Are you planning a trip to South America? As the continent’s second-largest country (after Brazil), Argentina offers countless memorable experiences for every type of journey. From city breaks in Buenos Aires or Rosario to beach getaways, wine tastings, hikes and even ski holidays, Argentina’s storied history and varied geography make it a dream destination.
Planning a trip to such a vast country can seem overwhelming. We’ve rounded up twenty of the most interesting things about Argentina to inspire visitors and shine a light on some of Argentina’s best-known spots and hidden gems. Here's twenty Argentina country facts:
20 Interesting Things About Argentina
1. Tango was invented in Argentina
The world-famous tango music and dance form originated in Uruguay and Argentina. A hybrid of international dance styles, tango was originally danced in the port towns along the La Plata River before becoming popular among Argentine high society. Today, tango can be seen everywhere from prestigious dance academies to contemporary clubs and dance halls throughout the country.
2. Argentina's national sport is Pato
Despite football's constant presence in Argentine daily life, the national sport is actually Pato - a notoriously dangerous horseback game invented by Argentine ranchers in the 1600s. Today, there are only a few thousand regular Pato players in a nation of 45 million, though the sport retains significant cultural and historical importance. Pato was repeatedly banned due to its violent nature (in some areas, a live duck was used instead of a ball) until regulations in the 1930s led to increased popularity and officially recognized status as the national sport.
3. Argentina is home to one of the world's largest Welsh communities
The sparsely populated province of Patagonia is home to one of the largest populations of Welsh speakers outside the UK. The Y Wladfa, or Patagonian Welsh, date back to a number of small settlements founded in the 19th century. Today, around 70,000 people identify as Patagonian Welsh. Welsh influences can still be seen in the regional place names, language and local dishes, many of which combine indigenous American, Spanish and traditional Welsh influences.
4. Argentina was the first Latin American country to legalize gay marriage
Argentina is widely recognized as one of the safest countries for LGBTQ+ travellers. Buenos Aires, in particular, is renowned for its large number of queer-friendly cafes, restaurants and bars.
Argentinian cuisine reflects both its long human history and diverse climate. The nation’s abundance of open meadows, dense forest and fertile soil provide the perfect conditions for grazing cattle and growing tropical fruits and grapes. All these combine to make it one of the world’s leading consumers of steak and fine wines.
From a societal standpoint, the traditional national dishes reflect the country’s indigenous Argentine, Italian and Spanish heritage. Don't leave Argentina without trying the following local specialties:
5. Choripán
Choripán is an icon of Argentinian street food. Simple, delicious and readily available throughout the country, a Choripán sandwich is made by taking a freshly grilled chorizo sausage and serving it in a crusty roll with a variety of toppings- though chimichurri is the classic accompaniment.
6. Dulce de Leche
Dulce de Leche is a staple of the Argentine kitchen, introduced by Italian immigrants in the 19th Century. This smooth, caramelised spread is used in recipes, like Alfajores (chocolate and dulce de leche-covered cookies), poured onto desserts, or just eaten on its own.
7. Asado
Asado in Argentina is a pastime as much as a meal, comparable to an Italian Aperitivo - it’s an event rather than an individual dish. The basic elements required for Asado are large quantities of meat, usually beef, grilled outside and shared among a large group. It’s different to an American BBQ, though both events share a communal spirit. Traditional Asado foods include grilled steaks and ribs, as well as salads, grilled intestines (chinchulines) and chorizo.
8. Malbec Wine
Argentina is the fifth-largest wine producer in the world. Wines from the high-altitude Mendoza region, and Mendoza Malbec in particular, are renowned for their distinctive character.
9. Yerba Mate
Argentine coffee is world-famous, but most Argentinians' caffeinated beverage of choice is Mate. First invented by the indigenous Guaraní, Mate is now a staple drink across South and Central America. This herbal tea is typically served in a hollowed-out gourd and drunk through a special straw called a bombilla. Traditionally consumed as a group sharing from the same cup, Mate is now a common aspect of contemporary Argentine life. It's drunk at all hours of the day and is also available in chilled, bottled or teabag variations.
10. Argentina is the home of Gaucho culture
Argentina's pampas grasslands and vast herds of cattle led to the development of Gaucho culture – originally a name for a particularly skilled horse rider, Gaucho denotes an entire culture and way of life that peaked in Argentina during the late 19th Century. Many famous gauchos have since passed into Argentinian folklore, and the are recurring characters in Argentine literature, arts and music. Today, Gaucho culture survives in the countryside where rodeos and displays of horsemanship are still regular events.
11. Argentina is home to one of the largest penguin colonies outside Antarctica
The southern region of Patagonia is home to one of the world's largest penguin colonies outside Antarctica. Mosty clustered around the Punta Tombo National Reserve, these birds occasionally migrate as far north as Brazil and can be spotted anywhere along Argentina’s Atlantic coastline. During breeding season, Patagonia is dotted with vast penguin colonies. Penguin-watching tours are a popular tourist activity in Argentina, and often combined with seal, dolphin and whale spotting trips off the coastline of the Tierra del Fuego at Argentina’s southern tip.
12. The Patagonian coast is a whale-watchers heaven
Patagonian wildlife isn't just confined to land - whales, dolphins and seals are abundant along the region's Atlantic coastline. A short boat ride offers the opportunity to see these up close.
13. The Iguazú Falls are the world’s largest waterfall system
Taller than Niagara, and wider than Victoria Falls, this network of 80-metre-high falls has to be seen to be believed. Forming part of the border between Argentina and Brazil, most of the falls themselves lie in Argentina. Visitors can fly directly to the falls from Buenos Aires, and the surrounding area has a large number of hostels, eco-lodges and retreats catering to waterfall watchers.
14. The Perito Moreno Glacier is over 15,000 years old
A far cry from the lush vegetation that surrounds the Iguazú Falls, Perito Moreno is Argentina’s other world-famous natural wonder. This 170-metre wall of ice is one of the country's most-visited sites, man-made or natural. A stark reminder of climate change, Perito Moreno is slowly but surely shrinking. Visitors can trek directly across the glacier itself, and see the famous ‘ruptures’, or naturally occurring ice caves within the glacier. The glacier has its own airport which hosts regular flights from Buenos Aires.
15. Ruta 40 is a single road that travels the length of Argentina
At 3,000 miles long, Ruta 40 is on par with bucket-list road trips like Route 66 or the North Coast 500. The country's spectacular mountain ranges, remote villages and wildly diverse landscape make for one of the most eventful cross-country roads on earth. The route follows the length of the Andes mountains through the entirety of Argentina, stretching from South America’s southernmost point to the Bolivian border.
16. Football is (literally) a religion
The Argentina men’s football team are the reigning world champions, and, in Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, the nation has produced two of the greatest players of all time. The depth of Maradona's legacy in Argentinian life is perhaps best illustrated by the Iglesia Maradoniana, or Church of Diego Maradona. This is an officially licensed (though tongue-in-cheek) religious group based in Rosario.
17. Buenos Aires hosts one of the greatest sporting rivalries in the world
This obsession with football doesn't end with the national team: two clubs in Buenos Aires, River Plate and Boca Juniors, compete in the Superclásico - one of the most intense sporting matches in the world. On derby day, nearby streets to the stadium are packed for hours before and after the match.
18. The nation has around 20 recognized languages
Like much of South America, Spanish is the predominant language in Argentina, spoken nearly everywhere in the country. Further to Spanish, Argentina contains around 15 different indigenous languages - the most widely spoken of these are the Guarani and Quechua language families. English is also commonly spoken and understood, especially among younger people. However, it's still a good idea to learn at least some basic Spanish before visiting.
19. Argentina is home to several world-class ski resorts
The Atlantic coast of Argentina conjures up visions of lush vineyards, tropical beaches and swaying pampas grass – but the country is also home to world-class ski resorts in the Andes mountains. This geographic diversity is one of the most interesting things about Argentina. Las Leñas and the Briloche region are two of the most notable ski spots in the country, making Argentina one of the few countries where you could snorkel and ski in the same holiday. As a southern-hemisphere nation, Argentina's ski season is the polar opposite of the northern one – as such, committed snowsports fans can continue to ski year-round by visiting Argentina between April and October and heading North for the winter months.
20. Roaming fees in Argentina can be avoided with an eSIM
Travelling to Argentina needn't mean switching off mobile data or solely relying on public Wi-Fi to get around. Travel eSIMs, like the Argentina eSIM from BetterRoaming, allow visitors to get online at local rates and use their phones in Argentina just like they would at home, without paying international roaming fees. From translation to navigation, a reliable and cheap mobile data connection in Argentina is near-essential when visiting
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