Best time to travel Argentina: When to travel to Argentina?

At the southernmost point of the Americas, Argentina is surrounded by five countries and the Atlantic Ocean to the east of the state. In fact, the eighth largest country in the world measures over 3600 kilometers from north to south, bordering Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay. In addition to the nearly 45 million inhabitants who call Argentina home, one discovers from the tropical rainforests in the north to the vastness of the desert and short grassy steppe to extensive rock massifs, fjords and glaciers. However, this diversity of the country is not only reflected in this, but also in the different climate that can be found in Argentina.

Argentina climate

In the northeast, near the Iguazu Falls, there is a year-round tropical climate, with high temperatures and precipitation, while generally in the north the climate is otherwise subtropical. In the regions of eastern Argentina, such as La Pampa and Buenos Aires, the climate is Mediterranean, while in eastern Patagonia the climate resembles a semi-arid desert climate. In western Argentina, precipitation is more frequent, as the Andes themselves receive a lot of rain. However, the west is characterized by a mild climate year-round, whereas the southernmost region of the country, Tierra del Fuego, is dominated by a cool oceanic climate.

While Argentina has seasons like Europe, they are opposite of Europe due to Argentina's position in the southern hemisphere. The Argentine winter represents winter in our country, while our winter represents the Argentine summer. Therefore, if you are planning a trip to the country of enormous diversity, depending on what you plan to do, you should consider the best time to travel in any case.

Travel to the North/Northeast

Due to its position in the tropical climate zone, the Misiones region, where the famous Iguazu Falls are located, has summer temperatures all year round. Even though for this reason it is possible to visit the region all year round, in the Argentine summer there is a very high humidity and temperatures around 33° degrees. If you prefer to have it a bit cooler, you should take the time to travel from April to September, because especially the winter months, make this region more pleasant to travel from the climate. Mind you, the winter time is the main travel season in this region, so you will pay less in the summer months.

Travel to the East

On the Atlantic coast there is a Mediterranean climate, which ensures that you will feel pleasant temperatures without sweating in summer and will not freeze to death in winter. The Mediterranean climate provides pleasant temperatures around 20° degrees all year round, and the thermometer can rise up to 29° degrees in the summer months of December, January and February. During the night, the temperature decreases by almost 10° degrees, with a pleasant cooling of 19° degrees. While with us July is one of the warmest months, in Argentina this forms the winter and so the thermometer rises to just under 15° degrees, while at night it can drop to 8° degrees.

Travel to the West

If you want to visit the region in the west, like San Carlos de Bariloche, the months of December, January and February, the Argentine summer, are excellent for this. Mild temperatures are found here throughout the year, which do not exceed 22 degrees, while in July the temperature is around six degrees.

Travel to the south

Tierra del Fuego, or Tierra del Fuego, is located at the southernmost point of the Americas and Argentina and is the starting point for expeditions to the South Pole. In the climate, which is characterized by oceanic coolness, it is cold all year round, so that it also snows and rains a lot here. Therefore, the summer months are particularly suitable to travel here, from December to mid-March, as the average temperature is just under 14 ° degrees during the day.

Travel to Patagonia

Since Patagonia is a popular destination, it is of course listed here. It is important to note that especially during the winter months, travel to Patagonia cannot be done due to the prevailing temperatures, winds and snowy passes. Many lodgings, estancias and attractions close their services for this period. During the summer months, however, the days are longer, the temperatures are milder, and between October and April many things are open and accessible again. 

Northern East Patagonia/West Patagonia

Winters in Patagonia are very long and average temperatures are 6.5° a year, making it cool and very windy all year round. The humidity from the Pacific Ocean brings a lot of precipitation to western Patagonia, while the east is sheltered because of the Andes. For this reason, eastern Patagonia is dry and in the warmest months the temperature can reach 30° in the summer months of January and February, which are due to the continental climate. 

Conclusion

Theoretically, you can visit Argentina all year round, but you must keep in mind that some regions are not accessible. Therefore, it is important to think about what you want to see and whether the weather and temperatures allow it. If you are planning a skiing vacation in Argentina, the winter months are suitable for this, while otherwise the summer months are recommended, especially for the regions in the south and Patagonia. It is important to remember that Patagonia is very diverse and you can pass through several climate zones in one day, so a thoughtfully packed suitcase is highly recommended. Have a look at our Argentina packing list which will help you to make the right decision for your trip to Argentina. 

Are you interested in getting to know and experiencing Argentina's diverse nature and exciting culture? Then take a look at our 11 days Patagonia and 12 days North Argentina round trip an. We are looking forward to seeing you!

For additional travel inspiration follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.