Argentina is located in the south of South America and is particularly interesting in terms of landscape. Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, the Andes, the rainforest, gigantic waterfalls – the country has so much to offer. Economically troubled from time to time and shaken by inflation, life for the Gouchos in this South American country is not always easy. Nevertheless, Argentina rightly fascinates people from all over the world – and not only with tango and delicious steaks! See andyeducation.com for education in Argentina.
| Capital City | Buenos Aires |
| Size | 2,780,400 km² |
| Resident | 43,000,000 |
| Official Language | Spanish |
| Currency | Argentine peso |
| Time Zone | UTC-3 |
| Telephone Area Code | +54 |
Fast facts to know
- You won’t get far without Spanish.
- Germans are held in high esteem in Argentina.
- soccer crazy country
- Argentina is the fifth largest wine producer in the world.
- Battered by crises, high inflation.
- Possesses scenic natural areas such as Patagonia.
- Argentinian beef is BSE-free and is among the best beef in the world.
- About 90% of the population is Roman Catholic.
- To enter Argentina, the passport must be valid for at least 3 months after departure and a return or onward ticket must be available.
- Malaria prophylaxis is recommended in the lowlands and rainforest regions.
- Many shops are closed during the siesta from 1pm to 5pm.
- At gas stations you usually have to pay in cash.
- The name Argentina comes from Latin and means “silver”.
- The official national sport is pato (a hybrid of polo and baseball played on horseback).
- About 90% of the population is of European descent.
- More than one in three Argentines lives in the capital, Buenos Aires.
Exciting cities in Argentina
- Buenos Aires
- Student city Rosario
- Hippy spot El Bolson
- Cordoba
- Colonial city of Salta
- Beach metropolis Mar del Plata
- Bariloche as the chocolate capital
- Mendoza
History of Argentina
- Colonized from North America 15,000 years ago.
- In the 13th and 14th centuries, the Inca Empire expanded to Argentina.
- Discovered by Europeans in 1502 by Amerigo Vespucci.
- Colonized by Spaniards in the 16th century.
- In the 18th century, first part of the Viceroyalty of Peru, later of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata.
- Independent from Spain since 1816 after wars of liberation.
- 19th century marked by dictatorships and civil wars.
- 1880 to 1912 sham democracy and economic boom.
- Officially neutral in World War II, later refuge for National Socialists and Fascists.
- Unstable until 1983, after which return to democracy.
- State bankruptcy in 2001.
Climate & travel weather in Argentina
- Covers almost all of the world’s climate zones due to its large north-south extension.
- Tropical to subtropical in North & Northeast.
- Extremely dry in the Andes and Eastern Patagonia.
- Mountain range of the Sierra Pampeanas humid in summer, dry in winter.
- In Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego it is very windy and cool.
- Recommended travel time:
- North: May – September.
- Buenos Aires: Spring & Autumn.
- Patagonia & Tierra del Fuego: December – February.
- Ski season: July – September.
Ideas for trips in Argentina
- Mendoza (wine region).
- Quebrada de Humahuaca (gorge).
- Esteros del Iberá wetlands.
- Spot wildlife on the Peninsula Valdés.
- Cueva de las Manos (hike, gorge, cave with handprints and hunting scenes).
- Ski Center San Carlos de Bariloche.
- Excursions to Tierra del Fuego from Ushuaia.
- Guarani Jesuit Missions:
- San Ignacio Mini
- Santa Ana
- Nuestra Senora de Loreto
- Santa Maria Mayor.
- Inca Andean Road Qhapaq Ñan.
- Mountaineering on the Aconcagua.
Food & Drink in Argentina
- Influence of the various immigrant groups clearly visible, including Spanish, German, Italian and Arabic influences.
- Classic dinner: juicy fillet or rump steak with salad.
- Very late dinner by Central European standards (after 9 p.m.).
- Breakfast is very sparse.
- The Asado, a big communal barbecue, is very important.
- Drinks: Wine and beer very popular.
- The national drink is the infusion drink Mate (ceremony: is drunk together with several people from just one vessel passed in turn).
- There are hardly any natural fruit juices.
- Patagonian cuisine offers both meat and fish dishes and is very versatile.
- Patagonian lamb is a national specialty.
- Also popular: smoked specialties such as salmon and trout.
- Also very popular: curanto (outdoor dishes cooked on hot stone) originating from the Mapuche Indian tribe.
- Often served as a dessert: queso y dulce or homemade flan (caramel pudding) with the very popular sweet dulce de leche.
- Typical dishes:
- Ensalada rusa (potato salad with mayonnaise).
- Fiambre alemán (salty pancakes topped with green salad, cheese and ham).
- Parrillada criolla (a plate of meat, sausages, sweetbreads, kidneys and other offal prepared over an open charcoal fire).
- Bife con ensalada mixta (steak and salad with tomato).
- Tortilla (Spanish variant of the potato omelet).
- Milanesas (thin cutlets).
- Tostadas de jamón y queso (toast with ham and cheese).
- Budín de pan (bread pudding with milk, eggs, raisins).
- Carbonada (stew made with pumpkin, baby corn, dried or fresh peaches and meat).
- Empanadas (dumplings filled with minced meat (de carne), corn (de choclo) or ham and cheese (de jamón y queso)).
- Locro (corn, squash, meat and pig feet in thick stew soup).
- Matambre arrollado (rolled beef diaphragm with rolled-up vegetables and egg).
- Tamales (Northwest Indian cornmeal dish wrapped in corn husks, with ground beef, boiled egg and raisins).
- Chimichurri (delicious Argentinian dressing, slightly hot, very spicy, made from oil, vinegar, parsley, oregano, pepper, garlic and other spices).
- Choripán (a type of sandwich with a juicy sausage in French bread).
Particularly scenic
- El Chaltén – Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre.
- Ushuaia & Tierra del Fuego.
- Lake area around Bariloche.
- Iguazu Falls.
- El Calafate & Perito Moreno (Glacier).
- Ischigualasto and Talampaya Natural Parks.
- Los Glaciares National Park.
- Stone canyon landscape Quebrada de Humahuaca.
- Fantastic nature at the Ruta de los Siete Lagos.
