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.

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.

Buenos Aires is an impulsive city, famous for its diversity, especially in architecture, and its passion when it comes to dancing and it offers nearly everything a travelers heart could desire.

One is always accompanied by tango and the rhythm of the Porteños. For example, on the wonderful and multifarious fair in Recoleta or while walking along the Florida Avenue and even in the Subte (Subway). The city reaches out for you and wants you to experience her for every single minute. Go to the barrios (neighborhoods) in the north and you will find a variety of designer and second hand shops in Palermo; a lively neighborhood with a lot of bars and nightclubs. And for a more relaxed atmosphere there is a great forest nearby, called the Bosques de Palermo. The Palermo Woods are the biggest park in Buenos Aires with small lakes and a great forest. The botanic garden and the Zoo can be reached within walking distance from the Subway station Plaza Italia (Line D).

Buenos Aires is a city with a grand reputation, famed for its nightlife, architecture and interesting cultural scene. The city often has been labelled, ‘The Paris of Latin America’; however, the fusion of people and cultural influences, from Europe and Latin America is unique and creates a distinctive and energetic atmosphere unlike any other.

The diverse neighbourhoods (barrios) of Buenos Aires each have their own inimitable flavour and feel. The elegant northern barrios of Belgrano, Palermo and Recoleta are known for their shopping, nightclubs, trendy bars and restaurants.

The extensive parks situated in these areas, provide space to get away from the congestion of the city during the day. Recoleta hosts the famous Cementerio de la Recoleta with its dramatic mausoleums for distinguished Argentinean individuals (including Evita and many ex-presidents), as well as several other reputed galleries and museums.

One of the world’s most jaw dropping natural wonders and certainly a major highlight on any Argentinean trip, the Iguazú Falls are simply astounding.

The beauty and sheer energy of the Falls is difficult to convey in words or photographs – you simply have to experience them for yourself.

The falls located in the northern province of Misiones take about 15hrs by bus to reach from Buenos Aires. The falls are shared by Brazil and Argentina and sit on the border in the Iguazú National Park, 20km from Puero Iguazú on the Argentine side. You should try to visit both sides of the falls as they both offer different views and experiences.

Bariloche, the gateway to Patagonia, is a popular tourist destination and the most common base from which to explore Argentina’s Lake District. The surrounding natural wonderland is ideal for those who want to trek, ride, climb, ski or raft their way across this dramatically rugged landscape. The large lakes (which offer superb fishing) and snow-capped mountains all relatively close to the city, keep those seeking geographically-spectacular photo opportunities well satisfied.

The city itself is also famous for its chocolate! It is conveniently located in-between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, providing a stopover for those travelling to the extreme south of the country. Temperatures are generally pleasant during the summer months but it can get cold during the evenings so winter clothes are recommended all year round.

A nice option for those who need to renew their tourist visa in Argentina, and for those who are looking for a nice day or weekend trip just outside Buenos Aires, is to cross the ‘Río de la Plata’ by ferry, and visit the city of Colonia, in Uruguay.

The city of ‘Colonia del Sacramento’ was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, and in the 17th century it was an important centre 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 worth a visit.

While I am far from well traveled in the land of the Argentines, my time in Mendoza and Salta brought new depth to my experience in and understanding of South America.

When it comes to Mendoza, I can tell you, everything you have heard is true. Yes, Mendoza is the wine capital of the world. (O.K. so maybe it´s not the wine capital of the world but we can at least classify it as the Malbec capital, Porque No?). Yes, it´s gorgeous. And yes, you probably will spend the majority of your time a bit intoxicated. If you are looking for a changes of scene from the busy city scape, Mendoza is thus, an ideal place.Whether you´re headed north or South, to Chile, Bolivia, or Peru, Mendoza is a wonderful place to; stop by for a couple of days or even a week.

Given its immense reputation, the size of Mendoza is in fact quite small. There are about two or three streets for going out and one main plaza with a fair on the weekends. But never fear, there is much to do in the territory of wine. Indeed, though the city of Mendoza has its limitations, the surrounding vineyards of the Campo provided endless means of enjoyment and relaxation.

It is generally agreed that one of the major highlights in Mendoza is the wine biking tour. Every day of the week, morning, afternoon, or evening, you can sign up or just show up for a tour. Let me shed some light on the basics.1. You rent a bike 2. Ride around to the different wineries and oliveries 3. Give your palate a run for its money as you taste the various local goods. With a pay as you go system, you get to decided how hedonistic you want to be. For some the bike ride back is a blurry memory of obscurity, while others it fares better. Whether or not, you enjoy what it feels like to be drunk. This tour provides is a highly accessible means of exploring the diverse and tasty wines of this region.