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Photo:Robert Frerck/Getty
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Argentina, “The South of the South” Passionate tangos, legendary gauchos, and the poetry of Jorge Luis Borges. Tenderloin barbecues, crispy empanadas, and the celebrated dishes of Gato Dumas and Francisco Malman. Style, fashion, great music, and evenings that go 'til dawn. These images hint at Argentina's romantic mystique. But, they don't come close to capturing the variety of experience that lures tourists to this dynamic South American republic. You don't have to belong to the international polo set to feel welcome in "El sur del Sur," as Argentina is fondly known. With careful planning, Argentina can be a great vacation destination for everyone. The dollar is strong against the Argentinean peso, and now is a great time to go-it's summer there. Argentina is a huge country, the eighth largest in the world. Its provinces hold a diverse treasure of natural beauty, from the deserts of the northwest to the subtropical northeast down through the plains of the Pampas to the desolate grandeur of Patagonia, and across to La Cordillera de Los Andes in the west, with the tallest peak in the Americas. There are more than 20 national parks in the country, with wildlife species you'll see nowhere else on earth.
Argentina's heart is its capital, Buenos Aires. Half the country's people live in this sophisticated European-style city and its suburbs. Buenos Aires' tree-lined boulevards and graceful mansions are reminiscent of 19th century Paris, although strong Italian influences appear here as well. Of course, this city's most lyric self-expression is not its architecture, but its dance. Buenos Aires is the birthplace of the tango. Its trademark bandoneón (an accordion-like instrument) is heard everywhere; and at any given moment, day or night, somewhere in Buenos Aires, lovers are dancing the tango. The people of Buenos Aires, “los porteños,” have invested much pride and energy in architectural preservation and the investment has paid off handsomely. The Teatro Colón, a magnificent facility for opera and ballet; the Catedral metropolitana; the Museo nacional de bellas artes; and the Museo histórico nacional are major cultural and architectural attractions. La Plaza de Mayo is a hub of popular activity, while Avenida Santa Fé, known for its elegant boutiques, is heaven for shoppers. Avenidas Lavalle and Corrientes are great places to go for coffee, pizza or a signature Argentinean meat dish. Try to visit La Boca, an Italian suburb with wooden houses painted in bright colors. As a side trip, do as the natives do—visit one of the resorts at Mar del Plata, 228 miles from Buenos Aires, where sea lions will welcome you to the largest beaches on the Atlantic coast. No trip to Argentina is complete without a visit to the Pampas. The expanse of plains in the country's heartland is the domain of Argentina's cowboys, the famed gauchos. Here, you'll find the estancias, from small working ranches and large rural estates that produce grain and raise some of the best cattle in the world, to palatial villas filled with antiques and tradition. Many estancias provide tourist accommodations.
Another top tourist destination is Las Cataratas del Iguazú, which combines history and stunning natural beauty. Bordering Brazil in the northeastern tip of Argentina, this crescent-shaped collection of falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Every second, 176,000 cubic feet of water plunges 230 feet into a craggy abyss. Its roar echoes throughout the surrounding rainforest of the Parque nacional Iguazú, which contains the ruins of early Jesuit missions. A visit to Iguazú combines history with stunning natural beauty. Argentina's Andean provinces in the Cuyo region boast fertile valleys renowned for their superior grapes and wines. Tour operators offer "wine country" trips centered around the province of Mendoza. These excursions feature spectacular views of sunsets over snowy Andean peaks, appearing even more beautiful after a couple of glasses of the local wine. If you enjoy fishing, hunting, boating, or simply strolling around beautiful bodies of water, a visit to San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina's southern Lake District should be in your travel plans. This area has four national parks, served by numerous hotels and comfortable inns. It also provides a convenient launching point to explore Patagonia, the huge region along the Atlantic coast, south of Buenos Aires province. Patagonia is a naturalist's dream. Its highlights include Península de Valdés, home to penguins, guanacos, sea lions, flamingos, and whales. The awe-inspiring Glaciar Perito Moreno in Santa Cruz is a nearly 200-foot mountain of ice. You can watch ice chunks slowly and gracefully break off and fall into the water below. The reverberation is almost musical, creating the sights and sounds of a carefully choreographed ballet. If you feel truly adventurous, consider a trip to Tierra del Fuego, the windswept island territory in the South Atlantic that Argentina shares with Chile. Visit Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, surrounded by spectacular scenery and wildlife; cruise the famous Canal de Beagle in a sailing boat to Cape Horn and into the Antarctic—only then will you be able to brag that you sailed to "The South of the South." When you're facing the cold Antarctic wind in Ushuaia or a passionate tango in Buenos Aires, you'll understand why those who love Argentina never leave her, but carry a bit of her with them wherever they go.
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