10 Best Places to Visit in Argentina with Family

Argentina’s Lake District is a natural paradise of glacial lakes and alpine towns where adventure awaits you. With views of lush forests and snowy Andes summits, a trip to the Lake District will captivate you and your children.

San Carlos de Bariloche is the central city in the Lake District and a gateway to the natural paradise of Patagonia. You and your children can use the city as a base from which to experience the highlights of Argentina’s great alpine outdoors. White-water rafting is a thrilling activity across rapids through the lush forests and road trips are the perfect way to explore the region.

You can also kayak across the navy lakes, ride horses across shallow channels and up the mountains, or hike as a family to viewpoints with panoramic mountain vistas.

Highlights: White-water rafting • Road trips • Kayaking • Hiking • Chocolate tasting • Museo de la Patagonia • Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 days

Visit Argentina with your family to see one of the natural world wonders, the Iguazu Falls. Cascading towering cliffs within the borders of  Iguazu National Park, the impressive natural display is just one exciting aspect of a trip to this incredible place.

A prolific subtropical rainforest surrounds the immense collection of beating waterfalls that plunge into the massive canyon. Families visiting the falls also adventure through the greenery to see the curious creatures and beautiful birdlife living within the canopy.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy Iguazu as a family. You can take a motorboat to the base of the falls and cheer as the surging waters spray you. You can also journey through the rainforest in a 4x4 to reach secret spots in the leafy woodlands. Finally, your children would love the opportunity to see the tropical scenes and spot the endemic wildlife from an eco-train that navigates the rainforest.

Highlights: Iguazu Falls • Wildlife viewing • Birdwatching • Motorboat cruise to the base of the falls • 4x4 rainforest adventure • Rainforest Ecological Train

Recommended Length of Stay: 3-4 days

Ushuaia is a city far in the southern reaches of Argentina, fondly referred to as the End of the World. Intrepid families flock to the adventure hub to experience the exhilarating mix of outdoor activities in one of the most magnificent frozen regions in the world.

The resort town overlooks the Beagle Channel, is flanked by pearl-white mountains dressed in snow, and is a runway for Antarctica cruises from Argentina. There is a series of unique things to discover in the town as you meander from the port to restaurants, souvenir shops, and museums. Outside of town adventure awaits and families make quick work of it to take full advantage of the remarkable surrounding region.

Family trips to Ushuaia reveal the unspoiled landscapes of Tierra del Fuego National Park, the history of the Faro Les Éclaireurs lighthouse, and the adorable Magellanic penguins that gather on Isla Martillo. Families can also enjoy the cinematic views from the End of the World Train that trundles through Ushuaia’s idyllic surroundings.

Highlights: Tierra del Fuego National Park • Faro Les Éclaireurs lighthouse • Isla Martillo tour to see the Magellanic penguins • End of the World Train trip

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 days

Mendoza is a magical place in Argentina to visit as a family. It combines experiences suitable for parents and children of all ages. As one of the best wine regions in Argentina, Mendoza appeals to parents who love fine wine. As a hub of art and culture, the city is a dream destination for creative children.

Parents can plan sensational wine-tasting tours to Mendoza’s best estates, with vineyards covering the emerald and golden plateau beneath the Andes Mountains. As parents sip exceptional Malbecs and learn about the wine-making heritage from sommeliers, children can partake in creative culinary classes or art activities that make Mendoza’s wine route enjoyable and educational for all ages.

Returning to the city center, families can explore the districts on foot or by bicycle. You can pedal past art deco architecture to floral gardens or visit historic museums and the Cerro de la Gloria memorial monument, to name a few top sightseeing experiences.

Highlights: Wine tasting • Cooking classes • Art and craft classes • Cycling tour • Cerro de la Gloria

Recommended Length of Stay: 3-4 days

The capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires, is a busy, vibrant, and cultural city to introduce your family to the diverse influences spreading across Argentina’s cosmopolitan coast.

Buenos Aires offers an immense variety of activities for families. The best way to begin your trip to Buenos Aires is to stroll through famous neighborhoods to acclimate to the exuberant atmosphere. You can watch tango performers twirl on the streets of La Boca, explore the trendy hotspots of Palermo for delicious delicacies, and experience the 17th-century history of San Telmo.

You and your children can also indulge in an authentic Argentine asado, or barbeque, visit the dramatic and beautiful mausoleums of Recoleta Cemetery, and walk within Plaza de Mayo to the iconic Catedral Metropolitana de Buenos Aires.

Highlights: Tango performances • Argentina asado and culinary tour of Palermo • History tour of San Telmo • Recoleta Cemetery • Plaza de Mayo • Catedral Metropolitana de Buenos Aires

Recommended Length of Stay: 3-4 days

El Calafate, the gateway to Argentine Patagonia, is a marvelous place to visit as a family that features the best glaciers in the country. The city is also around the corner from cultural villages and estancias, Argentine cattle ranches.

The main attraction for families visiting El Calafate is exploring the Perito Moreno Glacier. The incredible icy landscape is within the Los Glaciares National Park, a prime destination for family hikes and casual walks. Perito Moreno Glacier is a mesmerizing wall of white ice that drips into turquoise waters contrasting the green and yellow forests of El Calafate. Hikes range from easy to difficult, and you can find a trek that is suitable for you and your children.

You can also experience sailing and kayaking, great ways to see the scenery from new perspectives. Finally, you can bring your family to the Glaciarium Patagonian Ice Museum to learn more about the Patagonian Ice Field and its remarkable frozen formations.

Highlights: Estancia tours • Perito Moreno Glacier • Los Glaciares National Park • Hiking • Sailing and kayaking • Glaciarium Patagonian Ice Museum

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 days

El Chalten is a village within Los Glaciares National Park that invites you and your family to explore more of the glacial landscapes of Argentine Patagonia. The trekking in El Chalten is some of the best in Patagonia, featuring a combination of casual and challenging hikes to entertain those of all ages.

El Chalten’s breathtaking scenery of rugged mountains, icy peaks, and tranquil lakes is the perfect backdrop for a family photograph at panoramic viewpoints. You can circle the towering cliff face of Cerro Torre to view the imposing white-tipped mountains of Fitz Roy. You can wander the dusty paths to the sparkling waters of Laguna de los Tres or admire sunsets over Laguna Capri.

Family trips to El Chalten bless travelers with some of the best outdoor experiences in Argentina, revealing the untold beauty of Patagonia.

Highlights: Trekking • Cerro Torre • Fitz Roy • Laguna de los Tres • Laguna Capri

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 days

The northern Patagonian coastal city of Puerto Madryn is a marine sanctuary that entertains families of all ages. Sandy beaches, seaside restaurants, and marine wildlife lookout points capture the attention of parents and children alike.

On a trip to Puerto Madryn you can spend days in the sunshine and stroll across the soft, white-sand shores. You and your family can tuck into spectacular seafood dishes, partake in water sports at wide beaches, and enjoy cruises from the coast to castaway islands teeming with marine life.

Whale watching from the Peninsula Valdés is an unforgettable experience to embrace as a family, trips to Punta Tombo to walk with the colonies of Magellanic penguins are surreal, and snorkeling with sea lions leaves a lasting impression. The Yellow Submarine experience is also a must for families visiting Puerto Madryn, as the boat’s lower deck submerged beneath the water’s surface lets you see whales up close.

Highlights: Snorkeling • Kite surfing • Whale watching at Peninsula Valdés • Walking with Magellanic penguins at Punta Tombo • Snorkeling with sea lions • Yellow Submarine whale-watching experience

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 days

Argentina’s Iberá National Park is a wildlife sanctuary of wetlands, grasslands, savannas, and forests. Families adore trips to the national park as wildlife watching is some of the most impressive in the country.

The slow pace of trips to Iberá National Park allows you to relax and unwind after exploring busier parts of Argentina. It is a wildlife haven where South American-style safaris let families venture through the diverse ecosystems in search of the endemic animals and birdlife. You can spot rheas, howler monkeys, and capybara. The local rewilding initiatives also increase your chances of seeing the endangered jaguar and green-tipped macaw.

The experiences in Iberá National Park are unique. For example, horse-drawn boat trips across the shallow wetlands. You can also visit colonial villages like Concepción or the jaguar breeding center of San Alonso Biological Centre. Wildlife exploration as a family in Iberá National Park is endless.

Highlights: Wildlife viewing • Birdwatching • South American-style safaris • Horse-drawn boat trips • Concepción • San Alonso Biological Centre

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 days

The city of Salta is a Spanish colonial and Andean cultural hotspot set in the mountains of northwestern Argentina. It is a phenomenal place to visit as a family as it is an epicenter of tradition and a gateway to the surrounding natural beauty of the Andes.

There is a distinct mix of old and new in the city, with modern skyrises alongside colonial architecture, reflecting the city’s unique heritage. As a family you can tour the city for a taste of tradition, specifically live música folklórica, folk music, and local exhibits at the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology.

Salta is also a stone’s throw from the Calchaquí Valley, a sensational spot of shifting landscapes and impressive rock formations. Finally, you and your family should visit the Salinas Grandes salt flats to complete a trip to this breathtaking part of Argentina.

Highlights: Música folklórica performances • Museum of High Altitude Archaeology • Basílica de San Francisco • Hiking in the Calchaquí Valley • Exploring the Salinas Grandes salt flats

Recommended Length of Stay: 3-4 days

From the prolific rainforests of Iguazu National Park to the colonial center of Salta, the Patagonian glaciers of El Calafate to the marine sanctuary of Puerto Madryn, our custom Argentina Tours & Vacations help families explore the best of the country.

Discover the diverse cultural influences and remarkable landscapes of Argentina with your family at the best places to visit. As you begin to plan your dream trip, you can use our Argentina Travel Guide for more insight and inspiration.