Learn Spanish in Argentina

Cuyo & the Andean Northwest: This area surrounding the Andes began as a colony of Peru, but today only a few miners and herders occupy this unforgiving region with the impressive volcanoes, salt lakes and the blue sky. The Cuyo region consists of the Andean provinces of Mendoza, San Juan and San Luis. The area retains a strong regional identity, with a unique mestizo population reflecting the influence of Chile. It's famous for its grapes and wine and numerous wildlife reserves, lies in the shadow of the massive Andes and is visited for its many activities, such as climbing and trekking. Wineries, hidden mountain villages and San Salvador (the capital), Mendoza and San Juan are other attractions you should see.

Mesopotamia & the Northeast: Mesopotamia, a broad, apartment plain between the Parana and Uraguay (with Chaco National Park) Rivers in northern Argentina, is wet, swampy) and extremely hot during the summer The northern province of Misiones, a more mountainous region nearly enclosed by Brazil and Paraguay, contains a section of the majestic Iguazu Falls.

The Chaco: This parched area in the west is part of the enormous Gran Chaco, a region that Argentina shares with Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil. The Chaco provence contains both grassland and thorny forest. The is Resistencia, which is proud to be "city of sculptures" (there are over 200 of them), and is a major cross roads for Paraguay and excursions through the Chaco to the northwest. Campo del Cielo is an area famous for its meteorite fragments dating back some 6000 years.

The Pampas: The area known consists mostly of apartment agricultural land and contains the provinces of Buenos Aires, La Pampa as well as parts of Santa Fe and Córdoba. The area is well-known for its horse-breeding tradition and cattle ranches. as well as the world- class beaches of its surrounding area. 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. 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. Attractions include Casa Rosada, Plaza Mayo, colourful Italian La Boca Quarter, the Catedral Metropolitana, the Teatro Colón, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, the Museo del Cine and the Museo Histórico Nacional or the Riachuelo waterway, Summer means the beach to the inhabitants of Greater Buenos Aires, and Mar del Plata is most often the beach they have in mind.Sophisticated mansions from the area's heyday as an upper-class resort mingle with the newer, more modest resorts catering to middle-class porteños. Visit Argentina's second city, Córdoba, long rivaled Buenos Aires for political, economic and cultural supremacy; in which a fine collection of colonial buildings is concentrated in its compact center. They include the old market, the Iglesia Catedral , Iglesia de la Compañía, Museo Histórico Provincial Marqués de Sobremonte.

Patagonia and the Lake District: Patagonia - the southernmost portion of South America (located in both Argentina and Chile) - is a land of extremes: glaciers, deserts, granite cliffs and endless flatlands and it results in constantly changing and unpredictable extremes of weather. Visiting the Patagonian coast you can see large herds of seals, sea lions, blue whales and thousands of penguins. The scenic beauty of the Lake District has attracted many tourists since the mid-eighteenth century, and provided inspiration for a generation of poets like Wordsworth etc. who came to be known as the Lake Poets.

Tierra del Fuego: The Land of Fire is actually an archipelago including the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego (shared by Argentina and Chile) and numerous smaller islands. Northern Isla Grande is similar in terrain to Patagonia's plains, while the mountainous area in the south is filled with forests and glaciers. Its climate is usually mild year-round, although storms are frequent It's a place of oil derricks, sheep, glaciers, wind and waterways. Ushuaia and Río Grande are the two main towns; awesome scenery, wild walks and fishing are the island's main attractions. Argentina's only coastal national park comprises rivers, lakes, forests and glaciers, with great trekking and wildlife-spotting opportunities.

Remember that in the southern hemisphere the seasons are the opposite of those in the northern hemisphere. In general, Argentina has mild warm climate, but to the North, there is large subtropical area and to the South the cold climate prevails. Despite its current political and economic troubles, Argentina remains a safe destination for foreign travellers. The state of siege declared in December 2001 has been lifted, and while protests continue, they have been mostly limited to peaceful, middle-class crowds banging on pots and pans. The people's anger is directed at their government, not foreigners. Still, traveller should exercise caution, avoiding large gatherings that could turn violent.

Currency: Peso ($)

Meals

• Budget: US$4-10
• Mid-range: US$10-20
• Top-end: US$20 and upwards

Lodging

• Budget: US$20-30
• Mid-range: US$30-40
• Top-end: US$40 and upwards

Until recently, Argentina was an expensive country to visit - so expensive that Argentines were in the habit of taking their holidays in "cheap" countries, like the USA. The economic policy that pegged the peso one-to-one to the US dollar kept prices high but inflation under control.

The recent devaluation of the peso means that all bets are off. At present, the peso has shrunk to about half the value of the US dollar, and it's anyone's guess as to how much further it may drop when banking restrictions are eased. This could translate to bargains for budget travelers, but that's only if inflation remains in check. Right now, the government is urging businesses not to raise their prices, as rampant inflation would plunge the already fragile economy into chaos. In the 1970s and '80s, inflation consistently exceeded 100% per year and was often much higher, reaching an astounding 5000% in 1989. Given Argentina's history of economic instability, savvy travelers should keep a watch on the exchange markets and on economic events.

US dollars are no longer accepted officially, but there's such a run on dollars at the moment that many shopkeepers would be glad to take them. You'll get a better rate at an official cambio, but be prepared to wait in line for several hours.

Not surprisingly, there's a thriving black market in currency exchange, mostly for US dollars but also for Euros. Avoid the black market - not only is it illegal, but you might end up with counterfeit pesos. Travelers should bring some of their own currency and change it into pesos little by little. ATM withdrawals that reflect the current exchange rate are the best way to keep up with the fluctuating value of the peso.

Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted credit cards, but don't rely on them - some travelers have reported problems getting vendors to accept credit cards these days. The same goes for traveler's checks. Tipping around 10% is customary in restaurants. Bargaining is uncommon, except in the artisn markets of the Andean northwest.

European influences permeate Argentina's art, architecture, literature and lifestyle. However, in the field of literature in particular, this has been a cross-cultural transaction, with Argentina producing writers of international stature such as Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, Ernesto Sábasto, Manuel Puig and Osvaldo Soriano. With the education of many Argentines taking place in Europe, Buenos Aires in particular has self-consciously emulated European cultural trends in art, music and architecture. As a result, there are many important art museums and galleries in the city, and it has a vigorous theater community. Argentine cinema has also achieved international stature, and has been used as a vehicle to exorcise the horrors of the Dirty War.

Probably the best known manifestation of Argentine popular culture is the tango - a dance and music which has captured the imagination of romantics worldwide. Folk music is also thriving. Sport is extremely important to the Argentines and soccer is more of a national obsession than a game. Argentina won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986, and the exploits of Diego Maradona (the most famous Argentine since Che Guevara), have kept soccer fans, paparazzi and columnists busy for the past 10 years. Argentine Roman Catholicism, the official state religion, is riddled with popular beliefs which diverge from official doctrine. Spiritualism and veneration of the dead are deep-seated, with pilgrimages to the resting places of relations and of the famous dead a common sight.

Spanish is the official language, but some immigrant communities retain their language as a badge of identity. Italian is widely understood, reflecting the influence of the country's single largest immigrant group, and BBC English is the preserve of the Anglo community. There are 17 native languages, including Quechua, Mapuche, Guaraní, Tobas and Matacos. Meat dominates Argentina's menus, and "meat" means beef. Mixed grills (parrillada) are apparently the way to go, serving up a cut of just about every part of the animal: tripe, intestines, udders - the lot. In this vegetarian's nightmare, Italian favorites, such as gnocchi (ñoquis), are a welcome alternative. Exquisite Argentine ice cream (helado) deserves a special mention - again reflecting Italian influences. The sharing of mate, Paraguayan tea, is a ritual more than a beverage, and if offered is a special expression of acceptance. The leaves, a relation to holly, are elaborately prepared and the mixture is drunk from a shared gourd.