Reversing Seasons: Exploring Argentina in August

Entering Winter in Summer

The headlines dominating travel media all summer seemed to be about the same three subjects: Overtourism. Climate change. Rude behavior toward tourists, not only by tourists. Reports came in from my own friends vacationing in Europe about crowded streets, crowded beaches, above 100-degree temperatures and local resentment against tourists in popular cities.

So this August I decided to do something different, and booked a last minute ticket to a part of the world where no one goes in the middle of summer, unless they want to ski. To a destination where it is winter: the Southern Hemisphere. Specifically to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Argentina is such a rich travel destination, with a variety of lifestyles to be found all within its borders. From cosmopolitan city life, to cowboy ranch life, to mountain life, to wine life, wildlife, waterfalls, glaciers— the scope of experiences visitors have to choose from is incredible. Argentina is also the country that over a decade ago welcomed me as a brand new mom, suffering acutely from a broken heart. I am forever bound to this country for how it helped me to heal, but what a joy it was to refresh my memory on all it has to offer a culture-curious traveler.

As a metropolis, Buenos Aires is marvelously sophisticated, reminiscent of Madrid or Paris or of another European city from 20 years ago, when you could move through cobblestoned streets with ease without the visual assault of motley crowds or bystanders lost in their smartphones. Its landscape boasts wide avenues and Beaux-Arts buildings, expansive green parks, and detailed, colorful street art created by talented artists. Shopping is a feast for the eyes, with carefully curated shops, and chic fashion by local designers.

Walking through the neighborhoods, they each felt very residential in their own way with their distinct hum of daily life. Neighbors greeting each other as they walked their dogs, moms with kids stopped at a cafe’s open window to order medialunas or a café con leche (café culture is very big here and I LOVE IT. I would stop for a cup multiple times a day.) It’s the perfect city for slow travel, to fool yourself into thinking you too are a resident, walking its streets like a flâneur, soaking in local culture.

Maybe the city presented itself this way to me because it is the very low season for this destination. The only tourists I encountered were Brazilians. It wasn’t that cold, the temperature remained in the 50s for the most part, but once a friend joined me and we traveled north to Mendoza, Argentina’s wine country at the foot of the Andes mountains, I had to reluctantly purchase a thick puffer coat. It unexpectedly snowed on us as we rode horses up into the mountains. Thinking of the weeks of oppressive heat endured back home in June and July, it was a refreshing change.

I’ll be writing much more about Argentina in future posts, as we begin to book travel here for clients for the holiday season, when it’s their summer. It’s a great destination to visit year-round if you’re someone who wants to avoid large crowds, although the busiest times are from December to February when Argentines travel throughout the country for vacation. While visiting I stayed in multiple luxury hotels and met with preferred partners, to understand who can deliver my clients the best, most unique experiences for an unforgettable stay. Contact us to collaborate on the trip of a lifetime to this incredible country. It will keep you coming back for more.