Lonely Planet Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay (Includes Chilean Patagonia)
So you're going to the Southern Cone?  Or perhaps only thinking about it?  Well, think about it some more, and place these images of Argentina in your mind:  the Western hemisphere's highest peaks, rising to almost 7000m and blanketed in virgin snow; the painted deserts of the northern Andes, high and dry with colonial cities and lanky cacti; legendary Iguazu Falls, a massive rush of water falling nearly 20 stories and extending as far as the eye can see; shimmering blue-green lakes stretching out between lush mountain forests in the Lake District; astounding southern glaciers actively calving huge slivers of ice; and the magnificent desolation of Patagonia, instilling a romantic tingle and wanderlust.  Then there's Tierra del Fuego, the tip of the southern world, encompassing beautiful scenery and the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia.  Or how about a cruise to (relatively) nearby Antarctica?Everywhere in Argentina, from the northern subtropical lowlands to the Patagonian shores, you will glimpse wildlife ranging from strange guanacos, rheas and capybaras to the more familiar flamingoes, whales and penguins.Also, let's not forget the probable start of your adventure:  The urban frenzy that is Buenos Aires.  This sophisticated capital city circulates through bustling streets and grand avenues lined with historic edifices born of European architects.  All around are beautiful portenos (inhabitants of Buenos Aires), elegantly coiffed and forever fashionable, passionately expressing their Spanish and Italian roots through energetic personalities and expansive body language.  Old-time cafes, tango bars, fine restaurants (think succulent steaks!), late-night dancing and charming colonial neighborhoods complete this picture, and all this is just a start.If you want to get away from the tourist beat, you can see backroads of grassland or lush forests and meet some of the friendliest folks in South America.  Outside Argentina, you can even have some fun at the raucous summer beach resorts in Uruguay or explore the region's indigenous roots in Paraguay.  These two under-appreciated countries are brimming with colonial architecture and Jesuit ruins, generations-old traditions, subtropical lowlands and an astounding range of wildlife - and you won't have to share it with many other tourists!