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Argentina  Highlights

Arguably the most cosmopolitan city in all South America, Argentina's historic capital has breathtaking energy, spacious grandeur and self-confident style. Despite its grand boulevards and hefty, ostentatious architecture, this is a city of barrios (neighbourhoods) - 46 of them in total. Travel writer Paul Theroux described it as "a most civilised anthill" - exuberant, stylish and full of great pretence and hot gossip.

Covering roughly a third of Argentina, Patagonia still surprises visitors with the wide range of natural spectacles contained on its windswept plains. It has some of the hemisphere's highest peaks, forests of strange primeval trees, several of the world's most noteworthy glaciers, and fossil-rich coastal cliffs that were explored by Charles Darwin.

Amidst a spectacular jungle setting, the Cataratas del Iguazú are the largest series of waterfalls in the world. The falls lie on the Río Iguazu, which runs along the border between Argentina and Brazil. You should spend at least a day here, and view the falls from both sides of the border - though more of them are on the Argentine side, the better views are from Brazil.

Straddling the Chilean border to the west of Mendoza, the towering mass of Aconcagua (6,960m) is the highest peak in the western hemisphere. Horse rides and trekking expeditions to Aconcagua are arranged in summer from Puente del Inca, for periods of three to ten days.

The "Land of Fire", at the southernmost tip of the South American continent, has been the ultimate challenge to travellers and explorers since the early days of global navigation and discovery. The main town of Ushuaia is the base for most visitors today, for hikes in the nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park, and boat cruises to observe the island colonies of sea lions, fur seals and vast populations of seabirds.

This Patagonian peninsula is one of the most important wildlife reserves in Argentina. It is the breeding ground for southern right whales, elephant seals and sea lions, and the nesting site for thousands of shore birds, including pelicans, cormorants and oystercatchers. Boat trips to view the whales and other marine life are available at the nearby town of Puerto Pirámide.

Lying in the heart of the west-central Cuyo region, the city of Mendoza is the base for adventure activities in its nearby mountains, nature reserves and white-water rivers. This is also the centre of Argentina's excellent wine industry, with some 2,000 vineyards ranging from huge industrial complexes to historic family bodegas.

Argentina's top coastal resort has well-groomed plazas, parks, boulevards and several golf courses, all within easy weekend reach for the residents of Buenos Aires. Beyond the beaches lies perhaps the biggest attraction for the 2 million summer visitors, the colossal Casino, where, if you feel lucky, you can try out your hand at roulette, poker, punta blanca and other games.

This Alpine-style town lies close by the Chilean border, in the centre of the northern Lake District. Overlooking trout-rich Lago Nahuel Huapi, Bariloche has its own ski resorts, and offers summer hiking, horseback riding, mountain climbing and water sports in the beautiful Nahuel Huapi National Park.

Of the 12 Jesuit missions that have been restored to date in Misiones province, the best-known, largest and best preserved is San Ignacio Mini, 55 km east of Posadas in northern Argentina. It is best to explore these 17th-century ruins at dawn or dusk, when you can be alone and when the light plays wonders on the red stone.

The Esteros del Iberá are vast lagoons and wetlands in Corrientes province in northeastern Argentina. Here intrepid travellers can see hundreds of bird and animal species, and look alligators and boa constrictors in the eye from small boats paddled by former poachers turned park rangers. Second only to Brazil's Pantanal, this is possibly the best place in all South America for viewing wildlife up close.

The "Tren a las Nubes", now run purely for tourists, is one of the highlights of Argentina and one of the last remaining "great railway journeys" of South America. The train, fully equipped with dining car, bar, guide and steward, leaves Salta's main station at 7 o'clock in the morning and enters the deep Quebrada del Toro gorge about an hour later. The services runs only from April to October, with departures up to six times a month.