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Frommer's Favorite Experiences
Experiencing Tango in Buenos Aires: Milongas, or tango salons, take place every night of the week throughout the Argentine capital; the most famous are in the San Telmo neighborhood. Most visitors will be content just to watch as dancers of all generations (most of them amateurs) go through the beautiful paces of traditional Argentine tango. Both the dance and the complex social ritual that frames it are mesmerizing. Brave onlookers can choose to dance as well; most milongas offer lessons before the floor opens up to dancers. El Ni?o Bien, Humberto I no. 1462 (tel. 11/4483-2588), is like taking a step back in time, as you watch patrons dance in an enormous Belle Epoque-era hall under ceiling fans. The best dancers come here to show off, though you'll also find instructors looking to mingle with shy potential students who watch from the sidelines. For an authentic historical look, see the tango show El Querandi, Peru 302 (tel. 11/4345-0331), which traces the dance's roots from brothel slums, when only men danced it, to its current leggy sexiness.
Paying Respects at a First-Class Necropolis: In the beautiful Recoleta Cemetery in a chi-chi neighborhood in Buenos Aires, enormous, expensive mausoleums compete for grandeur. It's a place where the rich can "take it with them," in a sense, and continue displaying their wealth long after death. Among the scant few nonaristocrats buried here is Eva Peron, or "Evita."
The Capital's Best Nightlife Street: Whether you want to dine at a parrilla (grill), try some nouvelle cuisine, barhop, or go dancing, Calle Baez in Las Ca?itas is the place to go. This busy street in Palermo has great restaurants -- such as Novecento, Baez 199 (tel. 11/4778-1900), and El Estanciero, Baez 202 (tel. 11/4899-0951) -- and some of the most intensely packed nightlife on any 3 blocks of Buenos Aires.
Visiting Iguazu Falls: One of the world's most spectacular sights, Iguazu boasts over 275 waterfalls fed by the Iguazu River. In addition to the falls, Iguazu encompasses a marvelous subtropical jungle with extensive flora and fauna.
Driving the Quebrada de Humahuaca: This rainbow-colored mountain range reveals dusty adobe villages and striking rock formations. With so many Quechuan women herding goats amid Inca ruins, you may think you have accidentally crossed into nearby Bolivia.
Riding the Train to the Clouds: The Tren a las Nubes is one of the world's great railroad experiences. The journey through Argentina's Northwest takes you 434km (269 miles) through tunnels, turns, and bridges, culminating in the breathtaking La Polvorilla viaduct. You will cross magnificent landscapes, making your way from the multicolored Lerma valley through the deep canyons and rugged peaks of the Quebrada del Toro, and on to the desolate desert plateau of La Pu?a. Note: Train service was suspended at press time, but it's due to start up again later in 2007.
Touring the Jesuit ruins of Cordoba: Magnificent colonial architecture set in the rolling green hills of the Cordoba sierras reveals a lost Utopia of arts and learning. It's one of the few examples of harmonious cooperation between indigenous people and European colonizers.
Traveling the Wine Roads of Mendoza: Less commercialized than their European and American counterparts, Mendoza's wineries are free to visit and easily accessible along roads known locally as Caminos del Vino. About 80 wineries formally offer tours and tastings.
Wine Tasting in Valle de Uco: While Maipu and Lujan make wonderful day trips from Mendoza, driving another hour south to the incredibly picturesque Valle de Uco region makes for a sublime day. Hot spots, such as the villages of La Consulta and Villa Flores, are known as "Napa South," thanks to vineyards run by some of the world's great enologists. With the towering wall of the Cordillera de los Andes as a backdrop, and gentle rows of poplar trees marking the country roads, this route is a biking and driving destination without compare.
Sailing to Chile on the Cruce de Lagos: Why fly or drive when you can sail through the Andes? With three boats and three bus trips, you can go from Bariloche, Argentina, to Puerto Montt, Chile, in a day on the Cruce de Lagos tour. Turning it into an overnight trip, with a stay on the Chilean side, gives you time to take in the beauty of the temperate rainforest and the magic of these mountains.
Whale-Watching at Peninsula Valdes: From April to December, the giant Southern Right Whale heads to the protected bays off the Peninsula Valdes to relax, reproduce, and recharge. The boats that head out hourly from Puerto Piramides get remarkably close to these friendly giants. You can spot sea elephants, penguins, ostrichlike choiques, and sometimes even orca whales on the peninsula as well.
Seeing a Million Penguins Guarding Their Nests: Every autumn, over a million penguins return to mate on a hillside overlooking the Atlantic, in a remote area of Patagonia. At Punta Tombo National Reserve, you can walk among these friendly creatures and, if you're lucky, get to see them guarding the babies in their nests.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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