The Land of Falls, Fútbol and Fine Malbec

From the thunder of Iguazú Falls to the full-bodied wines of Mendoza, passion awaits around every corner in Argentina

From standing spellbound before the thundering torrents of Iguazú Falls or loping across the Pampas with a gaucho by your side, to the electrifying frenzy of a fútbol crowd in Buenos Aires – Argentina is a million dizzying experiences in one. Whether you’re a city slicker with a penchant for opulence and opera, a nature-lover seeking out kingfishers and hummingbirds in the Ibera Wetlands, or a foodie in search of awesome asado and marvellous malbecs, we’ve got your private, luxury Argentina tour covered.

1. Marvel at the sight of Iguazú Falls
Stand in awe at the foot of one of the planet’s most powerful natural wonders: Iguazú Falls. Witnessing the spectacle of the Río Iguazú cascading through the emerald-green rainforest towards a two-mile-long chain of waterfalls handily ranks among the top things to do in Argentina.

2. Take a hike through the Patagonian Andes
Experience one of South America’s most spectacular hikes: Mount Fitz Roy. Along the way, you’ll take in sublime views of Los Glaciares National Park – a natural wonderland of lakes, rivers, and mountain peaks. Other show-stopping hikes include the trail from Ushuaia to Laguna Esmeralda and Bariloche to Mirador Bahia Lopez.

3. Watch a fútbol game in Buenos Aires
Gain a little insight into the psyche of the country that produced Maradona and Messi by attending a fútbol match in Buenos Aires. Join the frenzied chorus of singing fans at the city’s famous La Bombonera Stadium, home to the Boca Juniors, to enjoy an Argentine rite of passage – it’s truly one of the most exciting things to do in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Serious fans might enjoy a behind-the-scenes stadium tour.

4. Learn how to tango in San Telmo, Buenos Aires
Originating in Buenos Aires in the late 19th century, tango blends African candombe with Cuban habañera, Bohemian polka, and the waltz. Our travel designers can arrange a tango lesson for you at a historic conventillo in La Boca. Afterwards, head to a traditional milonga dance hall to try out your moves on the dance floor.

5. Ride horses with gauchos
Getting in the saddle and riding along winding trails with a bona fide Argentine gaucho – a horseman who is known for his bravery and skills – is one of the most memorable things to do in Argentina. An Extraordinary Journeys South America specialist can arrange a gaucho ride-along when you stay at a traditional estancia farmhouse in Buenos Aires Province, Cordoba, Mendoza, or El Calafate. Estancias range from the rustic to the luxurious, but they always offer a warm Argentine welcome and serve hearty cuisine.

Argentina is a million dizzying experiences in one.

6. Go birdwatching in the Ibera Wetlands
Parque Esteros del Ibera protects one of the largest freshwater wetlands on the face of the planet. Take a slow boat trip along its breathtaking labyrinth of lagoons and channels, and you may come face to face with kingfishers, greater rhea herons, eagles, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, green-winged macaws, and jabiru storks.

7. Visit “the end of the world” in Ushuaia
Sitting where the Andes meet the Beagle Channel, Ushuaia is a remote outpost that’s known as “The End of the World.” Soak up the wild frontier vibe in this striking port town before going hiking in Bahía Encerrada Urban Natural Reserve, taking to the ski slopes at Cerro Castor, or kayaking through glacial lakes in Tierra del Fuego National Park.

8. Experience wine tasting in Mendoza
When it comes to things to do in Mendoza, the answer is wine. Make a beeline for the laid-back province, where you’ll have 1,500 area wineries to choose from. Witness age-old wine-making traditions in Lujan de Cuyo, take in views all the way to the Tupungato Volcano in Valle de Uco and sample some superb olive oils and signature malbecs in the Maipú Valley.

9. Take a boat trip in the Beagle Channel
The Beagle Channel is a stunning waterway that separates the islands of Tierra del Fuego from the mainland. Boats leave Ushuaia and take you on a breathtaking journey to see nesting cormorants, lounging sea lions, mighty whales, and orange-beaked gentoo penguins.

10. Visit one of the best theatres in the world: Teatro Colón
Famous for its timeless elegance and astounding acoustics, Buenos Aires’ beloved Teatro Colón is one of the finest opera houses in the world. This opulent building, which was inaugurated in 1908, is seven storeys tall and occupies an entire city block.

11. Experience the mausoleums of Recoleta
Take an eerily beautiful stroll around the cemetery at Recoleta – a labyrinth of towering marble mausoleums featuring more than 6,000 statues, sarcophagi, coffins, and crypts – 90 of which are national historical monuments. Stop to pay your respects at the resting places of Eva Perón, Carlos Pellegrini, and the Paz Family – it’s one of the most popular things to do in Buenos Aires.

12. Feast on Argentinian asado
Pack your comfy jeans, carnivores, Argentina is home to asado barbecue. If you enjoy a juicy, full-flavoured steak cooked to perfection and other grilled delicacies, you’re going to enjoy the asado experience. You can get it anywhere in Argentina, but Buenos Aires and Patagonia are asado hotspots.

13. Explore the San Ignacio Ruins
Get off the beaten track and explore the incredible San Ignacio Ruins, located three hours southwest of Iguazú Falls. Dating back to 1696, these atmospheric mission ruins are the most complete in the whole of Argentina. Stroll through the main plaza and past the town hall, hospital, priest’s house, and cemetery. The elaborately carved angels, doves, and flowers that adorn the buildings are breathtaking.

14. Check out the glaciers of Patagonia
The Parque Nacional Los Glaciares in Patagonia is one of the best places on earth to get close to a glacier. This park’s 18-mile-long Glacier Perito Moreno is a sight to behold as it juts out onto the iceberg-dotted Lago Argentino. Alternatively, check out the even bigger Upsala Glacier, which covers 336 square miles and is the largest glacier in South America. Witnessing this incredible collection of natural beauty is, inarguably, one of the best things to do in Argentina.

15. Experience the wonders of whale watching
See southern right whales glide mere yards from the shoreline, or orcas beach themselves in the hunt for sea lions in Patagonia’s Puerto Madryn. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Peninsula Valdés, a pristine wilderness, to find elephant seals, Magellanic penguins, and a myriad of bird species.

Image: Unsplash / Henrique Felix. Originally written for Extraordinary Journeys.