Argentina

North of the capital city of Buenos Aires is charming Córdoba, home to exquisite Spanish colonial architecture and the UNESCO Manzana Jesuítica (Jesuit Block), a 17th-century complex with active cloisters, churches and the original campus of the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, one of South America’s oldest universities.

The city’s focal point is Plaza San Martín and its neo-baroque Cathedral of Córdoba. From here fly to Mendoza and visit vinedos (vineyards) to taste fresh foods paired with wines, olives, olive oil and herbs from the gardens.

At the southern end in Patagonia region is Bariloche, known formally as San Carlos de Bariloche. This large town, nestled in the Andes Mountains, borders Nahuel Huapi, a large glacial lake.

Enjoy Swiss alpine-style architecture and delectable chocolate, sold in shops lining Calle Mitre, the main street. From Bariloche, hike or ski the nearby mountains and explore the surrounding Lake District 893 meters above sea level.

Calafate, known as El Calafate, only 200 meters above sea level, serves the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, home to the massive Perito Moreno Glacier, whose ever-shifting icy landscape is popular for hiking and sightseeing.

Calafate sits near the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. Visit the Glaciarium, a modern interpretive center that teaches on the region’s numerous glaciers. Be prepared to be awed by the sheer enormity of Mother Earth and the groaning and creaking of the shifting glaciers.