Argentina : Everything Tour

Situated on Argentina’s Rio de la Plata coast, Buenos Aires is a thriving portside capital defined by a rich history, vibrant culture and strong European influence, with the result that it’s sometimes called The Paris of South America. Countless museums covering a cornucopia of subjects; an active theatre culture; carnivorous buffets second to none; sensuous tango performances; a mosaic of architecture; and shops to fit all fancies – all these facets and more make up the seductive blend that is Buenos Aires. Some of the city’s highlights include the buzz of the La Bombonera Stadium; tango and milonga venues such as the Bohemian La Catedral; and heritage architecture such as that at the Cementerio de la Recoleta, where visitors can wander through a ‘city’ of massive statues and marble mausoleums. Don’t miss the International Festival of Independent Cinema and the vibrant annual Pride Parade.

Resting at the confluence of the Parana and Iguazu rivers, Puerto Iguazu is a charming tourist city that serves as the gateway to Iguazu Falls on the Argentinian side of the border. It is surrounded by red rocky landscape interspersed with verdant forest inhabited by abundant wildlife. The city is a popular tourist destination and draws visitors from around the globe to visit the Iguazu National Park and its breathtaking waterfalls. Visitors can also explore the spectacularly scenic surroundings through a variety of activities including: jumping on one of the many tours on offer, enjoying an array of outdoor activities, visiting the Guira Oga - 'The House of Birds', and soaking up the views from the Hito de las Tres Fronteras, a magnificent natural park.

It is said that the former first lady of America, Eleanor Roosevelt, exclaimed her ‘pity’ for her country’s Niagara Falls when she first encountered the beauty of Iguazu Falls. This magnificent waterfall marks the confluence of the Iguazu River in Argentina and the Parana River in Brazil, and the meeting of the two countries is marked by stone pillars rising from the water. Roughly half the combined volume of both rivers thunders into the Devil’s Throat, a U-shaped cataract that delivers a torrential deluge of water into the wide basin below.

Situated in the Misiones Province of Argentina, in the beautiful Iguazu Department, the Iguaza National Park is a phenomenal wonderland of natural beauty and ecological importance. At the centre of the Paranaense Rainforest, the majestic Iguazu Falls tumble in a display of 275 cascades, and constitute one of the largest waterfalls in the world, earning it a classification as one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of Nature’. The entire park has been recognised as a UNESCO site, due to the falls as well as its abundance of important (and often endangered) flora and fauna. Look out for colourful butterflies, numerous wild cat species, and rare, threatened animals such as the jaguar, yacare caiman, and tapir. Thrill-seekers can take part in white river rafting, while those seeking more leisurely pursuits can take in the views from the park’s excellent restaurant.

Located in deep in Patagonia’s snow-capped netherlands, on the southern shore of Lake Argentino, El Calafate has become a key stopover for travellers headed to nearby Los Glaciares National Park. This icy wonderland that is best known for the spectacular Perito Moreno glacier – a massive, shifting ice cap composed of dozens of smaller glaciers. While Los Glaciares may be the main draw card here, El Calafate has plenty of its own charms: it’s a fun, scenic destination offering a host of outdoor and adventure activities.

Situated in the Austral Andes in the Santa Cruz Province of southwest Argentina, the Los Glaciares National Park is known for its magnificent natural beauty. Glacial lakes, towering mountains and majestic glaciers merge to create an awe-inspiring spectacle of nature. It is the largest national park in the country, stretching over 7000 square kilometres. This UNESCO World Heritage site features a sprawling collection of spectacularly beautiful glaciers. Perito Moreno, one of the most famous glaciers because of its dynamic changes, can be seen in the southern area of the park; whilst granite peaks and forests characterise the northern area of this world-renowned park. Visitors can explore the mountain village of El Chalten, soak up the dramatic views of the glaciers with their calving ice falls into Lake Argentino, and discover the various types of Andean-Patagonian Forest, Patagonian Steppe and unique high-altitude vegetation blanketing the landscape.

Argentina’s most populous and a diversely multicultural region, Buenos Aires Province takes its name from the country’s capital city of Buenos Aires, which has since become independent of the province. Visitors to Buenos Aires Province can look forward to exploring its lively capital city, La Plata, which features an impressive array of museums and cultural sites. Those looking to escape the city can head inland to discover the province’s picturesque farming settlements, such as San Antonio de Areco, Tandil and Mercedes. Other popular attractions include a number of charming little seaside resorts, such as Pinamar and Villa Gesell, and of course the Sierra de la Ventana mountain range, known for its spectacular natural scenery and excellent opportunities for outdoor adventure.

The Pampas are verdant, low-lying grasslands that cover roughly 77 000 square kilometres of land between the Andes Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, extending mostly across Argentina, but also sections of Uruguay and Brazil. With its fertile plains, the region is an important agricultural hub, and also supports some unique animal species, including the Pampas deer, the Pampas fox and the elegant crested tinamou. The Argentinean Pampas are the home turf of the ‘Gaucho’ – the original South American cowboy; an excellent winemaking culture; a wonderful culinary scene; and extraordinary silver-making. Highlights of the area include famous salami and craft beer in Tandil, and the pretty historic town of San Antonio de Areco, which makes a convenient day trip from Buenos Aires and has a thriving 'gaucho' and 'criollo' tradition.

Northeast Argentina includes the provinces of Misiones, Corrientes and Entre Ríos. It is home to one of the world’s most magnificent waterfalls - the cascading Iguazu Falls. This beautiful area is traversed by the meandering rivers of Iguazu, Parana and Uruguay, vast wetlands alive with a variety of birdlife and a host of vibrant cities. Visitors can explore the colonial architecture of Santa Fe, visit the stylish city of Corrientes, and discover the capital city of Posadas, which serves as the gateway remnants of the Jesuit missions. There are also a variety of beautiful National Parks dotting the Northeast, which are home to an array of wildlife. Other popular attractions include: Mocona Falls and the serene Esteros del Ibera wetlands.

Located in southern Argentina’s, Santa Cruz Province is dominated by the Andes and the ice fields of Patagonia on its western side and meets the Atlantic Ocean on its east. Its native people are the Telhuelches, who remained independent until the late 1800s through almost three centuries of colonialist expansion in the region. The top natural highlight of Santa Cruz is Los Glacieres National Park - particularly the Perito Moreno Glacier, which collapses thunderously every few years in an awe-inspiring spectacle. The town of El Calafate is the main gateway to this frosty wonderland, while the nearby village of El Chaltén is a prime hiking destination at the base of Mount Fitzroy. Puerto Deseado, at the mouth of the Deseado River on the province’s east coast, is a small fishing village with dramatic scenery and rich coastal wildlife, including dolphins, sea lions and both Rockhopper and Magellanic penguins.

The Argentine section of Southern Patagonia is a phenomenal place where sheep outnumber humans at the end of the world. It is known for its icy windswept landscapes, vast expanses of remote empty Patagonian Steppe and diverse wildlife. This scenic remote landscape is home to the region’s top highlights: the Torres del Paine National Park which spills over into Chile and the Los Glaciares National Park, which both feature deep fjords, snow-dusted mountains, expansive glaciers and ancient forests. Visitors to this area can enjoy some of the most beautiful natural attractions in the world including: the annual rendezvous of the Southern Right Whale at the rugged Peninsula Valdes and the stunning Patagonian Ice Fields boasting colossal glaciers. Popular activities include: hiking, camping, whale watching, mountaineering, climbing and horse riding.

Extending across part of both Chile and Argentina at the southernmost tip of South America, the remote and stunningly scenic region of Patagonia offers some of the most awe-inspiring hiking trails in the world. It is made up of distinct regions, each with its own unique beauty. Southern Patagonia is home to huge glaciers, with the enormous Glaciar Perito Moreno creeping forward up to two metres a day, causing building-size icebergs to detach. Central Patagonia is covered by a wilderness of rainforests and coastal plains, while northern Patagonia is scattered with the cobalt lakes and lush valleys of the Lakes District and Araucania. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the largest forests of ancient Alerce in the world (up to 4000 years old) at the Parque Nacional Los Alerces.