Argentina holidays

What can you find in Argentina that you won’t find elsewhere?

Nowhere else will you find such vast cultural and geographical diversity contained within one country. The northwest’s vivid red and ochre mountains are the backdrop to a rich indigenous culture and seductively crumbling colonial cities, while in the north east, the Guarani people - and an infinite number of birds - habit the lush rainforest surrounding the incredible Iguazu Falls which tumble between Argentina and Brazil. In the great romantic sprawl of Buenos Aires, real tango can be found alive and kicking in packed milongas. And even Patagonia has its extremes: from the wine-growing north, and the snow-capped jagged mountains in the middle, descending through forest into vivid blue and green lakes, to the epic glaciers of the south. Gaze out over the end of the world from Ushuaia on the Land of Fire, before getting intimate with penguins, seals and whales on the Atlantic coast. Probably the best steak in the world can be eaten here, together with a very fine Malbec. Those friendly Argentines will inevitably invite you to drink mate, the national drink beloved of gauchos - and Che. There aren’t many places where you’d feel inclined to share a straw, but this is one.

Who are Argentina holidays best for?

Lovers of nightlife, Buenos Aires is for you. It is a city whose heart beats to the rhythm of tango. Dinner starts at ten, no one heads out before midnight, and the chic bars of Palermo are thrumming til dawn.
Adventurers will love to scale many of the mountains in the Andes, from Aconcagua to more modest peaks near Bariloche, from which the views are nevertheless heart-stopping. Riders should saddle up to the Patagonian steppe, or Cordoba, for breathtaking rides and unparalleled hospitality, while anyone keen to see whales cavort next to their boat should head straight for Peninsula Valdes in Patagonia. Perito Moreno glacier, one of Argentina’s many UNESCO World Heritage sites, is frankly awe-inspiring for anyone.

What are the best ways to discover Argentina?

Argentina is immense. You’d need a lifetime to do it justice. So concentrate on one or two areas that really sing to you, and give them enough time to go deeper. Families will love the jungle life and giant butterflies around Iguazu, or the excitement of hiking the peaks in no less than four national parks in the Lake District. Buenos Aires makes a romantic place to start for couples, with chic boutique hotels galore, before touring Mendoza’s wineries, perhaps, or trekking out together on the ancient glacier near El Calafate. If culture’s your thing, head north west to Salta, and up the Quebrada to Purmamarca. Even in the extreme wilderness, the welcome is warm.

Special things to do in Argentina

Take tango lessons in Buenos Aires from someone who really can.
Live life on the land in a grand Pampas estancia, and learn to ride, gaucho style.
Get away from absolutely everything in the spectacular landscapes of southern Patagonia and find your wilderness hotel is fabulously comfortable.