Once upon a time, Argentina was an expensive place to visit, especially Beunos Aires. It certainly wasn’t a place I even thought about including in The World’s Cheapest Destinations. Fiscal crises and currency devaluations have a way of changing the costs of travel in a hurry, however, and if you can time it right, you can enjoy your own private half-price sale. Argentina right now represents one of those historic opportunities.
Costs in Argentina these days are similar to those on the well-worn Gringo Trail of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. This is amazing when you consider that Argentina provides a much higher standard of living: better infrastructure, easier transportation, and a world-class city full of museums, opera, and sidewalk cafes. Many cheap countries require some significant sacrifices, especially off the beaten path, but Argentina is much easier for less seasoned travelers. Those travelers who stay in mid-range to upper-range hotels will find especially good bargains.
Walks on the Wild Side
Most travel articles on Argentina focus on Buenos Aires, with its tango bars, coffee shops, and European architecture. However, one of the best deals to come out of this currency plunge is that trips to Patagonia have gotten considerably cheaper. This bizarre region of the world, with its alien landscapes and formations, is shared with Chile. On Chile’s side of the line you’ll still pay a pretty penny for an organized tour. On the Argentina side, however, prices have dropped considerably, especially if you book it locally. It is now much more affordable to get into the glaciers and mountains .
You’ll also find lower rates (in dollar or Euro terms) on any other kind of adventure trip, from trekking in the Andes to whitewater rafting: this company, for example offers a 3-day rafting and mountain biking trip for around US $130. (Need some gear? Here’s a list of good places to shop.)
What about getting there?
Nearly all countries have seen a drop in tourists the past year or two, but Argentina saw more of a drop than most because of the turmoil playing out on the nightly news. (Things have calmed down quite a bit, however, and the exchange rate seems to be stabilizing.) As a result, fares are pretty cheap these days. In the US, Smarter Travel’s newsletter will send you weekly fare sales from different airlines. Last week you could fly from my not-exactly-international airport of Nashville for $549. Flights from Miami or New York are often under $500.
Living the Good Life
Some expats are taking advantage of fire sale prices and buying apartments in Buenos Aires. According to International Living , you can find studio apartments in Buenos Aires for $20K, or historic apartments with the floor space of a large house for $150K. Throw in some world-class wine for under $5 a bottle, and you’ve got a recipe for a fine life indeed…
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