Argentina

This is a passionate and romantic place, reflected in its dramatic landscapes, in its capital Buenos Aires, in the sensual Argentine tango and, in its famous citizens: think Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, and Eva Peron and Che Guevara.  You go because of its culture, art and history. But whatever you do, don’t miss the fantastic food and wine, especially for meat lovers – the divine Argentinean beef.

Argentina is also known as “The land of the Six Continents” for its variety of landscapes, climate and people. You will find enormous contrast in the geographical landscapes in this second largest country in South America: between its immense plains in the east and the impressive Andes mountain ranges to the West, which is the natural frontier it shares with Chile. Down south, right to the end of the continent, is Patagonia, with its endless varied and stunning landscapes and home to Ushuaia, generally known as the southernmost city of the world.

Argentina owes its name to the Latin word “argentum” which means silver. During the first Spanish voyages, the survivors of a shipwreck were presented with silver by the indigenous people, causing them to refer to the region as “Rio de la Plata” which means “River of Silver”.

It is considered as one of the most cosmopolitan countries in Latin America. The influx of immigration from Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Britain and Eastern Europe  in the late nineteenth, and later waves of Japanese, Syrian and Lebanese, has resulted in a diversified culture that is rich and diverse in history and culture.  There is an abundance of places to see and things to do, starting with its capital, Buenos Aires. 

In this most romantic of cities, you will see the European influence in its architecture, making you feel as if you are somewhere in Paris or Milan. The streets are filled with cafes where locals often spend hours late into the night, enjoying each other’s company, discussing politics, but mostly football, which, like for most Latin Americans, is their number one passion. Buenos Aires is home to several theaters, Opera houses, art galleries and, above all, to an endless variety of Argentine tango bars that let you experience firsthand their very own genre of music and dance that originated from this city in the 19^th century.

To the west, in the area around where Mendoza is located, is the land of the high peaks, the snowy volcanoes and the endless adventures going from the Andes and the Pre-Andean Mountains to the savannah-like lands. In the valleys are the vineyards, farms and cellars, where Argentinean’s well-known wines, including the Malbec, are produced.

Towards its border with Brazil and Paraguay, you have the Iguazu Falls which are located in the Iguazu National Park between Argentina and Brazil that has been declared a World Natural Heritage site by the UNESCO and recently voted as one of the Seven New Natural Wonders of the World. The park is home to its own subtropical vegetation with over 2000 plant species (of which some are only found here) including giant trees as well as an abundant variety of orchids. In stark contrast to the tropics, the south offers breathtaking landscapes of impressive glaciers which have been descending from the continental ice fields.

The Lakes District around Bariloche in northern Patagonia is home to stunningly secluded areas almost untouched by man. During the summer you will be able to enjoy nature as its best while tracking, hunting or fly fishing in endless rivers and lakes that made this region famous. In the winter months it’s an ideal destination for skiing or romantic evenings at a luxury fire place distant from the hustle and bustle of the cities.

At Calafate, you are close to the breathtaking Perito Moreno Glacier in the Los Glaciares National Park, in south of Argentinean Patagonia.  Even further south, across the Strait of Magellan is Tierra del Fuego, an archipelago at the southernmost tip of the continent, to Ushuaia, one of the places from where you can set off for the white continent, Antarctica.