Top ten activities in Argentina for kids and their families
Argentina is a great country to visit and has a great deal of attractions for families travelling with kids.
High mountains, pristine lakes, wildlife filled wetlands, glaciers and waterfalls are just some of the attractions this beautiful country has to offer.
Argentina is huge, covering an area more than eleven times that of the UK. It is well served with an extensive domestic flight network and good quality roads, making it easy to get around.
Here is our pick of our top ten activities in Argentina for kids and their families.
1) Boat Trip: Puerto Piramides to spot whales, Peninsula Valdes.
The season for spotting the Southern Right Whale runs from July to early December. The navigation normally lasts around two hours from Puerto Piramides. Along with the opportunity to spot the whales, the tours also include an explanation of the marine ecosystem. Sailings are subject to weather conditions and are usually taken as part of a full day guided tour from Puerto Madryn.
2) Penguin colony at Punta Tombo.
The season for Penguins runs from September to March. The full day excursion to Punta Tombo is usually done from Puerto Madryn. It is a 3.5 hour drive to reach the colony which is the largest one of Magellanic penguins in Argentina. There are over a million birds to be found here. Once at the colony you wander along a 3 km trail, with penguins popping up all around. For those with younger children there is the opportunity of a shorter tour from Puerto Madryn to smaller colonies.
For tours in the Peninsula Valdes area you might consider Peninsula Valdes Wildlife Tour or a stay at El Pedral Lodge.
3) Ibera Wetlands
Black Caiman, capybara, many bird species and other animals can be found at the Ibera wetlands in Northern Argentina. An inclusive package for families at Puerto Valle Hotel is a great option as it includes wildlife spotting excursions as well as other activities. At the hotel you will also find a pool, horses and bicycles. This tour can be combined with a visit to Brazil on a family tour. A more rustic option suitable for families with older children could be the Irupe Lodge.
4) Iguazu Falls
The Iguazu falls are a great spectacle of nature. The roaring falls will fascinate kids of all ages and we highly recommend you choose a tour that includes visits to the Argentine as well as Brazilian falls. On the Brazilian side there is the Macuco Safari boat experience which is suitable for kids of all ages. Ideally you should spend at least two nights in Puerto Iguazu to visit the falls . This is a relaxing place to spend time with the family, most hotels have pool facilities.
5) Bariloche – Outdoors
Bariloche in the Argentine lake district has much to do for the outdoor family. Activities can be tailored to suit the level of difficulty required. We can include a variety of family friendly activities such as hikes, kayak, bike rides, or simply scenic touring and boat rides. A sample itinerary which can be customised to suit you would be our Bariolche Multi activity tour.
6) Bariloche – chocolate tasting tour.
Bariloche is well known for its chocolate factories, an activity introduced by the Swiss settlers. Tours include learning about the history of chocolate and tasting different varieties as well as guessing what else has been added to some of the chocolates. Kids will love the many animal shaped chocolates available for sale.
7) Glaciers
El Calafate in Argentine Patagonia is the must go part of Argentina for seeing glaciers. Visit the huge wonderful ice-river that is the Perito Moreno Glacier and get up close to the wall of ice on the wooden walkways. You are almost guaranteed to witness ice calving off the face of the glacier. For a spectacular boat trip don’t miss the 40 minute cruise across the front of the glacier to get a really different perspective. To learn about Glaciers, the “Glaciarium Museum” is an excellent experience.
8) Wine – family friendly
In Mendoza you might wish to take a family wine day tour. The tour is designed for parents to learn about viticulture whilst giving the kids fun activities at the same time. Some kids activities include making labels for wine bottles and collages made with leaves, branches and grapes.
9) Estancia day out
From Buenos Aires a full day visit to an estancia is a fun day out. On a day tour with the family you will have a delicious asada, a meat feast lunch (fresh pasta also a speciality and salads), folk demonstrations, options for horse riding and carriage riding. During the summer season there may be the use of pool facilities.
10) A day in the park
In Buenos Aires, a visit to the Parque Tres de Febrero is a nice way to spend time with the kids. Activities include boat rentals on the lake, visiting the Botanical Garden or the Japanese Garden where you will find a lake well stocked with colourful fish.
We have chosen just a few of the many kid friendly activities that can be done in Argentina. There are many more and any of our Argentina tours can be customised to fit with your family preferences.
The seasons in Argentina are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere. If you are planning to visit then the best time to visit the southern part of the country (Lake District and Patagonia) is from October through to May. The rest of the country is good to see at any time, an all year round destination.
To get the best out of your family holiday we help you consider the seasons, terrain and the distances involved as well as the activities you would like to include.
