ARGENTINA

Argentina at a glance

Argentina is such a diverse country that it’s hard to know where to begin! From the sun-baked, high-altitude landscapes of the North to the frozen tip of Southern Patagonia, the country’s vast expanse is packed with one jaw-dropping view after another. Just the word Argentina conjures up images of lone gauchos riding across vast pampas plains, of sultry characters locked in tango’s passionate embrace and of exuberant football fans cheering on the infamous Maradona. All of this can indeed be found within Argentina’s broad borders, but this dynamic country goes beyond the stereotypes and delivers much, much more.

In the endlessly fascinating Buenos Aires you’ll find a vibrant metropolis keeping up the pace with any other world capital when it comes to fashion, fiestasand the arts. The city’s nightlife is legendary, and live rock music, tango, electronic and everything in between can be enjoyed there from dusk till dawn any day of the week. In the North you’ll find some of Argentina’s most intact colonial villages and a thriving traditional culture, while wildlife enthusiasts will be captivated by the marine wildlife of the Valdes Peninsula. Lovers of the great outdoors are spoilt for choice, with waterfalls, lakes and glaciers forming some of the most incredible landscapes in the Americas, while the mighty Andean Mountain range strides down the western reaches of the country creating a wonderland for hikers and climbers. The perfect azure waters of the Patagonia Lake District give way to ancient glaciers and ice fields at its southern tip, before the frozen world of Antarctica takes hold – and all of this is waiting to be enjoyed, by both serious hikers and day-trippers alike.

What not to miss in

ARGENTINA

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a vibrant and varied city with a unique character that will draw you in. There’s always something to do and is many peoples’ favorite Latin American city.

Patagonia – Calafate

Giant glaciers and beautiful mountain ridges await you in the incredible nature-filled region of Argentina’s Patagonia.

Iguaza Falls

Witnessing the incredible power of over 250 separate falls thundering down from heights of up to 80feet into the river below is a truly inspiring experience.

Peninsula Valdes

The Peninsula Valdes bays offer a safe breeding and feeding ground for all sorts of fascinating wildlife, including sea lions, sea elephants, penguins, dolphins and, most impressively of all, the giant southern right whales, who visit the region between August and December to deliver and raise their young.

Salta & Jujuy

Salta is the biggest city in the Northwestern region of Argentina, and with its balmy climate and attractive colonial architecture. It is also a perfect base to explore the traditional north; Jujuy and the wine district of Cafayate.

Lakes of Bariloche

Nestled amongst the lakes and mountains of the stunningly beautiful Patagonia Lake District, Bariloche serves as a well-developed base for visitors coming to explore the surrounding countryside.

Ushuaia

Ushuaia is the largest, and only, city on the evocatively named island of Tierra del Fuego, which translates into English as The Land of Fire. Ushuaia’s inhabitants claim that it is the most southerly city in the world and it really does feel like a distant outpost.

Mendoza

Luxuriating under year-round sun in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, Mendoza Province boasts the perfect climate for wine-growing. If you like a little wining and dining (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?), then you will not want to miss at least a few days of indulgence here.

What you need

TO KNOW

Argentina is generally safe but there are pickpockets, especially in the bigger cities. Be sensible, as you would anywhere in the world. Remember you are foreign and so will stick out already. Don’t wear lots of eye catching jewelry or flash expensive cameras, laptops or iPhones around. Don’t venture into unsafe areas. If traveling by bus, don’t leave belongings unattended. Health wise, make sure you get the necessary vaccinations before traveling.

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Argentina has opposite seasons to those in the Northern Hemisphere, with summer falling from December to February and winter from June to August. Given its size, Argentina experiences very different degrees of the seasons, depending on which part of the country you are in. For example, the winter months in Southern Patagonia are a flurry of snow and icy wind. This is not the time for hiking in the southern Andes or seeing the glaciers. However, if you are into snow sports, by all means wrap up warm and hit the slopes. Conversely, the winter months are the best time to travel in the north of the country when the fierce heat of summer abates. The center of the country can be visited at any time, though Spring and Fall are the prettiest times to visit both Mendoza and Buenos Aires. Spring is the all-out best time of year for nature spotting along the Patagonian Atlantic coast.

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Argentina is a great place for family travel and the Argentine people in general are very open-minded and welcoming when it comes to kids. It is one of those countries where children stay up late and eat with the family and you’ll find that restaurants won’t bat an eyelid if your kids pile in for pizza at 11pm – this is the norm and everyone else is doing it too. The country as a whole is very safe with low levels of crime and high safety standards. Argentina will also provide plenty of fresh air and exercise for kids and teens, and taking in such incredible sights as Iguazú Falls, the Perito Moreno Glacier or a southern right whale are bound to make a lasting impression.

argentina-gettingaround
Argentina is BIG, it stretches over 3500km from north to south. The distances that you’ll need to travel if you want to see all of its incredible sights are pretty hefty. For that reason most people take an internal flight or two in order to save time and avoid lengthy road travel. Having said that, Argentina does have an excellent long-distance bus service and, although it may sound a lot, a twenty hour bus journey is perfectly manageable. Long-distance buses in Argentina come in various levels of comfort, but you won’t pay too much more for a fully horizontal bed and waiter service. Hot meals are served on board and it’s a great opportunity to see some of Argentina’s beautiful countryside or to get an idea of the vastness of the Patagonia plains. In some regions, such as the Northeast or the Patagonia Lake District, it’s a great idea to hire a car and drive through their stunning landscapes independently.

Meet Our

TEAM LEADER

Silvina started exploring her home country, Argentina, as a child, and over the years her fascination with travel grew and she developed a passion for getting to know different places and people. After high school Silvina studied Tourism and Hotel Management in Buenos Aires and during her last year of university joined an internship program in France. Silvina says that this incredible experience gave her the chance to get to know people from all over the world, and reinforced her love for intercultural exchange and travel. Following her internship in France, Silvina worked in hotels in two of Argentina’s most important travel destinations – Puerto Iguazu and Bariloche. Following her graduation she started working for an incoming tour operator in Buenos Aires where she remained for four years before joining Global Encounters where she leads the Buenos Aires office.

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