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Imagine two in a sensual tango, an evocative Evita longing for her country, soccer spectators screaming "goal" in ecstasy, the gaucho astride his horse on the pampas - and you've got an essence of the zest for life that binds Argentinians. Called the "Land of Fire and Ice" by many, Argentina abounds in contrasts - teeming cities and desolate Patagonia, ski slopes and beaches, natural and man-made wonders, sophistication and simplicity. If you are waiting to find a destination where you will not be caught in a stampede of tourists, look no further.

Hiking, skiing, nightlife, shopping, adventure sports, birdwatching and food are just some of the thrills the country has to offer. Buenos Aires, the pulsating and throbbing city, is the capital. Also called "grimy Paris", it is the centre of the country’s trade and industry. The fast pace of the city lets up only for the afternoon siesta. The curiosity, passion and fervour simmering in the very atmosphere is bound to make this a very memorable holiday.

Argentina is a beautiful country with beautiful people and a predilection towards the good life - They produce intoxicating wine, love to tango, their women are extremely looks conscious spending a lot on keeping themselves looking beautiful and everyone loves soccer!

The hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in South America have occurred in Argentina – no wonder is called the Land of Fire and Ice!

Argentina is so expensive that Argentines delight in taking a holiday in cheap destinations such as the USA!

Historically Speaking

Long before the first European arrived in the 1500s, Indians lived in what is now called Argentina. The Spanish came first and Argentina remained their colony for almost 300 years. During the early 1800s resentment against Spanish rule grew and after great strife the country gained independence in 1816. Although free Argentina remained disunited. Later in 1853 the national Assembly drew up a constitution the one man who dominated the Argentine political scene for the longest period (1946-1974) was Juan Peron. His death resulted in chaos. His wife Isabelle, the famous Eva Peron, came to power after him and was later overthrown by the military – what followed was called the dirty war and the Falklands war. In 1989, President Carlos Menem was elected. His term expired in 1999. He left behind a government that earned a reputation for being corrupt and ineffective.

Habitat

Argentina has a dramatically diverse landscape. Along the western border run the Andes Mountains and they separate Argentina from Chile. The peaks of the Andes include the tallest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, Aconcagua. It reaches a height of 6,959 m above sea level just inside the Argentine border. The Pampas is a fertile plain that reaches out to Buenos Aires it stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Andes and covers about a fifth of Argentina. The stark wind-swept Patagonian plateau lies in southern Argentina. The north is rich with forests bordering Bolivia and Paraguay.

22 National Parks protect unique wildlife such as the caiman, puma, guanaco, rhea (similar to ostrich), Andean condor, flamingo, varied marine animals and seabirds such as Magellanic penguins. The virgin rainforests, thorn forests, flowering cacti, monkey-puzzle trees and southern beech are also protected.