[takeaways] • Argentina has the highest per-capita beef consumption in the world, alongside its national drink, yerba mate, and its lesser-known national sport, Pato.
• Aconcagua, at 6,961 meters, is the highest peak in the Southern and Western Hemispheres, and the tallest mountain outside Asia.
• Buenos Aires has 25 bookstores for every 100,000 people — more than any other major city in the world — and was named UNESCO World Book Capital in 2011.
• Isabel Perón became the world's first woman to hold the title of President in 1974, succeeding her husband Juan Perón after his death.
• A community in Patagonia, Y Wladfa, still speaks Welsh alongside Spanish, a legacy of 19th-century settlement.
• A SIMOVO eSIM for Argentina keeps you connected to the fastest, most reliable mobile networks in the region. [/takeaways]
Planning a trip to Argentina soon? Chances are you've already been reading up on things to see and do across the cities and coast — but what about some fascinating facts? Argentina is truly unique in its sporting prowess, wine, and, oddly, meat consumption — and it's well worth getting to know it a little better before you depart.
In this guide, we take you through some amazing Argentina facts, some of which we think you'll have never heard of before. Grab a drink and take a look through these ten fast facts before grabbing an Argentina eSIM to cover your mobile data while you're away.
[numbered title="Argentina's national drink is yerba mate" pill="Culture"]Yerba mate is a herbal drink that actually derives from a plant of the same name — but regardless, it is seen as an important staple of Argentinian culture all the same. It's such a national drink that it's said to be enjoyed by all people and all classes here — it's thought to be a drink that connects people no matter who they are. So, even if you're not much of a tea drinker, if you're offered a cup while traveling in Argentina, graciously accept and give it a try.[/numbered] [numbered title="Argentina has the highest consumption of beef in the world" pill="Food and drink"]Argentina's cuisine is absolutely something you'll want to text home about, but let's zoom in on beef for a second. Believe it or not, Argentina has the highest beef consumption per capita on the planet, at approximately 46-49kg per person depending on the year and dataset, according to World Population Review. That's still well ahead of the second-placing nation. For comparison, the USA's consumption sits at around 37-38kg per capita, and the UK's isn't even half of Argentina's.[/numbered] [numbered title="The country's national sport isn't soccer" pill="Sport"]Given how much Argentina loves soccer (and the fact that national heroes like Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi are considered legends in the sport), you'd be forgiven for thinking it was the national sport here. Not so — that honor belongs to a game called Pato, which is somewhat like a blend between basketball and polo. Crucially, two teams of four ride horses and throw balls through netted hoops at either end of a pitch![/numbered] [numbered title="Argentina has the highest peak in the Southern and Western Hemispheres" pill="Geography"]Argentina's mountain scenery really deserves to be seen up close (and potentially climbed if you're feeling adventurous). Of the peaks here, Aconcagua stands tallest. It's considered the highest mountain across both South and West Hemispheres, and is apparently the tallest peak you'll find beyond the Himalayas, according to Kandoo Adventures. Sitting amid the impressive Andes, Aconcagua stands at around 6,961 meters tall — and the height really doesn't put climbers off from giving the heady peak a go.[/numbered] [numbered title="Buenos Aires is considered the global capital of books" pill="Culture"]There are plenty of great things to do in Buenos Aires, but how about getting into a good book or two? It just so happens that Argentina's capital is full of voracious readers, but not necessarily those who read and swipe on their Kindles. The city is said to have around 25 bookstores to every 100,000 people — and it's literary enough to the extent that it's even been recognized by UNESCO as the World Book Capital.[/numbered] [numbered title="Argentina had the world's first female President" pill="History"]Argentina led the way for female power as Isabel Perón took office in Argentina as the world's first woman President, back in 1974. Her husband, Juan Perón, died in office, leaving the widow to take the role as the country's head. However, her time in power was marked by a series of crises, which would eventually culminate in a coup removing her from the Presidency by March 1976.[/numbered] [numbered title="The country was the first to use fingerprints" pill="History"]That is, to start using them to solve murder cases! While it's long assumed that China has been recording fingerprints for ID purposes going back centuries, Argentinian police actually solved their first murder using fingerprint evidence all the way back in 1892. The case itself, as you may imagine, does not make for pleasant reading, despite the importance of what was used to arrest the perpetrator.[/numbered] [numbered title="Argentina produced the first feature-length cartoon" pill="Culture"]On a happier note, at least, Argentina was also the first country to produce what's considered a feature-length animated movie! El Apóstol, or The Apostle, was released back in 1917, and used cutout animation across tens of thousands of individual frames. Sadly, the film has been lost to time, but there is enough historical evidence to suggest that Argentinian film-maker and cartoonist Quirino Cristiani beat Walt Disney to the full-length animated punch by several decades.[/numbered] [numbered title="There is a region in Patagonia where thousands of people speak Welsh" pill="Culture"]It's absolutely true. While Welsh may be considered an endangered language by some, the community of Y Wladfa in Patagonia still speaks the language — to the tune of several thousand people, at least. To some extent, in the area, Spanish and Welsh are considered equal languages, meaning many children are growing up being taught to use both.[/numbered] [numbered title="Sunday is family time, no excuses" pill="Culture"]A key facet of Argentine culture is family — in that no matter how old you are and where you head to, family should always be a key part of your life. It's embedded to such an extent that Sunday is seen as a nationwide day to spend with your family, whether as part of a shared lunch or the important asado (barbecue) ritual. Therefore, if you are visiting family in Argentina, be prepared to spend a lot of time with them on Sundays — and don't question it![/numbered] [esim flag="🇦🇷" label="Argentina" data="5GB · 30 days" price="$14" href="/products/argentina" benefits="Instant QR setup · Reliable 4G/5G · No contract"]Stay connected to the fastest, most reliable networks in Argentina[/esim]
One thing that's always worth doing when visiting Argentina, regardless of whether you're seeing family or going on a solo adventure, is downloading an eSIM. An eSIM for Argentina will ensure you stay connected to the fastest and most reliable mobile networks in the region, so you can keep in touch with loved ones from afar without running up huge roaming bills.
Tips for traveling in Argentina
Let's close our fact guide with some top tips on how to make the most of any adventure you set out on here.
[tip title="Remember: the seasons are reversed"]The best time to travel to Argentina depends entirely on what you want to get out of the country, but keep in mind that if you're traveling from the Northern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed. So, it's winter during your summer, and vice versa.[/tip] [warning]Argentina is considered reasonably safe for visitors, but do make sure to keep your phone and personal belongings close to you, or locked away. Don't wave your phone around in public if you can help it![/warning] [tip title="Carry cash outside the big cities"]Where possible, carry cash. Though you'll be able to use plastic in many of the big cities here, smaller Argentine towns and villages prefer you carry physical currency.[/tip] [warning]It's always a good idea to protect yourself against mosquitoes when exploring Argentina. Carry DEET-based repellent and make sure you are up to date with any travel vaccinations you're behind on, too. The last thing you want from a vacation is to get ill![/warning] [faq] [q]What is Argentina's national drink?[/q] [a]Yerba mate, a herbal drink made from a plant of the same name, is Argentina's national drink. It's considered a way of connecting people across all classes and backgrounds, and is often shared and offered to guests as a gesture of hospitality.[/a] [q]Does Argentina really eat the most beef in the world?[/q] [a]Yes — Argentina consistently ranks as the world's highest per-capita beef consumer, at approximately 46-49kg per person depending on the year and data source, according to World Population Review. This is well ahead of other high-consuming nations like the US and Brazil.[/a] [q]What is Argentina's national sport?[/q] [a]Despite Argentina's global reputation for soccer, its official national sport is Pato — a game that blends elements of basketball and polo, played by two teams of four on horseback who throw balls through netted hoops.[/a] [q]How tall is Aconcagua?[/q] [a]Aconcagua stands at approximately 6,961 meters, making it the highest peak in the Southern and Western Hemispheres, and the tallest mountain outside Asia. It's part of the Andes mountain range in Mendoza province.[/a] [q]Who was the world's first female president?[/q] [a]Isabel Perón became the world's first woman to hold the title of President when she took office in Argentina in 1974, succeeding her husband Juan Perón after his death. She was removed from power by a military coup in March 1976.[/a] [q]Do I need an eSIM for visiting Argentina?[/q] [a]A SIMOVO eSIM for Argentina is a convenient way to stay connected to the fastest, most reliable mobile networks in the region throughout your trip. It means no hunting for a local SIM card and no unexpected roaming bills when you get home.[/a] [/faq] [esim flag="🇦🇷" label="Argentina" data="5GB · 30 days" price="$14" href="/products/argentina" benefits="Instant QR setup · Reliable 4G/5G · No contract"]Get connected before you land in Argentina[/esim]
