From the all-night clubs of Buenos Aires to the world’s-end coast of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina feels like its own planet. Outmatched in the South American size department only by Brazil, this superlative country—which has come a long way from the military dictatorships and economic downturns of the mid-20th century—enthralls with its Europe-meets-Latin-America vibe, a glorious artistic heritage, and a landscape of absolute extremes.
Buenos Aires can surely be counted among the cultural capitals of the world: This ravishing city, decked out in Old World style, has a famously energetic theater scene and countless venues for appreciating tango music in its hallowed homeland. Outside of the “Paris of the Americas”, Argentina’s other great cities have their own draws: the Neoclassical architecture of Salta and Rosario, the wineries of Mendoza, the splendidly preserved Jesuit Block of Cordoba.
It seems almost unfair that Argentina’s cosmopolitan splendor should be so perfectly matched by the sublimity of the country’s wilderness, which unspools from Pampas steppes to the temperate rainforests and enormous glaciers of the Andes. Some of the defining landscapes of South America fall within its borders: There’s Iguazu Falls, one of the greatest spectacles of falling water anywhere on Earth; and there’s the Andean crown of Aconcagua, which, at 22,837 feet, is the tallest mountain outside of Asia; at the other end of the spectrum, the salt lake of Laguna del Carbón is the lowest point in the Americas. Meanwhile, Argentina’s share of Patagonia includes the snaggletooth jags and colossal icecap of Los Glaciares National Park as well as the farflung archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, a place many travelers dream of going. (The Tierra del Fuego hub of Ushuaia, incidentally, is often claimed to be the planet’s southernmost city.)
A single trip will never do Argentina full justice, though it can certainly suggest the depths of experience latent in this mighty landscape. Come as many times as you’re able: You’ll harvest more and more with every visit.
16 things not to miss.
- Buenos Aires
- Cerro Torre
- Iguazu Falls
- Perito Moreno glacierWalk the Perito Moreno glacier
- Fitz Roy in El ChalténTrek to Fitz Roy in El Chaltén
- Aconcagua
- The Andes
- Patagonia
- Ibera WetlandsThese marshes and lagoons constitute one of South America’s biggest wetlands—and one of its leading birdwatching sites.
- Monte Fitz RoyThis spire tops a massif of granitic fangs in the Patagonian Andes of Los Glaciares National Park—inspiration for the Patagonia, Inc. logo.
- UshuaiaTierra del Fuego’s farflung capital—the preferred port for cruises to Antarctica—is the southernmost city on the globe.
- Valdes PeninsulaThis sere Atlantic peninsula offers visitors absolutely world-class vantages for whale watching, with penguins and pinnipeds on the side.
- Iglesia San FranciscoA masterpiece of Italianate style, Salta’s 17th-century church is one of Argentina’s architectural standouts.
- Mar del PlataThis Atlantic seaport has an unparalleled lineup of beach resorts, making it one of Argentina’s most beloved fun-in-the-sun getaways.
- MendozaOne of the global “Great Capitals of Wine,” this city provides an unparalleled launch pad for exploring some of Argentina’s best-known vineyards.
- Cueva de las ManosThe evocative “Cave of the Hands” in Rio Pinturas is tattooed with outlined handprints and animal paintings better than 9,500 years old.
