Best time to visit Argentina
The best time to visit Argentina depends on the region you wish to visit. You can visit the country all year round, but due to its vast size, the best time to visit Argentina varies from place to place.
In brief:
- North-western Argentina: late March to December
- Southern Argentina: October to the end of April
- The rest of Argentina: all year round
Would you like to visit several regions? If so, the best time to visit Argentina is:
- October, November and December
- March and April
Climate in Argentina
Argentina is a vast country, larger than Europe, stretching from the north to the south of the continent. Due to its vast size, combined with the many differences in altitude and the diversity of its landscapes, the country has an enormous variety of climates, ranging from subtropical to arctic. This, combined with various factors such as certain events taking place throughout the year that are well worth visiting, or the migration of some animal species such as whales, means that there is no single ‘best time to visit’ Argentina. The best time to visit Argentina depends partly on which regions and places you wish to visit during your trip and what you plan to do whilst you’re there. You can find more information below.
Best time to visit by season
Spring: travel between September and December
In Argentina, spring runs from September to December. In many respects, spring is the best time to visit Argentina. Advantages of visiting Argentina at this time of year:
- You can visit all regions of the country during these months*;
- Argentina enjoys a pleasant climate; temperatures are neither extremely high nor extremely low, and the chance of heavy rainfall is not particularly high;
- Nature is waking from its winter slumber and, little by little, everything is beginning to blossom and grow;
- As far as tourism is concerned, it’s still quiet at the moment, which means lower prices and plenty of availability at the accommodation where you’d like to stay.
*Please note: A minor exception is southern Argentina, where September is still just a little too early to visit. Many accommodation options are still closed at that time, and there are fewer domestic flights to the region.
Summer: travelling between December and March
The Argentine summer runs from December to March. This is the peak season in Argentina, as the Argentines themselves are also on holiday. The following applies during this period:
- This is undoubtedly a very good time to travel to southern Argentina (Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego); please bear in mind, however, that you will be in an area with a lot of ice and glaciers, which means that temperatures never get very high;
- The other parts of the country are also well worth visiting during this period;
- The only part of Argentina you should avoid is the north-west, specifically the Salta region on the border with Bolivia and Chile. The reason for this is that there is a high risk of heavy rainfall; landslides and road closures are common during such periods, making it difficult to travel around this area;
- It is peak season throughout the country. Prices are higher and accommodation tends to be fully booked sooner.
Autumn: travelling between March and June
The months of March to June are considered to be autumn. March and April in particular are good months to visit Argentina. After that, it gets colder and we advise against visiting certain destinations.
- Southern Argentina is still a great place to visit in March and April. Although the days are getting shorter, there is generally less wind and there’s a good chance of pleasant weather with lovely sunshine during these months. The colours of nature are changing. The trees take on beautiful autumn colours, creating a stunning landscape. The peak tourist season is over, so accommodation is available again and prices are lower;
- From May onwards, many accommodation providers in Patagonia close and there are fewer flights to this destination;
- The rest of the country – such as the Iguazu Falls, the region around Buenos Aires, the area around Salta and the wine region – are well worth visiting during these months.
Winter: travelling between June and September
Winter runs from May to September. This means cold months in the south, but the rest of the country is well worth a visit.
- We do not recommend visiting southern Argentina at this time of year;
- The rest of the country – such as the Iguazu Falls, the region around Buenos Aires, the area around Salta and the wine region – are well worth visiting during these months.
- Why not consider a lovely combined trip combining north-eastern Argentina with, for example, Brazil?
Buenos Aires
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Min. temperature in °C | 20 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 18 |
| Maximum temperature in °C | 29 | 28 | 26 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 28 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
Buenos Aires has a temperate climate with warm summers and mild winters. Summer runs from December to February and is hot and humid, which can make it feel even warmer. Rain showers and thunderstorms are also common during the summer months. Autumn runs from March to May, when temperatures are often pleasant. As autumn progresses, the rainy season draws to a close. Winter runs from June to August and is generally quite mild. Cold fronts can sometimes move in from the south, causing temperatures to drop, although snowfall is rare in Buenos Aires. Spring in Buenos Aires (September to November) is pleasant, although rainfall gradually increases during this period.
El Calafate (Patagonia)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Min. temperature in °C | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | -2 | -4 | -5 | -3 | -2 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Maximum temperature in °C | 16 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 15 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
El Calafate has a cold steppe climate. Summer (December to February) is mild and offers the best weather conditions for exploring the surrounding area. During autumn (March to May), temperatures are cooler and the colours of the landscape change. In winter (June to August), it is cold in El Calafate, with temperatures dropping below freezing. Snow falls regularly during the winter. Spring (September to November) brings a return to more pleasant temperatures.
Tierra del Fuego
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Min. temperature in °C | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Maximum temperature in °C | 15 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 14 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
The climate in Tierra del Fuego (Fireland) is unpredictable, harsh and characterised by extremes. Generally speaking, it is cold, windy and damp. The southernmost region has a subarctic climate with tundra vegetation. Here, both summer and winter are cool, although in the winter months temperatures can drop well below freezing. The more northerly region has a cool maritime climate. Generally speaking, in Tierra del Fuego, the summer – from December to March – is fairly cool, with long days that can be sunny but also very cloudy and (lightly) rainy. The winter months, from June to September, are generally cold and wet, with snowfall in higher-altitude areas. Strong winds, mainly from the Strait of Magellan, mean that the wind chill can make it feel even colder and render the weather unpredictable.
Lake District
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Min. temperature in °C | 7 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Maximum temperature in °C | 22 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 |
Bariloche is situated at the foot of the Andes, giving it a temperate mountain climate with four distinct seasons. Summer, from December to March, is fairly mild. The days are often longer and sunny, making this an ideal time for outdoor activities. In autumn, from March to June, it gets a little cooler. The beauty of the autumn season is that the vegetation in the area displays stunning colours. Winter in Bariloche and the surrounding area runs from June to September and is often cold, with temperatures hovering around freezing. Snow also often falls during this period. This is the ideal season for skiers and snowboarders. Spring runs from September to December; during this period, temperatures rise again to more pleasant levels and nature comes back to life.
Iguazú
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Min. temperature in °C | 21 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 21 |
| Maximum temperature in °C | 32 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 31 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
The climate in Iguazú is considered to be a humid, subtropical climate. Although Iguazú has a summer and a winter, the weather can vary throughout the year due to the humidity and the influence of the rainforests surrounding Iguazú. Summer runs from December to March and is often very hot and humid. Rainfall is not uncommon during the summer, often taking the form of heavy, short showers. Winter runs from June to August and is generally quite mild. During this period, there is less rain than during the rest of the year and there are more sunny days.
Salta
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Min. temperature in °C | 16 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 15 |
| Maximum temperature in °C | 28 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
The climate in Salta can be described as a dry subtropical highland climate. Summer runs from December to February and is generally warm. This period sees the highest amount of rainfall, which also means that humidity is quite high. The area around Salta, particularly the higher-altitude regions, has lower temperatures (depending on the altitude) and therefore a greater chance of snowfall. Autumn, from March to May, is a period with pleasant, mild temperatures during the day and cool evenings. The weather during this period is fairly stable and predominantly dry. In winter, from July to August, temperatures are cool to mild during the day. Nights can, however, be cold, with temperatures even dropping to freezing point. Dry and sunny days are characteristic of winter in Salta. Spring runs from September to November and is comparable to autumn. Temperatures are pleasant and there is little rainfall. As this is the transition period to the rainy season, it may rain a little more later in the spring.
Mendoza
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Min. temperature in °C | 18 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 14 | 17 |
| Maximum temperature in °C | 31 | 30 | 26 | 23 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 25 | 28 | 30 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
Mendoza is also situated at the foot of the Andes. It has a dry desert climate and, here too, there are four distinct seasons. Summer runs from December to February; during these months, it is hot in Mendoza. Although Mendoza receives relatively little rainfall throughout the year, most of it falls during this period. This causes humidity levels to rise. In autumn, from March to May, the days are warm and the nights are somewhat cooler, with little rainfall. During the winter, from June to August, the weather is dry and cool. It is often sunny during the day, though the nights can be quite cold, although temperatures rarely drop below freezing. Snowfall is also rare here. Spring runs from September to November, when the weather becomes slightly warmer and there is also more rainfall.
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Polo
Every year in November and December, the famous ‘Abierto de Palermo’ polo tournament is held in Buenos Aires. It’s a fantastic experience! Argentina, incidentally, has two seasons a year: from September to December and from March to May.
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Whale watching
Between June and November , you can go whale watching at Peninsula Valdés. The whales stay close to the coast, in shallow bays that are ideal for raising their young.
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Mendoza Grape Harvest
The grape harvest takes place in the Mendoza wine region in early March . This is celebrated in style with the Vendimia festival. For wine lovers, this is definitely a must-visit event.
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Orcas come ashore
Between February and April , orcas come ashore at Peninsula Valdés. During this period, they hunt young sea lions. It is a brutal hunt, but it is nature in its purest form, and this spectacle is unique in the world.
The best time to visit Argentina when travelling with children
Both the May half-term and the summer holidays are excellent times to visit northern and central Argentina. If you wish, you can combine this with a visit to the Iguazú Falls and/or round off your trip with a beach holiday in, for example, Brazil or Uruguay. Are you travelling during the autumn half-term? Then it’s spring in Argentina and the countryside is in full bloom. To see whales, head to Peninsula Valdez during this period, where you’ll have a good chance of spotting them up close. The Christmas holidays are also a good time to travel to Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia, perhaps in combination with Antarctica (bear in mind that some polar expeditions have a minimum age requirement). If you’re planning to travel over Christmas, please bear in mind that this is the busiest time of the year. In this case, we recommend booking such a trip at least 9 months before departure!
Time difference between Argentina and the Netherlands/Belgium
During our summer, it is 5 hours earlier in Argentina than in the Netherlands and Belgium.
During our winter, it is 4 hours earlier in Argentina than in the Netherlands and Belgium.
How long is the flight to Argentina?
The flight time for a direct flight from Amsterdam to Buenos Aires is approximately 13.5 hours. If you have a stopover (for example, in Paris or Madrid), the flight time is 16.5 hours. This time may vary depending on the duration of the stopover and the flight route.
Fancy a road trip through Argentina?
Would you like to organise your own trip of Argentina and are you curious about the options available? Then do take a look at the itineraries we’ve put together for inspiration. You can book these tours directly, but we’d also be happy to put together a personalised itinerary based on your wishes and ideas.
Do you have a question? Please feel free to contact us. Call +31 73 610 62 04 or send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl. We’ll be happy to help.