From Buenos Aires to Ushuaia

From Buenos Aires to Ushuaia

Rent a campervan in Argentina

Argentina is a country full of contrasts and breathtaking landscapes that is perfect for a motorhome trip. From the lively streets of the metropolis of Buenos Aires on the Río de la Plata to the icy glaciers of Patagonia, the country, which is around eight times the size of Germany, offers an incredible variety of sights and experiences. Gourmets also get their money's worth here, as Argentinian cuisine not only scores with what is probably the best beef in the world, but also with outstanding wines, irresistible empanadas, handmade pasta, excellent ice cream and probably the best pizzas outside Italy. Discover Argentina on your own in a motorhome. We promise you: you'll want to come back.

Why hire a motorhome?

A motorhome offers you the ultimate freedom to explore Argentina on your own. This is also possible with a coach, the preferred means of domestic travel for Argentinians. But only a motorhome offers you the freedom to organise your itinerary with complete flexibility, to spend the night in the countryside and to make spontaneous stopovers if you like a particular place. It is also a cost-effective alternative to hotels and organised tours, which have become significantly more expensive since Milei was elected president. Especially in the big cities, prices in Argentina are often higher than in Europe. This applies not only to shopping in the supermarket, but also and especially to eating out. If you cater for yourself, you can save a lot of money.

What kind of motorhome should I hire?

Argentina has a well-developed road network totalling around 240,000 kilometres in length. However, only 34 percent of the country's roads are asphalted, which corresponds to around 82,000 kilometres. Especially in the sparsely populated north and south, many roads are gravel tracks. Your motorhome of choice should therefore be reasonably robust and ideally have four-wheel drive. Whether you end up opting for a converted pick-up or an off-road panel van is up to you and of course also depends on the number of people who will be accompanying you on your trip.

Campervan hire in Argentina - is it safe?

Argentina has been one of the safest countries to travel to in Latin America for many years, which means that it is a relatively safe country to visit compared to Western Europe. Caution is advised in large cities such as Buenos Aires, where poverty and wealth are extremely close together and burglaries and robberies are frequent. If you stroll through the streets of Buenos Aires, you will recognise this from the fact that shops and flats on the ground floor are usually secured with bars or roller shutters. So it's better not to park your motorhome on the roadside overnight, but to look for a car park or campsite that is guarded overnight. You should also take a few precautions during the day: Dress as simply as possible, don't wear expensive jewellery and don't carry any valuables around with you. Never leave your mobile phone on the table in front of you while you wait for your food or coffee on a busy street. Never carry your wallet in the back right pocket of your trousers and be careful when withdrawing cash from an ATM. Opportunity makes thieves, and professional thieves can be damn quick.

The best time to travel

The best time to travel through Argentina in a motorhome depends on your interests. For Patagonia and the south of the country, through which the route presented below leads, the months of November to March are ideal, as this is summer and the weather is milder. For the tropical north (which this tour does not include) and the central regions, the months of April to October (i.e. autumn and winter) are recommended, as the climate is more pleasant then.

The route: From Buenos Aires to Ushuaia

1 Buenos Aires

Route: This is where your motorhome journey through Argentina begins. From Germany, the journey usually takes place via the Ministro Pistarini Airport Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) from Frankfurt am Main (FRA). The flight takes around 14 hours. Direct flights from Frankfurt are currently offered by Lufthansa, otherwise there are many other options (e.g. Air Europa, Latam Airways, Turkish Airlines, Aerolineas Argentinas), although these involve a stopover.

Description of theBuenos Aires is a vibrant metropolis with a rich history and lively culture. Founded in February 1536, Buenos Aires is famous like no other city in the world for the Argentine tango, which you can marvel at here or, if you have a good dancing leg, dance to yourself. Historical sights can be found all over the city and there are many excellent restaurants offering a wide range of culinary delights. Buenos Aires, also known as CABA (Buenos Aires Autonomous City), actually "only" has just over 3 million inhabitants, but this figure is deceptive. This is because the city is not limited to CABA, but also includes the directly neighbouring periphery (Gran Buenos Aires, GBA for short), which gives Buenos Aires a population of 15 to 20 million. Driving in the city centre in particular is no fun, even for experienced drivers, as the traffic is hectic and traffic rules here tend to be non-binding recommendations that hardly anyone follows. So it's best to leave your motorhome in a safe place if you want to explore the city centre and use public transport. You can reach the city centre cheaply and safely by train from almost all directions. The central train station is Retiro. There is an excellent local transport system within the city, which includes several underground lines (Subte) as well as countless bus routes.

WeatherThe weather in Buenos Aires is mild, with temperatures between 15°C and 30°C, depending on the time of year. It can get quite cold in winter. Even though temperatures rarely approach freezing point, the thermal sensation can be very uncomfortable due to the high humidity.
Culinary specialities: Be sure to try a juicy Argentinian beef fillet (lomo), empanadas and alfajores. Alfajores are rather thick biscuits filled with milk caramel cream (dulce de leche). Argentinians eat huge amounts of them, and not just for breakfast, where dulce de leche is as popular as Nutella is here.
Places of interest:

• Plaza de Mayo: The city's central square, surrounded by historic buildings such as the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace.
• Florida: The most important shopping mile in the city centre.
• Teatro Colón: One of the best opera houses in the world.
• Recoleta Cemetery: An impressive cemetery with magnificent mausoleums, including that of Eva Perón.
• La Boca: A colourful district with the famous Caminito Street Museum.
• San Telmo: A historic neighbourhood with cobbled streets and antique shops.
• Puerto Madero: A renovated harbour area where the old brick buildings that were once warehouses are now home to popular restaurants, offices and luxury flats.

2 Mar del Plata

RouteApprox. 400 km south of Buenos Aires via the Ruta Nacional 2.
Description of theMar del Plata is a popular seaside resort with beautiful beaches and plenty of entertainment. The city has a population of just under 700,000 and is perfect for a relaxing stopover.
WeatherTemperatures are between 10°C and 25°C, ideal for beach days in summer. The water temperature of the Atlantic is around 20 degrees in summer.
Culinary specialities: Fresh fish and seafood are a must here. If necessary, you can also switch to beef, which works everywhere in Argentina without any problems.
Places of interest:

• Playa Grande: A large, popular beach.
• Playa Bristol: Another beautiful beach near the city centre.
• Aquarium Mar del Plata: A large aquarium with many sea creatures.
• Harbour: A lively place with many restaurants and boat tours.

3rd Puerto Madryn

RouteApprox. 1,300 km south of Mar del Plata via the Ruta Nacional 3.
Description of thePuerto Madryn is known for its whale watching opportunities and rich marine fauna. A must for nature lovers.
WeatherTemperatures are between 5°C and 20°C, with cool nights.
Culinary specialities: Try local seafood and Patagonian lamb dishes.
Places of interest:

• Península Valdés: A UNESCO World Heritage Site with whales, sea lions and penguins that you can observe up close.
• Punta Tombo: One of the largest penguin colonies in the world.
• EcoCentro: An interactive museum about the region's marine fauna.

4. trelew

RouteApprox. 65 km south of Puerto Madryn via the Ruta Provincial 1.
Description of theTrelew is a good stopover to visit the MEF museum and learn more about the palaeontological history of the region.
WeatherSimilar to Puerto Madryn, with temperatures between 5°C and 20°C.
Culinary specialities: Patagonian lamb dishes are also very popular here.
Places of interest:

• Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio (MEF): An impressive museum with dinosaur fossils.

5th Comodoro Rivadavia

RouteApprox. 450 km south of Trelew via the Ruta Nacional 3.
Description of theAn important port city and centre of the oil industry. Ideal for a stopover on the way south
WeatherTemperatures range between 5°C and 18°C, with cool winds.
Culinary specialities: Try local seafood and Patagonian dishes.
Places of interest:

• National Petroleum Museum: A museum about the history of the oil industry in Argentina.
• Rada Tilly beach: A beautiful beach near the town.
• Cabo Dos Bahías Nature Park: A nature reserve with many bird species.

6th Puerto Deseado

RouteApprox. 400 km south of Comodoro Rivadavia via the Ruta Nacional Description of theA picturesque fishing village with a rich history and breathtaking coastal scenery.
WeatherTemperatures range between 5°C and 18°C, with cool nights.
Culinary specialitiesFresh fish and seafood are a must here.
Places of interest:

• Ría Deseado: A natural inlet, ideal for boat trips.

• Isla Pingüino: An island with a penguin colony.

• Historical Museum: A museum about the history of the region.

7 El Calafate

RouteApprox. 1,000 km south-west of Puerto Deseado via the Ruta Nacional 3 and Ruta Provincial 5.
Description of theThe gateway to Los Glaciares National Park. An absolute highlight of any trip to Argentina.
WeatherTemperatures range between 0°C and 15°C, with cold nights.
Culinary specialities: Try Patagonian lamb and local chocolate.

• Places of interest:
• Perito Moreno Glacier: An impressive glacier that calves regularly.
• Upsala Glacier: Another large glacier in the national park.
• Glaciarium Museum: A museum about glaciers and their environment.

8 El Chaltén

RouteApprox. 220 km north of El Calafate via the Ruta Provincial 11.
Description of theA paradise for hikers and mountaineers. The landscape here is breathtaking.
WeatherTemperatures range between 0°C and 15°C, with cold nights.
Culinary specialities: Patagonian dishes are also very popular here.
Places of interest:

• Fitz Roy Mountain: An iconic mountain with spectacular hiking trails.

• Cerro Torre: Another impressive mountain in the neighbourhood.

• Hiking trails: Numerous hiking trails with breathtaking views.

9th Torres del Paine (Chile)

RouteApprox. 350 km south-west of El Chaltén via the Ruta Provincial 41 and the Chilean Ruta 9.
Description of theA short diversions to Chile takes you to the breathtaking Torres del Paine National Park. A must for every nature lover.
WeatherTemperatures range between 0°C and 15°C, with cold nights.
Culinary specialities: Try Chilean dishes such as empanadas and cazuela.
Places of interest:

• The three granite towers (Torres): Iconic rock formations.
• Grey Glacier: An impressive glacier in the national park.
• Lake Pehoé: A beautiful lake with turquoise-coloured water.

RouteApprox. 300 km east of Torres del Paine via the Chilean Ruta 9 and the Argentinian Ruta Nacional 3.
Description of theThe southernmost city on the Argentinian mainland. A good starting point for the onward journey to Ushuaia.
WeatherTemperatures are between 0°C and 15°C, with cold winds.
Culinary specialities: Try Patagonian dishes and local seafood.
Places of interest:

• Monumento a la Bandera: A monument to the Argentinian flag.

• Museo de los Pioneros: A museum about the history of the region.

• Coastal road: A picturesque road along the Strait of Magellan.

11th Ushuaia

RouteApprox. 550 km south of Río Gallegos via the Ruta Nacional 3.
Description of theThe southernmost city in the world with breathtaking scenery. A perfect end to your trip.
WeatherTemperatures are between -5°C and 10°C, with cold nights.
Culinary specialities: Try local seafood and Patagonian dishes.
Places of interest:

• Tierra del Fuego National Park: A national park with forests, lakes and mountains.
• Beagle Channel: A canal with boat tours to sea lion and penguin colonies.
• Martial Glacier: A glacier near the city.
• Prison museum: A museum in a former prison.

Links and tips for motorhome hire in Argentina

• Rental periodYou should plan at least three to four weeks for the route mentioned above, and two months for a journey through the whole country, i.e. from the Bolivian border to Ushuaia.
• CampsitesFind out in advance about campsites along your route. Many national parks offer camping facilities. Sites like Info4Camper offer you a good initial overview.
• InsuranceMake sure that your motorhome is adequately insured and that you have accident and health insurance in the event of an accident. Treatment in Argentina's public hospitals is still free of charge for tourists, but it is unclear how long this will remain the case.
• Food supplyBuy food and drinking water in larger cities, as supplies may be limited in remote areas.
• Safety instructions: Current safety and travel advice for Argentina can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.