Argentina, vastly unexplored and undiscovered by most tourists, is an adventure waiting to happen. Occupying much of the southern part of South America, it extends 3800km from north to south, and 1420km at its widest point from east to west.
Argentina automatically brings a few things to mind such as Gauchos, football, Evita and the tango, but for many it’s the country’s natural wonders that draw them to this diverse destination. The Northern deserts and Southern Andean cordillera, Iguazú Falls and the magnificent desolation of Patagonia are just a few of the stunning attractions here.
For the adventurous, endless hiking opportunities are abound in the south and the Andes offer excellent skiing. Any wine buffs will love Mendoza’s wineries. To top it all off the capital Buenos Aires which is home to two-fifths of the population is one of the most exciting, charming and fast-paced of all South American capitals. It’s a great place to just wander about, people-watch, shop or simply soak up the unique European atmosphere. Nightlife is second to none and the restaurants are a food-lover’s delight.
Argentina Hot Spots
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Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, the capital city, is a shopper’s paradise and a cosmopolitan cultural centre. The immense Metropolitan Cathedral contains the remains of San Martin, Argentina’s liberator. The famous Teatro Colón, the world’s largest opera house, occupies an entire block on the famous and massive 9th July Avenue. Buenos Aires nightlife focused around Avenida Corrientes, is vibrant with many theatres and concert halls. Eva Perón’s (Evita’s) grave at Recoleta Cemetery is another place of interest; she was Argentina’s most loved first lady who stood up for the country’s rights.
The colourful old artists’ quarter of La Boca is home of the tango where visitors can see a show at one of several tango bars. The San Telmo borough, one of the oldest parts of the city, has preserved its colourful artistic spirit and has many cafes, shops and tango night spots. |
Patagonia
This enormous region south of Buenos Aires province features a glacier-dotted mountainous interior, unique coastal wildlife and Andean national parks. Península Valdés is a special treat for lovers of wildlife, with large numbers of sea lions, elephant seals, guanacos, penguins, sea birds, flamingos and right whales.
One of the province’s main attractions is the UNESCO World Heritagelisted Los Glaciares National Park, an area of great natural beauty, with rugged mountains and numerous glacial lakes, including Lake Argentino. Accessible from the busy tourist town of El Calafate, the park’s centrepiece is the 60m high Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the earth’s few advancing glaciers. Huge icebergs calve and topple into Lake Argentino at the Iceberg Channel. |
Tierra del Fuego
Argentina shares half of this island territory in the South Atlantic Ocean with Chile. Ushuaia and Río Grande are the two main towns with awesome scenery, walks and fishing as the main attractions. Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, is located in a dramatic setting with jagged glacial peaks rising from sea level to nearly 1500m. It’s also the starting point for the Magellan channels and cruises around Antarctica.
Just 18km west of Ushuaia is the Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentina’s only coastal national park which is full of rivers, lakes and glaciers, with great trekking and wildlife-spotting opportunities. You can take the train to the “End of the World”, where a museum exhibits Indian culture and local history. |
Iguazu Falls
Situated in the Parque Nacional Iguazu near Puerto Iguazu, more than 275 spectacular falls lie just east of the confluence of the Iguazú and Paraná rivers. The Argentine side sits above the falls, offering great views across masses of water plunging 70 metres into the abyss below.
The surrounding park is home to 55,000 hectares of pristine subtropical rainforest, with many wildlife and plant species. Nearby are the historical Jesuit missions ruins, which also draw many visitors to the area. |
The Northwest
Home to abundant natural attractions and atmospheric relics from the pre-Columbian and colonial past, this is the more ‘traditional’ part of Argentina. It includes the provinces of Tucumán, La Rioja, Catamarca and Santiago del Estero and Jujuy with thermal baths and colourful landscapes of the Quebrada de Humahuaca.
Salta is one of the most popular cities in this area and is the most well preserved colonial city in the country, with hundreds of archaeological sites, subtropical forests and desert canyons, it is well worth a visit. |
Bariloche
The southern Lake District of San Carlos de Bariloche is surrounded by serene lakes, amazing glaciers and forested mountains. In Bariloche there are shopping areas and casinos, as well as activities such as hiking, mountaineering and skiing.
The nearby Nahuel Huapi National Park contains the massive Nahuel Huapi Lake, stretching over 100km to the border with Chile. You can also cross the Lake District, known as the ‘Lake Crossing’ by travelling on numerous boats and buses, to reach the other side into Chile. This journey is full of stunning scenery |
Mendoza
Mendoza sits in the foothills of the Andes and is the fourth biggest metropolis in Argentina. One of the main reasons people visit Mendoza is for the wine, there are plenty of vineyards scattered around the countryside that you can visit.
Mendoza is a great place for activities such as hiking, horse riding, rafting and skiing in the winter months. It is also a regular stopover for mountain climbers on their way to Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere. |
Flights to Argentina
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Airlines Flying To Buenos Aires, Argentina
