Argentina: don’t miss it
A country the size of Argentina has countless outstanding landscapes. Argentina covers a vast mass of land; with Bolivia in its northern point, all the way through Patagonia, and bordered by Chile and the Andes Mountains in the west, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay in the northeast, and the Atlantic Ocean in the east.
The geographical location of Argentina gives the country an enormously varied climate and landscape, from high mountains to beaches and deserts to humid forests. Argentina has it all.
1. Buenos Aires: Argentines are very proud of their capital. Buenos Aires is a cosmopolitan city and perhaps the most European of all those in Latin America. The city’s café diners and tango bars quickly enchant visiting tourists. The population of Buenos Aires is almost 3 million strong, although the whole metropolitan area of Gran Buenos Aires accounts for almost 13 million people. Places not to miss include: La Boca, San Telmo and the main street called Avenida de Mayo.
2. Iguazú Falls: Located in Iguazú national park, in the Misiones province of the Arentina side and in Paraná State on the Brazil side. The falls consists of more than 275 separate waterfalls and cataracts of between 60-82 meters (200-269 ft) high. The breathtaking landscape is complete with the subtropical forest that sourrounds the falls, an essential stop.
3. If you are looking for places to climb or ski Argentina is home to a mountaineering challenge: Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in the Americas. If you prefer the snow, head towards Barlioche and Cerro Catedral Mountain, one of the best ski resorts in South America.
4. Wine: Wine tourism is becoming popular in Argentina and is a great way to discover the great quality of Argentine wine. One of the most popular wine tours is through the wineries of the Mendoza Province.
5. Beaches: in the summer, the Atlantic coasts of Argentina fill with both local and international tourists. A favorite destination is in the Province of Buenos Aires, in the city of Mar del Plata, where there is plenty to do during the summer months. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, remember that the Argentine summer coincides with the northern winter.
6. Calamuchita Valley: located in the Cordoba province, about 80 km (50 mi) from Córdoba city. It is famous for its lakes, where people flock to fish, diving, windsurf, etc. There are several areas tucked between coniferous forests that resemble urban landscapes of Central Europe.
7. La Pampa: is a vast grass plain that gets lost in the horizon and the most internationally famous province in Argentina. The plain varies in altitude and terrain, but the flattest parts are found near Buenos Aires and in the Cordoba Province.
8. The Train of the Clouds (El Tren de las Nubes): one of the highest trains in the world. It starts its journey in the Salta Province, through the Valle de Lerma and crosses the Quebrada del Toro before reaching the Puna. The train makes it way through 29 bridges, 21 tunnels, 13 viaducts, 2 spirals and 2 zigzags on its 15 hour, 424 km (270 mi) round trip from Salta to La Polvorilla.
9. Patagonia and the Glaciers Argentine glaciers attract thousands of tourists every year, especially the Perito Moreno glacier. This advancing glacier is 5 kilometers (3 mi) wide with an average height of 74 meters (240 ft) over Argentine Lake (Lago Argentino). Tourists are drawn to witness the force of Mother Nature as the ice breaks off in massive chunks and crashes into the lake.
10. Patagonia Whales: If you visit Argentina between May and December, you could witness one of the world's most amazing wildlife shows. Every year during these months, Right whales and Commerson’s dolphins mate off the coast of Patagonia; making it a great time to view these marine animals in their natural environment.
¡Enjoy Argentina!
