ARGENTINACHILEBRAZIL....El CalafateBarilocheBuenos AiresUshuaiaPerito MorenoGlacierIguazú Falls151Essentials Climate Mostly temperate; sub-tropical in the far north, cold-temperate in the extreme south. Seasons are the reverse of those in the UK (higher temperatures between October and April). The lake district and Patagonia are wintry between May and September.Festivals Tango Festival Buenos Aires February/March, August. Gaucho festivals early November, Polo Open (Buenos Aires, November weekends). Travelling from UK Time difference (GMT) -3hrs Travel time 16hrsHighlights of Argentina 17 days, 14 nightsBuenos Aires 2 nights, Bariloche 3n, Calafate 3n,Ushuaia 2n, Buenos Aires 1n, Iguazú 2n, Buenos Aires 1n.Day 1 Fly from the UK to Buenos Aires. Days 2&3 At leisure. Tour of the capital and tango show with dinner. Day 4 Fly to Bariloche in the lake district (p162). Day 5 Excursion to San Martín de los Andes, via the Seven Lakes Route. This is one of Argentina's most scenic drives, with lovely views over green-tinted waters as it passes through the Patagonian forests of the Lanín and Nahuel Huapi national parks. Day 6 At leisure. Day 7 Fly to El Calafate on the shores of Lago Argentino (p158). Day 8 Full day excursion to the spectacular Perito Moreno glacier, where you can get within a stone's throw of the creaking ice walls, as they shed shards of ice the size of tower blocks. Includes boat trip. Day 9 Optional boat trip on Lago Argentino to historic Estancia Cristina, near the Upsala Glacier. Day 10 Fly to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego (p160). Day 11 Tour of Lapataia National Park, and a cruise down the Beagle Channel by motor launch. Day 12 Fly to Buenos Aires. Day 13 Fly north to Puerto Iguazú. Excursion to the Argentine side of Iguazú Falls (p154). Day 14 Visit the Brazilian side of the Falls for panoramic views. Day 15 Fly to Buenos Aires. Day 16 Fly to the UK, arriving day 17.Prices from £2,307pp (standard); £3,189pp (superior) based on two sharing, excluding transatlantic flights. Daily departures from the UK 6SOUTHERN PATAGONIA AND TIERRA DEL FUEGOThis remote area is defined by the Fitz Roy massif's huge granite towers, the giant walls of ice of the Perito Moreno and Upsala glaciers, and the ancient temperate forests of Tierra del Fuego.5BUENOS AIRES AND THE PAMPASWander among the colourful dwellingsof La Boca, shop in Recoleta, watch tango in San Telmo and choose between some of the coolest hotels on the continent. You can relax on a ranch in the surrounding pampas or across the River Plate in Uruguay.3URUGUAYUruguay is just a short hop across the River Plate from Buenos Aires. The glamorous beaches at Punta del Este have long been popular. Luxurious properties have now opened in quieter resorts. Rural Uruguay, with its rolling terrain and estancias, is an appealing venue for a riding holiday.2NORTH-EASTERN LOWLANDSThe sub-tropical Iberá marshland is one of the country's best places for wildlife observation. The area is best known for the Iguazú Falls situated in a national park on the border with Brazil.020 8747 8315 / journeylatinamerica.co.uk bookings, consultant advice and additional information how about?» Including other highlights?Salta and the canyons of the north west (p154). » Relaxing on a wine estate near Mendoza in the Andean foothills (pp156-157), or horse-riding at the Anglo-Argentine Estancia Los Potreros near Córdoba (p152). » A few days on the beach in Uruguay.200 Miles300 KMargentina tourist boardkevin greenleavesbest of patagoniaexplora

Estancias and retreatsThere's a lot to discover in the vast territory of Argentina but in your eagerness to see the highlights don't miss the opportunity to sit back and savour the country life so beloved of the Argentineans. Choose from a number of prestigious rural estates, both long-established and contemporary, which have been adapted to receive visitors. If you prefer to stretch out on a beach, try broad glossy sands at the chic resort of Punta del Este in Uruguay, which is just an hour or two's hop by catamaran over the River Plate. The huge country estates (estancias) of the flat pampa surrounding Buenos Aires evoke classicArgentina: sun-weathered gauchos, elegant country mansions set in poplar-lined, landscaped parklands, lush pasture and dewy polo fields. Our favourite estancias include La Bamba, La Porteña and El Rocío (right). Each has its own unique character, but all offer an idyllic retreat from the city: an outdoor pool for hot summer afternoons, log fires to take the chill out of autumn evenings, and opportunities for gentle countryside walks and horse riding. estancia los potreros Argentineans are renowned for their love of horses. Well cared-for steeds are waiting to fulfil your dream of a gaucho experience at Estancia Los Potreros, an isolated property and working cattle farm which has been in the same Anglo-Argentine family for four generations. The rolling moorland around Córdoba is an inviting environment for experienced and beginner riders alike, and there's a particularly warm welcome from your hosts, who will regale you with stories over a glass of wine and a home-cooked country dinner in their cosy lounge. 152 ArgentinaBelow Exploring Córdoba's Sierras Chicas hills at Estancia Los Potreros.estAncia el rociolos potreroslos potreros