Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world and remains one of my favorite destinations. Few countries offer this much variety. Buenos Aires feels almost European in its architecture and culture, the north is home to some of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls, Patagonia stretches across a landscape of glaciers and windswept wilderness, and the Andes rise along nearly the entire western edge of the country.
I first came to Argentina for the mountains, but there is far more here than climbing. I’ve explored Buenos Aires, traveled through the wine country around Mendoza, climbed Aconcagua to nearly 23,000 feet, and journeyed all the way south to Tierra del Fuego. These are the places I’ve visited so far.
Explore Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is one of South America’s great cities, filled with grand architecture, restaurants, nightlife, parks, museums, and neighborhoods that can feel completely different from one another. The city’s strong European influence is obvious almost everywhere, but Buenos Aires has a culture entirely its own.
Tango is perhaps its most famous contribution to the world, and you don’t have to search very hard to find it. During my visit, tango seemed to appear everywhere from organized performances to lessons and events around the city.
Explore Mendoza
Sitting near the base of the Andes, Mendoza is the center of Argentina’s famous wine country. Vineyards spread across the dry landscape surrounding the city, producing wines exported throughout the world, with Malbec being by far the region’s most famous.
Mendoza is also a gateway to the Andes. Skiing, hiking, rafting, climbing, and some of South America’s most dramatic mountain scenery are all within reach, and this was where my own journey toward Aconcagua began.
Explore Aconcagua
At 22,841 feet (6,962 meters), Aconcagua is the highest mountain outside Asia and the highest point in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. It is also one of the Seven Summits.
The mountain has routes ranging from the non-technical Normal Route to extremely difficult technical climbs on its massive faces. I spent weeks in the Andes climbing the Normal Route, gradually moving from the valleys below the mountain to camps above 20,000 feet before making my attempt on the summit.
Explore Tierra del Fuego
At the far southern end of South America lies Tierra del Fuego, an archipelago of mountains, forests, channels, and windswept coastline shared between Argentina and Chile. Its name means the “Land of Fire,” although the landscape itself is dominated by cold water, snow-covered mountains, and surprisingly green vegetation.
The Argentine side is home to Ushuaia, one of the world’s southernmost cities and the departure point for many voyages to Antarctica. Beyond the city are hiking trails, mountains, wildlife, and the Beagle Channel, making Tierra del Fuego feel like the final piece of land before the world gives way to the Southern Ocean.
