One of the favorite vacation destinations for many local Argentineans as well as the international tourists, the Atlantic coastline of Argentina is simply superb. There are plenty of hotels and villas that offer magical views of the ocean in the Mar del Plata city. You can also hang out in the small towns of Carilo, Villa Gesell, and Pinamar etc.
The other popular Argentina tourist destinations of Argentina include Bariloche, the capital city of the lake region of Patagonian, which offers excellent skiing facilities. Peninsula Valdes and El Calafate are the places where you will come across outstanding natural beauty and wildlife.
Places to Visit in Argentina: The AtlanticCoast
Approximately 200 miles (400km) from Buenos Aires, you can find a number of popular beach resorts and towns facing the Atlantic Ocean. In the summer months, especially between December and February, many residents of Buenos Aires come down to these shores to relax and escape from the heat of the city.
Besides the excellent scenery and a pleasant ocean, the area offers many sports activities to vacationers. Fishing, Regattas and wind-surfing are popular water sports. The area also offers many golfing opportunities with each town maintaining its own beautiful course.
Mar del Plata Mar del Plata is the leading seaside resort on the Atlantic Ocean. Rather than simple a resort, Mar del Plata is actually a city of over half a million people, a number that triples in the summer months. The city features a big beach and offers interesting attractions including high seas fishing, sailing regattas, and ample shopping, dining, and lodging options.
Pinamar The petit resort-town of Pinamar is located on the edge of a beautiful pine forest about an hour drive from Mar del Plata. Travelers enjoy the beach, the seafood restaurants, and the beautiful scenery in a quiet, yet posh, setting.
Carilo Carilo is not just another small town near Pinamar, but a retreat for Buenos Aires' elite. Beautiful hotels and residences line the oceanfront and the place does have a bit of a country-club atmosphere. Travelers get a glimpse of upper-class Argentine life in this beautiful setting.
Villa Gesell Villa Gesell lacks the elitism of the nearby coastal towns, but maintains a somewhat relaxed feel and positive wibe. High-rise vacation shares have started to pop up uncontrollably in this small town, and practically leave the beach in the shade for a part of the day. Villa Gesell does offer more active nightlife than nearby Pinamar or Carilo.
Getting There and Away Airports The city of Mar del Plata has its own airport, while the towns of Villa Gesell and Pinamar share a nearby airport. The flight time between Buenos Aires and this region is about 40 minutes with a number of flights per day.
Road Transportation Mar del Plata and the other towns on the Atlantic coast are 200 miles from Buenos Aires. Buses take about five and a half hours to complete the journey, while drive in a private car may take just over four hours.
Getting Around Unless you plan to just relax at your resort or residence on the coast, you may find it convenient to rent a car when you are in this area. The distances between the different towns are substantial and walking much further than your nearby beach may prove un-interesting.
The Province of Salta is situated in the Northwest of Argentina and it borders three countries: Chile , Bolivia and Paraguay , and six Argentinian provinces: Jujuy , Formosa , Chaco, Santiago del Estero , Tucumán and Catamarca. Salta stands out for its geographic and climatic heterogeneity, from the desert coldness of the Andes and the Puna to the subtropical heat of the jungle, with cool fertile valleys, mountains and rivers in between.
Salta 's traditional hospitality and provincial cordiality blend with its great cultural richness. Its heritage is vast and varied: ancient Diaguita-Calchaqui and Inca vestiges, the more recent Spanish colonial legacy and its active involvement in the independence wars. These features are still alive in the architecture of its villages, towns and in the city of Salta itself. The first people to live in this area were aware of its outstanding natural beauty and called it "SAGTA", which in the Aymara language means "very beautiful one". Even today Salta is known as "the pretty one".
Now we invite you to discover it for yourself.
Salta
Located in the picturesque northern region of Argentina, Salta is the region where the weather conditions remain quite stable throughout the year. It is an ancient, long-standing and the most out of the ordinary colonial town in Argentina. A train journey through the charming and unforgettable scenery can make you trip a truly enjoyable one.
The City of Salta
The city of Salta was founded in 1582 and it still bears a distinct Hispanic character that sets it apart from other cities in the country. The skyline is drawn by
colonial houses, narrow streets and pavements, and the brownish green of the surrounding hills. This cordial
and hospitable city feels proud of its historic heritage and it offers tourists a wide range of cultural events and entertainment.
When sightseeing around the city, you must visit the main square (Plaza 9 de Julio), the Cathedral and the old city hal
(the Cabildo). Nearby you will find the San FranciscoChurch and the San Bernardo Convent, with a carved door that dates to the year 1762. Other places of interest are the UriburuMuseum, the Hernández and the Arias Rengel houses and the Güemes and 20 de Febrero Monuments.
Tourists can walk down the streets around the main square, take in the fresh air and have a drink in one of the cafes. The cobbled streets are a tribute to older times when this area of town was the centre of its political, economical and social life.
You can also take the cable car and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city from San Bernardo hill, and then buy crafts at the Mercado Artesanal, an old ranch turned into a shopping area.
An active and lively cultural life The special history of Salta encouraged the developing of a rich cultural life, inspired also by the beauty and diversity of the nature
Salta has an active cultural life. Its cinemas, theatres and “peñas” offer a wide variety of shows and performances. Many of these events take place at Casa de la Cultura, Caseros 460.
This art centre also houses Salta’s Symphonic Orchestra, which has gained international acclaim and which offers weekly performances.
There are interesting museums to visit: The Contemporary Art Museum that was opened earlier last year and exhibits works from local artists, or Museums such us the Cabildo, Uriburu Museum, the Hernández and the Arias Rengel houses that keeps alive historic ways of life, and historic monuments like Güemes and 20 de Febrero Monuments that commemorate heroes and facts of the independence war.
Religious Tourism Salta is cradle of faith. The Cathedral is also the Sanctuary for the Señor and Virgen del Milagro, patrons of Salta, whose procession is celebrated every September 15.
The night life Nightlife in Salta is lively, varied and safe. Salteños and tourists alike meet in peñas, pubs, cafes, casinos and discos.
Most of this activity is concentrated in the area around the train station, known as “La Balcarce”. At the weekends there is a crafts street market where tourists can buy different traditional handmade products.
Music, gastronomy and shoppings Salta is famous for its folk music and many renowned artists were born here and sing its praises in typical “zambas” and “chacareras”.
Salteñan cuisine is varied and multi-coloured. Visitors can taste traditional “empanadas”, “locro” and “humitas”, as well as enjoy modern dishes made with local products such as corn, llama meat, quinoa, trout and pejerrey. The wines from the CalchaquiValleys are also smooth the visitors’ palate.
The city is the exhibition centre of the whole handicrafts production of the Province. The Mercado Artesanal, an old ranch turned into a shopping area, worth a visit for those who wish to buy and see crafts done by local hands. Also the shops near the main square or the ones in the crafts street market in Calle Balcarce offer assorted options and objects.
The city of Mendoza that was founded by Pedro Del Castillo in the year 1561 had immediately become a regional metropolis in Cuyo area. It was a fast developing city but a violent earthquake hindered its progress in the year 1861. Four years later, with the advent of railways, the progress of the city took a great step forward. The city of Mendoza had managed to bring together its provincial area and had started consolidating various parts.
It is like a paradise for those who love adventure tourism due to its close proximity with Andean Cordillera Mountain range. One can seek pleasure in endless and marvelous hikes, horse rides through the greenery of the landscape, nautical sports in its crystalline waters, mountaineering, winter sports and the ascension of imposing snow-capped mountains, Mendoza is truly a
manmade oasis surrounded by the mountains and unpopulated highways. The travelers coming here can visit the hundreds of years old wine cellars and sample excellent wines produced out of selected grapesbesides capturing the best with their cameras.
The travelers coming to Mendoza can never have enough of it. An oasis of pictorial landscapes, mountain ranges, gardens, lush green surroundings and a modern city in the south of the American continent, Mendoza is truly capable of leaving you all breathless.
The accommodation facilities at Buenos Aires are world-class and the city offers a comfortable stay to all travelers coming to this city of Mendoza. The transport system in the city is excellent and the city administration makes sure that you do not come across any problems in commuting from one place to another.
Mendoza
Medoza is the ideal destination for the lovers and admirers of wine and food. It also offers remarkable sights in and around the AndesMountains, which is also a known destination for adventure sports. The wine regions located in the western sides of Mendoza are truly picturesque.
Patagonia travel reveals the diverse and remote beauty of southern Chile and Argentina. Patagonia adventure options are as varied as the terrain. You can secure crampons and trek a glacier, board a motor yacht and explore the fjords, or grab your packs and head for the towering spires of Chile's Torres del Paine. Your Patagonia tour will disclose a fairytale landscape gushing with turqouise lakes, green hillsides, and ice-capped mountains. As if that's not enough visual stimulation, Patagonia tours can also include leaping dolphins and cresting whales. You may pinch yourself to make sure you're not dreaming, but we assure you, it's all a part of magical Patagonia travel.
Patagonia
Argentina's Patagonia area is the land of beautiful glaciers, forests and lakes. Patagonia's Atlantic coastline is a scenic treasure of whales, seals, penguins, and other wildlife. The region features a glacier-dotted mountainous interior, unique coastal wildlife and amazing Andean national parks. Visit the Perito Moreno Glacier and Penguin colonies near Ushuaia. It is a land of rugged beauty and wilderness. PatagoniaArgentina also holds vast reserves of oil and coal. The glaciers and the area around San Carlos de Bariloche are a year-round resort areas for skiers, trekkers and nature lovers.
Overview
PatagoniaArgentina is a spread in a large area, shared both by Chile and Argentina and offers numerous beautiful picture perfect sites. Patagonia does not have any big cities. The main attractions are the EphemeralLakes, the GlaciersNational Park, ValdesPeninsula and the Torres del Paine National Park. The guides and travel agents in this area are very knowledgeable and arrange for the transportation and residential needs of the tourists for a variety of budgets. Even though Patagonia covers one third of the land mass both Chile and Argentina, less than 5% of their populations live here. The most famous national parks are GlaciersNational Park, Parque Nacmonal Torres del Paine, which has UNESCO World Heritage site, and Tierra del Fuego, famous for its austere beauty and historical significance. The Lakes District, a region of highland fresh water bodies, it is divided into two sections. Northern Lakes and the Southern Lakes. NorthernLakes area is along the foot of Andes. There are a number of National parks in this region.
Popular Attractions and Activities
Bariloche is a popular city with beautiful surrounding scenery in the LakeRegion and can be compared to European alpine resorts. Apart from exploring the mountains and lakes, this place offers plenty of water sport activity including whitewater rafting and boating. You can even play golf, bike, hike or do skiing. All this makes Bariloche the most popular destination in Patagonia.
Peninsula Valdes: This is an area where you will find colonies of penguins, sea lions, other marine life and birds.
El Calafate: For Argentina's beautiful GlaciersNational Park.
Ushuaia: Capital of the Province of Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia is the southernmost city of Argentina, it offers a unique landscape, which combines mountains, sea, glaciers and forests. You can also do hiking, horse-riding excursions, mountain biking and sport fishing. It is sometimes called as "Southernmost city of the World."
Additional Information
Summertime (December through February) is the best time to visit PatagoniaArgentina as temperatures are generally warmer and trails are more accessible. But between October to April is also fine. Many restaurants, markets readily accept US dollars or traveler's checks. Patagonia uses 220 volt, 50 cycle electricity. Insurance is highly recommended.
There are plenty of tourist attractions in Argentina. If you are planning for holidays to Argentina and coming down from abroad, in most of the cases, you will land at Buenos Aires – the capital of the nation. Though you may also land at some other cities as well. Besides its capital, Argentina also has got a number of other wonderful cities like the second larges city Córdoba, the third largest city Rosario, the fourth larges Mendoza, and also La Plata, San Miguel de Tucuman and San Juan etc. Argentina Sightseeing
Buenos Aires Attractions
Start your tours to Argentina with this beautiful city. Known as Paris of South America, Buenos Aires is an extremely sophisticated city with interesting characteristics. Though a South American city, one may feel it like a European one. The metropolis of Buenos Aires is an ample proof of the assorted quintessence of the Argentinean culture. It is a city of multiple contrasts, presenting a conglomeration of exotic food, wine, architectural styles and the undaunted spirit of tango. The charm of Buenos Aires cannot help to leave the tourists bowled over.
Famous Streets in Buenos Aires
Caminito: on the corner of Don Pedro de Mendoza & Del Valle Iberlucea,LaBpca, small but colorful street that is the “world’s 1st outdoor pedestrian museum”
Florida: stretching from Rivadavia to Marcelo T de Alvear), Microcentro, City Center, famous busy pedestrian shopping street
Lavalle: running from San Martin to Carlos Pelligrini, Microcentro, CityCenter, another pedestrian street that intersects Florida, famous for its cheap cinemas
Avenida de Mayo:from Bolivar to Luis Saenz Pena, Monserrat / Congreso, CityCenter, beautiful turn of the 20th century avenue full of French art nouveau architecture
Avenida Corrientes:stretching from Av. Leandro Alem to Av. Callao, Microcentro / Tribunales, City Center, historically known as “the street that never sleeps” of Buenos Aires, with lots of bookstores, theaters, tango landmarks, cinemas, cafes and pizzerias,
Avenida 9 de Julio:running from Av. Belgrano to Arroyo, Microcentro, CityCenter, massive central traffic intersection that is supposedly the widest avenue in the world
Avenida Alvear:running from Cerrito to Ortiz), Recoleta, the most upmarket avenue in Buenos Aires, full of the most expensive designer stores in the city & wonderful French architecture
Avenida Lisandro de la Torre: (running from Av. Directorio to Av. de los Corrales) – home to the excellent Mataderos Fair, where you can find regional Argentine music, dancing, arts and crafts, food, and gaucho horsemanship!
Calle Lanin:a colorful street full of murals by a local artist that lives there, in the southen barrio of Barracas (next to La Boca)
Buenos AiresParks and Plazas
Plaza Dorrego: (corner of Defensa & Humberto Primo), in San Telmo, home to the San Telmo Sunday Street Faor
Jardin Japones:corner of Av. Casares & Av. Berro, Palermo interesting small Japanese-style gardens
Plaza de Mayo: (corner of Av. de Mayo & Bolivar), Monserrat, City Center, the main square of Buenos Aires, where the city was originally built outwards from, and surrounded by the Pink House, Cathedral, Cabildo, National Bank & City Government
Plaza Sarrano: (corner of Serrano / Borges & Honduras), Palermo Soho, bohemian square in the trendy part of town, with lots of cool cafes, bars & designer clothes stores
Plaza San Martin: (corner of Maipu & Av. Santa Fe), Retiro, City Center, large and leafy square named after the independence hero of Argentina, whose monument is found here in the well to do area of Retiro – the square is surrounded by mansions!
Plaza Congreso: (corner of Av. Callao & Av. Rivadavia), Congreso, CityCenter, elongated square leading up to the grand old Argentine National Congress building
Plaza Lavalle: (corner of Tucuman & Libertad), Tribunales, City Center, green space in between the Teatro Colon and national law courts of Argentina
Plaza Francia: (corner of Av. Pueyrredon & Av. del Libertador), Recoleta, sloping square in front of Recoleta cemetery that holds a great crafts fair on weekends
Botanical Gardens/JardinBotanico Carlos Thays: (corner of Av. Santa Fe & Armenia), Palermo, nice quiet gardens of flora & fauna, and full of feral cats
Buenos Aires Zoo:(corner of Av. Las Heras & Av. Sarmiento), Palermo, over 350 species of animals are held in the main zoo in Buenos Aires
Parque Tres de Febrero: (basically most of the Palermo parks area!), this is also known as Los Bosques de Palermo (Palermo Woods), and is a huge green area
Parque Lezama: (corner of Defensa & Av. Brasil), San Telmo, a large sloping park which is the area where Buenos Aires was supposedly first founded in 1536
PalermoRoseGardens/ EI Rosedal: (between Av. Montt & Infanta Isabel), Palermo, beautifully kept rose gardens with a lake for pedal boating fun, and bicycles for hire
Costanera Sur Nature Reserve:(corner of Av. Tristan Achabal Rodriguez & Padre M Migone), Costanera Sur, Puerto Madero, natural park & ecological reserve round the back of Puerto Madero, with lots of green parrots and lizards.
nteresting Architecture in Buenos Aires
Abasto Shopping Mall:Corrientes 3247 (between Aguero & Anchorena), Abasto, City Center beautiful, huge 1930s Art Deco structure that used to house an indoor market, but is now home to a shopping center, kids museum and cinema
Nuestra Senora de Belen Church:Humberto 1º 340 (between Defensa & Balcarce), decorative church with an interestingly eclectic facade
There are many more Buenos Aires attractins & sights to be reviewed very soon – so keep checking back for more sighteeing tips, or ask for a particular place of interest to be reviewed by contacting me.
Also, if you are interested in casting your net a little wider than Buenos Aires city alone, then check out our page on Trips from Buenos Aires.
If you find this information useful, please take two seconds to sign up for regular free updates from the Buenos Aires Argentina Guide, via email OR RSS feed .
Argentineans as well as the international tourists, the Atlantic coastline of Argentina is simply superb. There are plenty of hotels and villas that offer magical views of the ocean in the Mar del Plata city. You can also hang out in the small towns of Carilo, Villa Gesell, and Pinamar etc.
relax and escape from the heat of the city.
