrenaline-soaked Great Adventure boat ride

  

  to the base of the falls.
• Food breaks: Aqva Restó (river fish surubí, tropical flavors), El Quincho del Tío Querido (grill with live music), and a cool-off at Freddo for dulce de leche helado.
• Stay near the park or in town: Search stays on VRBO Puerto Iguazú or Hotels.com Puerto Iguazú.
• BA → Iguazú (Day 7 morning): 1h50–2h flight to IGR; fares typically ~$90–$180 one-way. Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
• Iguazú → Mendoza (Day 9 evening or Day 10 morning): Usually via Buenos Aires; total 4.5–6.5 hours; ~$150–$350 depending on season.

Mendoza

At the foot of the Andes, Mendoza is sunlight, vineyards, and leisurely lunches. Three main wine areas—Maipú, Luján de Cuyo, and the high-altitude Uco Valley—pour Malbec alongside blends and elegant whites. Cycling lanes and country roads make tastings a day-long joy.

Days 10–13: Luján de Cuyo and Maipú—classic Malbec country

• Wine day (small group): All Day, Small Group, Luxury Wine Tour with Gourmet Lunch

  

  to hit two–four benchmark wineries with a chef’s pairing menu.
• Self-guided gems: Book tastings at Catena Zapata (pyramidal winery, historic Malbec), Achával-Ferrer (single-vineyard focus), and Trapiche (industrial-chic heritage).
• Meals to remember: Azafrán (seasonal Mendoza cuisine, superb wine room), Casa Vigil – El Enemigo (Maipú; literary themed cellars), and Fuente & Fonda (grandma-style stews and pastas).
• Cafés: Brod Panadería (almond croissants), Ashpa Café (specialty coffee), late gelato at Ferruccio Soppelsa on Arístides Villanueva.

Days 14–16: Uco Valley views + Andes day

• Uco Valley: Higher altitude and mountain drama—plan a long lunch at Andeluna or Bodega Lagarde’s Fogón, then golden-hour tasting at Domaine Bousquet or SuperUco.
• Andean scenery: Day trip along Ruta 7 to Potrerillos Dam and Aconcagua Provincial Park (short interpretive trails at 3,000 m). Pack layers and sun protection.
• Evenings in the city: Sip regional gin at Hilbing, dine at Brindillas (intimate tasting menu), or grill-focused Cordillera Vinos y Fuegos.
• Where to stay: Explore VRBO Mendoza or Hotels.com Mendoza. Favorites: Park Hyatt Mendoza (central, pool), Esplendor by Wyndham Mendoza (Luján base), Hostel Lagares (friendly budget), Hotel Crillon Mendoza (simple, walkable).
• Flights: Iguazú → Mendoza often connects via BA; Mendoza → El Calafate commonly connects via BA. Search multi-city combos on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Typical total times 5–7.5 hours; $200–$450 per person.

El Calafate (Los Glaciares National Park)

Patagonia’s big stage: wind, granite, and the living ice of Perito Moreno Glacier. El Calafate is your hub for boat trips through iceberg-filled channels and boardwalks facing blue walls that crack and thunder.

Days 17–20: Perito Moreno—walkways, boating, and ice

• Boardwalks + navigation: Perito Moreno Glacier with Navigation

  

  delivers balcony views and a close-up boat ride.
• Full-day cruise: Sail through giant icebergs on Glaciares Gourmet Navigation: Spegazzini, Upsala & Perito Moreno.

  

• Iconic ice hike: Strap on crampons for Minitrekking Perito Moreno

  

  and toast with Patagonian whisky over glacial ice.

Days 21–23: Ranch life, lagoons, and easy town days

• Day trip ideas: Visit Estancia 25 de Mayo for sheep-shearing demos and a hearty cordero patagónico, or walk out to Laguna Nimez for flamingos and sunset light.
• Eat + drink: La Tablita (spit-roasted lamb), Mi Rancho (cozy, reservation-only), Pura Vida (hearty casseroles), pastries at Patagonia Dulce, and craft brews at La Zorra Taproom.
• Where to stay: See VRBO El Calafate and Hotels.com El Calafate.
• Mendoza → El Calafate (Day 17 morning): Most flights connect via BA; 5–7.5 hours total; ~$200–$450. Check Trip.com / Kiwi.com.

Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego)

Ushuaia is the last city before Antarctica, framed by jagged peaks and the Beagle Channel. It’s a place of crisp air, lenga forests, and king crab—where trains once carried prisoners to cut timber, and today carry travelers to the “End of the World.”

Days 24–26: National Park, “End of the World” Train, and coastal walks

• Park & train: Tierra Del Fuego National Park and Fin del Mundo Train (INCLUDED)

  

  blends history with quiet bays and beaver-made wetlands. Walk the Senda Costera for views and birdlife.
• City stroll: Maritime Museum in the old prison, artisan chocolate shops, and a sunset harbor walk.

Days 27–29: Beagle Channel, penguins, and alpine views

• Channel cruise: Navigate to colonies of sea lions and cormorants—with lighthouse views—on Catamaran Tour through the Beagle Channel and Penguins (Isla Martillo).

  

• Walk with penguins: For a guided shore walk, choose Penguin colony in Ushuaia

  

  for an hour among Magellanic and gentoo penguins (seasonal).
• Fuel up: Breakfast at Ramos Generales (vintage bakery-café), king crab at Tía Elvira or Volver, modern tasting menu at Kalma Resto, and a pint at Pub Dublín.
• Where to stay: Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa (hilltop views, indoor/outdoor pools), Los Cauquenes Resort + Spa + Experiences (on the channel), or Antarctica Hostel (friendly, central). Also browse VRBO Ushuaia and Hotels.com Ushuaia.
• El Calafate → Ushuaia (Day 24 morning): Direct flight ~1h20; fares often $70–$180. Search Trip.com / Kiwi.com.

Day 30: Return to Buenos Aires and depart

• Ushuaia → BA: 3h20–3h40 flight to AEP/EZE; $120–$300. Final alfajor pick-up and a last cortado before your international flight. Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Extra lodging resources (for any leg)

• Hotels: Use Hotels.com to filter by neighborhood, breakfast, and free cancellation.
• Apartments/Villas: Find family-sized or long-stay apartments on VRBO.

Thirty days in Argentina lets you listen to tango on cobblestones, sip Malbec where the grapes grow, feel glacier spray on your face, and watch penguins shuffle under a southern sun. You’ll leave with a new sense of scale—and a list of reasons to return.