Mount Fitzroy, Patagonia, Argentina
Few countries in the world can claim subtropical forests and glaciers, huge waterfalls and deserts, swampy lowlands and high mountains, wide-open spaces and bustling cities, penguins and flamingos. Yet Argentina has all that and more. Thundering Iguazú Falls, the calving glacier at Perito Moreno and the mountains of Patagonia are the most famous draw cards. Then there are football, tango, great steaks and phenomenal wines. Part Latin American and part European, this is one country you do not want to miss.
Here are our top-ten reasons why you should travel to Argentina.
Soak up sophistication in Buenos Aires
Sophisticated yet down to earth, sensuous and cultured, the capital of Argentina has a lot going for it. In this city of tango, cultures and foods from around the globe abound, but the steakhouses are what people people come for from all over the world.
BA is a city of neighbourhoods. Discover San Telmo's cobble-stoned streets and artisan shops, the French-style palaces of Retiro, working-class Boca, visit the famous cemetery in Recoleta or the museums and cafes of Palermo.
Amazing Iguazú Falls
Set among dense jungle, Iguazú Falls are the world's most awe-inspiring waterfalls. Take enough time to see them from both sides: the Argentine side offers long boardwalks along wildly cascading falls and rapids as well as rafting trips. But to experience the falls at its best, be sure to visit the Brazilian side for the day.
Experience wildlife at Península Valdés
Península Valdés is home to a staggering array of wildlife – sea lions, killer whales, elephant seals, Magellanic penguins, guanacos, rheas and numerous seabirds. Southern right whale breed here between June and mid-December.
See ice break off Perito Moreno Glacier
Perito Moreno is one of the easiest accessible ice fields in the world and walking one of the boardwalks along its five kilometre long face is one experience you will not soon forget. Icebergs and chunks of ice calve off the glacier and plunge in to the depths of Iceberg Channel.
Hike stunning Fitzroy
Located just outside the small village of El Chaltén, the Fitzroy range offers world-class hiking amidst some of the most spectacular mountain scenery you will see anywhere in the world.
Trek on a glacier trekking and climb the ice
Parque Nacional Los Glaciares offers several locations where one can strap on crampons and, ice axe in hand, hike on the stunning glaciers of this portion of the Andes. If you feel up to it, scale a wall of ice and feel like Edmund Hillary for a day!
Lakes and mountains of Bariloche
San Carlos de Bariloche, or Bariloche for short, is the prime holiday destination for Argentineans. People come here to experience the stunning landscapes of the surrounding mountains and lakes. Enjoy one of the many activities on offer: hiking, horse back riding, mountain biking or fishing, to name but a few
Colonial Mendoza
City of wide, leafy avenues, glorious fountains, atmospheric plazas and cosmopolitan cafes, Mendoza is the place to come to tour vineyards and try some of the phenomenal wines.
Join the football craze
No trip to Argentina is complete without attending a fútbol match. Nothing else inspires the Argentine people like a good game of soccer, especially at either River Plate or Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires.
The food Is there a better Argentine meal than steak with one of the stellar malbecs or syrahs from Mendoza?