Argentina - The Facts

Size: 1,082,895 square miles (2,805,000sq km)
Capital: Buenos Aires
Language:Spanish. English is widely understood in the main tourist centres. There are 17 native languages.
Currency: Peso. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted.
Weather: Summer, from December to March, has average daytime temperatures of 23°C. Winter, from June to September, has average daytime temperatures of 12°C. The north of the country has a subtropical climate, the south is markedly colder.

Spectacular scenery and natural wonders are the big attraction. Argentina has the highest peak in the western hemisphere, glaciers, sub tropical rainforests, lakes and deserts. For culture and night life Buenos Aires takes some beating.

Argentina - Attractions

Buenos Aires is the place for shopping, culture, nightlife and people watching. Museums not to miss include Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Museo del Cine and Museo Histórico Nacional. La Boca, famous for its colourful houses, market place, street musicians and dancers is also home to the Boca Juniors, for whom Diego Maradona once played and the La Bombonera stadium. If cemeteries aren't usually on your list of attractions you might make an exception for La Recoleta. See how the rich deal with death and visit the resting place of Eva Perón. The inscription on her tomb reads Vol vere y sere millones - 'I will return and be millions.' Tigre, 30 km from the capital, has one of the largest amusement parks in Latin America.

The Pampas

The flat heartland is what many people imagine Argentina will be like. Mostly devoted to agriculture, horse breeding and cattle ranches, it's the home of the gaucho. Córdoba, Argentina's second city is here and worth visiting for its architecture, museums and markets. The area is not all grass, there are forests and salt lakes filled with flamingos.

The National Parks

There are thirty spread around this huge country. Iguazú in the north east is famous for its spectacular falls surrounded by rain forest. It's good for hiking, canoeing and wildlife. Near the border with Chile, the Aconcagua National Park has the continent's highest mountain. Nahuel Huapi has glacial summits, alpine lakes, and wild rivers so is excellent for hiking, rock and ice climbing, mountain biking, and whitewater rafting. Some of the country's best skiing is here.

Los Glaciares is a World Heritage site with rugged mountains and glacial lakes. You can watch icebergs from the huge Moreno Glacier topple into Lake Argentino from catwalks at the Canal de los Témpanos or Iceberg Channel. Tierra del Fuego, an island Argentina shares with Chile, is at the very southern tip of the continent and the only coastal national park. It's a windy place with rivers, lakes, forests and glaciers. Ushuaia, the provincial capital, is the southernmost city in the world and home to the Museo del Fin del Mundo (Museum of the End of the World).

If deserts are more your thing, there's Ischigualasto National Park, known as 'the valley of the moon', and Los Cardones National Park with 6 metre high cacti.

Argentina - Activities

Skiing

The season is June to October, with the best conditions in July and August. The main resorts are Catedral at Bariloche in Río Negro, Chapelco at San Martín de los Andes and Cerro Bayo at Villa la Angostura in Neuquén, Las Leñas in Mendoza Province and La Hoya at Esquel in Chubut Province.

Mountain climbing

You're spoilt for choice - see the section on National Parks. The highest, Mount Aconcagua (6995m) is a good preparation for ascents of Everest. For non climbers there's a 25 mile trek to base camp at Plaza de Mulas starting from Puente del Inca where there's a climbers' cemetery.

Wildlife watching

The wildlife sanctuary at the Peninsula Valdes nature reserve in Chubut Province is the place to see whales, sea lions, elephant seals and penguins; the best time for whales is August to December. The nearby bird sanctuary Isla de los Pájaros is home to cormorants, flamingos and egrets. All the national parks have their wildlife speciality from wild chinchillas to puma.

Mountain biking and rafting

Lots of mountains and rivers mean masses of opportunities to do both. White water rafting is often close to the ski resorts and includes the Río Hua Hum and Río Meliquina near San Martín de los Andes; Río Limay and Río Manso near Bariloche and the Río Mendoza. The Sierras de Córdoba are particularly popular for biking with their mild climate and good network of roads and tracks.

A railway experience

The Tren a las Nubes, Train to the Clouds, is one of the world's great rides. Deep canyons, rugged peaks, desert plateau and the stupendous La Polvorilla viaduct.

The Tango

Buenos Aires is full of Salones de baile, or tango salons. The most famous are in San Telmo where you can watch traditional Argentine tango danced or learn for yourself.

Argentina - Entertainment

Buenos Aires is a 24 hour city. Its night life is actually more of an early morning thing as bars and clubs don't really get going till 2am. Focal points for party goers are Palmero, the streets around 25 de Mayo, Reconquista and El Bajo and the San Telmo area. Many bars have live music and tango shows. Some to try ones include Bar Sur, Calle in San Telmo, La Cigale in the city centre and the Voodoo Bar on Calle Baez.

The Centro Cultural Ricardo Rojas at Corrientes puts on a range of free live music events and is popular with students. Qubic, is an unusual club with its swimming pool. For a glamorous night out try Teatro Colón. It's the world's largest opera house, seating 2500. Outside the capital, other cities and tourist resorts can be equally lively and equally late.

May 25th is Revolution Day when the whole country celebrates the revolt against Spanish rule in 1810. Celebrations include parades and religious events. San Antonio de Areco has the biggest gaucho celebration each November, the Día de la Tradición.

The National Folklore Festival in Cosquín is the place to see the best tango artists. This celebration of Latin American music and dance takes place during the third week of January.

The South America Surfing Contest visits Mar del Plata every January.