The Gaucho
A staple of Argentine history is that of the gaucho, the classic Argentine cowboy that endlessly roamed the plains and pampas. Gauchos are known for their honor, horsemanship, and traditions, and they are intricately familiar with the land and the animals. Today, gauchos still exist, although fewer in number than in the 1600s, and today’s gauchos still spend the majority of their day on horses roaming the countryside.

In the 1600s, gauchos were known for causing trouble, slaughtering cattle at their whim. Their fearless image also helped draw the attention of the government, which actually employed them instead of the army as a way of keeping order in the rural areas.

Estancias
The breathtaking Argentine countryside, known as the Pampas, remains the gaucho’s playground. Traditionally residing on estancias (gorgeous colonial ranches), the gaucho raised and produced the highest quality meat in the world. Today, meat is a national Argentina obsession and the country continues to generate some of the best meat globally.

Looking to live in a livable city?
Look no further. According to the 2010 World Ranking of Mercer’s Quality of Life, Buenos Aires ranks as the 78th most livable city in the world! Mercer’s Quality of Life index measures ten key categories, including: political, social, and economic environment, medical and health considerations, public services, transport, housing, recreation, education, and ecological quality (waste removal, water availability and cleanliness, etc.). Vienna, Italy takes the number one ranking.

So, when you book your trip to Argentina, make sure to delegate ample time to get to know Buenos Aires and its culture. You never know, one day you may want to live in such an amazing city!

For those traveling to Argentina, a visit to the Cuyo region is a must. Argentina’s Cuyo region is known as the “wine region”, and it produces approximately 80% of all of the country’s wines. Its diverse scenery and lovely, sunny weather characterizes it from other Argentine regions. The surrounding views of snow-capped mountains perfectly accompany a glass of Merlot and carne asada day or night.

In addition to its world-renowned wines, its landscape is breathtaking. From beautiful, green flat land to the ridged Andes Mountains, this region possesses a diverse countryside giving you the opportunity to plan numerous outdoor activities and excursions. Hike the challenging Aconcagua Mountain, ski the mountain slopes of Las Lenas and Los Penitentes, or finally partake in that paragliding or rafting adventure you have been dreaming about!

Visiting the wineries of Cuyo.

With over 100 bodegas open to tourists in Mendoza alone, most people book an organized tour (a bodega tour). However, renting a bicycle and visiting wineries on your own is also a popular alternative.

Bodega tours are typically done in small groups and consist of visiting various wineries. You will learn about each bodega’s wine making process, partake in wine tastings, and tour the vineyards on foot, horseback, or carriage. Tours can typically be tailored to the interests of the group, and to get you started on your bodega tour, here are three excellent wine making areas of the Cuyo region.

Once you’ve made the decision to travel to Argentina, it’s time to prepare for your trip! Unfortunately, there is often so much to do that it can be difficult knowing where to begin. We have conveniently broken it down into five easy steps to help you prepare the trip of your life!

1. Make sure your passport is up-to-date. You won’t be going anywhere if it isn’t, so double check. Citizens of the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa only need a passport to enter the country for stays under 3 months. As of 2009, there is an entry tax for individuals from the US, Canada, and Australia so please check beforehand what fees may apply to you.

2. Book your flight well in advance to get the best price possible. Research has shown that the cheapest times to book a flight are Tuesday through Thursday, and try to avoid flying on weekends. They tend to be more expensive. In addition, delete the cookies on your computer. Some travel sites save this information and increase the price each time you search for a specific route.

As a student, knowing what food will get you through your studies is essential. Perhaps you remember late nights slumped over a computer chowing down on a cold piece of pizza. Or, perhaps twinkies were more your style. Whatever was your handy side-kick, we all know that we probably would not have made it through high school, college, etc. without it.

In this series, we will discuss essential foods to help you through your Spanish language courses. The first is the oh-so-delicious Argentinean alfajor (pronounced ‘all-fah-hor’). Actually, alfajores are found in multiple Latin American countries, but Argentina’s alfajores are spectacular! No trip to Argentina would be complete without sinking your teeth into one (or twelve) of these sweets.

Picture this – two layers of sweet biscuits glued together by a rich layer of thick caramel sauce (called “dulce de leche”) then coated with chocolate. Mmmmm! There are many variations, and this is just one of them.

Argentinean wine is world-renown, and in particular, Mendoza stakes claim to being the reason for its recognition. Mendoza is known for its Malbec wines and is situated in a desert region, which means it gets more than 300 days of sun annually. It is also near the mountains, which protect the plants from the Pacific Ocean moisture. Thus, its climate is perfect for cultivating this type of grape.

Mendoza Malbec wines are full-bodied, rich red wines, which is ideal for pairing with fattier cuts of meat. Um – hello – can things get any more perfect?! Argentina is FAMOUS for its asadas and bife (grilled meats). If your mouth isn’t watering by now, well, you must not eat meat or drink wine.

The good news is that once you find yourself in Argentina, you can easily book a wine tour. Many wine schools offer such tours and excursions, and Monique van Dalen (Netherlands) did just that. She booked a tour with a wine school in Buenos Aires and she set out for a weekend to experience all that Mendoza had to offer. Here is her experience…

A nice day trip option for those that need to renew their tourist visa is to cross the ‘Río de la Plata’ by ferry and visit the city of Colonia – the oldest city in Uruguay!

Founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, the colony of Colonia was heavily contested by the Spanish who settled on the opposite bank of the river at Buenos Aires. Through Colonia, people were able to avoid the strict taxes imposed by the Spanish crown so for years Colonia was an important center for smuggling British goods across the Río de la Plata into the Spanish colonies. It is now an attractive and quiet place with a nice historic center and beaches that are well worth a visit.

Colonia is full of old-fashioned cars and motorcycles, and the ‘Uruguayos’ seem to carry their ‘termo’ and drink ‘mate’ constantly. Although the city transferred hands between the Portuguese and Spanish, Portuguese influence can still be found in several parts of the city, and taking the time to visit these historic sites is a must.

Peru is a country rich with fascinating history. Tales of the Incas continue to capture the imaginations of thousands, as hordes upon hordes of people travel from far and wide to explore the countless ruins of this ancient empire.

Peruvians are extremely proud of their ancestors, and you will undoubtedly learn a lot of intriguing information about Incan history during your time in Peru. Here are a few interesting facts to get you started…

Health Insurance:
Be well informed as to exactly what your health insurance covers for your trip here in Peru.
It is highly recommended that you choose a policy that covers emergency evacuation in case, for example, you react badly to the altitude and need to depart immediately.
Not all local travel agencies have good insurances, it is very important you have a good insurance from your home country.

Buses:
The Peruvian bus network covers almost every destination in the country, with some exceptions in cities in the Amazon Rainforest. The fares vary depending on the level of comfort you wish to have, and also how direct the route is. One of the best most reputable bus companies in Peru is “Cruz Del Sur”.

Peru is a wonderful country. There is something here for everyone, and there is no doubt that you will have the time of your life. However, it is always important to do your research before traveling somewhere new. You will be faced with an entirely different culture to what you are accustomed to, so it helps to be in ´the know´ before you arrive. Here follow a few top tips created for all those of you heading to Peru to help ensure that you have the very best time here possible.

What to bring:
Regardless of what time of year you travel to Peru, it is advised that you always have with you:

• Sunscreen – the UV rays are very strong, particularly at altitude, and it is easy to burn
• Warm clothes – nights can get very cold up in the mountains!
• Hiking shoes – there is a lot of walking to be done in the Andes, so come prepared J
• Hats – both for warmth and for protection from the sun

Currency:
The Peruvian national currency is Nuevo Sol (S/) and this is the most commonly used currency.
American Dollars are accepted in most restaurants, hotels and shops, at the current exchange rate. There are places to exchange most currencies, especially Dollars and Euros.
Some restaurants, hotels and shops accept credit cards like: VISA, Master Card and American Express. Travelers cheques are exchangeable too, although not as easily; just a few banks and hotels can change them so always check beforehand.