Must See

Buenos Aires

Elegant yet lively Buenos Aires with its 14 million inhabitants captures the spirit of Argentina. Despite its modern construction, the city has managed to preserve old traditions and neat high-rise apartment buildings intermingle with 19th century houses. Buenos Aires' compact tree-lined centre is reminiscent of Paris.

Buenos Aires has 47 neighbourhoods (known as barrios), each with its own character. San Telmo and La Boca have a distinctly working-class feel, with cafes, antique shops, tango night spots and a Sunday flea market on Plaza Dorrego, whilst Belgrano, Palermo and La Recoleta contain wide boulevards lined with luxury high-rises, palatial mansions and large parks. Recoleta is home to the renowned Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts) and the Cementerio de la Recoleta, where many members of Argentina's elite are buried.

As of the world's largest metropolitan areas, it is an elegant shopper's paradise, with Avenida Santa Fe the most fashionable shopping area. Other highlights include the Teatro Collin, the world's largest opera house, and the immense Catedral Metropolitana - the final resting place of San Martin, Argentina's liberator.

Iguazu Falls

The Iguazú (or Iguaçu) Falls are a series of up to 350 separate falls that plunge over 200-foot cliffs over 2 miles. Located in the Unesco World Heritage listed Iguazu National Park whose subtropical rainforest supports 2,000 identified plant species and 400 bird species, the falls are formed by the River Parana, split into numerous channels. The most impressive is Granta del Diablo, Devil's Throat, which can be approached via a system of catwalks over the thundering water. Take a trip to the Isla San Martin for a crowd-free look, or catch a boat tour through the mist and spray at the base of the falls.

Patagonia

A vast region comprising the southernmost portion of the country, with numerous parks and nature reserves that are home to large herds of seals, sea lions, blue whales, and countless penguins.

Tierra Del Fuego

Tierra del Fuego ('end of the earth') is known as the gateway to the Antarctic. Ushuaia is the provincial capital, and the world's southernmost city, offering a unique landscape of mountains, sea, glaciers and woods. Originally used as a penal colony until 1947, visitors now use the city as a jumping-off point for trips to Antarctica or sailing trips around the Cape Horn.

In the summer, temperatures reach 13ºC (56ºF), and the area is ideal for adventure tourism activities such as horseback riding, hiking, sport fishing and biking. During the winter, when temperatures drop to 1ºC (34ºF) and snow changes the landscape, there are several winter sports centres for tourists to enjoy.

The Andes

Near the Chilean border lies the famous Mount Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Western hemisphere at 6,995 metres (22,944 ft). The Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue is located close by - a famous monument at almost 4,000 m (13,120 ft) above sea level, offering magnificent views.

Nearby are some of the best ski resorts: Las Lenas, the most prestigious, the Valles del Plata and Los Penitentes. Whilst in the area, visit the Puente del Inca, a natural stone bridge over the River Mendoza.