Time: days 38 (northern Argentina 31 Jan -14 Feb and 3-14 April, southern Argentina 13-22 March)
Budget: $102.29 northern Argentina, $172.99 southern Argentina (per day for two people)
Itinerary: Puerto Iguazu 3 days, Cordoba 5 days, Rosario 2 days, Buenos Aires 5 days, Mendoza 6 days, Salta 7 days (northern Argentina) Bariloche 4 days, Perito Moreno town 1 day, El Chaltén 1 day, El Calafate 4 days (southern Argentina).
We criss-crossed in and out of Argentina over a number of weeks. Patagonia was much more expensive than the northern cities we visited. Although a large part of the budget was transport costs, food was also generally more expensive (and also a lot tastier – guess that’s what happens when there’s tourists about).
I’ve always dreamed of visiting Patagonia and if I had more time and money I’d have spent longer there (the area around Salta was also very beautiful). Don’t get me wrong, the cities were cool, but I’m not that interested in Argentinian culture to warrant returning to them. Instead I found the real charm lay in the landscapes.
Recommendations:
Green House Hostel, Bariloche – this small and cosy hostel is a little out of town, but nearer to hiking trails. If you order in advance, the staff can make you awesome homemade pizza. There’s also a cute cat.
Hospedaje Lautaro, El Calafate– Belén and Dario are the BEST hosts ever; they strike a perfect match between friendliness, egality and service. Plus, they run a tiny restaurant on site which serves very delicious food. The best place we’ve stayed. Ever.
North:
Iguazú Falls – a video
Butterflies in Iguazú – a video
Gralha de crista negra, Iguazú national Park – a video
Riding a boat into a waterfall
Carnaval Porteño 2012 in Boedo
Carnaval – a video
Contemporary Art Museum, Salta
Quebrada de las Conchas – a video
South:
Rapanui chocolatier, Bariloche
Route 40, Bariloche to Perito Moreno
Photo Essay: Cueva de las Manos
Things I heard over an asado in Hopedaje Lautaro
Laguna Nimez Reserve, El Calafate
Strolling South America 
Great summary! Gosh, Argentina was surprisingly expensive, wasn’t it? We’d been banking on it to be one of our “budget” destinations, but it just wasn’t so. Locals told us they have 30% inflation every year. Can you imagine!? 😦
Yes, that’s what we heard too. Friends in Salta and they told us the price of a steak had increased by a third in the three years they’d been living there. I don’t know how people manage!
I don’t think they’re managing at all. We saw some weird stuff in Argentina – men dressed in full suits looking for change in payphone and pulling bottles out of garbages – that sort of thing. It was heartbreaking to see – people are definitely struggling. 😦