Argentina Travelers Recommend

A heady blend of Spanish and African traditions, the tango developed in the brothels and communal backstreets of Buenos Aires’ poorer port districts in the 1880s. As an art form, the tango reached a climax in the first decades of the 20th century when the language of the streets formed the poetic lyrics of tango. This blend of tragedy and passion was fused in the love songs of famed tango singer Carols Gardel. Today, the tango has UNESCO World Heritage status, part of the world's 'intangible cultural heritage.' The tango spread from Argentina to Uruguay and Europe, but Buenos Aires remains its traditional home. Tango shows and culture are a huge draw card for visitors to the city, culminating each year with the celebrations of Tango Day on December 11.

Buenos Aires is a huge, sprawling city, but most areas of interest are in the compact and foot-friendly downtown. The locals call themselves porteños, celebrating the fact that Buenos Aires is a port city, born on the banks of the Rio de la Plata. Elegant and stylish, with a good-sized dollop of European ambiance, you can feel the passion in this busy city where the culture, nightlife, food and drink come with an eminently affordable price tag. Greet the day in El Microcentro, the 19th century city center, where proud porteños parade along Avenida Florida. Follow your nose to the neoclassical Metropolitan Cathedral, or join a walking tour for a central B.A. overview. See what opera or ballet is showing at the elaborately gilded Teatro Colon theater, pay your respects to Eva Peron at the Recoleta Cemetery, and see what’s shaking in the gelati-hued enclave of La Boca.

A popular destination for cruise ships, the coastal resort of Puerto Madryn offers a range of outdoor activities. Go hiking or horse riding along the coast; take a trip to the Punta Tombo Penguin Colony. The undeniable highlight of El Calafate is the neighboring Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site home to the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier, one of Patagonia’s most iconic sights. One day hiking or boating trips to see the glacier are possible, but with more time you could also include a visit to the remote Upsala Glacier. As the world’s southernmost city, Ushuaia is the last frontier before Antarctica and dubbed the ‘end of the world’ by many arctic cruise liners. Choose from exploring the dramatic landscapes of the Tierra del Fuego National Park; sailing or kayaking among the islands of the famous Beagle Channel; riding the evocatively named End of the World train line.

Spend the day relaxing and getting to know El Calafate, capital of Argentina’s glacier country. As you take a stroll through the heart of town, next day, the soaring icy walls of Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park await. Take a guided walk along pathways to the glacier face, for breathtaking views of the surrounding snow-covered mountains, then on the third day cross over into Chile for the day to spend time amongst the granite pillars, turquoise lakes and jagged peaks of Torres del Paine National Park.

Get a feeling for this world’s-end city by visiting the Museo del Fin del Mundo and its exhibits of Patagonian wildlife. Bone up the history of the former penal settlement and thriving port by visiting the Maritime Museum. Cruise from Ushuaia to say hello to the strait's penguin rookery at Estancia Harberton, and visit the homestead and Akatushun research museum. For wonderful views of the channel, ride the chairlift to the Martial Glacier for panoramic vistas over Ushuaia and the islands. Short two-hour cruises pass islands inhabited by fur seals and the channel’s remote lighthouse. Pack a picnic and visit the Tierra del Fuego National Park for a day in the great outdoors, following remote walking trails past beaches, bays and forested valleys. Join a tour to go trekking and canoeing along the Lapataia River and Lake Roca.

Central Argentina’s hub, Mendoza is an easy-going town with lovely plazas, tree-lined streets, cultural sights and a laid-back vibe. Chill out in Mendoza’s plazas for people-watching or take a stroll through the capital’s leafy streets. Museums trace the city’s history, including the program of rebuilding since the 1861 earthquake, and the Jesuit Ruinas de San Francisco dating back to 1638. Shop for antiques in Plaza Pellegrini, crafts in Plaza Independencia, or go for a wander along pathways meandering through Parque San Martin. End the day with more people-watching on Avenue Colon, lined with bars and alfresco cafes serving the famous local wines. While it’s a must to sample the region’s famous Malbec wines, don’t miss out on tasting regional culinary specialties and experiencing sidewalk dining on pedestrianized Avenue Sarmiento. Browse the stalls at the Central Market, selling takeaway pizza and empanadas.

While the Brazilian side of the falls can be explored in half a day, you could easily spend two or more days enjoying the Argentine portion of the park. After settling into your hotel, grab a bus to the national park for your first exploration of the falls. If it's already hot, begin with the Garganta del Diablo or a boat trip under falls, for maximum spray. Relax afterward at Guira Oga, or take in the town's tiny Ecomuseum and Museo Municipal de Bellas Artes. Begin the day with a quick trip to Brazil, where you can spend the cool of the morning photographing those panoramic vistas of the Devil's Throat and the Argentine falls. Unless you want to visit Itaipu Dam, or splash out on a helicopter ride, it's back to Argentina, for a half-price second day at the national park. Consider booking a tour to Wanda Mines, with those remarkable amethyst geodes, and San Ignacio Mini, where you could spend the night before embarking on the next adventure.

San Carlos de Bariloche (commonly, Bariloche) is the undisputed capital of the Argentine lakes region, and as such, also for adventure tourism, hiking, skiing, flyfishing, horseback riding at nearby ranches, visiting glaciers, and more. The city is relatively new, having been founded in 1903, and more dense settlement starting in the 1930s with the arrival of the railroad. It is a city that lives from tourism, and is built on the southern side of the giant Nahuel Huapi Lake, which brings a cooling breeze into the city at most times of year. Bariloche is a great base of operations for any of the above adventure tourism, as well as some of the world’s really spectacular drives, such as Siete Lagos (seven lakes) which is a relatively short (about 65-mile) tour past some of the prettiest lakes, national parks and towering peaks the area has to offer. You can start the drive in Bariloche, which is an hour and fifteen minutes by car from Villa La Angostura.