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Buenos Aires -

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, and the second largest city in South America. Buenos Aires encapsulates the very essence of this vast and compelling country and serves as a perfect introduction to its culture and character.

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La Boca -

Easily the city's most colorful neighborhood, La Boca positively screams color. At its hub is El Caminito, a street lined with a vibrant cluster of colonial-era buildings that effectively serves as an open-air museum.

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Tango dancing -

Caminito (or "Little Path") was named after a 1926 tango song, and it's not unusual to see couples performing this most iconic of dances on cobblestone stages under dappled shade.

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Recoleta Cemetery -

One of Buenos Aires' most popular tourist destinations is Recoleta Cemetery. Among other notable Argentinians, this is the final resting place of Eva Perón, who served as First Lady of Argentina from June 1946 until her death in July 1952. Decades after her demise, Perón remains an iconic figure of international popular culture.

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Casa Rosada -

Holding court on Buenos Aires' historic Plaza de Mayo is the Casa Rosada, the palatial mansion that is the official residence of the president of Argentina. A tour of the late 19th-century building includes access to a highly regarded art museum.

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Buenos Aires Cabildo -

Also set on Plaza de Mayo is the original seat of the colonial-era government, the elegant Buenos Aires Cabildo. Dating back to the early 17th century, the building was at the epicenter of the May 1810 revolution against Spanish rule. A museum housed within its walls explains more.

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National Historical Museum -

Buenos Aires museums don't disappoint. For a better understanding about the country and its complex history, browse this excellent cultural facility. Emphasis is placed on chronicling the May Revolution and the Argentine War of Independence.

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Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires -

The Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires (MALBA) is a must for anybody with an interest in the lives and careers of the continent's most celebrated artists.

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Buenos Aires Museum of Modern Art -

Works by some of Argentina's most influential modern artists, names that include Antonio Berni, Raquel Forner, and Marcelo Pombo, are featured in the collections curated at this noted museum.

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Metropolitan Cathedral -

Overlooking Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires' Metropolitan Cathedral is recognized for its temple-like Neoclassical facade. The interior keeps precious 18th-century statues and altarpieces.

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Colón Theater -

While in the city, check out the performance schedule at Colón Theater. This historic venue is regularly cited as one of the 10 best opera houses in the world, and has previously hosted the likes of Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti.

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El Ateneo Grand Splendid -

There are bookstores, and then there's El Ateneo Grand Splendid—one of the most beautiful temples to bibliography in the world. Situated on Santa Fe Avenue in Barrio Norte, the premises once served as an ornate theater. It's still a showstopper, attracting more than one million visitors annually.

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Café Tortoni -

City sightseeing can work up a thirst. Quench it in style at Café Tortoni, opened in 1858. This is the most famous coffeehouse in Buenos Aires, a charming watering hole whose celebrity clientele includes Albert Einstein, Federico García Lorca, and Francis Ford Coppola.

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Jardín Botánico -

The hustle and bustle of busy Buenos Aires can at times be a tad overwhelming. Escape the heat and dust by chilling out in the city's pleasant Jardín Botánico.

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Iguazú Falls -

Beyond Buenos Aires, Argentina reveals itself in dramatic splendor. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the immense Iguazú Falls are breathtaking in their power and glory.

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Los Glaciares National Park -

Equally stunning in visual grandeur is the Perito Moreno Glacier, the most visited of the Patagonian park's 47 large ice sheets. The entire region is yet another one of Argentina's precious UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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Tierra del Fuego National Park -

Another world-famous natural landscape is Tierra del Fuego National Park. A magnet for adventure travelers and outdoor enthusiasts, the park's hiking trails rank among some of the most visually rewarding found anywhere.

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Flora and fauna -

The park is home to an outstanding variety of wildlife, species that include the striking Andean condor. This majestic raptor is sadly listed as Vulnerably by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

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Train at the end of the world -

For those less inclined to explore the park on foot, the landscape can be admired from the comfort of a ride on the Southern Fuegian Railway. This heritage line is often referred to as the "train at the end of the world" for the fact that it's the southernmost functioning railway on the planet.

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Ushuaia -

If you intend to stay in the region for any length of time, consider basing yourself at Ushuaia. The capital of Tierra del Fuego is the world's southernmost town. It's also one of five internationally recognized Antarctic gateway cities.

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Valdés Peninsula -

Elsewhere in Patagonia, the windswept Valdés Peninsula is a protected nature reserve whose coastline is inhabited by numerous marine mammals, like sea lions, elephant seals, and fur seals. The peninsula is also important breeding ground for southern right whales. The peninsula also enjoys UNESCO protection.

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Marine wonderland -

The playful Magellanic penguin is a ubiquitous peninsula resident, and visitors are often regaled with their comical antics.

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Nahuel Huapi National Park -

Argentina's natural wonders extend to Nahuel Huapi National Park. This is the country's oldest national park, a blanket of pine woodland draped around diamond blue lakes hemmed in by snow-capped peaks.

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San Carlos de Bariloche -

Located within the park's boundaries is picturesque San Carlos de Bariloche. Situated in the foothills of the Andes on the southern shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake, Bariloche is the place to ensconce yourself before trekking out into the wilderness.

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Mendoza -

Mendoza is world renowned as a center of olive oil production and Argentine wine. In summer, the city serves as a base for exploring the region's hundreds of wineries located along the Argentina Wine Route. Winter brings with its skiers from across South America to popular resorts like Las Leñas.

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Aconcagua Mountain -

The truly bold, meanwhile, use Mendoza as a staging post before aiming for the summit of Aconcagua, at 6,960 m (22,834 ft) the highest mountain in the Americas.

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Córdoba -

Certainly worth investigating is the central Argentine city of Córdoba. Among its don't-miss historical attractions is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jesuit estancias ("residences"), and the dazzling cathedral.

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Mar del Plata -

Argentina has its fair share of beaches and coastal vacation destinations. Among the most popular summer draws is Mar del Plata. This Atlantic Ocean resort boasts 8 km (5 mi) of golden beaches enclosed by horseshoe bays.

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San Ignacio Miní, Posadas -

Further evidence of the many missions founded in the 1600s by the Jesuits can be found at San Ignacio Miní, some 60 km (37 mi) north of Posadas. The mission ruins are one of four reducciones (religious settlements) in the country designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

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Quebrada de Humahuaca -

A remote Instagram favorite, and absolutely worth the effort to reach, arid Quebrada de Humahuaca is an exceptional example of a deep valley or ravine made even more alluring by the mix of reds, pinks, mauves, and oranges that look almost painted on the angular hills set above the gorge. UNESCO was impressed enough to grant the location World Heritage status.

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Salinas Grandes -

Another seriously out-of-the way location is the stunning salt flats known as Salinas Grandes. Resembling a vast white desert, this desolate but totally compelling landscape flattens out at 3,450 m (11,320 ft) above sea level.

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Cueva de las Manos -

For a remarkable glimpse into Argentina's prehistoric past, gaze upon the astonishing Cueva de las Manos ("Cave of Hands"). This cavern and complex of rock art sites located near Perito Moreno is stenciled with handprints created between 7300 BCE and 700 CE. It's another of Argentina's incredible UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

Sources: (Sky History) (New York Latin Culture Magazine) (IUCN)

See also: Amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South America

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