Bariloche is situated on the foothills of the Andes and on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi making it one of the most picturesque places in Argentina. The nearby national park of Nahuel Huapi is the oldest in the country and has some of the most diverse biospheres in the area as well an abundance of wildlife.
Buenos Aires, known as the ‘Paris of South America’ is a fascinating, colourful city with a European feel and a personality of its own. Its districts range from the bohemian La Boca, an artistic district with colourful late colonial buildings, the rejuvenated and hip Palermo Soho with all the new boutique hotels and bars, to the more fashionable Recoleta district with botanical and Japanese gardens and smart cafes ideal for watching life go by.
The main reason for coming to Cordoba is the small collection of rolling hills to north – the Sierras Chicas. These low lying mountains have a similar history to that of the Pampas and as such the area has numerous estancias all of which are a perfect base for horse riding, walking, mountain biking, or just relaxing in the cooler temperatures that this area is known for.
Quite possibly the most stunning part of Argentina, if not the continent. The town of El Calafate itself is nothing special, but the surrounding areas have the most majestic glaciers in the world which you can sail around and walk on. These are lifetime experiences.
The town of El Chalten is the gateway to the Fitzroy national park which has some of the best walking possibilities in the world. The town contains homely log cabins or ‘estancias’ as they are known and is less visited than Torres del Paine national park in Chile which can also be incorporated into a Patagonian itinerary.
The Ibera Natural Reserve, which in Guarani means ‘brilliant waters’, is located in the far northeast of Argentina and is a wetland reserve with an abundance of wildlife. The Ibera marsh is the second largest wetland areas in the world (the largest being the Pantanal in Brazil) with a surface area the size of a small country (equivalent to the size of Wales) and is the home of a significant variety of flora & fauna.
The Iguazu Falls are a collection of 280 waterfalls plunging into a 3 km long gorge situated on the borders of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Without doubt they are the best falls in the world. They are so good because unlike other major waterfalls, there are a variety of activities surrounding them.
Mendoza lies in the foothills of the Andes and its gentle slopes are covered in vineyards. This is where some of Argentina’s best wines are produced and although the town, with its 5 plazas is worth a short visit it is staying in one of the surrounding vineyards that allows for a taste of the real country.
Peninsular Valdes has a barren charm about it and is one of the best places for viewing wildlife in Argentina. In short it is a haven for marine life as the ocean around this desert like peninsular is home to the Southern Right Whale, when it visits the coastline to breed and the Orca Whale.
The northwest is a relatively unknown region of Argentina and Salta is the centre from which to explore this spectacularly varied region. The multi-coloured valleys and canyons of Calchaques twist and turn down to Cafayate from where you can visit the ancient pre-Inca ruins of Quilmes, or walk through narrow canyons to hidden waterfalls, or, sample wine from the many vineyards in the area.
The land that surrounds Buenos Aires is known as “the Pampas”. Once inhabited by Gauchos, these flat plains were the grounds of vicious battles between natives and criollos - Gaucho descendants of Spanish conquistadores and aborigines (natives) of the Pampas. Considered outcasts, they lived solitary lives.
At the far south of Argentina and where the road ends, is Ushuaia, the southern most town of its size in the world. Situated on the island of Tierra del Fuego it is a unique place containing multi-coloured wooden houses with a backdrop of snow-capped Andean peaks.
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