Some say that Argentina is “all continents in one”, a statement hard to argue with. The variety of landscapes is, indeed, staggering: subtropical rainforest in the north, sky-hugging Andean peaks along its backbone, windswept desert plains in Patagonia plus polar glaciers in its southern tip. Finally, the cosmopolitan metropolis of Buenos Aires with its passionate tango scene can claim to be the doorway to South America.
I’ve criss-crossed Argentina twice but I never tire of Patagonia. The coast brims with life: there are penguin and sealion colonies, dolphins, whale breeding grounds. The interior may be a dry, interminable desert, but it’s not featureless. Canyons suddenly appear by the highway; startled guanacos and rheas run away; multicoloured outcrops pop up every now and again. Plus there is nothing more spectacular than driving up to the Andes, with the vegetation changing at every corner, from low pampas grass to soaring Southern beeches.
14 day Antarctica Wildlife Polar Cruise Holiday
A beautiful estancia stay offering daily rides across the pampas and the chance to play a few polo chukkas. This is the land of the horse where the culture of the gaucho is strong and where children still go to school on horseback.
One of our most adventurous trips, this group journey crosses the towering ice peaks of the Andes. It traverses some of South America’s most dramatic mountain wilderness landscapes from Argentina through Chile and Bolivia to Peru. Explore the Atacama Desert, travel across the Uyuni salt flats and on to Lake Titicaca, Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Altiplano & Gaucho Explorer from Dragoman is an exhilarating holiday in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile. Available from 26 Apr 2019 to 29 May 2022 this 21 day trip costs from £927 and has a maximum group size of 22 persons.
Exclusive 20 day Antarctic Cruise to view the total solar eclipse, also visiting Falklands, South Georgia & the Antarctic Peninsula
The Americas Overland with Carni from Dragoman is an exhilarating holiday in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru. Available from 22 Jul 2020 to 17 Feb 2021 this 211 day trip costs from £12,420 and has a maximum group size of 22 persons.
Starting in Cartagena and ending in Rio, this ultimate 55 day adventure ticks off all the highlights of South America, including Machu Picchu, Patagonia and the Galapagos Islands.
Become well acquainted with Antarctica's icy wilderness on this crossing of the Antarctic Circle that stops by the Falklands and South Georgia
Experience the ultimate adventure of a lifetime as you sail the icy waters of the Antarctic aboard the M/S Expedition cruise ship.
This private holiday plunges into Chilean and Argentine Patagonia, an area of outstanding natural beauty which still has a remote wilderness feel in spite of the creation of luxury accommodation. You stay at three of these wonderful properties in Torres del Paine National Park, the Los Glaciares National Park and the northern lake district.
