El Chaltén approach road with Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre in the distance — the granite spires of Patagonia at their most iconic.
Cuesta del Obispo overlook in Argentina's northwest — red-earth valleys rolling into the Andes, a couple of cars parked on the ridge.
Mar del Plata on a summer weekend — sunbathers on the sand, umbrellas, the Atlantic breaking over a rock jetty, the city skyline behind.
A balcony in La Boca — Argentine flag draped over the wrought-iron railing, wooden horse mounted above, dog watching the street.
La Bombonera before Boca kick off — packed stand, blue-yellow flags across the terrace, sky pink over Buenos Aires.
Boca's hinchada in full voice at La Bombonera — blue smoke drifting across the terrace, giant flags, night lights burning through.
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ARGENTINA GUIDE

Argentina.

4.9| 7 reviews|Updated April 2026 · Live data refreshed weekly
40+ places mapped
6 regions
4 itineraries
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So you're heading to Argentina? Let's get it right.

READ BUENOS AIRES FREE
WHAT'S INSIDE
Where to go (and what to skip)
Six regions — Buenos Aires, Iguazu, Mendoza, Patagonia south, El Chaltén, and the northwest around Salta. What's worth 3 days vs 3 weeks, when to string them together, the classic Aussie mistake of trying to do Ushuaia "because it's on the map" — and the season that decides which half of the country is even open.
The Blue Dollar currency hack
The parallel exchange rate that halves your costs, still legal, still the way locals live. Exactly how to get it — Western Union transfer, cash on hand, which cards give the MEP rate automatically now. Where it works (steak dinners, buses, cash markets) and where it doesn't (booking.com, some airlines). The two mistakes that cost people 30% before they figure it out.
Patagonia — the proper route
Perito Moreno from El Calafate, Fitz Roy + Cerro Torre trekking out of El Chaltén, when to book the buses (2 months out, not 2 weeks), whether to combine with Torres del Paine in Chile, and the flight vs 24-hour bus decision. The window is Nov-March; outside that half the trailheads shut.
Buenos Aires by barrio + the food + the wine
Palermo, Recoleta, San Telmo, La Boca, Puerto Madero — what each barrio actually is and where to eat in each. The parrillas locals go to (not the Instagram ones), the pizza scene, choripanes on the corner, and Mendoza's winery day-trips vs staying a week. The steak vocabulary that stops you ordering the wrong cut.
Boca vs River vs the rest
How to actually get into La Bombonera as a foreigner — the members-only ticket system decoded, the tour companies worth it vs the ones scalping. The safer, cheaper Argentine matchday you can do on any weekend (Argentinos Juniors, Independiente, Racing). Maradona pilgrimages in La Paternal. Where the hinchada actually sings.
Scams, safety, and when to book
The Buenos Aires cab scams (and why you use Cabify or Uber), the phone-snatch corridors we mark on the map, the "regalo" bait in Palermo, when Recoleta feels off. Which taxis to trust from EZE at 4am. When to book Patagonia flights and buses, and the moment shoulder season stops being cheap.
FREE SAMPLE, AS MEMBERS SEE IT

Buenos Aires, on us.

This is one section of 6 in the guide.

The greatest city in South America and one of the great cities of the world. Plan minimum 5 days, ideally 7–10. The neighbourhoods are everything — Palermo for nightlife and food, Recoleta for elegance, San Telmo for tango and weekend markets, La Boca for football and colour (day only). Stay in Palermo Soho or Hollywood.
NEIGHBOURHOODS, RANKED
Palermo Soho
Boutiques, brunch spots, the densest restaurant scene in the city. Where you should stay.
Palermo Hollywood
Night-out central. Bars, clubs, late-night parrillas. Wake at noon.
San Telmo
Cobblestones, antiques, Sunday market. Tango in the streets at sunset.
Recoleta
Old-money elegance. The cemetery where Evita is buried. Cafés that haven't changed in 80 years.
La Boca
La Bombonera + Caminito. Day visits only — sketchy after dark, no exceptions.
Villa Crespo
The new Palermo. Cheaper, less polished, better for repeat visitors.
UNMISSABLE EXPERIENCES
FOOTBALL · BUCKET LIST
Boca Juniors at La Bombonera

The single most intense atmosphere in world football. Aussies report this as the highlight of their entire South America trip. Tickets through resellers (~A$150–250). Worth every cent.

Tip: Our partner Living Fútbol — an Aussies In friend on the ground in BA — sorts safe tickets + hosted matchday experiences to Boca, River + the rest. Message them on WhatsApp (+54 9 11 2659-7630) and mention Aussies In for a member discount. Otherwise book through Tangol or LandingPadBA — never from touts at the gate.

TANGO · LIVE
La Catedral Club

The least touristy milonga in BA. Beginner classes 8pm, real dancers from 11pm. A converted warehouse in Almagro. Free entry, A$5 cover after midnight.

Tip: Beginners welcome. Locals will dance with you if you take the lesson.

MARKET · SUNDAY
Feria de San Telmo

Sunday only, 10am–4pm. Antiques, leather, vintage, food stalls. Live tango on Plaza Dorrego. Spend 3 hours minimum.

Tip: Get there at 10am before the crowds. Eat choripán from the cart on the corner.

VIEWPOINT · FREE
Cementerio de la Recoleta

One of the most beautiful cemeteries on Earth. Evita's family vault, marble mausoleums, free walking tour at 11am Tuesday/Friday.

Tip: Free, but take cash for tipping the volunteer guides.

STILL LOCKED

The rest of Argentina.

Mendoza4 places
Patagonia4 places
Salta & North4 places
Iguazu2 places
Hidden Gems4 places
Top 5 HostelsTop 5
Top 5 ParrillasTop 5
Top 5 NightclubsTop 5
Top 5 Day TripsTop 5
1 WEEK itinerary3 stops
2 WEEKS itinerary4 stops
1 MONTH itinerary9 stops
2 MONTHS itinerary11 stops
Member deals and codes2 partners
NOT READY YET?
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FROM THE CHATS | REAL MESSAGES

5,600+ members, already there.

The guide gets you planned. The chats answer the rest, usually in minutes.

Thailand chat
24 Apr 2026
Answered in 28 seconds
Member
Does anyone have any hostel recommendations for Bangkok! I’ll be there on the 10th of May
6:46 PM
Member
Bedstation was a really good social hostel!
6:46 PM
Member
Bed station is very social and best beds I’ve had in 3 months
6:46 PM
Member
I also recommend Bedstation!
6:47 PM
Member
We have a winner then! Thank you all
6:47 PM
Peru chat
22 May 2026
Mid-trek, no tickets, sorted in a minute
Member
Hello! Has anyone recently had to line up for Macchu Picchu tickets? I am about to do day 4 of salkantay trek and don’t have tickets for MP.
12:53 PM
Member
People lined up from 10pm when I was there (start of the month), but we were told by our guides no later than 4am if we wanted to guarantee tickets we wanted
12:54 PM
Member
Thank you! As in 10pm from the night before? Do you know when the ticket booth opens in the morning?
12:57 PM
Member
10pm the night before yes. Opens at 6am
12:58 PM
Member
I got there at 4:30am about 3nights ago and got tickets for 2days after
1:34 PM
Spain chat
6 Feb 2026
A €150 ticket scam, stopped in 5 minutes
Member
I want to go to the Barca vs Mallorca match on Saturday and I found someone reselling their ticket at half price (150 euros). Does anyone know if this is legit? or how I can find out?
8:02 PM
Member
Ive been to plenty of Barca games. Check their website, Ive bought tickets online officially for like €79. If not, go to the front of the stadium near the ticket stand. The uncles who are socios linger around the front wanting to sell their tickets
8:07 PM
Member
Oh perfect! Thank you so much that is super helpful
8:10 PM
FROM PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT

What buyers told us.

Best $15 I've ever spent on a trip. The Blue Dollar section alone saved us $400 across three weeks. I'd already spent hours trawling Reddit, and this had everything those threads had plus context you can actually act on.

Sarah M.
BRISBANE

I literally never pay for travel guides. Was sceptical. Bought it anyway because the free preview chapters were that good. Within 10 minutes I'd found three things I'd missed in my own research. No-brainer.

Tom B.
SYDNEY

Felt like a mate sitting me down and telling me everything they wished they'd known before going. Reads more like proper intel than a guidebook. The Patagonia month-by-month breakdown was the difference between great weather and a total washout for us.

Chloe T.
PERTH

Bought it the night before flying. Read on the plane. Felt like I'd had a four-hour briefing from someone who actually lives there. Wish I'd had this for every country I've been to.

Will H.
ADELAIDE

I was about to drop $80 on a Lonely Planet and then disappear down the TripAdvisor rabbit hole. This was better and a fifth of the price. Honestly should cost more.

Tilly N.
CANBERRA

Booked everything based on this guide. Empanadas in Salta, ski day in Bariloche, Iguazu in shoulder season. Every recommendation hit. Felt like cheating.

Holly J.
WOLLONGONG
INCLUDED
Every spot, on your phone

Every hostel, restaurant, viewpoint, transport hub and hike start in this guide — pinned in a Google Maps list. Save it once, your whole trip travels with you offline.

THE COST OF NOT HAVING THIS

Mistakes the guide saves you from.

A$280

Using foreign ATMs instead of Western Union

Most Aussies

A$80

Showing up to Don Julio without booking 2 weeks ahead

Almost everyone

A$180

Saying "yes" to DCC at every POS terminal

Most travellers

A$350

Booking flights without Skyscanner Everywhere search

Casual researchers

A$250

Paying gate scalpers for Boca Juniors tickets

First-timers

A$320

Missing Brazil eVisa for Iguazu day trip

Recent oversight

A$600

Booking Aconcagua/refugios too late, missing peak

Trekkers

A$130

Wrong overnight bus class — no sleep, lose next day

Budget travellers

Total potential loss across these mistakes: ~A$2190 · the guide is A$14.99.
STILL WONDERING

Common questions.

Why pay A$14.99 when there's free info on Reddit?
Free info is scattered across hundreds of threads, half of it outdated, none of it AUD-priced or written for Aussies. This guide is one place: every price in AUD, every visa note current, the Blue Dollar hack explained properly, and only picks we'd actually send a mate to. Updated quarterly so it doesn't rot. Your time stitching it together yourself is worth more than $14.99.
What if I don't end up going to Argentina?
You've got 7 days to get a full refund, no questions asked. After that, the guide stays in your library — useful for whenever you do decide to go, or if you upgrade to the All-Access Pass and use it as part of your wider Aussies In subscription.
Do I get future updates?
Yes — this isn't a static PDF. We update prices, visa rules, partner contacts, and recommendations every quarter. Your guide stays current as long as Argentina exists.
Is this just an affiliate-link wall?
No. We do recommend Wise, Up Bank, and Airalo because we genuinely use them — those help fund our free WhatsApp community. But every restaurant, hostel, hike, bus company, and tour mentioned is included because it earned a spot, not because it paid for one.
I'm planning multiple countries. Should I just buy the All-Access Pass?
Probably yes. The All-Access Pass gives you every country guide we've made and every guide we'll make this year for A$49.99. If you're visiting 5+ countries you're losing money buying them individually.
What's in Aussies In Pro that's not in the All-Access Pass?
Pro members get the All-Access Pass forever (no renewal), plus the physical Book of Legends, a sticker pack, and a permanent place on the Pro Wall at aussiesin.com. It's the once-only tier for people who know they're going to travel for life.
GOING TO MORE THAN ONE COUNTRY?
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UNLOCK THE FULL GUIDE

Your trip, planned.

Where to go. Where to stay. What to eat. How to get around. What to skip. Every answer in one place — researched by Aussies who've actually been.

6 region deep-dives (BA, Mendoza, Patagonia, Salta, Iguazu, hidden gems)
Complete Patagonia hiking guide with exact booking lead times
Top 5 lists: hostels, parrillas, nightclubs, day trips
The full Blue Dollar / Western Union step-by-step
5 itineraries (1 week → 2 months) with map links
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