Title:
Visiting Argentina? Can't Miss These Far South Wonders

Word Count:
611

Summary:
As any proud Argentinian, I always try to invite my readers to see the marvels of my beautiful country. If you happen to travel this far south, you can't miss these sights:

• Take in the chocolate box scenery of glacial lakes, mountains and forests of the southern Lake District around Bariloche; then follow ‘the route of the seven lakes' through spectacular mountain passes to San Martín and on to Lanín National Park, dominated by the extinct, snow-capped Lanín Volcano (3,7...

Keywords:
Argentina, Tourism, Patagonia, Adventure, Sightseeing, South america

Article Body:
As any proud Argentinian, I always try to invite my readers to see the marvels of my beautiful country. If you happen to travel this far south, you can't miss these sights:

• Stroll through the capital's chic Recoleta district, famous for its Cementerio de la Recoleta (where many members of Argentina's elite are buried) and the renowned Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts).

• Marvel at the multi-coloured houses and artistic talent of La Boca, where Italian immigrants settled to work in the shipyards and the tango was supposedly born.

• Soak up the atmosphere of the San Telmo district of Buenos Aires, with its many cafes, antique shops, tango night spots and a Sunday flea market on Plaza Dorrego.

• Visit one of Argentina's oldest cities, Corrientes, and see the church of Santísima Cruz de los Milagros and the San Francisco convent. Corrientes is also the land of the chamamé, a characteristic type of rhythmic music derived from the polka.

• Discover the architecture of colonial Salta before stopping in on the nearby pre-Incan ruins at Santa Rosa de Tastil; then travel through the arid, stunning red gorge of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, scattered with verdant oases.

• Wander around the Ischigualasto National Park, a desert valley also referred to as 'the valley of the moon', owing to its distinctive rock formations and fossils dating back some 180 million years.

• Gaze at the Andes mountain range topped by Mount Aconcagua (6,995m/22,944ft), the highest mountain in the Western hemisphere, located within the Aconcagua National Park. The nearby Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue is a famous monument at almost 4,000m (13,120ft) above sea level, offering magnificent views.

• See the top spots of The Pampas and visit the scenic peaks of Sierra de la Ventana; note the traces of colonial past in Santa Fe; and glimpse the pink granite rock formations of Lihue Calel National Park.

• Be dazzled by the sheer power of Iguazú Falls; view this majestic series of cataracts at Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat), which can be approached via a system of catwalks over the thundering water; and take a boat trip through the mist and spray at the base of the falls.

• Be struck by nature on the Valdes Peninsula; see herds of seals, sea lions and take a whale watching boat trip. Then visit the penguin colony at Punta Tombo.

• Feel the chill in Los Glaciares National Park with the Perito Moreno Glacier as its centerpiece, where huge icebergs calve and topple into Lake Argentino.

• Travel to the ‘end of the earth' at Tierra del Fuego, the gateway to the Antarctic; hop aboard a boat to explore the marine and bird life of the Beagle Channel; and walk through the streets of the world's southernmost city of Ushuaia, surrounded by jagged mountain peaks.

Come experience the energy and passion of the Argentine “Tango”. Performers from back home will bring a dizzying display of talent and beauty at our nightly shows.

Be sure to bring your appetite as you taste all that is “Made in Argentina” – choose from traditional dishes such as: empanadas (meat/veggie/chicken turnover), locro (corn stew), chorizo (spicy sausage) or Milanese (breaded beef sandwich), and for dessert try pasta frole (quince/sweet potato pie).

And before you leave, stock up on dulce de leche, a delicious caramel spread, and some yerbe mate tea!