Argentina · best-of list
The 12 Best Outdoor Spots in Argentina
All 12 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Argentina, across 4 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect trails, beaches, parks and viewpoints, with El Chaltén contributing the most (6).
Our curated picks
12 outdoor spots in Argentina, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
El Chaltén 6 picks
Chorrillo del Salto
El Chaltén · On our Patagonia Peaks route
Easy walk to a waterfall in the forest north of town.
Photo: Anja Bremer · Google
Lago del Desierto
El Chaltén · On our Patagonia Peaks route
Forest-ringed lake 37 km north, with the Huemul glacier trail nearby.
Photo: Sônia Alencastro · Google
Laguna de los Tres
El Chaltén · On our Patagonia Peaks route
Classic day hike to the glacial lake at the foot of Monte Fitz Roy.
Tip: 20 km round trip; last hour is very steep. Start pre-dawn for sunrise.
Photo: Cristian Diaz · Google
Laguna Torre
El Chaltén · On our Patagonia Peaks route
Moderate hike to a glacier lake beneath the Cerro Torre spire.
Photo: Gagea · CC BY-SA 3.0
Loma del Pliegue Tumbado
El Chaltén · On our Patagonia Peaks route
Long climb to a viewpoint facing both Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.
Photo: Técnico “Luis” Rey · Google
Mirador de los Cóndores y las Águilas
El Chaltén · On our Patagonia Peaks route
Short climb above town with views of Fitz Roy and Lago Viedma.
Tip: Good arrival-day hike; condors often ride the thermals.
Photo: Georg Stockmaier · Google
Iguazú 3 picks
Garganta del Diablo
Iguazú · On our Buenos Aires, Mendoza & Iguazú route
U-shaped chasm where half the river plunges 80 m, reached by train and a long catwalk.
Tip: Bring a rain jacket for the spray.
Photo: Rolex Patil · Google
Iguazú National Park
Iguazú · On our Buenos Aires, Mendoza & Iguazú route
Argentine side of the falls with upper and lower circuits on catwalks through the jungle.
Tip: Arrive at opening and do the Devil's Throat first.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Parque Nacional do Iguaçu
Iguazú · On our Buenos Aires, Mendoza & Iguazú route
Brazilian side with a panoramic trail facing the main falls and a walkway into the spray.
Tip: Half a day is enough here.
Photo: Sebas Martín · Google
Mendoza 2 picks
Parque General San Martín
Mendoza · On our Buenos Aires, Mendoza & Iguazú route
Huge park west of downtown with a lake, rose garden and Cerro de la Gloria monument.
Tip: Rent a bike at the gates and ride up to the lookout.
Photo: MacAllenBrothers · CC BY-SA 2.0
Termas Cacheuta
Mendoza · On our Buenos Aires, Mendoza & Iguazú route
Thermal pools in the Mendoza River canyon on the road to the Andes.
Tip: Book the water park or spa ahead on weekends.
Photo: Kike Silvera · Google
Valle de Uco 1 pick
Manzano Histórico
Valle de Uco · On our Buenos Aires, Mendoza & Iguazú route
Historic reserve in the Andes foothills marking San Martín's 1823 return, with streams and trails.
Photo: Leandro Miano · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Argentina?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 12 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Argentina has the most outdoor spots on this list?
El Chaltén has the most (6 of 12), followed by Iguazú (3) and Mendoza (2).
Are any of these free?
8 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Laguna de los Tres, Parque General San Martín, Mirador de los Cóndores y las Águilas, Chorrillo del Salto, Manzano Histórico, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Argentina
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- El Chaltén 6 on this list
- Iguazú 3 on this list
- Mendoza 2 on this list
- Valle de Uco 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.