Happy New Years! I’m planning a trip to Argentina March 7–20. I’ll have about 6–7 days solo at the start, flying into BA, then meeting a friend in Mendoza (Likely on March 14th). After that we’ll continue together to Punta Del Este and I’ll fly home from Montevideo.
For the solo part, I’m trying to keep things clean and not overly ambitious since it’s the first leg of the trip. I enjoy hiking and mountains, but I don’t want to spend half the week in transit.
Right now I’m thinking a couple days in BA, then one other stop before heading to Mendoza.
I’m torn between Bariloche, Salta, or El Chaltén. I understand they are all very different landscapes. El Chaltén looks incredible for hiking, but I’m worried it’s too much travel for a short window. Salta also looks amazing, but it seems like a longer, clunkier route to Mendoza (For context, I was in Peru in May and loved it, especially the Sacred Valley.). Bariloche feels easier logistically, though I’m not sure if it overlaps too much with Mendoza.
If you were optimizing for logistics and flow for these dates, how would you do this? Open to any other suggestions I havent mentioned either.
Thank you!
Posted by
Washington, DC USA
831 posts
I have been to Buenos Aires, Salta, and Iguazu Falls but nowhere else. Assuming you are flying between cities, I would think that any of your choice would be fine as long as you have nonstop flights. I found Salta very interesting and there are daytrips into the countryside for amazing scenery. Iguazu falls is another option for dramatic scenery, hikes, and very different from Buenos Aires or Mendoza.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Did you find Salta to have similarities to the Peruvian landscape in the Sacred Valley?
Posted by
Irving
3512 posts
Mendoza is a city in a desert oasis vs Bariloche that’s a mountain/lake town. The Andes highest peak Aconcagua is near Mendoza. You can take a tour from Mendoza to view its summit as long as the weather allows. Hiking is more prominent in Bariloche than Mendoza.
Mendoza is all about food and Malbec wines and is like Canada’s Okanagan Valley, not Bariloche. Bariloche is all about chocolate and breath-taking views of its alpine scenery and its deep blue glacial lake Nahuel Huapi in the most southern region in the world. You’re comparing a desert town with a backdrop of the Andes to an alpine resort that sits in a gorgeous setting.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
This is super helpful — thanks for laying it out like that. That clears up my concern about Bariloche overlapping with Mendoza. Sounds like they’re actually pretty complementary.
Posted by
Washington, DC USA
831 posts
In response to your question about Salta, I haven't been to Peru so I can't compare. Sorry. Have a great trip.