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Argentina
General Information

The archetypal image of Argentina is that of the gaucho riding on horseback over the vast flat plains of the Pampas.  But Argentina is much more than this; stretching from the tropical north to the Antarctic, this exciting country offers a staggering diversity of climates and landscapes and encompasses some of the most spectacular and beautiful scenery in the world.

The stunning Iguazú Falls, the wildlife-rich marine reserves of the Península Valdés and the awesome Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia are just a few examples of nature's splendour that await you in Argentina.  Add the sophisticated cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires, home to the Tango, the picturesque Lake District and the abundant wine country in the foothills of the Andes and you will understand why Argentina has become one of Latin America’s most exciting countries.

THE PAMPAS

The immense rolling plains of the Pampas are the spiritual and economic heart of the nation, a fertile expanse of some of the world's richest agricultural lands and home to Argentina's legendary gaucho horsemen.  The best way to experience the gauchos’ traditional way of life is to stay as a guest on one of the working ranches or ‘estancias’ that are dotted throughout the region.  Most estancias provide accommodation in beautiful family houses and offer activities such as riding, polo and tennis.

BUENOS AIRES

Argentina's sophisticated capital is Latin America's third largest city and one of the most culturally creative in the Southern Hemisphere.  Successive waves of European immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries left their mark on this bustling port and today Buenos Aires is a cosmopolitan metropolis renowned for its wide boulevards, grand public buildings and elegant shops and restaurants.  Visitors should allow a few days to visit some of the city's excellent museums and to explore its varied ‘barrios’ or neighbourhoods such as the lively La Boca district with its brightly-coloured wooden houses, or Recoleta, whose ornate cemetery contains the tombs of the rich and famous including that of ‘Evita’ Perón.

Buenos Aires is also of course the home of the Tango, and there is always a spectacular show for you to experience; if you prefer, you can even join a Tango class to hone your own skills in this increasingly popular dance.  For more classical fare, the Teatro Colón – one of the world’s great opera houses whose acoustics are on a par with La Scala in Milan – offers regular performances of opera, ballet and classical music from March to December.

MENDOZA & THE WINE COUNTRY

The charming garden-city of Mendoza lies at the heart of the ‘Cuyo’ (literally ‘land of the deserts’), an oasis in this arid region in the west of Argentina which has become one of the world's largest wine producing areas.  Nearby can be found some of the loftiest peaks of the Andes including Aconcagua or 'stone sentinel', the highest mountain in the Americas at 6,959 metres.  Mendoza is the perfect base for visiting surrounding vineyards; there is a wide selection ranging from long-established traditional bodegas to sophisticated modern-style wineries, all offering international quality wines.  Mendoza also has good transportation links with Chile by air or by road on a spectacular journey across the Andes.

North of Mendoza Province lie two little known yet spectacular wilderness areas which merit a visit – Ischigualasto Provincial Park with its surreal lunar landscapes and Talampaya National Park whose awesome rust-coloured sandstone cliffs will take your breath away.

THE NORTHWEST – COLOUR AND TRADITION

Argentina’s remote Northwest has a distinctive Andean culture and a significant indigenous population.  A region of high mountain ranges, fertile valleys and spectacular ravines, the Northwest offers startling contrasts and an infinite variety of landscape and is also home to flamingos, condors, llamas, alpacas and vicuñas.  At its heart lies the charming city of Salta which, with its fine colonial architecture, Spring-like climate and wide choice of accommodation, is an ideal base for exploring the region.  North from Salta, the Humahuaca Ravine descends from Bolivia in a dazzling display of colours and the local Indians continue the traditions of their ancestors whose archaeological relics, such as the Pucará (fort) of Tilcara, are among Argentina's most outstanding.  Nearby is the picturesque village of Purmamarca, overlooked by the dramatic Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of the Seven Colours) while south of Salta lie the Calchaquí Valleys with their spectacular scenery of whitewashed villages surrounded by red hills and giant cacti.

THE NORTHEAST – MISSIONS AND WATERFALLS

Formed by two large rivers, the Paraguay and the Paraná, the northeastern province of Misiones is also referred to as ‘Mesopotamia’ in reference to the biblical region between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates.  The province’s name recalls the Jesuit Missions which were established in the 17th and 18th centuries amongst the indigenous Guaraní Indians.  The largest and best preserved of the missions can be visited at San Ignacio Mini close to the town of Posadas.  The Misiones rainforest is rich in countless species of exotic plants, animals and insects and at its heart lie the Iguazú Falls.  Discovered in 1541 by the wandering explorer Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, the waterfalls offer spectacular scenery amidst the surrounding lush vegetation and with 250 separate falls, some with drops of over 60 metres, are undoubtedly one of the great natural wonders of the world.

PATAGONIA

At the southern tip of the continent, Patagonia is an immense and solitary land of vast austere pampas and the contrasting majesty and beauty of the high Andean peaks.  The elegant ski resort of Bariloche is the gateway to Argentina’s Lake District, a magnificent region of forests, lakes and mountains that straddles the border with Chile.   Further south, the crashing ice blocks of the Perito Moreno Glacier give the visitor an unforgettable glimpse of the vast icefields that once covered much of the earth, while the summit of the magnificent Mount Fitzroy lies at the heart of the finest trekking area in the country. Patagonia’s Atlantic coast has its own unique atmosphere and retains a strong influence of the Welsh colonisers who came here in the mid-19^th century in search of what they believed was their Promised Land. Here the Península Valdés houses one of the world’s most important marine wildlife reserves where whales, sea elephants and seals live alongside millions of penguins.  

TIERRA DEL FUEGO

Famously described as the “Uttermost Part of the Earth” by the 19^th century missionary Lucas Bridges, the legendary Tierra del Fuego (the “Land of Fire”) is separated from the continent by the Straits of Magellan and is an area of stark geographical contrasts, fierce winds and abundant plant and animal life.  Here the world’s southernmost inhabited city, Ushuaia, gives the traveller the feeling of truly being at the end of the world and is the point of departure for cruises to Antarctica.

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