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3-4 weeks in Argentina...on a budget!

Replies: 13 - Last Post: Nov 8, 2012 1:56 PM Last Post By: trent84

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grimtoffee

grimtoffee avatar

Nov 5, 2012 1:49 PM
Posts:  3

3-4 weeks in Argentina...on a budget!

Hi all

I'm planning to visit Argentina in Jan/Feb for 3-4 weeks... was hoping for some suggestions for an itinerary?

I'm not able to pay for flights or really expensive coaches around the country, but would like to see some of the impressive scenery, see some of the culture, preferably a bit out of the cities and finish in the capital before flying home.

Any ideas? Is it possible to get around a country this big in such a small space of time on a budget?!

Am assuming I'll have to sacrifice doing some of the 'must do' experiences!

Cheers

Pigletinoz

Pigletinoz avatar

Nov 5, 2012 4:00 PM
Posts:  482

1

If you could clarify what your budget is, that would help. People have vastly different ideas of what a tight budget is, and what countries really cost. If you reckon you can't afford flights or long distance buses then you're not see much, so tell us what you think you can afford and we might be able to help :-)

Also, did you already have any 'must sees' in mind - eg, Patagonia, or Iguassu Falls, or the Salta region?

trent84

trent84 avatar

Nov 5, 2012 4:46 PM
Posts:  1,317

2

If you cant afford to bus around or get flights, then Argentina might not be the place for you...distances are huge, buses are expensive and so are flights.

That being said if you are on a budget, stick to one area. Such as the North West. Or Patagonia. This will cut down travel costs.

WILLEMSPIE

WILLEMSPIE avatar

Nov 6, 2012 1:27 AM
Posts:  1,517

3

You will need to camp and cook your own food.
If yopu want to limit the transport costs, you must select a single region, for instance only Patagonia.

trent84

trent84 avatar

Nov 6, 2012 1:43 AM
Posts:  1,317

4

If OP can come back with how much money they have for 3-4 weeks, than this would be much more simpler and effective.

Are you there grimtoffee?

beerfree

beerfree avatar

Nov 6, 2012 6:46 AM
Posts:  3,356

5

In Patagonia you can camp and cook yourself nearly everywhere and this can make it very cheap. The northwest, like the small towns around Salta and also the Sierras of Cordoba and around Tucuman and Catamarca you have great scenery and cheaper prices

ger_power

ger_power avatar

Nov 6, 2012 9:32 AM
Posts:  498

6

Unfortunately Argentina is not a cheap country to to travel in anymore. It is also a huge country to travel in so in your time frame you are better off sticking to a particular region......depending on your interests and any sights you class as a must see. With such a large country it will be impossible not to have to go on long distance overnight bus journey (unless you plan all your time in BA with short trips away to places like Rosario or into Uruguay). As previously said if you let us know your budget you will get more helpful advice.

grimtoffee

grimtoffee avatar

Nov 6, 2012 11:17 AM
Posts:  3

7

Thanks for the feedback so far. Maybe I do need to rethink my destination. Most of my travel experience so far has been in Asia, where there were always massively budget options available. As I said before, I'm happy to skimp on travel/accommodation and stay/move in less than luxurious ways... but it seems from my limited research so far that on my likely budget of somewhere between £500-£1000, travel alone is likely to wipe out most of my money...

Maybe I do need to rethink my destination...

trent84

trent84 avatar

Nov 6, 2012 12:11 PM
Posts:  1,317

8

Yeah, that will not be enoiugh for Argentina. If you said Bolivia, than different story. Skimping on accom is fine, but a bus ride is really expensive. For example the bus from Buenos Aires to Iguazu is 600 or so pesos (about 150USD). Thats a good chunk of your budget there.

grimtoffee

grimtoffee avatar

Nov 6, 2012 12:17 PM
Posts:  3

9

Cool... I'll either rethink destination or stick to one region and try and save a bit more before I plan to go!

Pigletinoz

Pigletinoz avatar

Nov 6, 2012 2:23 PM
Posts:  482

10

Well hang on a minute - 1000 pounds is quite different to 500! With 1000 pounds and 3 weeks you could certainly go to Argentina and have a good time ($1600 / 21 days = $76 a day). On 500 you could maybe do 3 weeks in Bolivia ($800 / 21 days = $38 a day).

Are you constrained to the time period of 3-4 weeks by work? If not, I'd suggest you save more and come for longer. If you are prepared (and able!) to do that, I'd say aim for 2500 pounds and 8 weeks, and you'll have an amazing trip and see most of the country. But obviously depends if that's feasible!

trent84

trent84 avatar

Nov 6, 2012 10:51 PM
Posts:  1,317

11

Oh another clanger by myself, but do you have your airfare included in that fee? That'll set you back 500 quid (roughly). Not sure, thats what I saw. If so, then 1000 pounds isn't enough, though you could do it if that was your budget for 3 weeks.

Though 76 dollars are day is actually a good budget piglet, bus trips and planes are going to eat that budget up and make the daily budget much less.

TinyGirlwithBigBag

TinyGirlwithBigBag avatar

Nov 7, 2012 6:04 AM
Posts:  5

12

When I was doing the same 3-week-long trip in Argentina I did the Buenos Aires - Tucuman - Salta - Cordoba - Buenos Aires itinerary in one week, which included tours around these cities.
I visited
Quilmes from Tucuman,
Quebrada de Humahuaca from Salta,
Jesuit journey from Córdoba.
I did all this by bus which was way cheaper than by plane, and stayed in hostels to save some more money.

trent84

trent84 avatar

Nov 8, 2012 1:56 PM
Posts:  1,317

13

Buses are generally cheaper than planes. However, long distance buses (e.g Buenos Aires to Bariloche or BA to Iguazu) are quite expensive (600 or so pesos now if you check the omnilineas website). I am sure that one could get a 100-150 USD flight to those cities if you planned it well enough.
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