The colourful La Boca neighbourhood in Buenos Aires

The seventh largest country on the planet, Argentina extends 4,000km from its subtropical north to its sub-Antarctic south.

Inside this vast South American nation lies a smorgasbord of natural wonders - Andean desertscapes, thundering waterfalls, verdant vineyards, Patagonian glaciers, grass-covered plains and an extensive coastline.

In between hiking Patagonian wilderness and skiing Andean slopes you could tuck into giant slabs of medium-rare steak, sip yerba mate, tango the night away in a Buenos Aires club or windsurf the Atlantic coast.

Argentina's most awe-inspiring sites include the four-kilometre-wide Perito Moreno glacier in Los Glaciares National Park in Patagonia, the cacophonous roar of Iguazu Fall on the border with Paraguay and Brazil and the Aconcagua National Park, home to the nation's highest mountain. The country is also rich in exotic wildlife, including flamingos, capybaras, caymans, guanacos, rheas, armadillos, pumas, condors, whales, sea lions, seals and penguins.

Argentina's distinctly European capital, Buenos Aires, is a vibrant, cosmopolitan hub with a thriving arts and fashion scene and a legendary nightlife. The second-largest city, Cordoba - famous for its architecture, museums and markets - lies in the Pampas, the flat cattle-rearing plains in the heart of the country.

Survival guide

In general, Argentina enjoys a temperate climate. Buenos Aires and the Pampas have cool winters and hot, humid summers. If you plan on exploring the Andes or Patagonia in either summer or winter, be sure to pack plenty of warm clothing.

Argentina's official language is Spanish, although the dialect has been heavily influenced by the influx of Italian migrants. Many people also speak some Portuguese, Italian, English, French and German.

The main international gateway to the country is Aeropuerto Internacional Ministro Pistarini Buenos (also known as Ezeiza) in Buenos Aires. The country's main domestic airport is about 40 minutes drive across town at Aeroparque Jorge Newberry.