Aside from the people, why visit Argentina? First, because the huge metropolis of Buenos Aires home to two-fifths of the population, is one of the most exciting, charming and fascinating of all South American capitals. It's an immensely enjoyable place just to wander about, stopping off for an espresso or an ice cream, or people-watching, or shopping, or simply soaking up the unique atmosphere. Its many barrios, or neighborhoods, are startlingly different, some decadently old-fashioned, others very modern, but all of them oozing character. In addition, Buenos Aires is the country's gastronomic mecca and boasts a frenzied nightlife that makes it one of the world's great round-the-clock cities.

Elsewhere, cities aren't exactly the main draw, with the exception of beautiful Salta in the northwest, the beguiling river-port of Rosario - birthplace of Che Guevara - and Ushuaia which happens to enjoy a fabulous setting on the evocatively named Tierra del Fuego.

Comprising almost the entire southern half of South America, Argentina is the world's eighth largest country, covering an area of 2.8 million square km. Argentina possesses some of the world's tallest mountains, expansive deserts, and impressive waterfalls, with the diversity of the land ranging from wild, remote areas in southern Patagonia to the bustling metropolis of Buenos Aires in the north.