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First, limit yourself to a region. Argentina has plenty to do, so while you may be tempted to hop the border to Peru to see Machu Picchu or hit the beaches of Brazil, I’d recommend sticking to one or two places in the country—and with Argentina’s economy as it is, your tourist dollar will likely stretch more than some of the other places in South America.

You’ll likely start in Buenos Aires, and there’s loads in that city to explore, including great museums, the colorful port ‘hood of La Boca, shopping arcades, and loads of Parisian-style cafes and restaurants. After that, consider heading for Mendoza, a city of about 1.5 million people—the country’s fourth largest—that sits at the base of the Andes. It also serves as a fantastic jumping-off point for climbers ready to tackle 22,835-foot Aconcagua. Of course, spending two weeks working your way up glacial moraine, battling the cold, and drinking melted snow might not be your idea of “best.” But Mendoza also has a vibrant community of mountain bikers, skiers, and hikers. Rafting companies run Class III rapids on the Mendoza and Diamante rivers. Betancourt Rafting (+54.0261.429.9665; ) offers multi-day trips down the Mendoza, as well as trekking and climbing trips onto the red rocks of nearby Cacheuta. And when you’re ready to kick back, Mendoza sits in the heart of Argentina’s wine region. Big malbecs go well with the country’s world-renowned beef, and operators like Texas-based Amazon ���ϳԹ���s (800.232.5658; ) can arrange trips with local outfitters for independent travelers to bodegas combined with hiking trips into the Andes. If you’ll be going in winter (remember, Yanks, that’s our summer), be sure to hit the slopes of Las Leñas, Penitentes, and Vallecitos, all ski resorts within striking distance of Mendoza’s leafy streets.

Farther south at the gateway to Patagonia you’ll find San Carlos de Bariloche, or Bariloche for short, a charming town of about 60,000 people on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi and 1,000 miles southwest of Buenos Aires. (Word of advice: don’t waste your time driving, take an overnight bus or fly from Buenos Aires; the landscape across the Pampas is as flat and featureless as a cafeteria table.) Once in Bariloche you’ll find ski areas like Mount Catedral, just 12 miles from town, where 53 runs and 39 lifts traverse wide-open terrain. Come summer, some of the trails are open to mountain bikers, hikers, and horseback riders, while climbers tackle the higher summits. Of course, you’re also on the fringes of Patagonia here, where all manner of adventure awaits. Just south of Bariloche are Lago Puelo and Los Alerces, two Argentine Patagonia national parks with mountain vistas, glacial lakes, and miles upon miles of hiking trails. And if you can afford the time, you simply must give a week to hopping over into neighboring Chile and exploring Torres del Paine National Park. Here you’ll find a fantasy land of rock so jagged and sheer that ���ϳԹ��� magazine once called the peaks “the closest thing Mother Nature has created to a scream in stone.” Numerous outfitters, like Southern Explorations (877.784.5400; ), offer trips through Patagonia, essential if your visit falls in the winter, or if you want to do something more aggressive than simply trekking. But if you’re just aiming for a few days in the wilderness with your backpack and tent, check out the Lonely Planet’s , which covers routes in both Chile and Argentina. Also, be sure to check out sites like and for general information about where to go and what to see in this remote corner of the globe.

One word of caution: Patagonia can become downright addictive (see ���ϳԹ���‘s November 2005 feature story “Magnetic South”) . Dip your big toe into the Argentine Lake District west of Bariloche and you may end up chucking all other responsibilities until you’ve made it all the way down to the region’s southernmost point, Tierra del Fuego National Park. Consider yourself warned.