World Travel Guide
 
 
Travel Information
Contact Addresses
Overview
General Information
Passport/Visa
Money
Duty Free
Public Holidays
Health
Travel - International
Travel - Internal
Accommodation
Sport & Activities
Social Profile
Business Profile
Climate
History and Government
Maps
 
Regions and Cities
Buenos Aires - Overview
The Atlantic Coast
The Pampas
Misiones, El Chaco & Mesopotamia
Córdoba, Mendoza & the Andes
The Andean Northwest
Patagonia
Tierra del Fuego
 
Tools
Printable Miniguide
 
 
 
Home  >  World  > South America  > Argentina

Overview

‘Land of ice and fire’


Argentina is a land of extremes, its hectic urban centres contrasting with a staggeringly remote hinterland, and can be simultaneously hot in one region and cold in another. The one common thread is that the people possess a curiosity, passion, and fervour for life, most visible when it comes to football, the national obsession. Evita, the Tango, gauchos and estancias are the country’s clichéd attractions, but what strikes visitors most is that life here is for living – the fast pace only letting up for the afternoon siesta.

Referred to as a grimy Paris, Buenos Aires is a sophisticated capital brimming with character and an excellent spot for shopping and watching the world go by – whether it’s pedestrians strolling or motorists driving at break-neck speed. Nightlife is second to none and the restaurants are a food-lover’s delight.

Argentina’s national parks teem with wildlife and incredible mountainous vistas, while the colossal Perito Moreno Glacier and Iguazú Falls are natural wonders. Endless hiking opportunities abound in the south, where Patagonia is stunningly barren and mystifying and the Tierra del Fuego feels like the end of the world. The Andes offer excellent skiing – the ski-resort of Bariloche being the country’s most established. Horseriding, adventure sports and birdwatching are just a few of the other activities on offer throughout the country.

Argentina, vastly unexplored and undiscovered by most tourists, is an adventure waiting to happen.


Sharon Harris


Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd. Terms and Conditions apply.