Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic – is a federal republic located in southeastern South America. Covering most of the Southern Cone, it is bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north; Brazil to the northeast; Uruguay and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east; Chile to the west and the Drake Passage to the south.
Capital – Buenos Aires
Climate
Argentina's climate is generally temperate but there are major regional variations due to its size – from the extreme heat of the northern regions, through the pleasant climate of the central pampas, to the sub Antarctic cold of Patagonia’s glacial regions. Throughout the country January is the warmest while June and July are the coldest. The mean annual temperature in Buenos Aires is 16oC, in the extreme north the Chaco area comes in at about 23oC.
With jaw-dropping scenery, abundance of exotic wildlife, colonial towns and cities rife with superb cuisine and vibrant culture, it is no wonder that Argentina is a popular travel destination. It’s apparent why Argentina has long held travelers in awe: tango, beef, gauchos, fútbol, Patagonia, the Andes. The classics alone make a formidable wanderlust cocktail.
Located in the southern region of South America in a large, elongated shape, Argentina was sparsely inhabited by a few indigenous tribes before Spain’s colonized it in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, the country is an independent republic featuring varied landscapes from rich plains to thick jungle, majestic mountains, pastoral steppes and impressive glaciers. An overview of the best places to visit in Argentina.
Perhaps the most obvious reason to visit Argentina is Buenos Aires, one of the most fascinating of all Latin American capitals. Buenos Aires is the most visited city in South America, and for good reason. More than 400 years old, the city is famous for its outstanding cultural life and its European-influenced architecture. It’s an immensely enjoyable place just to wander about, watch soccer, go shopping or simply soaking up the unique atmosphere. Outside the capital, the vastness of the land and the varied wildlife inhabiting it are the real tourist attractions in Argentina. Pulsating with vitality and seductive charm from colorful European architecture to animated neighborhoods, sensational shopping, gourmet cuisine and sizzling nightlife, it is no wonder that Buenos Aires gave birth to the captivating tango dance. Located off the southeastern coast of South America, Buenos Aires is the capital city of Argentina and one of Latin America’s largest cities. A city that never sleeps, Buenos Aires is brimming in bars, clubs and discos. There is a wide range of cuisine from pizza places to international restaurants and local parrillas, specializing in roasted and barbecued beef.
Tourists can get around Buenos Aires easily by bus, metro and taxis.
Puerto Madero, Museo Nacional de Belles Artes, Teatro Colon, Carlos Thays Botanical Garden, El Obelisco, Cafe Tortoni, Plaza Dorrego, Caminito, Recoleta Cemetery, Plaza de Mayo -are top 10 tourists attractions.
10 top tourist attractions in Argentina
The Ibera Wetlands are the second-largest wetlands in world after the Pantanal in Brazil. A true paradise for nature lovers it has the richest fauna of all Argentina. Birds, caimans, capybaras, pampas deer, howler monkeys, maned wolves and armadillos can all be seen by visitors on foot, boat or horseback.
Situated on the Beagle Channel, Ushuaia is commonly regarded as the southernmost city in the world. In the past, the Ushuaia has been a missionary base, penal colony and naval base but is now a major tourist attraction in Argentina, complete with casinos, hotels and restaurants. The town is commonly used as a base for hiking, skiing and cruises to Antarctica.
The Mendoza wine region is considered the heart of the winemaking industry in Argentina. Located in the eastern foothills of the Andes vineyards are planted at the some of the highest altitudes in the world. The city of Mendoza is the place to base yourself if you plan to tour the vineyards. The city’s wide range of tour operators also makes it a great place to organize rafting, skiing and other adventures in the nearby Andes.
Monte Fitz Roy is a 3,375 meter (11,073 ft) high mountain in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field on the border between Argentina and Chile. The mountain attracts many photographers thanks to its otherworldly shape. It was first climbed in 1952 by French alpinists Lionel Terray and Guido Magnone.
The Beagle Channel is a strait in the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago, in the extreme south of Argentina. The channel is one of the three navigable passages around South America, the other ones are the Straits of Magellan to the north, and the open ocean Drake Passage to the south. A boat trip is the best way to view the Beagle Channel, with attractions such as the sea-lion colony at Isla de los Lobos, and Isla de Pájaros.
Valdes Peninsula is an important nature reserve noted for its unique fauna and geology. The coastline is inhabited by sea lions, elephant seals and – from October till March – penguins. Whales can be found in the waters located between the Valdes Peninsula and the Patagonian mainland between May and December. Off the coast, in the open sea off the peninsula Orcas can be found.
La Boca is a working class district of Buenos Aires. It is a popular neighborhood for tourists with its colorful houses and the Caminito street, where tango artists perform and tango-related memorabilia is sold. Other attractions include the La Ribera theatre, many tango clubs and Italian taverns.
San Carlos de Bariloche is a city on the foothills of the Andes known for its Swiss-like atmosphere and its chocolate shops. The city with its surrounding mountains and lakes is famous for skiing but is also a great destination for sight-seeing, water sports, trekking and climbing. Many travelers combine a visit to Barilochewith touring through the Andean Lakes area and in particular along the Road of the Seven Lakes.
The Perito Moreno Glacier is an enormous glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park. It is one of the most important tourist attractions in Argentina due to its size and accessibility. It is less than two hours by bus from El Calafate while viewing platforms and trails make the visit and the observation easy and pleasant. Boat tours are also a popular way of seeing the Perito Moreno Glacier and many other glaciers and places in the National Park Los Glaciares.
One of the great tourist destinations of the world, Iguaçu Falls is situated on the border between Brazil and Argentina. Most visitors reach the falls from the Argentine side through the city of Puerto Iguazú. A train brings visitors directly to the entrance of Devil’s Throat, which at a height of 82 meter (269 ft) is the most impressive of the 275 falls that make up the Iguazu Falls.
Cuisine
The cuisine of Argentina is distinctive in South America because of its strong resemblance to Spanish, Italian, French and other European cuisines while the cuisine of the Argentine Northwest has more elements of Andean cuisine.
It's no secret that Argentines are big meat eaters. Not only do they eat more than their weight in meat but they also have some of the best beef in the world. This already gives them a one up on the rest of us when it comes to food, and that's just the beginning of it.
The country is also home to the rich wine region of Mendoza, which produces some of the best bottles of Malbec you can get your hands on.
