A JEWEL TO BE DISCOVERED

Argentina has always attracted people from around the world. Its easy to understand after tasting a bite of Argentina's tastiest beef, seeing the attractiveness of its people, its sensual dances, surreal landscapes, majestic mountains and one of the most cosmopolitan cities in South America.

The Capital, Buenos Aires, is an elegant city with a European-flavoured sophistication and a lively, passionate culture. In addition to its vast plains and deserts, quiet lakes, pale blue glaciers, it's home to some of the greatest waterfalls on Earth. Argentina is a Latin American country where Europeans and North Americans can feel comfortable and travel with ease. Moreover, it is one of the best values on the planet : first-world infrastructure, authentic cuisine, highly refined wine and extraordinary service at affordable prices.

Most simply put, Argentina is a combination of theatrical places and pleasant people with limitless potential. Follow its frontiers on a map and you will already be invaded by the magic feeling of adventure.

 

 

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

Almost one-third of the country's 38 million people live in Buenos Aires. With an area of 2 770 000 km², is five time bigger than France or Texas.

The principal indigenous peoples of Argentina are the Quechua of the northwest and the Mapuche in Patagonia. There are other groups including the Matacos and Tobas in the Chaco province and other north-eastern cities. There are strong Jewish and Anglo-Argentine communities; small communities of Japanese, Bolivians and Chileans, and enclaves of Uruguayan and Paraguayan residents.

Argentina's culture has been affected by its immigrant population, mostly European. Their influence contributed to the end of pre-Columbian cultures, resulting in the lack of a dominant indigenous population. The European immigrant groups each adopted different roles. The Basque and Irish controlled sheep herding, the Germans and Italians established farms, and the British invested in developing the country's infra- structure.

Today many mythical names remind us of Argentina's culture and history. Maradona, Eva Peron, Fangio, Carlos Gardel, Piazzola, Borges, Pampas, Ushuaia, Patagonia… And the most famous element of Argentina's culture is without a doubt the music and dance, particularly tango.