Rich and diverse in nature, Argentina is a large country located in the southern part of South America with a long South Atlantic Ocean coastline in the east and the Andean Mountains in the west. Argentina is home to both vibrant cities filled with cultural offerings and exceptional natural beauty, and it offers excellent opportunities for activities like trekking, skiing, water sports and sightseeing.
The capital city of Argentina and one of the largest cities in Latin America, Buenos Aires attracts visitors from all over the world with its historical and cultural offerings. The city has a very South European image with picturesque cobbled streets, colorful buildings and wonderful dining opportunities. Buenos Aires is one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world and most of the activities in Argentina are concentrated in the capital.
Wide sandy beaches by the blue waters of the South Atlantic Ocean are the main attractions in the sunny Mar del Plata, the most popular beach resort and an important fishing port in Argentina, located approximately 400 km south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata has a lively cultural life with theatre performances, concerts, nightclubs and bars.
Argentine nature destinations include the magnificent Iguazú Falls that is a great place for outdoor activities like rafting, rock climbing, water sports and unforgettable boat trips under the huge waterfalls. The magnificent Andean Mountains are located along the western border, including the famous Perito Moreno Glacier, an enormous glacier in the Andes with the huge Lago Argentino Lake nearby, and the Aconcagua - the highest mountain in the world after the Himalayas, located near the wine-producing region of Mendoza.
Antarctic cruises & skiing. At the end of the world in the southernmost tip of South America, the small town of Ushuaia is a base for cruises to the Antarctic waters. The remote area has an exceptional natural beauty and offers good opportunities for trekking, boat trips and more. One of the main tourism destinations in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is located on the foot of the Andes Mountains surrounded by four lakes on the western Province of Río Negro. The area is famous for its skiing, trekking, climbing and water sports activities. San Carlos de Bariloche serves as a starting point for many excursions in the huge Lakes District of Western Argentina.
Traveling to Argentina. The main international airport in Argentina is Ezeiza International Airport located in Buenos Aires.
Bustling cities and nature wonders in Argentina
Argentina is a country rich in natural wonders. There are several famous national parks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Argentina, hosting an exceptional natural beauty with a great diversity of flora and fauna. The Argentine landscape is very diverse, consisting of fertile plains called Pampas in the central part of Argentina, the cool Patagonia in the south, high mountain regions in the west, and jungles in the north. Argentina is also home to beautiful beaches and eerie desert landscapes.The capital city of Argentina and one of the largest cities in Latin America, Buenos Aires attracts visitors from all over the world with its historical and cultural offerings. The city has a very South European image with picturesque cobbled streets, colorful buildings and wonderful dining opportunities. Buenos Aires is one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world and most of the activities in Argentina are concentrated in the capital.
Wide sandy beaches by the blue waters of the South Atlantic Ocean are the main attractions in the sunny Mar del Plata, the most popular beach resort and an important fishing port in Argentina, located approximately 400 km south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata has a lively cultural life with theatre performances, concerts, nightclubs and bars.
Argentine nature destinations include the magnificent Iguazú Falls that is a great place for outdoor activities like rafting, rock climbing, water sports and unforgettable boat trips under the huge waterfalls. The magnificent Andean Mountains are located along the western border, including the famous Perito Moreno Glacier, an enormous glacier in the Andes with the huge Lago Argentino Lake nearby, and the Aconcagua - the highest mountain in the world after the Himalayas, located near the wine-producing region of Mendoza.
Antarctic cruises & skiing. At the end of the world in the southernmost tip of South America, the small town of Ushuaia is a base for cruises to the Antarctic waters. The remote area has an exceptional natural beauty and offers good opportunities for trekking, boat trips and more. One of the main tourism destinations in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is located on the foot of the Andes Mountains surrounded by four lakes on the western Province of Río Negro. The area is famous for its skiing, trekking, climbing and water sports activities. San Carlos de Bariloche serves as a starting point for many excursions in the huge Lakes District of Western Argentina.
Practical information for your trip to Argentina
Due to its diversity of landscapes, Argentina has a great variation in weather conditions. The climate in Argentina is mostly temperate: it is subtropical in the north, humid in the centre, cold in the south, arid in southeast and sub-Antarctic in the southwest. The north of Argentina has hot and humid summers and mild and dry winters. The central part of the country has hot summers with thunderstorms and cool winters, while the southern part has warm but short summers and cold winters with snowfall in the mountains.Traveling to Argentina. The main international airport in Argentina is Ezeiza International Airport located in Buenos Aires.
Photo: Ana_Cotta, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
This airport receives flights to Argentina from all over the world. All major cities in Argentina have domestic airports. Many visitors in other Argentine destinations travel to neighboring countries and take a short flight or a bus to Argentina from there. As strikes and demonstrations are common in Argentina, they may cause delays in flights. There are also international bus connections and some ferry connections to Argentina from all neighboring countries.
Getting around. Argentina has a reliable, fast and extensive network of buses. Due to the long distances, car rental may be the best way to tour in Argentina, which has some of the best highways and road networks in Latin America. However, the traffic culture in Argentina may seem chaotic to Europeans and North Americans. Some domestic flight connections are also available between Argentine cities.
Services for visitors in Argentina are generally good and affordable, with accommodation and restaurant choices available for many tastes and budgets. English is not that commonly understood outside the major tourism destinations in Argentina, so learning some phrases in Spanish will prove to be useful.
Safety. Visitors in Argentina should exercise common caution, as violent and other crimes are not rare. Always keep an eye on your belongings and watch out for pickpockets. Certain areas in the Argentine cities should be avoided especially after dark and when travelling alone. Natural disasters such as earthquakes are common near the Andean Mountains, and floods are common in the rural areas of Argentina.
Argentine history, culture and tango music
The area of Argentina has been inhabited since 11,000 BC. The country has been inhabited by nomadic tribes and northwestern parts of it belonged to the Inca Empire. Argentine culture today is a melting pot of different ethnic groups and has been highly influenced by the immigrants especially from Southern Europe who arrived in the 16th century. Argentina became independent from Spain in 1816 and received a lot of European immigrants until the 20th century. One of the richest countries in the world in the 1800s, Argentina is today struggling with economical problems and recovering from a period of military rule that ended in the 1980s.The Argentinian culture has also been highly influenced by the Gauchos, the horse-riding cowboys of the Argentine pampas. Argentina and especially Buenos Aires is the famous home of the intimate and passionate tango music and dance. Due to several centuries of European immigration and racial mixing, only less than 2% of Argentinians today belong to indigenous groups.
