Best and Worst Times to Visit Argentina
Best and Worst Times to Visit Argentina
The best time to visit Argentina is November through March when temperatures average about 80 degrees Fahrenheit or the high 20s Celsius. But the risk of rain is higher.
The worst time is June through August when temperatures drop into the high 50s Fahrenheit or mid teens Celsius.
Argentina is a busy cruise destination because of ports including Puerto Madryn, Ushuaia and especially Buenos Aires.
Perhaps the most important consideration when cruising along Argentina is the prevailing weather conditions all year round.
Most of Argentina has seasons that are the opposite of that in the northern hemisphere. But in a country of this size, distinct regions have climates all of their own.
Spring and Winter
For most people, the best time to visit Buenos Aires and most other places in Argentina is in spring (i.e. September through November), when the beautiful jacarandas are in bloom and temperatures are blissfully cool.
Moreover, Mendoza, Córdoba and the Lake District are all spectacular in the fall, the leaves put on an epic display, temperatures are comfortable and the crowds are relatively thin.
Still, during the winter (June through August) and in the fall, the Northern Argentina region is always pleasant.
In the far south of Patagonia however, weather conditions can be severe during winter months, so we would discourage you from visiting in June, July or August.
Summer
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| Buenos Aires monthly temperatures. © 2021 Scott S. Bateman |
Summer (December through February) in the capital is hot and humid. Summer is the best time to visit Patagonia, when the weather’s milder and more services are available.
Finally, Northern Argentina can be brutally hot in summer and is best visited in spring or summer as mentioned before. Further, the arid North Western region can be very hot during the summer (December to February), while Mendoza province is temperate year-round.
Other Periods
During other seasons, the public transport becomes trickier and services thin out.
Ski season runs mid-June through mid-October, and the resorts are most expensive and most crowded in July and August when every person from Buenos Aires seems to be on the slopes.
The most expensive times to travel are the Argentine vacation months of January, February and July.
Festivals
Although Argentina celebrates fewer festivals than other South American countries, there are several fiestas which – depending on one’s interests – might be worth planning a trip around:
Festival Nacional del Folklore
Near the city of Córdoba, in the Central Sierras, the town of Cosquín hosts the National Festival of Folk Music during the last week of January.
Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia
Mendoza’s National Wine Harvest Festival occurs late Feb-early Mar and kicks off with parades, folkloric events and a royal coronation – all in honour of Mendoza’s intoxicating beverage.
Festival and Mundial de Tango
Buenos Aires’ best tango dancers perform at venues throughout the city during the Tango Festival in the second half of August.
Festival Nacional de la Cerveza
Join the swillers in early October and oompah bands at the National Beer Festival, Villa General Belgrano’s Oktoberfest in the Central Sierras.
For the best experience in Argentina, plan around the weather as well as these interesting festivities. This way, an amazingly satisfying vacation is assured.
Scott S. Bateman is a professional journalist who has traveled widely throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera.
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