Iguazu Falls, Ushuaia and Salta are among Argentina's famous sights. However, Argentina has much more on offer than these highlights. For travellers with more time, or for those who have already seen the major tourist attractions, these suggestions may help in planning a vacation to the eighth largest country in the world.
Lesser-Known Tourist Attractions Around Córdoba, Central Argentina
Córdoba is a treasure in terms of colonial history. The downtown area has old but well-maintained Jesuit buildings, and the much-visited Jesuit estancias around Córdoba all have museums that offer an insight into this remarkable group of colonisers.
Less known is that Argentina's largest festival is celebrated near Córdoba. Every year cowboys try their luck on wild horses during the Folklore y Doma Festival in Jésus María. Driving west from Jesús María one comes to the ecological restaurant of Candonga and farther west, on the other side of the Sierras Chicas, lies La Cumbre. The latter is a well-known place for paragliders. The Sierras Chicas are also famous for UFO spotting, such as in Uritorco.
Adventure Tours in the Andes Mountains
The Perito Moreno Glacier and the Fitz Roy Mountain near El Chaltén are famous sights in the southern part of the Andes Mountains. Two other locations are less known but deserve a visit by those who love solitude and awe-inspiring landscapes:
- Estancia Helsingfors in Los Glaciares National Park, along Lago Viedma, appears to be the end of the world. This hotel is a perfect base for adventure tours, such as hikes deep into the Andes, to go horseback riding or enjoy a boat ride on the lake.
- Perito Moreno National Park [not to be confused with the glacier] offers another end-of-the-world experience, located as it is at a dead-end road ninety kilometres west of Ruta 40. It offers free camping and is a paradise for hikers and wildlife spotters.
Lesser-known Touristic Highlights along the Atlantic Ocean
South of the famous Peninsula Valdes, known for whale watching, are several other locations for wildlife spotting. Punto Tombo is home to about half a million Magellan Penguins. In order to be there at the best time of the day to admire these lovely creatures, rent a car and get there early in the morning – before the tour buses arrive [about ten o'clock].
Puerto Deseado is the place to organise a boat tour for yes, more penguins. The nearby islands are home to the funky-looking rockhopper penguins, which are quite a unique sight. For those interested in more flora and fauna, Monte León National Park is a good place to travel to. It is the place for hiking, watching penguins, guanacos and armadillos or walking along the coast in search of shells and fossils.
Outdoor Adventure in West Argentina
The province of San Juan is best known for one Argentina's major pilgrimage site of Difunta Correa. However, San Juan has much more to offer than meets the eye. It is a province for lovers of adventure sports, such as windsurfing at Rodeo or land sailing on the Pampas of Barreal.
Argentina is one of the world's large exporters of wine. Most foreign tourists interested in wine are familiar with the wines from Mendoza or El Calafate. However, San Juan is known for its vintage wines as well, and has quite a few bodegas, or wineries, that offer tours around their vineyards.
Travel to Lesser-known Tourist Attractions in Argentina
Argentina has much to offer to those who like travelling to unique corners with distinct cultures. The country is rich in locations to view marine mammals on the Atlantic Coast, end-of-the-world experiences in the Andes Mountains as well as colonial history and local traditions found in province of Córdoba. Readers may want to learn more about Argentina's main tourist attractions.
Karin-Marijke Vis - Karin-Marijke Vis is a bilingual writer (Dutch-English) who has been traveling in Asia and South America since 2003.
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