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ARGENTINA TRAVEL GUIDE
Argentina is a South American country famous for football, wine, tango and being cheap to visit! Home to one of the world’s greatest cities – Buenos Aires – as well as the very different but equally essential-to-see Patagonian mountain range, Argentina offers everything from traditional Gaucho villages to modern sophisticated cities, with rural Argentina promising stunning national parks where wildlife, glaciers and waterfalls abound. Basically, a rich and varied country with plenty to offer all types of visitor.
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ARGENTINA WEATHER - When to Go
Due to the fact that longitudinally Argentina extends from well above the Tropic of Capricorn to just above the Antarctic Circle, the climate differs radically from the northernmost to the southernmost points. Due to the presence of the Andes Mountains, Argentina also has many high peaks and therefore the altitude of many places has a dramatic effect on the weather. Generally speaking however, Argentina is a fairly temperate place with sub-tropical weather conditions. Summers offer warm to hot weather which can be enjoyed from around the onset of Spring (in September) until the beginning of Autumn (in March). The further south you go, the longer the summer days become with daylight hours reaching a whopping 19 at the height of the summer solstice. Concurrently, winters in the south require bigger winter jackets and spell short days with long cold nights.
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ARGENTINA HIGHLIGHTS - Places to Visit
- Buenos Aires: European influences in the country’s capital, Buenos Aires, are evident in its grand architecture, elegant wide avenues and charming old backstreets. Visitors come here to check out popular sights such as the Metropolitana Cathedral, Colón Theatre opera house and National Museum of Fine Arts, as well as to take advantage of the lively evening entertainment scene, excellent shopping and numerous high quality dining establishments. One of the popular tango tours are a must for every traveller. These are tailored according to interest and age including tours to tango museums, dinner outings or club excursions to revel in and learn about this sensual form of dance. A cultural tour will expose one to the many museums and locations featuring modern architecture and art as well as educate the traveller on the life and work of the famous Eva Peron. Buenos Aires was founded in the mid 1500’s and therefore the city is rich with history and culture. Numerous churches, districts, museums and monuments attest to this and would be of great interest to the historically inclined traveler. Dorrego Square is regularly visited for the juxtaposition of modern culture and heritage in one area. This area boasts a wealth of historic locations while also offering cafes and live events on the weekend including those that fill the square with tango dancers. San Telmo is another beautiful and frequented area with its cobble stone streets and colonial buildings.
- Patagonia is a region that encompasses part of Chile and Argentina. It is a large and varied natural terrain of insurmountable beauty. When visiting Andean Patagonia you will be exposed to imposing mountains, crystal clear lakes, enormous glaciers, lush forests, petrified forests and steppe preserves. Numerous tour companies offer adventure related outings that include trekking, fishing, diving and alpine skiing. The area is also home to some beautiful beaches suitable for bathing and others perfect for whale watching. The Los Glaciers National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site located within the province of Santa Cruz, Patagonia. Here you will find three hundred and fifty six glaciers, the largest and most impressive being the five kilometre wide, sixty metre high Perito Morena. One can hike on this glacier, observe the damming of water that it instigates and occasionally see a piece of it rupture and break off to create a floating iceberg. The province of Chubut offers beaches filled with penguins and also the wonder of the plateau, the petrified forests. Seventy million years ago the area of Sarmiento was a lush forest filled with giant reptiles but it is now a lunar desert with remarkable evidence of the past. Tierra del Fuego is often referred to as the end of the world as it is the nearest city to the Antarctica. It is a mythical place with a gorgeous national park that can be explored in many ways including on foot and by boat. A pre-arranged tour is definitely the best way to ensure that you do not miss any of the important sites in Patagonia which is an area that hosts one of the most diverse and amazing conglomeration of natural wonders.
- Iguazu Falls & Misiones: The primary highlight of Misiones is the Iguazu Falls. This enormous and powerful waterfall is located in the National Park Iguazu. Walkways allow visitors to be almost surrounded by the curtains of water and enveloped in the mist that rises up from the forest. They are located in the protected Paranaense Forest which are home to over eighty different mammals. Both the forest and the waterfall fall into Brazilian territory too though the greater parts are located in Argentina. They are accessible by Puerto Iguazu which is an international airport in Misiones.
- Chaco is a province in the northern regions of Argentina. Its capital Resistencia draws tourists biennially due to the woodcarving contest that takes place there. Recently marble and ice categories have also been added to the event. Most of the carvings and sculptures are left in the city making it an artistic experience no matter when visiting. Aside from the art, music and dancing that this festival brings, Resistencia is also home to a number of historic locations including the Makallé old Fortress, Guacara Ruins, San Buenaventura del Monte Alto Indians Settlement, Las Palmas Town, Puerto Bermejo and numerous museums. The Chaco National Park is another good reason to visit Chaco. This protected area plays host not only to beautiful river front areas but also some exotic species such as crocodiles, tarantulas, monkeys, jaguars, wild boars, giant armadillos, rattlesnakes, anacondas, and other poisonous snakes.
- Salta is a city in the North West province of Argentina of the same name. Colonial architecture and beautiful scenery are the main draw cards for tourists. The city features extraordinary buildings from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The Ninth of July Square is an important cultural location to visit with a neoclassical cathedral, Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Museum of High Mountain archeology where Inca artifacts are on display including three preserved bodies of Inca children. Hispanic culture is wonderfully preserved in the city of Salta too and therefore offers one the opportunity to relive the past indulging in authentic cuisine and entertainment. The San Bernado hill lies to the east of Salta. This peak can be reached by foot, car or cable car and affords one an awe-inspiring view of the city. Lastly the “Train of the Clouds” allows one to experience an extended view of the terrain on a fifteen hour roundtrip. It leaves from Salta and travels through tunnels and over peaks that expose the utter enormity and beauty of the Andes. Stops along the way include quaint small towns that represent true traditional Argentine culture.
- Jujuy is a province that lies on the Tropic of Capricorn. It is characterised by colourful rock formations and radically changing landscapes including the sub tropical Yungas Jungle contrasted by the desert area of the Salinas Grandes salt mines. It is also the location of aboriginal roots and well preserved ruins including those of the Aymara, Quechua and Incas. The UNESCO World heritage site Quebrada de Humahuaca is a popular attraction as are Cerro de los Siete Colores and Pucará de Tilcara. The small towns are frequented by Argentine and South American tourists though are fast being discovered by international visitors too due to the crafts that can be bought there and the unique cultural heritage that they represent. Other less visited attractions, but worthy locations nonetheless are the Calilegua National Park, Laguna Guayatayoc, La Quiaca and Laguna de Pozuelos.
- Catamarca: The Catamarca Province of Argentina’s tourism industry is still growing despite the presence of amazing natural phenomena and areas of cultural significance. The main attraction is the Antofagasta de la Sierra volcanic field located near the city of the same name. It contains some of the youngest volcanic vents in the area and is surrounded by two other volcanic fields namely the Cerro Galan caldera and the Salar de Antofalla volcanic fields. There are also archeological ruins of the Pucara civilization. Other natural features include the summits of Aconquija which are covered in snow, the Balcones del Valle and the Pass of San Francisco.
- San Juan province is known as the Land of the Sun. This area is perfect for those seeking adventure and eco tourism. The Ischigualasto National Park and the Park Nacional Talampaya are two parks that essentially form one huge area filled with arid landscape, mountains and wondrous geological rock formations. Here one will find the valley of the moon which is, as its name implies, a landscape that makes one feel like an astronaut exploring lunar terrains, with a bright sun shining overhead. It is perfect for a number of adventure sports including rock climbing, mountaineering and hiking. The culturally rich towns of Calingasta Barreal and Tamberías are also worth a visit as are the various wine routes in the region.
- Mendoza: The city of Mendoza is the capital of the province of the same name. It is made up of foothills and high plains on the eastern side of the Andes Mountains. One of this sunny location’s main industries is wine making and therefore wine tours are a highlight. There are numerous wineries who offer wine tasting with restaurants serving gourmet foods in delightfully picturesque settings. If visiting in March, you will be swept up by the festivities of the Vendimia Festival. This week long celebration commemorates the gathering of the crops and is marked by revelry, singing and general merryness. The Aconcagua Mountain is located nearby the capital. As the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere it is a popular spot for hiking, mountaineering, horseback riding, rafting, skiing and other adventure sports.
- Cordoba: The country’s second biggest city is Córdoba, not to be confused with the famous Spanish city of the same name. Argentina’s Córdoba boasts wonderful old colonial buildings including the Jesuit Cathedral and Los Capuchinos Church. It’s also a place to enjoy lively night and thriving live music scenes as well as numerous colourful annual events and festivals.
- Mar del Plata: As beach resorts go, Argentina’s Mar del Plata, situated on the northern Atlantic coast, is a real gem. The destination’s coastline stretches for an impressive eight kilometres, along which are numerous idyllic sandy strips where locals and visitors alike enjoy the delights of beach activity. The resort’s infrastructure is geared to middle-class package holidaymakers as well as affluent jetsetter types
- Other Highlights: Argentina offers a wide range of spas situated in beautiful settings and even some located on the site of wineries. Horseback riding can be enjoyed in many locations but for the true riding enthusiast a visit to an estancias or ranch is a must. These are located all over Argentina and allow one to experience the lifestyle of the Gaucho which still thrives.
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ARGENTINA HOSPITALITY - Eat, Drink, Sleep
- Food and eating out: Local specialities include empanadas which is a stuffed pastry, the well known humitas and locro which is a mixture of beans, corn, bacon, meat, onion, and gourd. The Argentine barbeque is called an assado. This makes provision for cooking anything on an open fire including a variety of meats, chorizo sausage, sweet bread, blood sausage and chitterlings. Argentina is the perfect location for meat eaters as they are known to eat the most red meat in the world. Steaks in Argentina are huge, high quality and cheap. Awesome! And don’t forget Argentinian wine!
- Nightlife and entertainment: Buenos Aires is obviously the main centre for entertainment options, hosting a mass of clubs playing a variety of music including a mass of tango clubs. Smaller towns offer folk dancing and singing which is always plenty of fun and culturally educational. Spanish cinema thrives in Argentina and is well worth a visit. One should also definitely not miss the opportunity to watch an Argentine football match. The passion for the game as well as the quality of the football played will please even those who know very little about the sport. It’s certainly a memorable event. An evening out in Argentina starts late and finishes early (the next morning!). Have an afternoon siesta before you go out therefore.
- Accommodation: Argentina is a country that thrives on tourism, therefore the wide range and high standards of accommodation available are not surprising. Due to the international appeal of Patagonia, some of Argentina’s best hotels are located there. Backpacker hostels, guesthouses, hotels and ranch stays on estancias are all great options and value for money.
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ARGENTINA FLIGHTS - Flying from the UK
Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport is Argentina’s major gateway, receiving the largest number of overseas visitors into the country. Aerolíneas Argentinas is the national carrier. Direct UK flights between London and Buenos Aires are available with British Airways (BA).
For flight options from the UK to Argentina, try Expedia.co.uk, Netflights or ebookers.
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