With incredible natural beauty, lively cities, friendly people, fascinating historic sites and a unique blend of South American and European culture, Argentina has plenty to offer our adventurous volunteers. We’ve listed below some of the popular sites and cities that IVHQ volunteers can experience while on the IVHQ Argentina programs in Buenos Aires and Cordoba.
In and around Cordoba
Take a bus tour or guided walking tour to explore the historic center of Córdoba, exploring its many museums, monuments, churches, monasteries and ancient buildings, which retain much of the cultural history of the former Argentina. The traditional San Martin Square, the Cathedral, the Las Teresas Church, the Juan de Tejeda Museum of Religious Arts and the Jesuit Block (declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site) are the most distinguished buildings in the city. Complete your tour of this intriguing city with a visit to the Pasaje Santa Catalina, the Church of St. Catherine of Siena, the Church of San Francisco, the Plazoleta Ambrosio Funes and the imposing Teatro del Libertador General San Martin.
Another recommended circuit to explore the center of Córdoba traces the new tourist boulevard Avenida Hipólito Irigoyen, linking the historic center of the city with the cultural and recreational spaces. Here you can visit the Paseo del Buen Pastor and attractive dancing water fountain, the Ferreyra Palace, the Museum of Fine Arts Emilio Caraffa and the Museum of Natural Sciences. Along this boulevard is also a selection of trendy restaurants and themed bars for visitors to enjoy.
In and around Buenos Aires
Explore the capital of Buenos Aires, one of the world’s biggest cities in which, including the suburbs, there are over 13,000,000 inhabitants! With its warm people, wide range shopping and cultural displays, and unique neighborhoods (each with different personalities), visitors can’t help but fall in love with this fascinating city. Explore the city by strolling the pedestrian Florida Street or hop on a city bus tour and jump on and off as many times as you please! The tour stops in popular neighborhoods, such as Recoleta, Puerto Madero, San Telmo, Palermo, Congreso, and more.
Further afield
While volunteering in Argentina, volunteers can take advantage of the opportunity to travel further afield to see more of what the country has to offer. We have highlighted just some popular weekend destinations for volunteers in Argentina, but our local staff are always willing to share with you the many other locations well worth exploring when you arrive in country.
You can explore several towns in the Sierras de Córdoba, the hill district west of Córdoba, which is the second most popular tourist destination of Argentina. The nearest tourist spots, Villa Carlos Paz (the pearl of the Sierras) or Alta Gracia (home to the popular Che Guevara Museum) are only around 30 kilometers from the Córdoba city center. However, if you prefer a bit more peace and tranquillity, you can venture to the Traslasierra Valley (120 kilometers west of Córdoba), or to the Quebrada del Condorito National Park for stunning views of the Córdoba Province and condor watching opportunities, or head to the more southerly spots like Achiras or Río de los Sauces for some great trekking. Another very popular destinations for visitors to Argentina is Villa General Belgrano, a Bavarian style mountain village and home to the third largest Oktoberfest celebration in the world!
Iguazu Falls
Spanning the border between Brazil and Argentina are the spectacular semi-circular Iguazu Falls, touring at 80 meters high and stretching 2,700 meters in diameter. Surrounded by subtropical rainforest with over 2,000 species of plants and 800 species of bird, the Iguazu National Park is also home to a range of wildlife typical of the region, including giant anteaters, howler monkeys, tapirs, ocelots, jaguars and caymans. Taking a long weekend to explore the breathtaking Iguazu Falls is always worth the trip!
Mendoza
Visit the heart of the world renowned Argentine wine industry and spend a weekend exploring Mendoza, next to Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas. While it is located in a dry desert region, Mendoza has an extensive artificial irrigation system, which allows for lush greenery throughout the city and the growth of grapes used to produce its world famous wines. Towering over the city is the Andean precordillera of the Andes, putting the snow-covered peaks of the Andes on display throughout the year. No trip to Mendoza is complete without taking a Wine Road tour and visiting the many wineries en route.
To apply for the program or explore the volunteering opportunities available in Argentina, visit our Buenos Aires and Cordoba volunteer program pages.
