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After traveling to every Latin country in South America as a solo traveler, there's one that stands out to me as being the best.
It's really hard to choose when South America is full of so many diverse and beautiful countries, but if I had to recommend just one country, this would be it.
Argentina is my favorite country in South America, and I think it's the best destination on the continent for solo travelers as well.
Here's why I love Argentina so much, and what makes it perfect for solo travelers.
It's Extremely Safe
One of the top reasons that Argentina is great for solo travelers is because of how safe it is.
Along with neighboring Chile and Uruguay, Argentina is among the safest countries in South America. Especially for solo female travelers, this is very important.
I felt very safe the entire time I was in Argentina as a solo female traveler.
The only thing you really have to watch out for is petty theft in certain areas of Buenos Aires — always be vigilant and keep your purse, wallet, phone, and other valuables close.
A Beautiful And Vibrant Capital City
Buenos Aires is where I spent the most time in Argentina (over a month) and I can easily say that it's one of my favorite cities in the world!
It's a world-class capital city that is often referred to as the “Paris of the South” because of its European influences in culture and architecture. I also found that it reminded me a lot of New York — it's also a city that never sleeps!
You can never be bored in Buenos Aires because there's always something going on.
As a solo traveler, you can explore the city's many museums and stroll through its parks and gardens, dive into a new neighborhood through a walking tour, or experience the city's nightlife.
Some of my favorite spots in the city include the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA), a great art museum, and the Jardín Japonés, a tranquil Japanese garden that's an oasis in the middle of the busy city.
Easy To Make Friends
One thing I loved about Argentina was how easy it was to make friends, both locals and other travelers.
Argentinians as a whole are very warm and friendly, and in Buenos Aires, it was really easy to connect with locals and meet new friends.
I also found it easy to meet other travelers, some of whom were just visiting Argentina for a short time and others who were digital nomads and expats staying long-term.
Some great ways to meet friends while traveling are to stay in hostels or join group activities such as walking tours, cooking classes, tango lessons, language exchanges, and so on.
Stunning Natural Beauty
Argentina is an amazing country filled with diverse landscapes and natural beauty — although as the eighth largest country in the world, you could spend many months exploring and still not see it all!
Since Argentina is such a large country, you will probably need to take domestic flights to get around (unless you enjoy 18-hour bus rides that won't even save you that much money!)
Some of the best places to visit in Argentina are the Patagonia region in the south (especially if you love hiking), Iguazu Falls which is on the border of Argentina and Brazil, and the otherworldly desert landscapes around Salta in the north.
My personal favorite place in Argentina was Iguazu Falls — it's easy to visit independently from Buenos Aires, just hop on a short flight to Puerto Iguazu and spend a couple of days exploring the national parks on the Argentinian and Brazilian sides of the falls.
Affordable Prices
Finally, you can't talk about Argentina without mentioning how affordable it is.
Argentina has experienced an ongoing financial crisis for years now that has caused extreme inflation and currency fluctuations for locals.
However, for travelers, this has made Argentina extremely cheap thanks to the unofficial “Dolar Blue” and the preferential “Dolar MEP” exchange rates that effectively double your money.
I was shocked by how affordable Argentina was, with nice meals out in Buenos Aires often costing less than $10 and Uber rides anywhere in the city costing just $2-3.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Martin
Thursday 7th of March 2024
Now it is not as cheap as it was until november.
Mike
Thursday 7th of March 2024
Are you serious? At the worse inflation rate of OVER 200% and the political situation nowadays???
Pedro
Friday 8th of March 2024
@Dale, It's not that cheap any more. Since the government change last December, the official peso has been devalued by more than 100%, pushing prices up,but the free dollar has increased only marginally which means that in terms of dollar prices, Argentina has become more expensive. A nice meal in a standard restaurant will cost around 25 to 30 usd.
Dale
Thursday 7th of March 2024
@Mike, Yes, I don't see why those factors would deter travelers - inflation is obviously devastating for Argentinians, but it's a comparatively cheap destination for many foreign visitors and that makes it even easier to tip generously and support local businesses. Argentina is still safe, beautiful, and worth visiting.