By Dominick DalSanto – Staff Writer
Do you have an interest in traveling to Argentina? After determining that you have an interest in visiting a certain place, the first thing that you do, is try and get an idea of how much it will cost to travel there e.g. Air Fare, Rooming, Cost of Living, etc. In this series of articles we will discuss how much you can expect to spend on these expenses on an average trip to Argentina. This first article in this series will discuss, the best time to fly to Argentina. When is the best time to fly to Argentina? How much can you expect to pay for a round trip ticket from the United States, or Europe? And, is there any difference between visiting in summer or winter?
When is the best time to fly to Argentina?
Knowing the best time to go to Argentina is all about understanding the seasons. For most of us Northern Hemisphere inhabitants, winter for us means December to February and summer means June to August. But for our friends in Argentina, in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are exactly the opposite. In Argentina, as is normal in most places, the tourism industry to busier in the summer, than in the winter. However because of the flipped seasons, their busy season ranges from about December to March. So you can expect to find the highest ticket prices around this time. In contrast between May to August tends to be the cheapest time to fly to Argentina. This however comes with their (very mild) winter.
How much can you expect to pay?
This being said, the best time to be there, and the cheapest time to go, are not one in the same. That is not to say however that you will always pay an outrageous price to fly in peak season. I made a little chart here for you easy reference. Remember these are just samples, the key here is that these fares change almost daily. The key is to always be checking.*
Estimated cost for one round trip ticket to Buenos Aires: *
Argentine Summer: $1,000 to $1,400
Argentine Spring/Fall/Winter: $800 to $1,100
*These sample fares are estimates only. You will always be able to on occasion find something a lot cheaper, or see the prices a lot higher. To learn how to find the cheapest tickets every time, see the article: Argentine Buyers Guide: How to get cheap tickets to Buenos Aires.
*All flights final destination is EZE Buenos Aires, which is the main international Airport in Argentina.
Is there any difference between visiting in summer or winter?
Most visitors to Argentina will be spending the majority of their time in “Capital Federal” Buenos Aires. And depending on the time of year you go the scene and mood of the city will be very different. In winter the city tends to be more geared towards inside activities, such as Movie, Art, Theater, and Tango festivals. Many people are also attracted to the winter months for the opportunity to go snow skiing/boarding in the western and southern parts of the country something that is unavailable in rest of the world at those times (Skiing in July, not many places on Earth you can do that).
Whereas in the summer, there are many free outdoors events and shows such as Music, Concerts, Crafts Markets, and Sporting Events. This is not to say that you will not enjoy yourself in Buenos Aires if you go in the winter, just be aware that the spring/summer brings with it a substantially larger amount of potential activities.
My personal recommendation as a local Expat, is to come and visit in either late spring (October, or November), or early fall (April, or May). This will allow you to avoid the worst of the weather, and give you a nice taste of both outdoor and indoor activity. Winter trips are good when you are looking to save money and get a cheap flight. You might also enjoy taking a trip out to western or southern Argentina to visit the mountains for some snow skiing/Boarding. However if you look hard enough you can find a spring or fall flight for about the same as a winter one. If you can find a summer flight (January to March) at a reasonable price you will find the cities at their absolute peak in terms of activities, and potential adventures.
Note: If you plan on visiting far southern Argentina/Chile e.g. Patagonia, you will need to come during the summer months, as this is the only time that you are able to view many of the majestic wonders that this very special region of the world has to offer (Glaciers, Penguins, etc).
