Luxury holidays honeymoons and weddings abroad

Argentina is a vast country with a great deal to explore, ranging from tropical forests and red desert in the north through the open pampas, down the Andes to Patagonia and on to Tierra del Fuego at the very southern tip of the continent.

Holidays in Argentina offer a wonderful introduction to the beauty and variety of Latin America. Often associated most with passionate tango, great football and impressive steaks, we can show you how much more this country has to offer on a wonderful tailor-made Argentina holiday.

Our Latin America specialists will offer help and advice on where to go on your own perfect Argentina tour to make the most of this fascinating country, whether you are planning to stay at an estancia and horse ride across the pampas, dance the Tango in Buenos Aires or explore the lakes of northern Patagonia.

Holidays in Argentina can include such adventures as walking on the glaciers at the southernmost tip of the Americas, looking down over the mighty Devil's Throat at the magnificent Iguassu Falls or spotting native wildlife in the Ibera wetland marshes. You could even try a game of polo in Cordoba or some skiing in the Andes.

Holidays in Argentina also make a great combination with the neighbouring Latin American countries of Brazil, Uruguay or Chile, if you have a little more time.

Cordoba:

The city of Cordoba lies just over an hour’s flight west of Buenos Aires in the very centre of the country and is Argentina's second most important city. The historic centre of Cordoba has many fine well-preserved buildings from the colonial period and just north of the city is also the 'Road of the Jesuit Estancias', which are now listed historic monuments dating back to the 17th century.

The real reason however, that most people take a tour to Cordoba is for the beautiful mountain landscapes and fertile valleys of the Sierras de Cordoba. The countryside is famous for cattle-ranching, producing much of the country's world famous beef. Just a short drive from the city are several very good estancias offering riding, walking, cattle round-ups and even polo, away from the summer heat of Buenos Aires in relaxed and very comfortable surroundings.

Ibera Wetlands:

The Ibera Wetlands are the second largest marshlands in South America and double the size of the Everglades in Florida. Until recently, these marshes were difficult to access and so are a protected haven for a wide range of wildlife. A holiday to the Ibera Wetlands really is an unforgettable experience for nature lovers. Still a relatively remote region, the area is home to anacondas, capybaras, caiman, marsh deer, howler monkeys and giant storks, amongst others.

The main gateway to this region is Posadas in Corrientes province (1.5 hour flight from Buenos Aires, daily services) or from Iguazu. You can easily spend some time at the falls and then travel overland to Ibera, spending a few days wildlife spotting at a lodge and visiting Jesuit Missions enroute. There are a few estancias offering comfortable accommodation, one of which specialises in fishing.

Patagonia:

The Patagonia region, located at the southern tip of South America, straddles both Argentina and Chile. Within Argentina, this southern region offers spectacular wild and majestic scenery in the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares (Glaciers National Park) - an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981 and a land of colossal mountain ranges crowned in snow and pristine glaciers descending into turquoise lakes.

There are two accessible areas in the Glaciers National Park: El Calafate is the most accessible and is the perfect base from which to visit the stunning and mighty Upsala and Onelli glaciers by catamaran and the Perito Moreno glacier at the far western end of Lago Argentino.

Stand, listen and watch in awe and if you are lucky you may see blocks of ice carving off the ice cliff into the lake below. Alternatively or as an extension to your Patagonia tour, continue north for a few hours to El Chalten, which stands at the foot of the jagged peaks of the spectacular Fitz Roy massif.

It is the base for some of Argentina's most rewarding trekking, amongst the peaks of Mts Torre and Fitz Roy. It is also possible to cross from El Calafate over the border into the famous Torres del Paine National Park in Chile.

Tierra del Fuego:

Deep in the southern part of Patagonia between Cape Horn and the Magellan Strait, emerges an extended archipelago, the largest island of which is Tierra del Fuego.

Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, is the base from which to explore this wild rugged landscape, bounded by the Martial mountain range to the north and the Beagle Channel to the south. Majestic panoramas of eternally snowy peaks, millenary glaciers and a rich diversity of marine fauna make this a great addition to an Argentina itinerary.

Staying in Ushuaia, you can take a boat trip along the Beagle Channel where you will be able to spot colonies of sealions and Magellan penguins and often pilot whales as well.

Ushuaia itself has a fascinating frontier history, starting with the first primitive inhabitants through to its farming pioneers and the town's museums illustrate these periods very well.

The Tierra del Fuego National Park and Lapataia Bay offer beautiful landscapes depending on the season but are always rich in local flora and fauna, especially in spring and summer when flowers and birds can be seen in profusion.

Ushuaia also serves as the starting point for most expedition cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula and is a great place to stock up on warm clothing before descending south towards the White Continent. Similarly a visit to Ushuaia can be added to the beginning or end of an expedition cruise to Cape Horn and the fjords and glaciers of Tierra del Fuego, with Australis cruises towards Punta Arenas in Chile or vice versa.

Mendoza:

At the foot of the Andes, Mendoza is an attractive city best known for its surrounding vineyards which now produce over 70% of Argentina's wines. The wine capital of Argentina has tree-lined avenues, huge villas, small adobe house and wineries, while in the neighbouring countryside there are some truly magnificent wine-producing estates to explore with the backdrop of the Andes close by. The northern zone is best for fruity whites and young reds whilst the Uco Valley produces wines with good acidity at just the right altitude for young vines to thrive.

Several of these wineries now offer luxurious accommodation to visitors and those interested in finding out more about viticulture on their Mendoza holidays. Spend some time wine-tasting on your Mendoza holiday learning about wine production or simply enjoying the stunning scenery. A Mendoza tour can include the overland route to Chile which crosses a high pass via Aconcagua and takes you through truly spectacular scenery towards Santiago, another valley famed for its wines - a wonderful combination tour for wine-lovers.

Valdes Peninsula:

This area is a vast peninsula overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, some 2 hours south of Buenos Aires to Trelew by air. Some may know the Valdes Peninsular for its Welsh community at Gaiman, where you can enjoy a traditional Welsh cream tea. However, travelling further out from Trelew towards the coast at Puerto Madryn, the region is a veritable wildlife haven.

A holiday to the Valdes Peninsula is fantastic for wildlife lovers as it is one of the best places to see whales (June to November), elephant seals, sea lions, penguins, cormorants, petrels and many other bird species. It is the largest breeding ground for Magallenic penguins in South America, whilst Punta Delgada is where the elephant seals and sea lions can be seen from cliffs, scattered across the beach below. With a holiday to the Valdes Peninsular at any time of year and you will be rewarded with an array of marine mammals and birds, though the penguin rookery at Punta Tombo Nature Reserve is best visited from September through to February.

See also separate sections on Buenos Aires, Lake District and Iguazu Falls

Some of the boutique hotels we feature in Argentina include bariloche hotel, club tapiz, eolo, esplendor, estancia el colibri, faena hotel & universe, legado miticio, los cerros, los notros, melia recoleta plaza, mine hotel, panoramic hotel, villa los angostura, vinas de cafayate wine resort.