In the last article I presented my five favorite places to visit in Argentina. In this article I round off that list with another five of Argentina’s best vacation spots.

6. Bariloche and the Lake District. Whereas the southern reaches of Patagonia are known for their ruggedness and extreme isolation, the northern half of Patagonia is a pleasant, almost Swiss-like region of lakes and green forests rimmed in by Andean peaks. Bariloche, Patagonia’s largest town, though far from being a metropolis, is every year more and more a cosmopolitan place, offering a full range of hotels and services for travelers. A little further to the north, in the neighboring region of Neuquén, trout fishermen will find a network of pristine rivers and streams in the Andean lowlands, many of which are considered world-class in the sport.

7. Mendoza and Argentina’s wine country. Vaguely reminiscent of the Chianti region of Italy or perhaps of Bordeaux in southern France – but with the difference that in Argentina’s wine country the highest peaks in the Americas loom over the vineyards. If wine tasting is not attraction enough for you, then scale the Aconcagua. Stop long enough to see the Puente del Inca which, at over 12,000 feet, is a natural bridge over a rock chasm which the Peruvian Incas would use when on silver mining expeditions in the southern parts of the Andes.

8. Ushuaia. The southernmost city in the world and the gateway for expeditions to Antarctica. It’s also the place to visit the mountains, lakes and fjords of Argentina’s most southern region, Tierra del fuego.

9. Cordoba and the Sierras. Though not nearly as imposing as the Andes, the sierras or “little mountains” of Cordoba have a quieter sort of charm – as well as the added benefit of a mild climate which makes them pleasant to visit the year round. Some of the must-sees in the area include Jesuit cathedrals and ruins, especially those in the town of Che Guevarra’s birthplace, Alta Gracia. The National Park “Quebrada del condorito” is also highly recommendable. It’s an open canyon with verdant cliffs that condors use as nesting places and where in the spring months, if you’re very lucky, you can see baby condors make their first plunge from the nest.

10. La Rioja and San Juan. The desert regions of Argentina’s West, most noted for two Regional and National Parks, the “Valle de la Luna” (Moon Valley) and La Talampaya, with red rock formations and narrow canyons. San Juan is also Argentina’s second wine-producing region.

About the Author: Scott Ferree is the study abroad coordinator at the Interhispanica Spanish Language School in Buenos Aires, Argentina: http://www.interhispanica.com.ar