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Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy jagged peaks

Argentina travel guide

A huge country where the best month depends on which region you visit

Best: Feb, Mar

Photo: Paul_Reuß / Pixabay

Capital
Buenos Aires
Languages
Guarani, Spanish
Currency
Argentine peso (ARS)
Time zone
UTC-03:00
Plugs
Type C, I · 220 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
911

Why visit Argentina

Argentina suits independent travellers with time to spare. It covers 2,780,400 km², from coastal Ushuaia to inland San Salvador de Jujuy. February and March are the best months overall, and February also suits Bariloche and Ushuaia. The honest limitation is that size, because no single month works everywhere. Puerto Iguazú is at its best from June to August, and San Salvador de Jujuy from July to September. Plan your route around the season in each place.

Is Argentina right for you?

Great for

  • Sun seekers: Mendoza averages 12.7 to 12.8 hours of sun a day in December and January
  • Summer beach trips to Mar del Plata, whose best months are January and February
  • Dry-season wine trips: Mendoza sees just 10 mm of rain in September
  • Southern-winter trips north: Puerto Iguazú is best June to August, Jujuy July to September
  • Summer lake and far-south trips: Bariloche is best December to March, Ushuaia January to February

Less ideal for

  • Travellers who dislike heat: Mendoza highs reach about 30 °C in December and January
  • Warm-weather winter visits to Mendoza: July highs are 12.7 °C and lows 3.8 °C
  • Short trips hoping to see everything: the country covers 2780400 km²
  • One-season trips: Ushuaia peaks January to February, Puerto Iguazú June to August

Argentina right now: October

5.9/10
Avg high
23°C
Avg low
12°C
Rain days
6

Averages for Mendoza.

Weather by month

In Mendoza, March and February have the best weather, with warm highs of 26–29°C, about 6 rain days and 10.5 to 11.6 hours of sun a day. June and July have the toughest weather, with highs near 13°C and lows around 4°C, but they are also dry, with only 3 to 4 rain days.

Average highs and lows in Mendoza by month January: high 30°C, low 20°C , 7 rain days . February: high 29°C, low 19°C , 6 rain days . March: high 26°C, low 16°C , 6 rain days . April: high 21°C, low 12°C , 5 rain days . May: high 16°C, low 8°C , 5 rain days . June: high 13°C, low 4°C , 4 rain days . July: high 13°C, low 4°C , 3 rain days . August: high 17°C, low 6°C , 3 rain days . September: high 20°C, low 9°C , 3 rain days . October: high 23°C, low 12°C , 6 rain days . November: high 27°C, low 16°C , 5 rain days . December: high 30°C, low 18°C , 5 rain days . 30°C 20°C JAN 7d 29°C 19°C FEB 6d 26°C 16°C MAR 6d 21°C 12°C APR 5d 16°C 8°C MAY 5d 13°C 4°C JUN 4d 13°C 4°C JUL 3d 17°C 6°C AUG 3d 20°C 9°C SEP 3d 23°C 12°C OCT 6d 27°C 16°C NOV 5d 30°C 18°C DEC 5d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Mendoza · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Argentina: month-by-month weather →

Argentina's climate regions

The weather varies across the country; each region has its own best months.

  • Wine country and Atlantic coast

    Mar del Plata, Mendoza, Puerto Madryn

    Mar del Plata, Mendoza and Puerto Madryn have warm summers, with January highs around 28°C, and cool winters near 12°C in July. It is fairly dry, with about 67 rain days a year. March is the best month.

    Best: Mar

  • Subtropical north

    San Salvador de Jujuy, Puerto Iguazú

    Jujuy and Iguazú stay warm all year. Highs reach about 28°C in January and still near 20°C in July. It is wet, with about 165 rain days a year. June, July and August are the best months.

    Best: Jun, Jul, Aug

  • Patagonian Lake District

    Bariloche

    Bariloche has mild summers with January highs near 22°C and cold winters with July highs of about 4.5°C. Rain falls on about 119 days a year. December to March is the best time to go.

    Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec

  • Tierra del Fuego

    Ushuaia

    Ushuaia is cool all year. January highs reach only about 12.5°C and July highs about 2.4°C. It is often wet, with around 214 rain days a year. January and February are the best months.

    Best: Jan, Feb

Sample itineraries

7 days

A summer week from the coast to Ushuaia

  1. Day 1–2

    Mar del Plata

    Start on the Atlantic coast in Mar del Plata, a city of 593,337 people. January and February are its best months, so plan unhurried time by the sea.

  2. Day 3–5

    Bariloche

    Head inland to Bariloche, which is rated best from December to March. Its season overlaps with the other two stops, so plan most of your time outdoors here.

  3. Day 6–7

    Ushuaia

    Finish in Ushuaia, a coastal city of 82,615 people. January and February are its best months, the same as Mar del Plata, which makes this route a good fit for a summer trip.

10 days

September route from Jujuy to the Atlantic

  1. Day 1–3

    San Salvador de Jujuy

    Begin in the north in San Salvador de Jujuy, a city of 312,446 people. It is rated best from July to September, so an early-spring start works well.

  2. Day 4–7

    Mendoza

    Move on to Mendoza, whose best months are March, April, September and October. This is the longest stop, so you have time to get to know the city at a slow pace.

  3. Day 8–10

    Puerto Madryn

    End on the Atlantic coast in Puerto Madryn, a city of 102,505 people. It is rated best in April, May, September and October. September is the one month that suits all three stops.

Food to try in Argentina

Asado

Asado is beef and other meats slow-grilled over wood or charcoal on a grill called a parrilla. Families and friends often share it at long weekend meals, and steakhouses serve it every day.

Empanadas

Empanadas are small pastries, baked or fried, with fillings such as beef, chicken or cheese. People eat them as a snack or light meal, and different provinces have their own styles.

Choripán

Choripán is a grilled chorizo sausage in crusty bread, often topped with chimichurri, a herb and garlic sauce. It is common street food at stalls, markets and football matches.

Mate

Mate is a herbal drink made from yerba mate leaves. People drink it through a metal straw from a shared gourd, at home, at work and in parks throughout the day.

Dulce de leche

Dulce de leche is a thick caramel made by slowly cooking milk and sugar. Argentines spread it on toast, fill pastries with it and use it in ice cream and desserts.

Malbec wine

Malbec is a red wine grape strongly linked to Argentina, and Mendoza is its best-known growing region. It is a common choice to drink with grilled meat at dinner.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Sockets take type C and type I plugs, and the supply is 220 V. Bring a suitable adapter, and check that your chargers and other devices work on 220 V before you plug them in.
  • Driving side: Traffic in Argentina drives on the right. If you normally drive on the left, take extra care at junctions and roundabouts during your first few days.
  • Emergency number: Dial 911 in an emergency. Save it in your phone before you arrive so you do not have to search for it when you need it.
  • Currency: The local currency is the Argentine peso, shown as ARS. Check the current exchange rate before you travel, because prices on the ground are given in pesos.
  • Language: Spanish and Guarani are both official languages. Spanish is what most visitors will need, so learning a few basic phrases makes daily life easier.
  • Time zone: The whole country uses one time zone, UTC-03:00. Knowing the difference from home helps you plan calls and bookings.
  • Calling code: The international dialling code for Argentina is +54. Use it when you give your contacts a local number or call ahead to book.

Argentina: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Argentina?

March and February are the best months overall, with scores of 6.8 and 6.7. In Mendoza, where our climate data comes from, March brings highs of 26.1°C, lows of 16.4°C and 10.5 hours of sun a day. Argentina covers 2,780,400 km², so the best time depends on where you go. Each city has its own best months.

Is Argentina good to visit in July?

July is an ok month overall, with a score of 5. Mendoza is cold then, with highs of 12.7°C and lows of 3.8°C, but it has only 3 rain days. Some places are at their best in this season. The best months for Puerto Iguazú are June to August, and for San Salvador de Jujuy they are July to September.

When is the best time to visit Ushuaia and Bariloche?

Visit between December and March. The best months for Ushuaia are January and February. For Bariloche they are January, February, December and March, with January and February at the top. Mendoza's figures show that these are also the warmest and sunniest months of the year, with more than 11 hours of sun a day.

How hot is Mendoza in January?

January is Mendoza's hottest month, with average highs of 30.4°C and lows of 20.1°C. It is also the wettest month, with 54 mm of rain over 6.6 days. You still get 12.7 hours of sun a day. July is the coolest month, with highs of only 12.7°C.

What plug type and voltage does Argentina use?

Argentina uses plug types C and I at 220 V. Bring an adapter if your devices have a different plug, and check that they work at 220 V. Other basics: the currency is the Argentine peso (ARS), the emergency number is 911, and cars drive on the right.

What language is spoken in Argentina and what is the time zone?

Spanish is the main language, and Guarani is also listed as an official language. The whole country uses one time zone, UTC-03:00. The international calling code is +54, and the capital is Buenos Aires.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Argentina.