Argentina

Argentina family holidays

Argentina is the perfect South American country for a family holiday, a land of gauchos, tango, giant steaks and football. It offers traditional Latin America, with beautiful old working estancias where you can ride out into the Pampas with the cowboys. But there’s also modern glamour in Buenos Aires where you will find wide, elegant tree-lined boulevards together with huge murals of Messi and Maradona (the twin gods of Argentinian football).

This is a country of extreme contrasts, from the wild and remote steppes of Patagonia to the lush jungles and waterfalls of the north. Against such a backdrop of diversity, there are a wonderful variety of family activities. In the north you will find giant cacti and will feel like an extra from a 1950s Western as you head out on horseback or explore remote winding canyons.

In the south, in the vast expanse of Patagonia, you will find incredible beauty and an untamed and mesmerising wilderness. This is the place for high-octane adventure, where you can trek to the legendary spires of Mount Fitzroy, don crampons to hike on the famous Perito Moreno Glacier, and mountain bike, white water raft, and kayak around the Lake District.

Solo parent holidays - mother and son test out Argentina's Lake District

So many of Argentina’s landscapes are jaw-dropping, not least the Lake District

An Argentina family holiday is wonderfully easy as the country has a great infrastructure and excellent hotels. Think cosy mountain lodges, rambling estancias and picturesque wineries, all serving the biggest steaks you have ever seen. Which Mum and Dad can wash down with a bottle of locally produced Maalbec.

There’s a network of flights throughout the country, with new routes opening all the time. So although the distances are vast, the travel is relatively easy. Smaller areas can be explored by car or with a driver / guide depending on what appeals.

Iguazu Falls - Argentina family holidays

One of South America’s greatest sights, the Iguazu Falls, is a family-favourite on our Argentina family holidays

Why take the kids to Argentina?

Argentina may be a little dwarfed by Brazil, its northern neighbour, but it’s still the 8^th biggest country in the world. This vastness brings with it a wonderful range of things to do. Some of our top child-friendly activities on Argentina family holidays include.

Learn to dance the tango in Buenos Aires
Get soaked in a boat trip beneath Iguazu Fall
Explore Los Glaciares National Park and Mount Fitzroy
Ice-trek on the Perito Moreno Glacier
Gauchos, horse-rides and asados (BBQ) at a traditional estancia
Cable car and chair lift rides to Lake District summits at Bariloche
Wildlife safaris in the Ibera Wetlands
Walk with llamas through the colourful mountains of Salta

There is something for everyone on Argentina family holidays and such a variety that children (and adults) of any age will be constantly entertained. Younger children are extremely well catered for with a good tourist infrastructure and family-friendly hotels, whilst older kids will love the adrenalin activities.

Strictly fans will be keen to watch a tango show in Buenos Aires or learn a few steps themselves. If Masterchef is more your thing then learn to cook steak and bake empanadas (Argentina’s answer to the Cornish pasty). Nature lovers can keep their eyes peeled for elusive jaguar roaming the mountains, bumbling capybara swimming in the wetlands and toucans flitting through the forest canopy. And active teens will love cycling around the parks of the capital, riding with the gauchos and strapping on the crampons to walk across a glacier.

Bar in La Boca with photo of Maradona - Argentina family holidays

Visit the brightly coloured houses, cafés and Boca Juniors stadium in Buenos Aires’ La Boca district

Which part of Argentina should I visit on a family holiday?

This is a good question! Part of the answer depends on the time of year that you will be visiting. Remember that the seasons are reversed from those in the Northern hemisphere, so the UK summer holidays will see icy temperatures in Patagonia such that it’s pretty much impossible to visit. However, in the north it’s substantially warmer and this is a great time to explore the area around Iguaza and Salta (in the north west).

From October half term to the Easter holidays (and including Christmas), the whole country is great to visit. If mountains, glaciers and lakes appeal then you must head south to the kitsch alpine chocolate box setting of Bariloche in the Argentine Lake District or further on to Patagonia and the ‘Ends of the Earth’ at Ushuaia. If you want high altitude desert, mystical salt flats and rainbow coloured mountains, head to the north.

And either way, add in the extraordinary spectacle of Iguazu Falls, undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.

Can I combine Argentina with another South American country?

Argentina’s location makes it easy to combine with other fabulous South American countries. From Buenos Aires, you can hop to Uruguay for lunch, or you can head north from Iguazu into Brazil. (Why not tag on a few days in Rio de Janeiro to finish off your holiday?)

Further south, in Patagonia, you can trek across the border to experience the scenic splendour in Torres del Paine in Chile, ending up in Santiago or Valparaiso before returning home. Check out our Patagonia with Kids feature for more.

With excellent regional flight connections and direct flights from the UK, a family adventure in Argentina should be right up there on the family holiday calendar.

Riding with Gauchos on Argentina family holidays

There are so many exciting outdoor activities for all the family in Argentina, including riding with gauchos

Family holiday itineraries to Argentina

All of our itineraries are bespoke, which means that they are tailor-made for your own specific family, taking into account the ages of your children, your interests, your budget and so on.

However, to give you an idea of what you could do on a tailor-made family holiday in Argentina, see our sample itineraries: the iconic highlights of Buenos Aires, Patagonia & Lake District, Highlights of Northern Argentina and Best of Argentina and Chile.

Find out more about some of the places in Argentina you might like to visit on your trip, and lastly, see our handy guide on the best times to visit Argentina with the family.