Argentina

As the second largest country in South America and the eighth largest country in the world, Argentina has plenty of hype to live up to; but of course Argentina surpasses it all with gracious style. Home to the ‘Paris of South America’, Buenos Aires, Argentina is a country famed for its passion and pride. Here, football is played more obsessively than anywhere else, the sexy tango dance was brashly born, the best steaks are feverishly devoured and the humungous Andes mountain range towers. Even the largest dinosaur in the world was discovered here! Argentina is a country of celebrated proportions which persistently smash traveler’s expectations.

Sprawling away from the Atlantic Ocean in the East, Argentina’s portion of South America amasses the continent’s typically contrasting climates and landscapes. In the extreme northeast is the dense jungle, creeping with jaguar, capybara and caiman, which is glaringly different to the endlessly stretching plateau of Patagonia. Compare this barren backdrop to the craggy contours of the Andes Mountains along the Western border with Chile. The highest mountain after the Himalayas, the Aconcagua, lives here. From the vast Lake District to the roaring Iguassu Falls and swiftly back to the cooler climates of Patagonia’s glaciers or the roasting Andean desert, you’ll find Argentina awe-inspiring.

Although Argentina’s natural wonders demand your attention, don’t skip the busy, eclectic cities. Surrounded by valleys, Argentina’s second largest is the welcoming Cordoba; ideal for top dining or city strolling to admire the colonial structures and heaps of great galleries. Heavily influenced by European fashion and art but with a distinct style of its own, Argentinean cultural scenes are thriving in most cities, but especially so in its capital, Buenos Aires. Art deco furniture, influential fashion designers using local fabrics with a dash of gaucho style and manic nightlife can all be found here, as well as opera houses, iconic landmarks and neoclassical monuments.

Despite its friendly demeanor, Argentina’s history is cloaked in chronicles of clashes, unwelcome occupation and inevitable uprising. Even the name Argentina comes from argentums, the Latin word for silver which was the prime resource that the Spanish invaders mined for in the 16th century. If you’re traveling in 2010, don't miss the bicentennial celebrations, honoring 200 years since Argentina’s independence from Spain.

When hunger strikes, savor lunches that will keep you going until a late dinner, comprising of chorizo, pizza, empanadas or lots and lots of beef. Wash it down with local wine or Yerba mate, a traditional stimulating herbal drink which, like most Argentinean aspects, is best enjoyed in the company of good friends.