Argentina attracts with its natural, cultural and architectural riches, endless opportunities for a peaceful and extreme holiday. The homeland of Evita, Maradonna and Che Guevara amazes with its contrasting landscapes: from the famous pampas of the central regions of the country to the Andes with their plateaus, valleys, gorges and colored mountains, gradually giving way to lakes, forests and glaciers of Patagonia and the snowy expanses of Antarctica. On the territory of Argentina there are two extreme points of South America: the highest mountain in the hemisphere, Aconcagua (6960 m) and the lowest lake on the continent, Laguna del Carbol (-105 m).
Argentina has an area of almost three million square kilometers with a wide variety of geographical characteristics and climatic zones. A wide variety of natural scenarios develop on its territory. Numerous National Parks and protected areas constitute a huge natural reservoir for all humanity. Humid subtropical forests give way to green pastures in the central part of the country.
To the south of the Lakes Region begins the endless Patagonian Plateau , decorated with giant glaciers. Between the rocky Atlantic coast, favored by wild animals, in the east to the wine lands in the high Andes in the west, where the seven-thousand-meter Mount Aconcagua rises , virgin lands lie. The majestic Antarctica closes the list of natural heritage of Argentina.
What to do in Argentina? In Buenos Aires - look at numerous generals (on horseback, in stone, etc.), bow to Eva Peron, drink mate, take part in a gaucho show, dance tango in La Boca and feel free from everything in the world - real gauchos, see how representatives of pre-Hispanic cultures live among stunning natural landscapes.
Mandatory trekking to the Glacier National Park and Iguazu Falls, rafting and kayaking in the mountain rivers of Bariloche, Salta and Mendoza; mountaineering and climbing Mount Aconcagua; canopy, paragliding, alpine skiing, and driving through salt deserts in the highlands are just some of the options that Argentina has to offer.
You can ride horses through the snow-capped Andes , swim next to fur seals and whales, walk among penguins in Patagonia, watch birds in the “American Serengeti” or condors in the high Andes, meet animals such as llama, vicuna, capybara, nyandu , mara is all that is needed to make this a top destination for anyone with any interest in nature. People come here for the exotic, excellent fishing and the special feeling of a continuous holiday inherent only in Latin American countries.
Excursion tours to Argentina will introduce you to such natural wonders as the mighty Perito Moreno glacier , the Quebrada de Humahuaca gorge or the stunning Iguazu Falls , as well as the unique landscapes of the southernmost territories of the planet, the historical heritage of the Jesuits, the beauty of the Lake District, and of course. The famous Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, from where you can go on various excursions or to the Mar del Plata resort. Tours to Argentina harmoniously complement a variety of active events, cruises to Antarctica or cities in South America.
10 places that are definitely worth visiting in Argentina:
1) Buenos Aires - the cultural and business capital, the city of tango.
2) Puerto Madryn - from May to December you can watch whales here.
3) The Valdez Peninsula is home to many marine species and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
4) Tierra del Fuego National Park is a nature reserve with untouched nature, home to many species of animals.
5) El Calafate with the Los Glaciares National Park - a unique glacier park that is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
6) Iguazu National Park with numerous waterfalls over an area of 3 km, is included in the list of UNESCO sites, nearby there are the ruins of Jesuit buildings on the lands of the Guarani Indians, which are also included in the list of World Heritage sites.
7) Mar del Plata - here are the main and most prestigious beaches of the country.
8) Cueva de los Manos (trans. "Cave of Hands") - a historical monument of rock art, included in the list of UNESCO sites.
9) Cordoba is a city for lovers of architecture and historical tourism; there are Jesuit buildings listed as World Cultural Heritage sites.
10) Mendoza is the main wine producer in Argentina; here tourists are offered excursions to wineries and wine tastings.
Official name : Republic of Argentina.
Capital : Buenos Aires.
Language : official - Spanish, English, Italian, German and French are also common.
Religion : Catholicism.
Geographical location : located in the south of South America. In the north it borders with Bolivia and Paraguay, in the east with Brazil and Uruguay, in the south and west with Chile. In the east it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.
Climate : subtropical in the north, humid tropical in the center of the country and temperate in the south. The Andes region is characterized by rainy weather and frequent floods in the summer season, intense heat in the summer, snow cover in the mountainous areas in the winter and frequent dry hot winds, which Argentines call “zonda”. Temperature changes are quite significant both between seasons and within one day. In lowland areas it often rains heavily over impenetrable rainforests and savannas. The average temperature in January is +5ºС, in July +20..+22ºС. And, by the way, do not forget that in the southern hemisphere, winter and summer coincide with ours exactly the opposite.
Summer (December to February) is the best time to visit Patagonia and the Southern Andes. Winter (from May to September) is suitable for traveling to the northern and northwestern regions of the country.
Spring and autumn are a great time to travel to Buenos Aires, Mesopotamia, and the foothills of the Cordillera in the provinces of La Rioja and Catamarca. Ski fans can hone their skills on the slopes of the snow-capped Argentine Andes from June to October.
The best time to visit the country is from October to May.
Currency : Argentine Peso. In large shopping centers, hotels, and restaurants, credit cards of international banks are accepted for payment. There are also currency exchange offices here. Banknotes in circulation are in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 pesos.
Shopping, shops, shopping : Argentina is famous for its leather goods: jackets, coats, belts, bags, gloves, shoes, etc. You can also buy quality knitwear, llama and alpaca wool, hand-knitted carpets with colorful Indian motifs, antiques, jewelry using local stones: green onyx and rhodochrosite (Inca rose).
National cuisine : Argentina is famous for its beef dishes. A typical Argentine lunch includes meat pies, the filling of which may vary depending on the region, pork blood sausages, and offal. Argentine chefs prepare dishes that can satisfy any gourmet: Roman-style shrimp, spicy oysters, mustard chicken (as well as steamed chicken, with champignons, with paprika, with almonds, with herbs, soaked in beer), lamb ribs, pintxos or churrasco (local kebab), cold gazpacho soup made from grated tomatoes and cucumbers, champignons in boiling wine, etc. Argentina is one of the leading producers of wine - and it is truly amazingly tasty. The local culture of viticulture and winemaking represents a unique symbiosis of European traditions. Even the grape varieties grown here seem to have been selected according to the principle “The best from each country.” From France - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay, from Italy - Sangiovese and Bonarda, from Spain - Chempranillo, from Germany - Riesling.
Transport : long distances in the country, thanks to an extensive network of air routes and the presence of airports in large cities, are most convenient and quick to travel by plane. It is better to book tickets in advance; you should also keep in mind that there may be flight delays.
Rail transport in the country is popular, but in some areas it is not well developed. Special tourist trains operate in the regions of Patagonia and Mesopotamia, and public transport consists of buses, commuter trains and taxis. In addition, Buenos Aires has a metro.
All taxis in Argentina are equipped with meters that must be turned on when a passenger boards. A 15-minute drive around the city will cost an average of 10 Argentine pesos.
Safety : since there are few tourists from the post-Soviet countries in the country, local residents regard them as exotic, and the attitude towards them is welcoming and friendly. However, this does not negate certain safety measures: it is not recommended to leave tourist centers alone (especially in the evening), you should not carry large sums of money, expensive jewelry, etc. with you. It is recommended to drink bottled or boiled water. You can only swim in the ocean in designated areas: in undeveloped areas it is dangerous due to strong coastal currents.
Sights, excursions and entertainment in Argentina
The country has many monuments with UNESCO World Heritage status: Los Glaciares national parks in Patagonia and Iguazu in the province of Missiones, Jesuit missions on the land of the Guarani Indians, Cueva de las Manos cave in the province of Santa Cruz, natural parks Ischigualasto and Talampaya , where flora and fauna that formed about 230 million years ago have been preserved. As well as the buildings and farms of the Jesuits in Cordoba and its environs, the natural and historical monuments of the Quebrada de Humahuaca valley along the Inca Road.
Salta serves as a starting point for excursions to the Calchaqui Valley and Humahuaca Canyon . In Salta, it is worth visiting the cathedral, Jesuit churches, and also check out the folk art market, where you can find original works of art.
Some of the most interesting excursions are considered to be the “ Gaucho Fiesta ” and “ Tango Show ” - entertainment performances in which the best dancers of the country participate. These shows introduce the life, cuisine, customs and music of Argentine gaucho cowboys. Vacations in Argentina at the famous resort of Mar del Plata , located 404 km south of Buenos Aires in a temperate climate zone,
are extremely popular . Only 600 thousand residents live here, but the number of vacationers and tourists reaches 6 million! Maar del Plata has many theme parks where you can see shows with dolphins, seals, sharks, acrobatic performances by water skiers and much more. Eco-tourism farm excursions will give you the opportunity to see how lambs are fed milk and sheep are sheared, as well as taste home-cooked food. Mendoza regularly hosts a wine festival with carnival and dancing, music shows and the election of the Queen.
Another interesting and interesting excursion is a trip to Cordoba , the second largest city in Argentina, which from an architectural point of view is in many ways superior to the capital. In the center of the city there are beautiful ensembles of buildings from colonial times - the old market, the Catholic Cathedral and much more. One of the best historical museums in the country is opened in the same city.
The main natural attractions of Argentina are the national parks Nahuel Huapi , Los Glaciares , Lanin , Iguazu , etc. Ocean cruises to Cape Horn , Antarctica and Patagonia are especially popular among tourists.