ARGENTINA

Argentina, is a large, elongated country in the southern part of South America, neighboring countries being Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay to the north, Uruguay to the north east and Chile to the west. In the east Argentina has a long South Atlantic Ocean coastline.

Imagine two in a sensual tango, an evocative Evita longing for her country, soccer spectators screaming “goal” in ecstasy, the gaucho astride his horse on the pampas – and you’ve got an essence of the zest for life that binds Argentineans. Called the “Land of Fire and Ice” by many, Argentina abounds in contrasts – teeming cities and desolate Patagonia, ski slopes and beaches, natural and man-made wonders, sophistication and simplicity. If you are waiting to find a destination where you will not be caught in a stampede of tourists, look no further.

Hiking, skiing, nightlife, shopping, adventure sports, bird watching and food are just some of the thrills the country has to offer. Buenos Aires, the pulsating and throbbing city, is the capital. Also called “grimy Paris”, it is the centre of the country’s trade and industry. The fast pace of the city lets up only for the afternoon siesta. The curiosity, passion and fervor simmering in the very atmosphere is bound to make this a very memorable holiday.

Capital: Buenos Aires

Best Time of Visit:

  1. The best time to visit Argentina’s Patagonian destinations, such as the Moreno Glacier is during summer season that is from late December to March.
  2. Iguazu is best during the winter which starts from July to September– the temperature and humidity are less oppressive around this time; whereas the pleasant spring season (late September to November) can be enjoyed in Buenos Aires.
  3. Visit the Andes from June to September – it’s the ideal season for skiing.

Min Days Required: 6 days

Places of Interest: 

  1. Buenos Aires – Palermo, Puerto Madero, La Boca, San Telmo
  2. Cordoba- Jesuit Block and Estancias, Iglesia Catedral, Evita Fine Arts Museum, Monasterio de Santa Teresa
  3. La plata – Catedral De La Plata, Museo De La Plata
  4. Mendoza– Aconcagua, Spas of Cacheuta, Bodegas, Mendoza Museum of Modern Art
  5. San Juan – Ischigualasto, El Valle de La Luna (The Valley of the Moon), Rio San Juan,
  6. Rosario – Parque Independencia, Una Ventana al Rio, La Florida Beaches

Climate:

  1. The climate is mild in Argentina.
  2. The north seas have high temperatures and the south have the lowest.
  3. As the country lies south of the equator its seasons are opposite those in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer is from late December to late March and winter from late June to late September.
  4. Northwestern Argentina gets a lot of rain, but it slowly decreases towards the west and south. Winds from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans influence the climate. Winds sweeping over the Atlantic are moist and they make Mesopotamian and Pampas summers humid.
  5. By the time winds from the Pacific reach Piedmont and Patagonia; they are dry as they loose most of their moisture over the Andes.
  6. Patagonia is swept by winds from both the oceans all through the year.
  7. In winter air from the Antarctica some times sweeps northward and that explains why the Patagonia and Pampas have light snow.

Currency: Argentine Peso

Things to carry:

  1. Light cotton for the subtropical North.
  2.  Don’t leave your woolens behind when you visit the higher altitudes of the Andes and Patagonia – you’ll miss them in the summer too.
  3. Since many young Argentineans move to Patagonia and other remote places themselves, you will be quite at ease if you are a backpacker.
  4. Take Camping supplies from home – they can be pretty expensive in Argentina.

How to get there:

Air:

  1. Aerolíneas Argentinas and LAN Chile offer connections between Buenos Aires’ international airport Ezeiza and many cities throughout South America, as well as North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
  2. Qantas no longer offers direct flights from Sydney to Buenos Aires, instead flying to Santiago – home of it’s One World Partner LAN, where travelers can connect onto multiple destinations in Argentina.
  3. There are international flights to other airports, such as to Mendoza with LAN from Santiago Chile and TACA from Lima Peru.
  4. If you plan on visiting Buenos Aires you will fly into Ministro Pistarini International Airport if you’re traveling to another location in Argentina you may have to travel from Ezeiza to the Aeroparque Jorge Newbery the domestic airport in Buenos Aires.