iguazu falls- argentina with kids
  • Last Updated: March 17, 2024

Exploring Beauty of Argentina with Kids in 1 week

I’ve put together a summary of our Argentina with kids to help with your planning. While I’ve detailed specific destinations in other posts, this overview will guide your journey. Our family absolutely loved our Argentine adventure and eagerly awaits the next one! Discover the highlights of visiting Puerto Madryn, Buenos Aires, and Iguazu Falls.

Puerto Madryn

We started our Argentine adventure by flying into Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Ezeiza (EZE). Little did we know, we had to catch a cab to Jorge Newbery Airport, known as Aeroparque (AEP), to reach Puerto Madryn—a detail I overlooked until we landed. Thankfully, we had ample time. There’s something about embarking on a journey with long flights that fills our family with excitement for what lies ahead. After about 24 hours of travel, layovers included, we finally touched down in Trelew, then made our way to our cozy spot in Puerto Madryn. The flight from Buenos Aires to Trelew is about 1 and 1/2 hours then you need to take a cab to Puerto Madryn for another 45 minutes. We decided to spend 3 nights there, knowing one night would be dedicated to recuperating from the journey. I’d recommend staying for 1-2 nights. During our stay, we ventured out to see the penguins, and luck was on our side as we visited during peak season, witnessing the adorable newborns preparing for their first swim. To catch this spectacle, plan your visit between September and March. We explored two of the largest colonies of Magellanic penguins. Additionally, Puerto Madryn offers thrilling whale watching opportunities, but this is best experienced between June and mid-December. If you visit between September and mid-December, you can enjoy both unforgettable experiences.

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Iguazu Falls

I have to admit, I was absolutely mesmerized by Iguazu Falls, and it’s no wonder it’s considered one of the wonders of the world. Our stay was brief, just one night and one day, as we arrived late the night before. It was quite overwhelming and intense for my kids. In hindsight, I’d highly recommend staying for two nights. If I could rewind, I would have spent two nights in Puerto Madryn and two nights at Iguazu Falls. While the falls were truly spectacular, we did have a disappointing tour experience which I’ll delve into more in separate blog posts dedicated to each destination. We visited during their summer season, so it was hot but pleasantly so. It is about 1- and 1/2-hour flight from Buenos Aires. 

Buenos Aires

I absolutely adored Buenos Aires. Its architecture exudes a distinctly European charm. Despite the ongoing economic crisis and inflation, which have inflated the costs of food and goods, the warmth and kindness of the residents remain unparalleled. We had the opportunity to visit a gaucho ranch, and while I understand it’s a popular tourist destination, we genuinely enjoyed the experience. It was a lot of fun, and the food was absolutely delicious. After flying in from Puerto Madryn, we spent one night and day in Buenos Aires, and later, after our visit to Iguazu Falls, we stayed for two nights. Looking back, I wish we had allocated at least two more nights to fully immerse ourselves in Buenos Aires culinary scene. There’s an abundance of dining options, yet overall, I found the food to be somewhat underwhelming.

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Helpful Tips- Weeklong Family Trip: Discovering Argentina with Kids

  • With six flights packed into seven days, our itinerary was ambitious; I’d suggest allowing at least 10 days.
  • Lounge access at airports proved invaluable, providing a haven for refreshments amidst the airport hustle.
  • Please seek out the blue markets for favorable exchange rates on the dollar. We exchanged a modest amount at the airport to cover cab fares, then sought out blue markets in each town for better rates. Cab drivers are usually well-informed about these markets and can guide you accordingly. 
  • We opted for Uber to navigate Buenos Aires, with fares ranging from $2 to $5 per trip—highly recommended.
  • For tours, we relied on Viator and GetYourGuide. While Viator fell short on two occasions, with tours in Puerto Madryn and Iguazu Falls failing to meet expectations and proving costly, GetYourGuide consistently delivered. Disappointed by Viator’s lack of vendor vetting, I doubt I’ll book with them again.
  • We visited in February during the summer season, but I found the evenings to be breezy. I recommend packing long-sleeve shirts and pants. Check out my travel essentials for more tips. We opted not to visit El Calafate because I didn’t want to pack clothes for two different seasons and wasn’t sure if my kids were up for the trek. However, I’d love to explore it someday.