Argentina is a fascinating country that will take you on the rhythm of tango through some of the most beautiful landscapes in South America. There are of course the Iguazu Falls, the pampa and the legendary Tierra del Fuego. But Argentina is a country with one of the richest cultures in the world that amazes all travellers. Due to its South American origins, Argentina is a festive country, music is omnipresent throughout the country and will certainly accompany your trip.
Argentina is one of those countries that all scavengers dream of exploring one day in their lives.
Northeast Argentina, from Buenos Aires to Iguazu
Northeast Argentina is certainly the most visited part of the country. It must be said that it has two major assets with Buenos Aires and Iguazu.
Buenos Aires is a bewitching city where tango is everywhere, and where every district needs to be explored. You will discover wonders on every street corner.
In the far north of the country, Iguazu Falls is the other major point of interest in the region, it is one of the 3 mythical waterfalls in the world (with Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls). There are no less than 275 falls over 3 kilometres that seem to emerge from the lush forest and offer travellers an exceptional experience.
Several traces of the past can be found in the rest of the region: the Jesuit missions of the Guarani. The purpose of these missions was to protect the Guaranis from Portuguese slave traders. Today, most of them are in ruins but are the traces of the colonialist past and the consequences for local populations. The missions of San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria la Mayor are now classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Northwest and its breathtaking landscapes
The ideal starting point to visit the Northwest is certainly Salta, the best preserved colonial city in the country. Here it is impossible not to taste the famous empanadas that have made the country’s reputation while participating in the peñas folkloricas. Atmosphere guaranteed until the end of the night.
But from Salta, it is possible to visit the whole eponymous province as well as the neighbouring province of Jujuy. Both offer incredible desert and mountainous landscapes worthy of the best Westerners. The “Tren a las Nubes” allows you to cross this exceptional scenery, passing notably over iron bridges crossing vertiginous valleys and taking passengers to an altitude of more than 4220 metres. Another way to discover these provinces is to move around by yourself and explore the many valleys where you will come across beautiful villages like Humahuaca or Iruya.
Going down towards the centre of the country, the vines that have made the reputation of San Juan and Mendoza appear. A perfect opportunity to taste the famous Argentine wines in front of the Andes Cordillera mountain peaks. The Aconcagua, 6962 meters, the highest peak in the world outside the Himalayas, is located in the Mendoza region and the most sporty will not fail to try to climb it.
The wild nature of southern Argentina
When leaving for southern Argentina, it is impossible not to pass through the mythical province of La Pampa, land of the gauchos, the Argentine cowboys. In reality, the pampa, the large expanses of treeless grasslands, extends over the neighbouring provinces. It is possible to stay in one of the many estancias, the ranches, which open their doors to travellers. Some of them are still as authentic as ever and allow you to live a totally immersive experience.
It is possible to find estancias until Patagonia, whose the name evokes extraordinary landscapes. If the centre of Patagonia is very similar to the landscapes of the province of La Pampa, the East offers magnificent coastal landscapes. Although swimming is possible, people come here mainly to discover wildlife, such as whales on the Valdes Peninsula or Magellanic penguins in Monte Leon National Park. The west of Patagonia is very mountainous and allows many hikes to discover glaciers and many high-altitude lakes. Among the most famous places the Perito Moreno glacier near El Calafate is one of the mythical places but there are many other glaciers.
At the very South, at the end of the World, Tierra del Fuego, a wild territory where it is possible to observe many animals in their natural habitat. It is possible to travel through the national park by train, the train from the other side of the world.
