Buenos Aires, the Paris of South America

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Most everybody who’s traveled or even researched a trip to the continent has probably come across the following claim—Buenos Aires is the Paris of South America. Is this true?  And if so, what does it even mean?

The city is certainly one of the most “European” found anywhere in the Americas.  Studying its wide avenues, cobblestone streets, sidewalk cafés, and myriad cultural venues, it’s easy to imagine oneself in some Old World capital.  That being said, this cosmopolitan city certainly doesn't strive to mimic the City of Light—porteños, as city residents are known, are proud of a culture that is all their own.

Tango in the Streets, Buenos Aires

Perhaps, for example, you've heard of the tango?  This world-famous dance style was born in Buenos Aires during the late-20th century and has since grown into a worldwide phenomenon.  The dance, which seems to bridge the gap between European style and Latin American passion, is still widely-practiced by porteños both young and old.  Whether your goal is to learn, find another master as a dance partner, or simply sit back and observe, Buenos Aires is the place to go.

Gaucho and Horse, Argentina

You surely won’t spend all your time in Buenos Aires dancing, however—not with everything else the city has to offer.  The city’s Teatro Colón is considered among the world’s finest venues for live music, offering performances ranging from opera to symphonies and beyond.  For more of that Parisian flair so often attributed to the city, check out the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Fine Arts Museum), whose collection of European art is sometimes considered the finest outside of the continent itself.  For outdoor experiences, head to one of the many city squares or to Recoleta Cemetary, whose massive mausoleums and graves are intricately and sometimes even bizarrely decorated—an experience that cannot really be summed up in words.

Though Buenos Aires is without a doubt the center of Argentine culture, traveling outside the capital can also give you a fine window into what certain critics might call the “true” culture of the country—for example, the gaucho, the South American cousin of the cowboy, is a national symbol and an important source of pride for Argentinians.  At the end of the day, no matter where you go in Argentina, you are sure to enjoy the country’s warm and nuanced culture in one way or another!

Before You Go... 

Pick up our Argentina map. This GPS map will give you turn by turn directions to your destination using a point of interest (POI), city point, and/or latitude and longitude, with the ability to preplan driving destinations before getting into your car.


The easy to follow instructions allow you to download and install the map into Garmin BaseCamp desktop software and transfer it to your Garmin GPS in minutes. This installable map is compatible with ALL Garmin GPS units .

It's like having your own personal travel guide with you on your trip!

Screen Capture from our Argentina GPS Map.

Screen Capture from our Argentina GPS Map.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

You can also connect with us on Google Plus, see our travel guide pictures on Pinterest, and view some of our videos on YouTube.

An Amazing Argentinian Adventure!

Cerro Torre, Patagonia, Argentina

When you think of Argentina, what comes to mind?  For many people, the answer might be wine.  It might be the seemingly-European streets of Buenos Aires, or it might even be the country’s financial struggles that seem to arise every decade or so!  One thing it almost certainly isn’t, though, is adventure tourism—but maybe it’s time for that to change.

The region of Patagonia is located at the country’s southernmost reaches, where the continent-long Andes Mountains come to an end amidst deserts and grasslands that seem to spread infinitely, as far as the eye can see.  This is one of the world’s most striking landscapes, and what makes it all the more powerful is the fact that it remains in a relatively natural state.  If you’re dreaming of a wilderness adventure to a destination that is somehow both beautifully familiar and strikingly alien, Argentina’s Patagonia might be your place.

Perito Moreno Glacier, Patagonia, Argentina

 The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of many located in Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park, and almost certainly the park’s most famous.  Hiking the glacier can be physically taxing, but is an incredible experience.  Trekking across the full glacier can take up to five hours, but it’s the best way to grasp the true immensity of Perito Moreno, one of South America’s last still-growing glaciers.

Los Cuernos, Patagonia, Chile

For those who want to take their adventure to the next level, hiking the W Circuit might be the way to go.  This trip, which generally lasts between four and five full days, will bring you across glaciers, around lakes, and through forests.  This hike will take you past Los Cuernos (“The Horns”), granite mountain peaks whose appearance is true to their name, as well as Nordenskjöld Lake, a picturesque water body of nearly iridescent blue-green that is sure to take your breath away.

Perhaps the most magical part of any Patagonian adventure is not the scenery itself, but rather the fact that the only people you’ll meet here are looking for the same thing you are.  Patagonia attracts true adventurers from all over the world, and here a kindred spirit you are sure to find.

Before You Go... 

Pick up our Argentina map. This GPS map will give you turn by turn directions to your destination using a point of interest (POI), city point, and/or latitude and longitude, with the ability to preplan driving destinations before getting into your car.











The easy to follow instructions allow you to download and install the map into Garmin BaseCamp desktop software and transfer it to your Garmin GPS in minutes. This installable map is compatible with ALL Garmin GPS units .

It's like having your own personal travel guide with you on your trip!

Screen Capture from our Argentina GPS Map.

Screen Capture from our Argentina GPS Map.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

You can also connect with us on Google Plus, see our travel guide pictures on Pinterest, and view some of our videos on YouTube.