With 33 national parks to pick from, Argentina is one of the best places to see nature at its finest.
Here are the top 7 national parks to visit in Argentina. Do stick around until the end of this article to discover one of the new wonders of the world.
Number 7: Tierra del Fuego National Park
Tierra del Fuego is one of the many national parks in the Patagonian region of Argentina and the main attraction in the area.
It is sometimes referred to as the park at the end of the world because of its location in the southernmost part of the globe, before Antarctica. Covering an area of over 600 square KM, the park is among the biggest in the region and can hardly be missed by tourists.
Are you planning a trip to South Argentina? Well, you are already assured of much fun exploring the vast icy lands. But you can rest assured that a visit to the Tierra del Fuego National Park will be up there among your best experiences.
The park is known for its many attractions, including forests, mountains, lakes, glaciers, waterfalls, and a spectacular coastline that exhibits one of the most incredible sceneries you'll ever come across.
You can also find wildlife in the park, with seagulls, kingfishers, king penguins, condors, owls, austral parakeets, and hummingbirds among the most notable.
To begin, you can take a direct flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, from whence you can get a good tour of the park.
Number 6: Nahuel Huapi National Park
Still in the Patagonian region, and not too far from Tierra del Fuego, is the Nahuel Huapi National Park in the Rio Negro province. It is one of the most popular parks in Argentina for many reasons, but mainly because it is the oldest designated national park in the country.
The park was established in 1934, and it has since gained recognition as a place of extreme national beauty and heritage, with many tourists making it a priority to come here during their stay in the Patagonian region.
With an average of over 600,000 annual visitors, the park sure ranks among the most visited places in South Argentina.
This park is built around Nahuel Huapi Lake, which itself is a beautiful scene to behold. However, the park consists of other exquisite landscapes like lakes, rivers, and forests, and even a volcano.
Surely, a visit to this place promises lots of fun, with activities like hiking, skiing, ice skating, sailing, and boating available to make the experience worthwhile.
However, you may want to avoid visiting in winter, as the temperature can get to extreme levels and activities halted because of the steady rain and snowfalls.
Number 5: Los Cardones National Park
The northeastern region of Argentina is most famous for the cultural and historical museums located in the area. But then, it doesn't lack its fair share of breathtaking national parks, and Los Cardones National Park is one of the best in the region.
The 650 square KM park was only established in 1996 but is quickly becoming a tourist favorite in the region.
Of course, it is almost impossible to overlook a park with so much exciting desert life, fossils, geological formations, and dinosaur tracks, among other attractions that are sure to leave you amazed.
The arid desert is surrounded by giant mountains reaching heights of almost 5,000 meters. The beautiful landscapes in the valleys in-between compliment the painted hills with a unique vegetation type.
No doubt, this is a must-visit park in Argentina, and you can't afford to miss out on any opportunity to go hiking in this part of town.
You'll also get the chance to interact with locals who fancy spending time here too, admiring one of nature’s most exciting capitals. The best time to visit Los Cardones National Park is between August and October when precipitation is low and the temperature is mild.
Number 4: Los Alerces National Park
Have you ever heard of the Alerce tree? It is one of the oldest trees in the world, and the Los Alerces National Park in the Chubut province of Argentina is one of the few places you can find this endangered plant.
The 2,360 square KM park was established in 1937 and adopted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017.
It features a series of different ecosystems, including the Valdivian temperate rainforest, high-Andean steep, Patagonian steep, and Andean-Patagonia Forest. These unique landscapes contribute to making this park one of the best places to visit in the province.
There are many reasons to include this park in your bucket list, but many tourists often see it as a point where they can commune with nature and marvel at the sight of the giant Alerces in the area.
While at the park, you can also enjoy the fantastic view of the network of lakes and rivers or engage in several other activities like hiking, fishing, camping, and rafting excursions.
But it will be best to leave your trip till summertime, as the hiking trails in the area often close in winter due to heavy rain and snow falls in the region.
Number 3: Aconcagua Provincial Park
The Aconcagua Provincial Park is another outstanding national Park to add to your bucket list of parks to visit during your stay in Argentina. It is located in Argentina's Andes region and houses Mount Aconcagua, among other attractions in the 185 square KM park.
No doubt, this park ranks among the elite parks in Argentina, and it promises an experience to remember.
You surely do not want to miss the chance to get a closer look at the ice-capped mountain, which has the highest peak in South America. You can also join a team of hikers for a unique high-altitude hiking experience.
Number 2: Los Glaciares National Park
The Los Glaciares National Park is located in the heart of the Patagonian region of Argentina, and many have argued that it is the best in the country. This comes as no surprise, though, mainly because it is the largest of all the National Parks.
The park spans an incredible total area of 7,270 square KM and mainly consists of glaciers and ice fields. The shiny blue landscape is always a remarkable sight to behold, earning it the title of the most beautiful national park in South America and one of the finest in the world.
The park was created in 1945 to protect the glaciers and the Prussian blue lakes in the region. But it has since developed into one of the world's leading natural parks and one of the most visited attractions in Argentina.
It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features breathtaking landscapes, including towering mountains surrounding the ever-so-impressive ice field. However, the main attraction is the Perito Moreno glacier, which is the most significant in Argentina.
Like most tourists, you can base yourself at El Calafate, the closest city to the park, before making your way up to see the glaciers at your convenience.
But then, you sure want to fix your trip to the Los Glaciares National Park in the summer as the region can get frigid in other cold months.
Number 1: Iguazu National Park
The Iguazu National Park spans Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, and it is arguably the best in each of these countries.
In Argentina, it occupies an area of 672 square KM in the northeastern region of the province, and its most famous attraction is the 80-meter high semicircular Iguazu Falls. The Iguazu Falls is an astonishing array of waterfalls that is identified as one of the Modern 7 Wonders of the World.
Created in 1934, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has since become the most visited national park in all of Argentina, averaging over 1.5 million visitors annually.
At Iguazu National Park, you can enjoy many other exciting activities. Like most tourists, you will certainly enjoy hiking the subtropical jungle surrounding the giant waterfalls.
But if you are not up for a hiking exercise, you can stay at the base of the waterfall and enjoy the exotic view of the water and the flora that makes up beautiful green landscapes in this area.
Whatever you choose, you can rest assured of having the best time of your life whenever you visit the Iguazu National Park. The best time to explore the waterfalls as a first timer is in spring when the paths are dry and safe.