Argentina: Culture and Heritage

Argentina’s people

Visitors to Argentina often notice that Argentinians are much more European than their other South American neighbors. Argentine people are extremely passionate, about life, about family, love, food, politics, and perhaps even above all, about fútbol (soccer). You will find on your Argentina tour that the people are warm and sentimental, family is paramount in daily life, and hospitality often extends to include close friends and neighbors. People can be open and direct or even blunt, not afraid to speak their minds and implement their quick wit and sarcasm.

Traditions and culture in Argentina’s provinces

In the interior provinces, residents lead a much more relaxed-pace country life than their city-dwelling counterparts in Buenos Aires. Local shops will close usually around midday for the siesta (naptime). Afternoon hours are marked by sharing yerba mate and long conversations.

Our Argentina tours are incomplete without sighting the country’s iconic cowboy figure – the authentic gaucho, very much alive in the country’s interiors where you will find traditionally-dressed gauchos on horseback. Jineteadas (rodeos), large-scale asados (barbecues) and folkloric music and dance are common in rural areas.

Top Tips: Culture in Argentina

• Get used to being kissed -a lot! Argentinians greet one another by a kiss on the cheek (one cheek in Buenos Aires and sometimes both cheeks in interior provinces).
• While always respectful, don’t be surprised over casual physical contact in conversations – Argentinians are warm and physical communicators.
• Argentinians are rather infamously late: be patient.
• It is considered unfashionable to arrive on time for parties and social gatherings in Argentina. Arrive 30-40 minutes later than the time you have been invited.

Soak up the unique culture in Argentina at your own pace on your tailor-made tour with us.