Argentina is an amazing destination that can be enjoyed year-round – but as a general guide, if you're thinking of visiting a number of places in different areas, I think the best time to visit is between November and March where you’ll get decent weather across the country. As Argentina stretches from the tropics far down into the Southern Hemisphere, the weather patterns follow the opposite seasonal conditions to those in Europe. Warmer summer months begin in November and extend into February, while the cooler winter months fall between June and August. Patagonia lodges tend to shut down from June to mid-October, with the exception ski resorts around Bariloche and San Martin.
If you’re looking to travel in the peak summer months of December, January and February you should be aiming to book your holiday quite far in advance - and it’s worth pointing out that at this time of year prices are higher and rooms can be scarce.
There are significant differences in the weather depending on where you’re staying. Here are some guidelines for popular destinations around the country.
Iguazu Falls. The climate is generally hot and humid throughout the year. Winter (June-August) is cooler, although the water level of the falls also tends to be lower. April or May are the best months at Iguazu for water flow, but the falls are impressive whenever you visit.
Salta & North-West: This area has a warm and dry climate all year round. June to November is the best time to travel here. It can get a bit rainy in January - but not by UK standards!
Mendoza: Sunny and dry most of the year. November to April is the big draw with the vineyards all beautifully green. The “vendimia” or harvest festival is held annually on the first Saturday of March. And a visit in April or May offers beautiful autumn colours - with gold and copper-coloured vines, stark against the backdrop of the Andes.
Peninsula Valdes: The peak time for wildlife here is October to December. Southern Right Whales are present June-December, peaking in October and Orcas arrive September to April. Magellanic penguins nest between September and March, and vast colonies of sealions and elephant seals can be observed year round, with breeding taking place December to March.
Patagonia: October to April is the best time for Patagonia generally, with the busiest months from November to February. Temperatures can vary wildly from warm to almost freezing - even in summer. Spring blooms and autumn colours make the shoulder season months of October and April great choices for visiting. In terms of clothing, be prepared for all seasons. I remember travelling to the Lake District around Bariloche with my suitcase full of jumpers - only to have to buy T-shirts because the weather was so warm!
If you're seriously thinking of a holiday to Argentina, I'd love to create the perfect trip for you. Get in touch and let's start planning you that trip of a lifetime.
FIVE REASONS TO BOOK YOUR ARGENTINA HOLIDAY WITH ME
Your holiday is protected. Although booking all the different elements of your holiday direct may be less expensive, your holiday won’t be protected if any of the elements fall down. South American airlines are notorious for re-scheduling and cancelling flights late in the day. Booking all your arrangements with one company means your holiday is protected legally and financially because of Package Travel Regulations.
You’ll save time and aggravation. Pulling together a complex itinerary is confusing and time-consuming. You’re going to spend hours online scanning hotel reviews on Trip Advisor and elsewhere from people you don’t know and whose standards may be different from yours. And you’ll need to negotiate the complicated Argentinian network of domestic flights. You can have a 30-minute conversation with me and then sit back and wait for me to come back to you with your perfect itinerary.
You’ll have peace of mind that your arrangements will work. Although Argentina is a sophisticated country with a good infrastructure it’s easy to be seduced by cheap tours. It’s essential that the ground arrangements and logistics are booked through a reputable operator – with transfers that you can feel comfortable will turn up, in vehicles that are roadworthy and with guides that speak good English.
Nothing trumps destination expertise. Although the web is a huge source of information on hotels, tours and places to visit, there’s really no substitute for specialist knowledge, based on up-to-date feedback. I will select the right supplier for your trip dependent on the style of holiday you’re looking for. What’s more, I’ve visited Argentina 7 times now and will bring my own extensive knowledge of the country into the process, to advise and recommend on the best itinerary for your needs – to make sure that the pace and rhythm of your holiday is right. Argentina is a huge country, and it’s quite easy to end up with a multi-centre itinerary where you’ll be spending many days just travelling on a plane from place to place.
One Point of Contact. I provide the highest levels of personal service - you’ll see that all my Google reviews are 5* - and I will look after you from our first phone call until the day you arrive back home in the UK. You can call me direct on my mobile – there’s no waiting on the phone to speak to someone at a call centre when you have a question.
Don’t just take my word for it. Here’s a recent review from one of my clients who visited Argentina and Chile earlier this year…
“We have recently returned from a three-week trip to South America, arranged for us by Sue. We wanted to start in Buenos Aires and end in Rio, visiting Patagonia and Iguazú in between. It took a lot of talking, emailing, thinking and planning. Not to mention a ton of patience from Sue in answering questions and coping with our changing thoughts and ideas to get everything perfect for our needs. We cannot fault the arrangements made in any way. At each point we were met by guides and drivers, all of whom were knowledgeable and helpful. Hotels were spot on. Excursions were great. Internal flights to and from Patagonia and Iguazu all booked for us. Car hire in Patagonia sorted. We had a personal issue meaning that we did not get to Rio as planned, but between Sue and the ground agents, they rearranged hotels, guides, flights etc for us. I dread to think how we would have coped without the help we had. It was invaluable and very reassuring. This was the second holiday Sue has arranged for us, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. She has the patience of a saint and is so approachable and available. We have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Sue Aitken - Travel Guru.” Fiona Macleay
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