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ARGENTINA
Argentina is situated in South America, east of the Andes, and is bordered by Chile to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil to the north and northeast. There are four main geographical areas: the Andes, the North and Mesopotamia, the Pampas and Patagonia. The climate and geography of Argentina vary considerably, ranging from the great heat of the Chaco (El Chaco), through the pleasant climate of the central Pampas to the sub-Antarctic cold of the Patagonian Sea. Mount Aconcagua soars almost 7000m (23,000ft) and waterfalls at Iguazú stretch around a massive semi-circle, thundering 70m (230ft) to the bed of the Paraná River. In the southwest is a small ’Switzerland’ with a string of beautiful icy lakes framed by mountains.
What also emerged was a country that may well surprise those with pre-expectations. Argentina is cosmopolitan and modern. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Buenos Aires. Somewhat unfairly referred to as a grimy Paris, Buenos Aires is a sophisticated capital brimming with character and an excellent spot for shopping and watching the world go by. Nightlife is spectacular and restaurants overspill with delectable dishes. You are just as likely to find businesspeople spending cash on the latest fashions as you are to find couples in passionate stages of tango.
But perhaps it is Argentina’s natural history that truly astounds. It is so topographically diverse that there is something for everyone: every type of landscape is here in microcosm. National parks teem with wildlife and mountainous vistas, while the colossal Perito Moreno Glacier and Iguazú Falls are natural wonders renowned worldwide. Horse riding, adventure sports and birdwatching are available throughout, and the Andes offer excellent skiing. Endless hiking opportunities are in the south, where Patagonia is stunningly barren and mystifying and the Tierra del Fuego feels like the end of the world. In short, Argentina is a menagerie of delights: vastly unexplored and undiscovered by most tourists, it is an adventure that is waiting to happen.
Argentina is a land of extremes: its hectic urban centers contrast with a staggeringly remote hinterland. The country can be simultaneously hot in one region and cold in another. The one common thread is that the people possess a curiosity, passion and fervor for life - most visible when it comes to football, the national obsession. The Tango, gauchos and estancias are the country’s cliched attractions, but what strikes visitors most is that life here is for living: the fast pace only letting up for the afternoon siesta.
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