From lush, tropical mountains and windswept deserts, to the glamorous Buenos Aires with incredible dining, shopping and some of the most chic and sophisticated people in the world. Among the hundreds of reasons to visit, here are five we think you’ll love.
1. The Winelands of Mendoza
Mendoza may be it – the highlight of your trip. In the foothills of the Andes, this perfectly sized city would be beautiful enough – wide, leafy streets, exquisite hotels, restaurants and spas - without the fact that it’s surrounded by more than a thousand wineries producing the country’s luscious, full- bodied, Malbec wines. Your days here can be a wine-tasting experience like no other. Plan on long lunches, lazy afternoons, excellent shopping and late, late dinners on Mendoza’s Aristides Villaneuva.
Where to stay: Park Hyatt
2. The Cuisine
Are you ready for some of the most exquisite culinary adventures of your life? Plan on dinners at parrillas (steakhouses), where grill masters work their magic, slowly grilling Argentina’s lean, flavorful beef to something a little like heaven. Start with matambre, a delicious medley of vegetables wrapped in thinly sliced beef that’s simmered and grilled. Proveleta? Think the perfect sharp and pungent cheese topped with fresh herbs then grilled. Prepare to obsess over empanadas, those mouth-watering, crescent shaped, pastries filled with a blend of beef, egg and spices. In fact, take a cooking class and learn how to make them!
3. The Waterfalls
Fly north from Buenos Aries to where Argentina meets Brazil. Prepare to stand in wonderment!
Almost 3 kilometers wide, Iguazu Falls looms above and below you, its waterfalls converging in thunderous power. The experience is practically interactive; walkways take you to the top of the Falls and below, to the edge and behind.
Where to stay: Belmond Hotel das Catarata
4. The Colors of Salta
There’s something fresh and magical about the landscape and colors of Salta. Salta is alive with Andean heritage and culture. Start your day in a café at Plaza 9 de Julio before touring Salta Cathedra. After that? Get out of town! Head for the winery town of Cafayate and you’re on one of the most beautiful drives in the country, through sculpted rocks, giant cacti, richly colored mountains and shimmering salt flats. On a more sedentary – and delicious – note, Salta is famous for its clay oven baked, uniquely-filled empanadas.
5. The Glamour of Buenos Aires
There’s no arguing – Buenos Aries is one of the world’s most stylish cities and the shopping is fabulous. Wander Recoleta for the world’s great fashion and retail names then Palermo for innovative design boutiques. Shoes? The shoe shopping is incredible! You can have shoes custom-made while you’re here – Argentina, after all, is the land of leather. And you think you know the Tango? There’s the Tango and then...there’s the Argentine Tango, a dance of pure passion. A heated night at one of the many, many Tango clubs, from the celebrity- studded Rojo Tango at Buenos Aires’ Faena Hotel to neighborhood dance bars is a night alluringly spent.
Hotels we love: Four Seasons Buenos Aires and the Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt.
