Travel to Argentina may still be one of the great travel secrets. The country has, arguably, the tastiest beef, the sexiest dance, the most immaculately dressed people, some of the cutest penguins, the highest peak and the most cosmopolitan city in South America.

Add to that the gauchos and plains of Patagonia, world-class trout and salmon fishing, glacier skiing in the Andes and the European sophistication of the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires—and a trip to Argentina provides a destination with immense potential.

Argentina has earned its good fortune. The country went through economic instability and hyperinflation in the 1990s, then de-linked from the U.S. dollar and restructured its finances. Now, visiting Argentina is one of the best values on the planet: first-world infrastructure, food, wine and service with a unique blend of European culture and North American drive.

Nearly every recreational opportunity imaginable is available in the large and diverse country of Argentina. Bicycling opportunities are abundant, from organized city or winery tours to Patagonian mountain biking to 2-peso-an-hour rentals in Cafayate.
Bird-watching is especially popular in Patagonia, the marshlands of Esteros de Ibera and the desert regions of Salta province. Hiking trips are at their best in Patagonia during warm months and in the desert canyon country of the Salta region in cooler months. No visit to an estancia is complete without some horseback riding.

Boating, fishing and sailing opportunities are widespread on the Atlantic coast and on the country's many lakes. Fishing for trout is amazing in the region around Salta. White-water rafting trips are available in Patagonia, Mendoza and Salta provinces, but be advised that the water is frigid year-round.

The skiing industry is well-developed in Argentina, with eight sizable resorts hugging the Andes Mountains. The two best are Catedral, near Bariloche, and Las Lenas, in an isolated area of the Mendoza province.

Bowling, golf, tennis, jogging and swimming are popular throughout the country. The parks of Buenos Aires are good places for in-line skating. Argentines, although inveterate smokers, are very weight-conscious, especially in the cities. Visitors can usually use one of the many health clubs by paying a minimal day-use fee. Pilates studios are surprisingly common.
If you are concerned with comfort or are short on time, you will want to go on an escorted tour, especially if traveling outside major cities. Visitors traveling on their own in rural areas may find only basic accommodations and delays in transportation.
Most seven- to 10-day itineraries give three full days in Buenos Aires. Lovely as that city is, you may want to plan your trip differently—there's much more to see in Argentina.

Our minimum itinerary includes the following:
Day 1—Arrive Buenos Aires.
Days 2 and 3—B.A.
Day 4—Fly to Iguazu Falls.
Day 5—Iguazu Falls and environs.
Day 6—Day trip to visit an estancia.
Day 7—Fly to Bariloche, on Lake Nahuel Huapi.
Day 8—Lakes trip or skiing.
Day 9—Depart, preferably overland through lakes to Puerto Montt, Chile.

If you've been to Iguazu Falls previously, skip the falls and increase your time in Buenos Aires one more night. If you have extra time, add the Peninsula Valdes area (two days, plus travel) for the wildlife or the Perito Moreno glacier area (two days, plus travel). Or visit the spectacular desert scenery in the northern Salta region, or visit wineries in nearby Cafayate or more central Mendoza.

Fact to know before your field trip
Passport/Visa Requirements: Passports are needed by citizens of Australia, Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. If traveling for business, Canadian citizens must have a business visa. Proof of onward passage and sufficient funds are required for all, although not always asked for on entry.
All U.S. citizens must have a passport when traveling by air to or from Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America and Mexico. Citizens of Canada, Mexico and the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda also must have a passport or other designated secure document to enter the U.S.
Beginning 1 June 2009, passports are required for land crossings at the Canadian and Mexican borders with the U.S. and for cruise passengers returning to the U.S. from Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada or Bermuda. Reconfirm travel-document requirements with your carrier prior to departure.

Population: 40,301,927.
Languages: Spanish, Italian.
Predominant Religions: Roman Catholic.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts.
Telephone Codes: 54, country code;