V. TOURIST AREAS.

Buenos Aires

This capital of 10 million inhabitants is one of the worlds cosmopolitan cities and the center of culture and commerce in the southern cone of America. The city reflects French, Italian and Spanish architecture styles at the turn of the century. Old mansions can be seen next to high rise buildings. Of particular interest are the famous Colon opera house, the Congress palace, the government house, "Casa Rosada"; the "Cabildo" a municipal government house during the colonial period, the Obelisk a symbol of Buenos Aires, as well as the luxurious neoclassic and French Renaissance style of the "Palacio San Martin" and Museo de Arte Decorativo. Other attractions include "San Telmo's" flea market, "La Boca" a brightly painted neighborhood, "La Recoleta" a fashionable area of the city and more than one hundred and fifty art galleries and museums There are in Buenos Aires numerous hotels, restaurants with a wide choice of cuisine, parks, golf courses and soccer stadiums in the heart of the city. Florida pedestrian street, shopping centers, cinemas and cafe-bar are bustling day and night. Buenos Aires is the city were the Tango was born and raised and today shares the excitement of the city night. From Buenos Aires one day trips are possible to the "Tigre" at the Delta of Parana River, a watersport and fishing center.

The Falls in the North-East

The sub-tropical rain forest in the Province of Misiones offers a chance of seeing the exuberant vegetation, tropical fauna, as well as the striking red coloring of the soil. Nearby the capital of this province the Iguazu river jumps hight from a plateau creating the Iguazú Falls, a semi-circular arch of 275 water falls surrounded by the forest. It is also worth seeing the ruins of the ancient Jesuit missions of San Ignacio that UNESCO included as a part of a Humanity's Cultural Heritage.

The colonial flavor of North-West

There are two colonial cities Salta and Jujuy, at the foothills of the mountains (Cordillera de los Andes). Both are rich in tradition and history and have cathedrals, churches (San Francisco) and buildings dating from 16th century. Here is still possible to find a mixture of ancient indian traditions and old Spanish influences. Worthwhile seeing are : La Quiaca and Humahuaca, two charming towns nearby Bolivia, the Humauaca Pass with its multicolored rock layers, the beautiful scenery of the Calchaqui Valleys and the Train of the Clouds up in the Andes.

Cuyo and the West

In vineyards of the fertile valleys of Cuyo (Provinces of San Juan and Mendoza) the best wines of the continent are produced and every year grape harvest festivals take place.
Not far from the pleasant city of Mendoza the high mountains of Cordillera de los Andes attract hikers and climbers in the summer and skiers in winter. Las Leñas and Penitentes are among the leading ski resorts in this region. Many peaks, including the Mount Aconcagua the highest mountain in America, can be seen covered by snows all year round.

The center and the Pampas

Among the Sierras (hills) lays Cordoba, the second city of Argentina that was founded in 1573. From Cordoba to Buenos Aires stretches the symbol of Argentina : the Pampas, a huge plain bare of trees.
Grazing fields, horses and cows are part of the scenery in the Estancias that supply beef and grain to the world. Some of them provide high quality accommodation for tourists.

Atlantic coast

Mar del Plata is the leading seaside resort on the Atlantic ocean approximately 400 km from Buenos Aires. The city itself has the largest casino in Argentina and offers interesting attractions including high seas fishing, sailing regattas, and retail outlets. Another beach resort is Pinamar a small city in a pine forest not far from Mar del Plata.

Southern Lake District

San Carlos de Bariloche a lakeside city in the heart of the deep blue lakes district is an incomparable vacation spot that attracts lovers of skiing, fishing, hunting, and boating. This region, plenty of high quality hotels and homey inns embraces four National Parks. Skiing is usually possible from the end of June to September in the resorts of San Martin de los Andes (Province of Neuquen) and La Hoya (Province of Chubut).

Patagonia and the glaciers of the South

The Patagonian long Atlantic coast is home to sea elephants, penguins, sea gulls, sea lions, whales. From Puerto Madryn is easy to reach the Peninsula Valdez reserve and enjoy this maritime extravaganza. But the wildlife is not just confined to the seashore, the Patagonia is also famous for wildcats, pumas, deer, rheas, eagles, and condors.
Nestled on the mighty Andes the Perito Moreno is a unique glacier, a river of ice that is continually breaking into freezing water. It is truly one of nature's great spectacles. Ushuaia, the southern most city of the world is an excellent point of departure to explore the channels of Tierra del Fuego and the tip of this continent that faces the silent Antarctic.


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