1

Hey,

With about 2 weeks in Argentina you have lots of options, of course. November is a really nice rime of the year to come here. Warm but not brutally hot yet. First off, if you don't want to move around a lot, I'd plan on spending 5 - 7 days in the Buenos Aires area. Here, you can really get to know the city, take day trips to places like Tigre, to an estancia (ranch), Colonia, Uruguay and still have some days to shop, get to know the city and it's culture. I've lived here for the last year it's really a great city. Dividing your time here might be nice, but not a big deal... you can enjoy it either way.

As far as other places, yes, Iguazu is a must. However, 2 days are plenty of time to spend there. One full day on the Argentine side will be enough probably and, if you choose to go, the Brazilian side has a nice panorama of the falls though most of the actual Falls are located in Argentina, where you can really experience the falls. While the Brazilian side is nice, 1/2 day there is more than enough time there and, frankly, for me, its not really worth the hassle and expense of a visa for such a short amount of time. It's a personal choice, though and you can likely decide when you get there.

As far as the other place to go for a day, Puerto Madryn area, seeing the whales and penguins are nice, I've heard from friends that have gone there but it's pretty barren and not a whole lot to do beyond this, they told me. Even though you don't like cold, you may consider Calafate anyway to see the glacier or El Chalten which has spectacular Andes panorama and is a cool place to hang for a few days... Including a nice waterfall!

You may want to consider, also, the Salta/Jujuy area to go for 3 - 4 days. To me, it's the most interesting, diverse and beautiful area of Argentina that I've been to, both from a geographical perspective as well as a cultural perspective. You can also buy and shop for indigenous handicrafts there.

Lastly, if you like water, Bariloche might be nice for you as it's the lake region of the country, though it's beauty has been affected a bit by the Chilean volcano that erupted last year.

Still, one way or another there are so many options. Read up, talk to people and I'm sure you'll find a great itinerary for you. Oh, and on a personal note, you had me laughing when you talked about you OCD ex husband and his list. Have a great trip!

2

Buenos Aires is a lovely city but considering your time constraints, I would only spend about 4 days there if I were you.

3

argentina is a fantastic country to travel in but is pretty big so there are great distances between the sites on your list. your proposed budget, 4k (not sure of currency) assuming its $,£ or euro, is very generous and will allow for flights between destinations which will save at least 3 or 4 days of bus trips. BA is certainly worth 3 or 4 days, i stand corrected but i think the football season will be on a break in November however La Boca stadium still worth a visit. you could then fly to Puerto Iquazu, where as guyborab said, the falls, when on a tight schedule, can be done in 2 days. El calafyte is worth visting to see the Perito Moreno glacier with a few days in near by El chalten if you are into trekking/hiking. Again on your schedule you would have to fly there. If you wanted to go to Peurto Madryn from el calayte i think you would have get a bus (again i stand corrected on this). There is plenty of sea wildlife off the Valdes Peninsula and in November you should catch the whale season. though if you say you want to avoid cold areas you should consider the north of argentina....Salta and the surronding areas. id also drop Mar Del Plata which is just a seaside town...it wont be beach time of the year in November

4

Suggesyt to use the visite Argentina air pass to save moeny and time in between cities, booking more than 3 tkts you can acced to it by their web.

Suggest more time in Puerto Madryn for wild life as animals are not only landscape, they move and different behavior depending on the weather conditions if you plan it only for a day or 2 may be wont have the chance to all what can offer and being the only place with particular wildlife in Argentina it's a place not to skip when you visit this country.
If you need further info would be a pleasure to help
K.Regards

5

Thanks for the advice. I like the Argentina air pass idea- I'd not heard of it until now. I have a question for those who have mentioned Bariloche... My impression is that it's mountains and lakes. I grew up going to the Adirondacks every year because extended family had summer homes up there. Is it different? I'm sorta over the mountain and lake thing.

Does anyone know how easy it would be to decide in the country what I wanted to do if I wanted to take a flight? Or should I plan all flights in advance with this quick timetable? I'm thinking that 2-3 in the Falls (fly in early one morning, do a day trip to the Argentine side, possible half day trip to the Brazilian side and maybe another day to see Jesuit ruins from there), 2-3 in Puerto Madryn (anyone know what animals I can expect in early November?). I'd like 4 in B.A. continuously, and then I'm trying to debate about whether I should return back to B.A. and do possible day trips (Montevideo, Colonia, Tigre, estancias are all possibilities) or if I should go to Bariloche or Salta.

6

Argentina is a lovely country. You have many things to do there. Buenos Aires is a must. I would spend one weekend at least just to live the night in this city. Peninsula Valdes, Puerto Madryn and Iguazu falls are incredible places, but have in mind that they are too far one from another. In Peninsula Valdes and Puerto Madryn you can interact with penguins and in november you can also see some whales. Iguazu falls are an incredible landscape. It´s undescriptible the sensation being there. If you like the beach, you can visit Pinamar or Carilo, you can really relax there.