Northern Argentina Campgrounds and Hotels

Download the Google Earth KMZ of our Northwest Argentina route and lodgings.

This article is part of our Accommodation Listing series.

Note that there are campgrounds EVERYWHERE in Argentina. Every small town will likely have a municipal camping area, and larger or touristy towns will have many. As usual, we've listed where we camped below, but you shouldn't be worried about showing up at a town at 5pm and trying to find a place to stay.

The best open source map for this part of Argentina is from Proyetcto Mapear. Although the regular OSM map is not bad, this map is far better at listing campground locations, especially in small towns.

Hosteria Bebo Vilte (Hotel with Camping)

Purmamarca
GPS: S23 44.862 W65 29.962
Cost: AR30 per person
Date we stayed: November 1, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: At reception (you may need to beg)
Internet: Maybe (see notes)
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No
Parking: Yes

Notes: Just a block uphill from the main square, this was a great place to spend a few nights. There is no supermarket in the town and like everywhere else in Northern Argentina, all of the shops will close between 1pm and 6pm. Plan accordingly. There is wifi, but we had to beg for the password as we were told it was only for guests staying in the hotel. We also has to beg for the receptionist to charge our laptops. There are no outlets in the camping area.

El Jardin (Campground)

Tilcara
GPS: S23 34.548 W65 23.973
Cost: AR20 per person, AR10 per vehicle
Date we stayed: November 3, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No
Parking: Yes

Notes: This is a huge campground with typical facilities for Argentina. Power outlets, grills and tables at every site. The night we camped here a rodeo setup shop right next to the campground. It was fun to watch but very noisy.

Camping Municipal Carlos Xamena

Salta
GPS: S24 48.746 W65 25.076
Cost: AR6 per person, AR12 per tent, AR12 per small car
Date we stayed: November 4, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No, but open networks nearby
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No
Parking: Yes

Notes: This is the best place to stay in Salta. Although we heard there is a disco club nearby, and it's best to go elsewhere on weekends. The gargantuan swimming pool is only full 2 months of the year, but the rest of the campground is still well maintained. Don't leave things laying around here. Many overlanders have reported thefts.

Camping Municipal

Cachi
GPS: S25 07.281 W66 09.991
Cost: AR30 per tent
Date we stayed: November 7, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot certain hours
Electricity: At sites above
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No
Parking: Yes

Notes: The bottom area is grassy and has tables, grill and lots of shade, great for tent campers. Above is a dirt area with sites divided by nice hedges, more level and better for vehicles. There is electricity all day at the sites above, and electricity at the bottom sites after 7pm when the lights are turned on.

Camping Luz y Fuerza

Cafayate
GPS: S26 04.858 W65 58.611
Cost: AR10 per person, AR10 per tent
Date we stayed: November 8, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Yes (near the shop)
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No
Parking: Yes

Notes: A big dirt area with thankfully a good amount of shade. All spots have tables, grills and electrical outlets. There is pretty good wifi that you can reach if you sit near the snack shop. It can get noisy here on weekends. Showers are hot 24 hours a day! Walking distance to town and many wine tasting bodegas.

Camping Los Sauza

Tafi de Valle
GPS: S26 50.935 W65 42.891
Cost: AR20 per person, AR10 per car, AR10 per tent
Date we stayed: November 11, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot (maybe)
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No
Parking:No

Notes: A great grassy camping area a few blocks from the center. We only stayed one night because the weather was bad, but this would easily be a nice place to relax a few days and explore the town. The hot water heater in the showers was broken when we were there, but the staff said it would be fixed the following day.

Camping Molinos

Londres
GPS: S27 42.025 W67 09.933
Cost: Free (AR5 on weekends)
Date we stayed: November 12, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Cold
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No
Parking: Yes

Notes: A great camping spot, apart from the cold showers and sketchy bathrooms. There is an irrigation trench that runs through the camping area and thankfully drowns out the noise of other campers. Lots of shade, huge grilling areas, and covered shelters with tables.

Camping Amebapla

Chilecito
GPS: S29 11.247 W67 28.369
Cost: AR30 per person
Date we stayed: November 14, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Wood fired!
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No
Parking: Yes

Notes: Every other place around town was closed up, so we ended up here by chance. I think we lucked out because the owner was about to leave when we drove in. He unlocked the bathrooms, brought out some chairs and turned on the power.

Camping Unknown

San Agustin Del Valle Fertil
GPS: S30 37.935 W67 28.599
Cost: AR30 per tent
Date we stayed: November 16, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No
Parking: Yes

Notes: We don't know the name of this place. It was just across the street from a well signed, but very closed campground/hostel. The family was very friendly and the campground looked quiet and had lots of shade. They also have a merry-go-round and light switches for those pesky lamps that always happen to be right above our tents.

Camping Don Bosco

San Juan
GPS: S31 33.520 W68 27.906
Cost: AR25 per person
Date we stayed: November 17, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Cold
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No
Parking: Yes

Notes: This is a huge municipal area. We opted to stay in the back under eucalyptus trees and set up our own table and chairs, rather than camp where there were power and tables. We saw several huge stereo systems, and it was Saturday night.

Camping Parque Suizo

Mendoza
GPS: S32 51.300 W68 53.800
Cost: AR40 per person
Date we stayed: November 18, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Yes, but painfully slow
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No
Parking: Yes

Notes: A tranquilo place a few miles outside of town. The internet was painful, most of the time we went to the little cafe next to the Walmart a few minutes drive away. Covered shelters for tents, tables, chairs and of course grilling areas too.

Camping El Montañes

Portrerillos
GPS: S32 58.409 W69 14.150
Cost: AR25 per person
Date we stayed: November 22, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No
Parking: Yes

Notes: This was the location of our epic pork roast for Thanksgiving dinner. Nice grassy areas, some shelters, tables, chairs and plenty of shade. The water went out in the showers and the owners were nice enough to open a cabin we all could use to shower.

Los Puquios (Camping in Summer)

Puente del Inca
GPS: S32 49.477 W69 53.548
Cost: Free
Date we stayed: November 25, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: No
Electricity: No
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No
Parking: Yes

Notes: Beautiful scenery, and very nice family. It's cold and windy here at night, and there's no shade or shelter. It's just a few minutes to the Incan Bridge and another 5km or so to the Cerro Aconcagua trail to the mirador. A great place to stay just before crossing the border.

Las Palmeras (Camping)

Concordia
GPS: S31 14.742 W57 57.759
Cost: AR$40 per person
Date we stayed: March 30, 2013

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes
Parking: Yes

Notes: Great campground on the lake. There are lots of sites, the showers are hot certain hours of the day and there is a small store that sells the basics. This campground provides free water for mate.

Ipora Resort (Camping)

Santo Tome
GPS: S28 35.124 W56 05.363
Cost: AR$50 per tent
Date we stayed: March 31, 2013

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No
Parking: Yes

Notes: This campsite is located jut outside of town. A little run down resort with a brand new bathroom block. No established campsites, but tons of space. A good stopping point to break up the drive from Buenos Aires to the falls.

Costa Ramon (Camping)

Puerto Iguazu
http://campingcostaramon.blogspot.com.br/
GPS: S25 37.185 W54 35.647
Cost: AR$70 per person
Date we stayed: April 1, 2013

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Yes
Kitchen: Yes
Restaurant: No
Parking: Yes

Notes: A well maintained family run campground. There is a monkey and three very noisy parrots. All the tent sites are under rain shelters, walking distance from the Piranha river where you can fish and swim. Might be a little tight for big rigs.

Comments

 

#1 Cesar 2013-01-25 22:14

I think you need to start adding at what time of day we need to transition into our warm underwear. Otherwise, as always, thanks for the great info.

 

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