Argentina Overview

Argentina is situated in South America and is bordered by Chile to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil to the north. The country is split into four main geographical areas: the Andes, the North, the Pampas and Patagonia. Each area has its own unique weather pattern, landscape and culture.

Argentina is a country full of extremes. You will find frenetic urban centres in contrast to idyllic countryside and national parks, brimming with wildlife and breathtaking glaciers and waterfalls. The country can be hot in one region and at the same time freezing in another. However, one common link between the different regions is the local people. They all poses a passion for life and make any visitor quickly feel at ease.

The tango, gauchos and estancias are the country’s most famed attractions and once here, visitors find the pace of life inspiring. People only stop for sleep. They work hard, play harder and enjoy life to its fullest.

Most visitors head straight for the country’s capital, Buenos Aires, which is a cosmopolitan and thriving modern city. It is full of character and renowned for its exciting nightlife, excellent shopping opportunities and fantastic food.

Hotels come in a variety of price and standard, with those offering better service and more facilities being in the higher price bracket. Buenos Aires, luxury hotels can be found spread throughout the city and the cheaper hotels can mostly be found in Avenida de Mayo. Wherever you decide to stay in Argentina, service is generally excellent and most rooms have air conditioning.

Wherever you travel in Argentina, you will not be short of things to see and activities to take part in. It is a great family destination as well as being a favourite haunt with backpackers. The food is exceptional and the shopping is better.

The country of Argentina is divided by its weather. The north and south of the country sees very different weather throughout the year.

Northern Argentina sees a subtropical climate with rainfall throughout the year. Temperatures can often be high and the air is frequently humid. You will need to pack lightweight clothes and linens if you are visiting this area.

The central area of Argentina usually experiences pleasant weather with a hot and humid period during the height of the summer, December to February, and cooler weather in the winter, July and August. December through to February can be busy in this central region, as many Europeans arrive in search of winter sun.

The Tierra del Fuedo, in the south, has a sub-artic temperature year-round. It is ideal for winter spots, but not so ideal for those looking to escape to the sun. Warm clothes are a must of you are thinking of travelling in the south.

Before the Europeans arrived in Argentina in the 16th century, there were two main native groups that existed. A people known as the Diaguita lived in the north, close to Bolivia and the Andes, while farther south, there existed a tribe of people known as the Guarani. Both of these groups of people independently developed the cultivation of maize. The Diaguita are renowned for having successfully prevented the Inca people from expanding their empire into Argentina.

These natives began a successful resistance against colonisation and rule by the Spanish. The first Spaniard invader, Juan de Solis, was killed in 1516 by native armies, who also successfully defended Buenos Aires. The natives managed to hold off the Spanish conquest until the end of that century, when Buenos Aires was finally secured by the Spanish.

Despite the success in the military field, the native peoples were extremely weakened by the introduction of diseases from Europe and soon their threat to the Spanish was minimal. Spain however largely ignored Argentina and Buenos Aires was forbidden to trade with foreign countries, leaving it wide open for smugglers to thrive here

The British attacked Buenos Aires in 1806, after Spain had been defeated by Napoleon. The colony in Argentina managed to resist Britain's attacks without any assistance. This act of strength and courage helped to encourage the region's growing sense of independence.

The Spanish King, Ferdinand VII, was captured by the French in 1808 and Argentina fell completely under the rule of the local viceroyalty. This transfer of power was incredibly unpopular with the locals, who took to the streets in rebellion against this move and declared their loyalty to the captive king.

By 1816, there was a deep division between Argentina and Spain. A group of separatists decided to declare the country's independence. Jose de San Martin, along with Simon Bolivar, is credited with freeing Argentina from Spanish rule.

The early days of Argentina’s new-found independence was marked by conflict between two political groups: the Unitarists and the Federalists. The Unitarists wanted a strong central government, while the Federalists wanted local control.

Argentina was taken over by the military and fell victim to a host of problems over the next century. These included: economic crisis, corruption, human rights abuse and their defeat in 1982 in the Falklands War.

Democracy was restored in 1983 and the country began to stabilise. Today, Argentina is a mix of ethnicities with over one third of the population living in the capital, Buenos Aires. The urban communities account for almost 90 per cent of the entire population, with indigenous tribes such as the Quecha, in the northeast, and the Mapuche, in Patagonia, struggling for survival.