Ideas for Self-Driving in Argentina
October 9, 2026
by Jo from the Latin Drive Sales Team
When it comes to self driving in Argentina you really are spoilt for choice. From mountains and lakes, to rivers, glaciers, waterfalls, vineyards, desert; great hiking, riding, culture & delicious food - Argentina has it all. You will want to visit time and time again, but in the first instance have a read about what Jo thinks of some of Argentina's highlights and consider what you might like to include in your ideal trip.
In your opinion is Iguazu Falls just like any other waterfall? I am not sure whether to make a special trip to go and see it.
I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I was prepared to be disappointed by Iguazu Falls. I have seen Niagara Falls, Victoria Falls and though I enjoyed both visits, I never actively seek out a waterfall. So, it was with some trepidation that I approached Iguazu and caught my first glimpse. Wow, wow and wow again! Iguazu Falls is truly a sight to behold. Beautiful, impressive, enormous, deafening, extraordinary and although touristy, do not let this put you off. It would be a huge shame to visit Argentina and not go out of your way to fly up to Iguazu for 2 nights to allow you a whole day to explore. The option of a speed boat trip which takes you as far as possible to the base of the falls is great fun, although be warned - you will get completely and utterly soaked by the spray!
There are plenty of good hotels outside of Iguazu National Park, just a short drive away, or for a real treat we recommend staying at the only hotel in the park on the Argentine side of the falls, The Gran Melia, which is in a great location.
Or if you want to completely avoid the large chain hotels in the area, then we know of a superb family-owned and run guest house about an hour’s drive south of Iguazu.
Remember Iguazu combines really well with a self drive in the North West as you can fly directly from Iguazu to Salta. A winning combination.
Does the Perito Moreno glaciar live up to the hype?
Again, YES! A visit to Patagonia would be incomplete without seeing the mighty Perito Moreno glaciar, despite having to dip briefly into the world of ‘normal’ tourists for a couple of hours in order to do so. Primarily our self drives in Patagonia are about getting off the beaten track and being in your private bubble. For the majority of your holiday you will be on your own, exploring the vast swathes of open country, at times feeling as though you are the only vehicle on the road. Our trips are all about pure escapism and complete freedom. Along the way you will stay at some unique properties, many of which are owner-run. Opportunities along the way include seeing great marine wildlife off the South Atlantic coast, hiking in some of Argentina’s lesser known National Parks, visiting archaeological digs where scientists are making exciting discoveries of dinosaur remains, riding horses whilst staying in true working estancias and then ending with or beginning with a visit to Los Glaciares National Park to see the glaciar (our trips can be run in either direction).
I have heard about the high altitude Puna what can’t quite understand how it fits into a trip.
If mind-blowing scenery is what you like then I challenge anyone to say that the Puna in Argentina won’t live up to expectations. It is other-wordly. A trip to this area is best achieved by extending our Classic North West itinerary, which begins and ends in Salta. The Puna area itself is worthy of at least 4 nights in order to give you 3 full days to explore this incredibly remote area with a guide. If you have more time then we can put together guided packages whereby a guide travels with you in his/her own vehicle and you follow.
Adjusting to the altitude (from 3,200 metres to 4,500 metres depending on location) is incredibly important and any visit to the Puna must allow time for adjustments and so your itinerary would be planned accordingly.
Do I have to ride a horse if I stay at an estancia?
No, but it would be a shame not to! The horses are generally really well behaved and biddable Criollo horses (like a sturdy Welsh cob) and the riding is usually at a slower pace, the horse allowing you to see more of the countryside. Most estancias have horses to suit all abilities from beginners to the more experienced rider. If you do intend to ride on your holiday we would always recommend that you take your own hard hat and wear it on rides. While some estancias may have a few hats there is no guarantee that they will fit you, nor do you know where they have been.
I am a vegetarian. Will I find enough interesting food to eat?
Although this is the stereotypical land of juicy steak and delicious Patagonian lamb, many lodges are becoming more aware of having to diversify their menu as increasing numbers of international guests are either vegetarian or vegan. As a vegetarian you will have choices and be able to enjoy lots of fresh vegetable dishes and delicious salads in most of the places you stay, but in some of the more simple guest houses the choice may be more limited. As long as we know in advance of any dietary requirements then this will be passed on to the lodges and they will do their best for you, but we do ask you to be realistic and not expect lots of choice all of the time, especially in some of the remoter locations.
What can I do in Buenos Aires and what has to be done in Buenos Aires?
So much! We would always recommend at least 2 full days in the city. This is to allow you to recover from the flight first and foremost, take in a private city tour for a couple of hours, perhaps attend a ‘dinner and tango’ show, maybe take a boat cruise on a small vessel in the Tigre Delta. Plus it is here that you will meet Latin Drive’s representative for your self drive briefing. Expect this to last for a few hours as you pore over the road maps which you will be given covering your route. You will also be able to ask any questions and be given lots of handy tips and advice for your adventure ahead in terms of scenic roads and interesting diversions.
In our opinion, Buenos Aires is an exciting city and really fun to explore, even if you aren’t a ‘city’ person.
Can I cross the border into Chile?
Yes, you can as long as this has been planned in advance and the necessary paperwork is in place for your rental vehicle.
Is a circular trip better than a one way route?
A one way route will always incur a one way drop-off fee and this will add to the cost of a trip depending on the distance between the pick up and drop off points. For many trips we believe this cost is entirely worth it and at Latin Drive, as at Safari Drive, we love a one-way journey (e.g in Patagonia or from Buenos Aires to Iguazu). Also it is largely unavoidable unless you have all the time in the world to extend your trip and drive back from where you came from, albeit using a different route. However where possible we do try and suggest interesting circular routes and this is entirely feasible in the Lake District or in the North West.
When is the best time to travel to Argentina?
Broadly speaking we recommend a Patagonia trip anytime from the end of September – April. High season is largely from the middle of December to the end of February.
For a trip to the North West and the Puna again broadly we would suggest from end March/April to September/early October. The Lake District are is best avoided in winter time (June - September) unless you want to ski! Iguazu Falls can be visited year round – it has a tropical climate – hot and humid. May and September are generally quieter here in terms of visitor numbers and cooler weather. The Valdes Peninsula for marine wildlife is usually best visited between June – December to try and see Southern Right Whales. Orcas can usually be seen from November through to April. Penguins from September to March.
