Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world by surface area, covering 2,780,400 km². If we also consider the Antarctic territory and the South Atlantic islands, its total area increases to 3,761,274 km².

This vast territory gives the country a wide range of climates and landscapes, which determine high and low seasons in each region and province. To plan your visit to Argentina, it is important to know the low and high seasons and to understand the climate of each region.

Argentina is divided into six tourist regions: Patagonia, the Argentine North-West (NOA), the Argentine North-East (NEA), Cuyo, the Centre, and Buenos Aires.

1) PATAGONIA

Provinces: Río Negro, Neuquén, Chubut, La Pampa, Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego.
General high season: October to April.

Bariloche (Río Negro)

High season: December to March (summer) / July (snow season).
Best time to visit: February to March (fewer tourists, ideal weather).
Events: Snow Festival (July) and Chocolate Festival (Easter).

El Bolsón (Río Negro)

High season: December to April.
Event: Regional Handicrafts Fair (all year round, with more activity in summer).

San Martín de los Andes / Villa La Angostura (Neuquén)

High season: January to March (summer) and July to August (winter).
Event: National Gardens Festival (Villa La Angostura, February).

El Calafate (Santa Cruz)

High season: October to April.
Event: Argentine Lake Festival (January–February).

El Chaltén (Santa Cruz)

High season: October to April.
Events: Chaltén Running (November) and various mountain races.

Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego)

High season: December to March.
Events: Ice Sculpture Festival (July) and the Longest Night Festival (June).

2) ARGENTINE NORTH-WEST (NOA)

Provinces: Salta, Jujuy, Tucumán, Catamarca, La Rioja and Santiago del Estero.
General high season: July to October and Easter (March–April).

Salta (city and Calchaquí Valleys)

High season: July to September and Easter.
Events: Easter celebrations in Seclantás and Cachi; Serenade to Cafayate (February).

Jujuy (Purmamarca, Tilcara, Humahuaca)

High season: June to September.
Events:

Jujuy Carnival (February).
Pachamama celebrations (August).
National Students’ Festival (September).

Tucumán

High season: July (school holidays), September to October.
Events: National Empanada Festival (July) and September Musical.

Catamarca

High season: July to September.
Event: National and International Poncho Festival (July).

La Rioja

Major event: La Chaya Festival (February).

3) ARGENTINE NORTH-EAST (NEA)

Provinces: Misiones, Corrientes, Chaco, Formosa, Santa Fe and Entre Ríos.
General high season: July, September to April.

Iguazú (Misiones)

High season: July, September to April.
Best time to visit: May–June (less heat).
Event: Iguazú in Concert (June).

Corrientes

Main event: Corrientes Carnival (January–February).
Other: National Chamamé Festival (January).

Esteros del Iberá (Corrientes)

Best time to visit: August to November.
High season: July to October.
Events: Traditional Guaraní festivals.

Chaco / Formosa

High season: July and spring.
Events: Regional handicrafts and sport fishing festivals.

Entre Ríos

High season: December to March (rivers and thermal spas).
Events: Gualeguaychú Carnival (January–February).

Santa Fe

High season: Summer (coast and fishing).
Event: National Amarillo Fish Festival (July).

4) CUYO

Provinces: Mendoza, San Juan and San Luis.
General high season: March to April, July, September to October.

Mendoza

Best time to visit: March to April, October to November.
High season: March (harvest) and July (snow).
Event: National Grape Harvest Festival (Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia, March).

San Juan

Best time to visit: Autumn and spring.
Event: National Sun Festival (February).

San Luis

Best time to visit: Spring.
Event: Regional festivals in Merlo and Potrero de los Funes.

5) CENTRE

Province: Córdoba.

Córdoba

High season: January to February, July.
Events:

Jesús María: National Taming and Folklore Festival (January).
Cosquín: National Folklore Festival (January–February).
Villa María: Festival de Peñas (February).
Villa General Belgrano: Oktoberfest (October).

6) BUENOS AIRES

Provinces: Buenos Aires Province and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.

City of Buenos Aires

High season: September to April.
Best time to visit: March to May, September to November.
Events:

Night of the Museums (November).
BAFICI – Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival (April).
Buenos Aires International Book Fair (April–May).
TANGO BA Festival (August).

Atlantic Coast (Mar del Plata, Pinamar, Villa Gesell, Miramar, etc.)

High season: December to March.
Events:

National Sea Festival (December).
Coastal Carnival (February).

Sierra de la Ventana / Tandil

Best time to visit: All year round.
High season: Easter and winter holidays.
Event: Living Way of the Cross (Tandil, Easter).

WHEN TO VISIT ARGENTINA BY INTERESTS

Trekking and mountains:

Patagonia: October to April.
NOA (hills and ravines): April to November.

Snow:

Cerro Catedral (Bariloche), Chapelco (San Martín de los Andes), Cerro Castor (Ushuaia), Las Leñas (Malargüe), La Hoya (Esquel): July to August.

Wine routes:

Mendoza: March to April.
San Juan: March to April.
Salta (Cafayate): April to May.

Major festivals:

Carnival: February.
Grape Harvest (Vendimia): March.
Chaya (La Rioja): February.
Cosquín (Córdoba): January.
Oktoberfest (Córdoba): October.
Poncho Festival (Catamarca): July.