Soli y Sean
Soli y Sean
Argentina Recs
Buenos Aires
"The Paris of the Americas"
Given the exchange rate, getting around the city with taxis and Ubers is worth it for the ease. Otherwise, buy a SUBE pass at the station or a nearby kiosk to take the subway and bus.
a few fav IG accounts to give you ideas:
Neighborhoods to see
Recoleta (elegant, Parisian, arguably the best of BA. It's a must!). San Telmo (bohemian vibe; vintage markets and tango in the squares). Palermo (bars, restaurants & nightlife. Soho and Hollywood especially). Puerto Madero (chic modern port). La Boca (bright & colorful working-class area that's also touristy). Belgrano (upscale residential area).
Things to Do
- Teatro Colón. Take a guided tour of the city's opera house, considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Better yet, catch a show!
- Recoleta Cemetery. A must-see.
- Free walking tour. Bring cash for tips!
- A hop-on/hop-off bus tour. Very touristy, I know, but these are also a great way to get a panoramic view of the city with context from the audio guides. You can get a feel for all the neighborhoods and hop off whenever one catches your eye.
- Stroll through microcentro, and see La Casa Rosada, cathedral, and the Cabildo.
- Mercado de San Telmo. The market of your dreams! If you can, catch the flea market on Sunday, spanning the whole neighborhood with Plaza Dorrego as a central point. (Bring cash!)
- Tango. Find a show in San Telmo!
- El Ateneo. Famously beautiful bookstore in Recoleta.
- El Caminito. A famous traditional alley in La Boca; like an open-air museum.
- Calle Arroyo. A very pretty street spanning three blocks in Recoleta.
- Rosedal de Palermo. A rose garden in the heart of Tres de Febrero park.
- Bosques de Palermo. The "Central Park" of Buenos Aires, this massive park also includes Japanese gardens, a zoo, trails, rose gardens and more.
- Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. Art museum in Recoleta.
- Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA). Art museum in Palermo.
- Museum of Modern Art of Buenos Aires. In San Telmo.
- Musem of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires. In San Telmo.
Restaurants & Bars
Restaurants
- Mishiguene (modern Jewish; Palermo)
- La Esperanza de los Ascurra (tapas; Recoleta)
- SACRO (vegan; Palermo)
- Padre Coffee Roasters (cafe/deli/sweets; Palermo)
- Croque Madame (patio in Palacio Paz; Retiro)
- Elena (fine dining; Recoleta)
- Las Patriotas (small plates; Palermo)
- Birkin (brunch; Palermo)
- Milión Argentina (fine dining; Recoleta)
- La Locanda (Italian; Recoleta)
- Sagardi (Basque; San Telmo)
- Franca (meat & wine; Villa Crespo)
- Roux (Latin-Mediterranean; Recoleta)
- Restó S.C.A. (French, lunch; Recoleta)
- Marti (vegetarian; Retiro)
- Invernadero (gin & tapas; Recoleta)
- Aramburu (Agentine, vegetarian-friendly; Recoleta)
- Oviedo (Spanish; Recoleta)
- Hotel Alvear (luxury hotel; Recoleta)
- Palacio Duhau (Recoleta)
- Presidente (hotel; Recoleta)
Bars
- Atis Bar (rooftop in San Telmo)
- Trade Sky Bar (Puerto Madero)
- La Floreria Atlantico (speakeasy in Recoleta)
- Napoles Bar (San Telmo)
- Cristal Bar (in Alvear Icon Hotel, Puerto Madero)
- CoChinChinaBar (cocktails in Palermo)
- Verne Club (Palermo)
- Alaire Bar (rooftop bar in Palermo Soho)
- Boticario (cocktails in Palermo Soho)
- Behind (drinks and dancing in Palermo Soho)
- Bar Salon 1923 (rooftop of Barolo Palace)
- Club Lucero (patio bar in Palermo)
- Rey de Copas (cocktails in Palermo)
- La Calle Bar (cocktails, food & dancing in Palermo Soho)
Iguazú Falls
One of the world’s seven natural wonders, Iguazú is the largest broken waterfall in the world and sits on the border between Argentina and Brazil.
Just a two-hour flight from Buenos Aires, Iguazú is a great option for a two-day getaway. Fortunately, March through May is considered an ideal time to visit!
From Argentina, you feel like you are IN the falls and can take boat tours to go through them. For more info on tickets for this national park, click here.
If you have more time, you can also go to Brazil (visa required after April 10) for a completely different experience and viewpoint of the falls.
A handy travel blog with more detailed recs can be found here.
Where to stay:
(the links include a Soli and Sean discount, yay!)
Salta & Jujuy
The most unique natural sites Argentina has to offer can be found in these northern provinces.
SALTA
Also a two-hour flight from Buenos Aires is the city of Salta, also known as "La Linda," the beautiful. From there, you can get around by either renting a car or through pre-packaged tourist excursions.
Salta, the city: Check out the squares, city hall, churches, and museums. Be sure to visit the picturesque neighborhood San Lorenzo, just outside the city.
Cafayate: A 3-hour drive from Salta (by car or bus), this city is known for its wineries and vineyards. The artisanal market in the main square is also worth a visit.
Wineries: Piatelli (be sure to make reservations in advance), Finca Las Nubes, El Esteco.
Restaurants: Milla 7
Between Salta and Cafayate, you'll go through Quebrada de las Conchas and can stop at beautiful points like "El Anfiteatro."
Quebrada de las Flechas y Cachi: The road that unites Cafayate and Cachi offers a ton of unique points of interest.
- Quebrada de las Flechas (extensive spiky rock formations);
- Beautiful small towns, including Seclantas;
- Cachi (a small town known for its adobe houses and colonial buildings). From Cachi, you can head back to Salta through the beautiful mountainous road known as "Cuesta del obispo."
Jujuy
To get to this stunning province, you can fly from Buenos Aires (two hours) or continue the drive from Salta.
Cities to visit:
- Purmamarca: Head to the town square for the traditional artisanal market, visit the church, walk the "Camino de los colorados" and Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colors). From Purmamarca, you can go to Las Salinas Grandes (a massive salt desert of endless white views).
- Tilcara: Visit the town square, church, and wander through the narrow streets. Points of interest: Pucara de Tilcara, Garganta del Diablo.
- Uquia: A small town where you can begin the journey to the "Quebrada de las Señoritas" for vibrantly red mountains.
- Humahuaca: From here, be sure to visit "El Hornocal," the hill of 14 colors.
Mendoza
The Wine Capital of South America, this arid province in the Andes is home to 880 wineries.
Another two-hour flight from Buenos Aires, Mendoza is THE place for my wine-loving foodies to visit while in Argentina, especially in March. (If you’re flying home to the US from here, I recommend going through Santiago.)
A lot of these wineries can be quite far from where you're staying, so I recommend either renting a car or hiring a driver.
Attractions
- Dique Potrerillos, the main attraction in Potrerillos (and the kayak picture above). This dam is a great spot to enjoy sunrise or sunset, as well as water sports, with rafts and kayaks for rent on the shore. You can go through the restaurant Entre Dos that offers beautiful mountain views, delicious dishes and pastries, and a showroom of regional products.
- General San Martín Park, the most significant monument dedicated to the country's founder, who also transformed this desert land into an artificial oasis. This park in the city of Mendoza is also home to Malvinas Argentines World Cup Stadium, as well as the Cerro La Gloria ("Hill of Glory"), a sculptural monument of the Liberation Army.
-In the city of Mendoza, Aristides Street is the prime spot for bars, restaurants and night life.
- Olive groves: Mendoza's olive oil accounts for 40% of the national production, with about 20k tons of olive oil produced annually. Take a tour at any of these olive groves, all of which are in Maipú: Olivícola Laur, Olivícola Simone, Olivícola Maguay
Wineries
Tip: make reservations in advance, ideally with the full-course meal to accompany your wine tasting.
Also: look into a local wine bike tour. Super fun!
Valle de Uco: With Route 40 as the great tourist portal that runs through Uco Valley, here you'll find a variety of premium boutique wineries:
- Sophenia
Lujan de Cuyo: A small town on the outskirts of Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo is particularly famous for its Malbec and wineries, including:
Accommodations
Mendoza (city):
- Park Hyatt Mendoza (five star)
- NH Mendoza Cordillera (five star)
Chacras de Coria:
- Posada las Chacras (Soli's aunt and uncle run this place!)
Cacheuta:
Potrerillos:
Restaurants
(all in the city of Mendoza)
Patagonia
From the foothills of the Andes to the crystal blue Los Glaciares National Park: here's what most of you came to see :-)
Bariloche
A two-hour flight from BA, Bariloche is the perfect starting point for a trip through Patagonia, as it's so well-connected and is the gateway to the Lakes District. The combination of mountains, lakes, volcanoes, forests and flowers are beyond scenic, and the city center (with shops, restaurants and hotels) will keep you comfortable. I recommend renting a car, unless you're fine with navigating the bus system.
For beer with a view, visit the Patagonia microbrewery.
Get some world-famous chocolate at Rapa Nui, Chocolaterie, or other local chocolate shops.
Hikes
- Mount Campanario. Take a chairlift or hike up Mount Campanario for breathtaking views of several lakes and mountains (pictured above). A cafeteria awaits you at the top.
- Refugio Frey. This single-day hike (8 hours round trip) takes you along the ridges of Mount Catedral with magnificent views of Nahuel Huapi National Park. You can start from the parking lot (as we did), or take the ski lifts. Before hiking the national park, register online. And prepare for it to be cold at the top! (our shivers pictured above)
- Mount Goye. Lasts about 6 hours, but it's fairly easy and leads to spectacular views.
- Mount Bella Vista. Earn beautiful views of the Lake District after hiking this foresty trail. Note that it ends with a steep climb and is the same path down.
- Mount Tronador. Beginning along the shore of Lake Mascardi, this day hike includes glaciers and waterfalls.
- Mount Llao Llao. More of a hill than a mountain, this fairly easy hike will take you to views similar to Campanario.
- Mount San Martín (vía Villa Mount Catedral). A quick trail (about 2.5 hours) with rewarding views at the end.
Day trips
- Seven Lakes Route. The road between the towns of San Martin de Los Andes and Villa Angostura (both of which are worth visiting) meanders through mountains and has viewpoints marked along the way. Rent a car and pack a picnic for your stops at each lake, or pack for an overnight camping trip at one of the designated areas!
- Villa Tacul. About a 50-minute drive from Bariloche in Llao Llao Park, this tucked-away beach is surrounded by forest.
- Kayak the lakes of Nahuel Huapi, Moreno, Gutiérrez, Mascardi, Los Moscos, Hess, Fonk, Roca, Guillelmo and Steffen.
Restaurants
Fancy:
Ãnima.. La Masía.. Casa Cassis..
Lumbre Casa Cocina.. Llao Llao Hotel
Casual:
Alto el Fuego.. Oveja Negra.. Chiado..
Fuegos de Patagonia.. Chez Philippe
Cafes:
Ice cream:
Jauja.. Dolce Rama.. Fauna
Calafate & Chalten
El Calafate and El Chalten are 3 hours apart; we recommend you spend at least a day in Calafate, and no fewer than two full days in Chalten.
Near the famed Perito Moreno Glacier, El Calafate is well-connected with its domestic airport and is the starting point to Los Glaciares National Park.
The must-see in El Chalten is the Laguna de los Tres, an intense but rewarding trail that leads to incredible views. Cerro Torre is another famous daylong hike near El Chalten.
Ushuaia
"The end of the world"
Located on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, Ushuaia is the southernmost point of South America: the "end of the world." This city is a 3.5-hour flight from Buenos Aires.
Main attractions:
- Beagle Channel. Beautiful views from a channel surrounded by mountains, birds, marine animals and the famous Les Eclaireus lighthouse.
- Tierra del Fuego National Park. Huge nature reserve with amazing views and hiking trails.
- The "End of the World" Train. Within the national park, take a tour aboard this historic train.
- Trails: If you're up for adventure and long walks, check out Laguna Esmeralda and Martial Glacier.
- Museums: Museo Marítimo y del Presidio, and Museo del Fin del Mundo