Boutique hotels in Argentina

Argentina is a country of extremes, from the tango streets of Buenos Aires to the vineyards beneath the Andes and the glaciers of Patagonia. Its small hotels reflect the scale: converted mansions in the capital, wine lodges in Mendoza, estancias on the pampas and remote lodges at the end of the world.

Buenos Aires and the pampas

Buenos Aires has the country's greatest density of boutique hotels, in Palermo, Recoleta and San Telmo, from design hotels in old warehouses to Belle Époque mansions. A short drive away, San Antonio de Areco and the Paraná delta around Tigre offer estancias and river lodges, and the Atlantic resort of Mar del Plata has a long seaside history.

Wine country and the northwest

Mendoza and the Uco Valley are known for Malbec, with lodges among the vines and the Andes as a backdrop. Further north, Salta, Cafayate, Purmamarca and Tilcara have colonial towns, red-rock canyons and high-altitude wineries. Córdoba has hill-country estancias.

Patagonia and the Lake District

Bariloche, Villa La Angostura and San Martín de los Andes sit among lakes and forests, while El Calafate and El Chaltén give access to Perito Moreno glacier and Mount Fitz Roy. Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city, is the gateway to Antarctica, and Península Valdés is the place to see whales. Iguazú Falls and the Iberá Wetlands in the northeast offer jungle lodges.

When to go

Spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) suit most regions. Summer is best for Patagonia, and winter for skiing in Bariloche. Mendoza's harvest is in March.