Sandra Bao - Lonely Planet Argentina

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Start free associating on the word Argentina, and its quickly apparent why the country has long held travelers in awe: tango, beef, gauchos, ftbol, Patagonia, the Andes. The classics alone make a formidable wanderlust cocktail.

Da de la Tradicin (), San Antonio de Areco
BERNARDO GALMARINI/ALAMY

Just wait till you get here. Arriving in Buenos Aires is like jumping aboard a moving train. Outside the taxi window, a blurred mosaic of drab apartment blocks and haphazard architecture whizzes by as you shoot along the freeway toward the center of the city. The driver probably driving way too fast while chain-smoking and talking incessantly about government corruption finally merges off the freeway. Then the street life appears the cafes, the purple jacaranda flowers draped over the sidewalks and porteos (residents of Buenos Aires) in stylish clothing walking purposefully past the newspaper stands, candy kiosks and handsome early-20th-century stone facades. And its not just BA thats a stunner Crdoba, Mendoza and Bariloche each have their unique personalities and attractions, and are all worthy of your visit.

While Argentinas big cities have a lot of urban pleasures to offer, their real purpose is to springboard travelers into the countrys greatest attraction: the natural world. From mighty Iguaz Falls in the subtropical north to the thunderous, crackling advance of the Perito Moreno Glacier in the south, Argentina is a vast natural wonderland. The country boasts some of the Andes highest peaks, several of which top 6000m near Mendoza and San Juan. Its home to rich wetlands that rival Brazils famous Pantanal, mountains painted in rustic colors, deserts dotted with cacti, massive ice fields and arid steppes in Patagonia, cool lichen-clad Valdivian forests, glacial lakes, Andean salt flats, a spectacular Lake District, penguins, flamingos, caimans, capybaras and more. All unforgettable sights and adventures waiting for you to experience and be amazed by and you will be, bet on that!

Tango is possibly Argentinas greatest contribution to the outside world, a steamy dance thats been described as making love in the vertical position. In Buenos Aires especially, youll find endless venues for perfecting your tango moves, from dance salons to milongas (dance events) to atmospheric cafes. Satisfying that carnal craving for juicy steaks isnt hard to do in the land that has perfected grilling those wonderfully flavorful sides of beef. Parrillas (steak houses) are on practically every corner and will offer up any cut you can imagine. Add an exhilarating passion for ftbol Argentines are truly devoted to this sport and experiencing a live match should be on your itinerary and you have a rich edgy culture, part Latin American and part European, that you cant help but fall in love with.

Caminito (), La Boca
RICHARD CUMMINS/LONELY PLANET IMAGES

Glaciar Perito Moreno

As glaciers go, Perito Moreno () is one of the most dynamic and accessible on the planet, but what makes it exceptional is its constant advance up to 2m per day. Visitors can get very close to the action via a complex network of steel boardwalks. Its slow but constant motion creates an audio-visual sensation as building-sized icebergs calve from the face and crash into Lago Argentino. A typical way to cap off the day is with a huge steak dinner back in El Calafate.

DAMIEN SIMONIS /LONELY PLANET IMAGES

Iguaz Falls

The peaceful Iguaz river, flowing through the jungle between Argentina and Brazil, plunges suddenly over a basalt cliff in a spectacular display of sound and fury that is one of the planets most awe-inspiring sights. The Iguaz Falls () are a primal experience for the senses: the roar, the spray and the sheer volume of water live forever in the memory. But its not just the waterfalls; the jungly national parks that contain them offer a romantic backdrop and fine wildlife-watching opportunities.

KERRY LORIMER /LONELY PLANET IMAGES

Quebrada de Humahuaca

Youre a long way from Buenos Aires up here in Argentinas northwestern corner (), and it feels a whole world away. This spectacular valley of scoured rock in Jujuy province impresses visually with its tortured formations and artists palette of mineral colors, but is also of great cultural interest. The Quebradas settlements are traditional and indigenous in character, with typical Andean dishes supplanting steaks on the restaurant menus, and llamas, not herds of cattle, grazing the sparse highland grass.

HEMIS/ALAMY

Cementerio de la Recoleta

A veritable city of the dead, Buenos Aires top tourist attraction () is not to be missed. Lined up along small streets are hundreds of old crypts, each uniquely carved from marble, granite and concrete, and decorated with stained glass, stone angels and religious icons. Small plants and trees grow in fissures while feral cats slink between tombs, some of which lie in various stages of decay. Its a photogenic wonderland, and if theres strange beauty in death youll find it in spades here.

STUART WESTMORLAND/DESIGN PICS/CORBIS

Hiking the Fitz Roy Range

With rugged wilderness and shark-tooth summits, the Fitz Roy Range () is the trekking capital of Argentina. Climbers may suffer on its windswept, world-class routes, but hiking trails are surprisingly easy and accessible. Park rangers help orient every traveler who comes into El Chaltn. Once on the trail, the most stunning views are just a day hike from town. Not bad for those who want to reward their sweat equity with a craft beer at the brewery.