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Argentina Travel Deals |
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Like Chile to its west - with which it shares 5000km of grandiose
Andean cordillera, several of whose colossal peaks exceed 6000m -
Argentina is, for the most part, less obviously exotic than its
neighbours to the north, and its inhabitants will readily (and rightly)
tell you how great an influence Europe has been on their nation. It was
once said that Argentina is actually the most American of all European
countries, but even that clever maxim is wide of the mark. It's a
country with a very special character all of its own, distilled into the
national ideal of Argentinidad - an elusive identity the country's
Utopian thinkers and practical doers have never agreed upon. Undoubtedly,
the people of Argentina suffer from, but also encourage to an extent,
some of the world's most sweeping generalizations, based mainly on the
typical Porteño , or native of Buenos Aires. They suffer from a bad
press in the rest of the continent, but you're bound to be wowed by
their spontaneous curiosity and intense passion for so many things. On
this score there's a lot of truth in the clichés - their passions are
dominated by the national religion of football , politics and living
life in the fast lane (literally, when it comes to driving) - but not
everyone dances the tango , or is obsessed with Evita , or gallops
around on a horse, gaucho-style . Whether thanks to their beauty, sense
of humour or other charms, the locals will help to make any trip to the
country memorable.
So aside from the people, why visit Argentina? First, because the huge
metropolis of Buenos Aires , home to two-fifths of the population, is
one of the most exciting, charming and fascinating of all South American
capitals. It's an immensely enjoyable place just to wander about,
stopping off for an espresso or an ice cream, or people-watching, or
shopping, or simply soaking up the unique atmosphere. Its many barrios,
or neighbourhoods, are startlingly different, some decadently old-fashioned,
others thrustingly modern, but all of them oozing character. Added to
that, Buenos Aires is the country's gastronomic mecca and boasts a
frenzied nightlife that makes it one of the world's great round-the-clock
cities. Elsewhere, cities aren't exactly the main draw, with the
exception of beautiful Salta in the northwest, the beguiling river-port
of Rosario - birthplace of Che Guevara - and Ushuaia which, in addition
to being the world's most southerly city, happens to enjoy a fabulous
setting on the evocatively named Tierra del Fuego.
Wildlife and adventure in the extensive outback are the real attractions
outside of the capital. By hopping on a plane it's feasible to spot
howler monkeys and toucans in their jungle habitat in the morning, and
watch the antics of penguins tobogganing off dark rocks into the icy
South Atlantic in the afternoon. There are hundreds of bird species -
including the majestic condor and three varieties of flamingo - plus
pumas, armadillos, llamas, foxes and tapirs to be found in the country's
forests, mountainsides and the dizzying heights of the altiplano or
puna. Lush tea-plantations and parched salt-flats, palm groves and
icebergs, plus the world's mightiest waterfalls are just some of the
sights that will catch you unawares if you were expecting Argentina to
be one big cattle-ranch. Furthermore, dozens of these vital biosystems
are protected by a pioneering network of national and provincial parks
and reserves , staffed by remarkably motivated rangers.
As for getting around and seeing these wonders, you can generally rely
on a well-developed infrastructure inherited from decades of domestic
tourism. And the challenge of reaching those areas off the beaten track
is more than compensated by the exhilarating feeling of getting away
from it all that comes from, say, not passing another vehicle all day
long. Hotels are often much of a muchness, but a special treat - and not
excessively expensive by any means - are the beautiful ranches, known as
estancias - or fincas in the north - that have been converted into
luxury accommodation. In most areas, you'll be able to rely on the
services of top-notch tour operators, who will not only show you the
sights but also fix you up with all kinds of adventure activities: horse-riding,
trekking, white-water rafting, kayaking, skiing, hang-gliding , along
with more relaxing pursuits such as wine-tasting, bird-watching or
photography safaris . While some visitors prefer to whiz about the
country using an airpass, others like to enjoy the astounding scenery,
magnificent wildlife and sensation of remoteness at a much slower pace.
Argentina is so huge and varied that it's hard to take it all in in one
go - don't be surprised if you find yourself wanting to return to
explore the areas you didn't get to see the first time around. |
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