Question by metal432: Help planning one week trip in Argentina?
I am planning a trip with my parents through Argentina, but we only have a week. We want to see as much as we can, so I would love some input on how my idea sounds. 2 days in Buenos Aires, 2 days in Mendoza, 2 days at Foz do Iguacu, and 1 day in Colonia or Montevideo (Uruguay). How doable is this, and what would be the most efficient mode of transportation?

Best answer:

Answer by Chris S
Your trip sounds great and is doable, but here is my biggest concern:

For such an amazing city, you are spending way too little time in Buenos Aires and rushing your time in Mendoza and Uruguay. Mendoza, Iguacu Falls, and Montevideo are all great, but my suggestion is to cut out Mendoza and Montevideo, and just live it up in BA and go see the waterfalls. When I went to Iguacu we had a 6 AM flight from Aeroparque (the smaller airport in Buenos Aires) and were able to spend the whole day in the national park. You could spend one night in Igaucu and part of the next day then fly back to the city. (You need to fly. Any other mode of transportation would take forever. LAN and Aerolineas Argentina both fly to Iguacu. Round trip between $ 100 and $ 200 USD) If you want to pass over to the Brasilian side of the falls you need a visa in advance which costs around $ 100 USD.

The reason I say to do the waterfalls in place of Mendoza is that in Misiones the only thing to do is go to the falls, whereas in Mendoza there is tons to do (go to wineries, go to the mountains, explore the city), and it isn’t really worth it if you are only there for two days. I had a very similar itinerary to what you are suggesting in your question but I was there for a month, and there was still lots more to do in Buenos Aires. My group spent three days in Mendoza and with the three hour drive both ways to the Andes and long drives to the wineries outside of town, there just wasn’t enough time and we felt like we missed out. I am taking another trip there for the month of January with a group of students and we are spending a month in Buenos AIres with a weekend in Iguacu and a weekend in Patagonia.

Hope this helps, and as to your transportation question if you do travel to where you mentioned, fly to Iguacu and Mendoza and you can take the Buquebus (ferry) to Montevideo.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!