With so many options, and such a vast country to explore, it can be tough to know where to start – and whether you’re a first-timer or a repeat visitor, there's always more to see. To get you started, here’s our guide to some of the best things to do in Argentina.

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Watch a fútbol match in Buenos Aires

 

Few experiences offer a deeper insight into the Argentine psyche than attending a fútbol (soccer) match. Buenos Aires stadiums such as Boca Juniors’ La Bombonera (“The Chocolate Box”) and River Plate’s looming El Monumental are transformed into cacophonous arenas as tens of thousands of supporters sing, chant, shout, groan and celebrate in unison. At times, it feels less like a sport and more like a religion.

 

Tickets are relatively easy to come by in Buenos Aires, where most teams are based, and seats are cheaper than for equivalent sporting events in North America or Europe. And if you manage to tear yourself away from the action on the terraces, you may spot the next up-and-coming Argentinian superstar having their debut on the pitch.

 

Planning Tip: Although you can go to a match independently, local travel agencies offer guided tours for the uninitiated. Ask around for options during the Primera División season, from January or February until May and August until December.

 

Experience the spectacle of Iguazú Falls

 

A Unesco World Heritage site shared between Argentina and Brazil, this mighty system of waterfalls is one of the top tourist attractions for visitors to both countries – and for good reason. Despite the crowds, it’s impossible not to be awed by the sheer scale and power of the Río Iguazú, as it splits into myriad cascades that charge over a plateau fringed by patches of emerald-green rainforest that are humming with life.

 

A series of trails, boardwalks, viewpoints and boat trips allow you to get remarkably close to the action. You can expect to get wet at some point, but that’s all part of the fun!

 

Planning Tip: With border crossings conveniently close to the falls, it's easy to see this stunning spectacle from both sides on the same trip. Note that US travelers need to obtain a visa before reaching the border to enter Brazil.

 

Ride like a gaucho across the Pampas

 

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, cattle ranching transformed Argentina's economy and landscape. The heartland of the industry remains the Pampas, a vast, flat area of grassland that covers much of the center of the country, and many working estancias (ranches) in the region throw open their doors to visitors.

 

You can stay in beautiful – sometimes luxurious – farmhouses, enjoying hearty Argentinian food and trying your hand at everything from milking to polo. The highlight, however, is the chance to go horse riding with the gauchos (cowboys), who have a romantic, semi-mythologized place in Argentina’s history and national identity.

 

Watch icebergs calve from glaciers in Patagonia

 

In southwest Patagonia, close to the border with Chile, awesome Parque Nacional Los Glaciares protects a huge swathe of the continent’s biggest ice field, the Campo de Hielo Patagónico Sur. As you might expect, this is one of the top places in the world to get close to a glacier.

 

A haven for trekkers and climbers, the centerpiece of the park is the immense Glacier Perito Moreno, a 30km (18.6-mile) wall of ice that juts out into iceberg-dotted Lago Argentino. Periodically, large chunks of the glacier calve off the edge with a roar and plunge into the waters below, creating a new set of icebergs.

 

Planning Tip: You can observe calving icebergs from a series of viewpoints linked by steel catwalks. The best season to visit is November to March; afternoons often bring audible cracks echoing across the glacier.

 

Feast at an Argentinian asado (barbecue)

 

As one of the largest cattle-farming nations, Argentina is synonymous with world-class beef, and juicy, well-marbled and full-flavored steaks are expertly cooked by countless parrillas (steakhouses) across the country. Steaks here are available in a bewildering array of cuts, but you'll soon learn to tell your bife ancho from your bife angosto.

 

The best way to sample Argentinian choice cuts is at a traditional asado (barbecue), especially at an estancia or – if you can score an invite – at an Argentinian family home on a Sunday afternoon. You’ll quickly understand why the Argentines are some of the biggest consumers of beef on the planet.

 

Go whale watching in Península Valdés

 

Reserva Faunística Península Valdés in northeast Patagonia teems with life. The waters offshore are an important breeding ground for southern right whales, who migrate here in their thousands every year. These graceful cetaceans – who can live up more than a century – can be viewed close up on whale-spotting safaris and diving and snorkeling trips as well as from the shoreline.

As well as the whales, colonies of lumbering elephant seals and playful sea lions populate Península Valdés’ beaches, sometimes menaced by stealthy orcas who swim remarkably close to the shore in search of prey. Getting close – but not too close – is part of the thrill of visiting this rugged peninsula.

 

Planning Tip: The best months for whale-watching are August to October, but this is also the busiest season for tourism, with prices to match. Whales can be seen from June to December so consider a visit outside the peak window.

 

Source:  https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/top-things-to-do-in-argentina