Argentina is a vast country, containing a diversity of landscape from the glaciers of the icy South Atlantic to the tango clubs of cosmopolitan Buenos Aires.
Nature lovers will find much to admire, such as the snow-capped peaks and sierra plains. Urban fanatics can learn Spanish, get caught up in the passion of a soccer match or dance tango or techno.
Iguazu Falls
Sub-tropical Iguazu Falls lies on the border of Argentina and Brazil. Lonely Planet calls it South America’s greatest spectacle. Of the many trails that lead around the Iguazu Falls park, Lonely Planet highlights the catwalk to the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat).
A viewing platform looks down on the sheer drop of water from the powerful semi-circular falls. Prepare to get soaked if you take a boat trip to the foot of the falls. Most of the falls lie on the Argentine side, though you also get a full view of the Falls from the Brazilian side of Iguazu.
San Telmo, Buenos Aires
“The Rough Guide to Argentina” says that one of the most obvious reasons to visit Argentina is Buenos Aires, calling it one of the most fascinating of all Latin American capitals. San Telmo, according to All About Argentina, is one of Buenos Aires’ oldest barrios, or neighborhoods.
It has cobbled streets and 19th-century architecture; it is home to antique shops, street markets and coffee houses. Stop off for a glass of Malbec in an oak-paneled bar and watch the talented street performers, or take in a tango dinner show.The Pampas
The Pampas, according to “The Rough Guide to Argentina,” is a landscape that seems to embody all that is Argentina. Pampas grass plains stretch from horizon to horizon and the area hosts a traditional gaucho culture that many tourists miss.
Visit San Antonio de Areco, a gaucho town, or stay on an estancia for horseback riding and a taste of the authentic asado (barbeque). You can also experience cattle-herding and sheep-shearing by staying on a working estancia.
Mendoza
Argentina is fanatical about football, politics and wine. “The Rough Guide” says the province of Mendoza is the place to go to sample Argentina’s vineyards.
Wine tasting is a must; take a bicycle picnic tour of the bodegas, arrange a four-wheel drive to take you around the wineries in comfort or sample a meal at one of Mendoza’s restaurants complemented with a bottle of the region’s Malbec. Many bodegas offer accommodations and wine-related activities for guests; see those listed on the Travel Mendoza site.
Glacier Perito Moreno
Lonely Planet says the Glacier Perito Moreno is the one of earth’s most dynamic and accessible ice fields. It is located in the far south of Argentina and is one of only two advancing glaciers in South America.
From a series of catwalks and vantage points, visitors can safely see, hear and photograph the glacier as the enormous chunks crash into the water. Take a boat trip to see the ice from a different angle, or walk on it by taking one of the organized ice-trek excursions.
Soccer Game
Get caught up in a true Argentine passion by attending a soccer game in Buenos Aires. You can buy tickets from the stadium but the most convenient and safest way of experiencing soccer in Argentina is through a package run by many tour operators in the city, especially for the clássico derbys between Boca Juniors and River Plate, and Racing and Independiente. Games are mostly played on Sundays, and the seasons run between August to December and February to June.