Argentina

Argentina's natural attractions are the stuff travellers' dreams are made of. A glacier in the south, a soul-stirring, subtropical north and cities overflowing with cafés, bars and restaurants.

Flying time: Buenos Aires - 15 hours 35 minutes.

Time difference: GMT -4 Hours.

Getting there: Direct services operate to Rio de Janeiro with British Airways. Direct services also operate to Buenos Aires (with a touchdown in São Paulo).

Currency: Peso

Vaccinations: Precautions for tetanus, diphtheria, rabies, typhoid and hepatitis A are recommended, with some regions under risk of malaria - please contact your doctor for up-to-date information.

Visas: British passport holders do not require a visa. All other nationals please check visa requirements with the embassy.

Best time to visit: Argentina's seasons are the opposite of the northern hemisphere seasons. The best time to visit Buenos Aires is in spring (September to November), when the jacarandas are in bloom and temperatures are blissfully cool, or in autumn (March to May). Summer (December to February) in the capital is hot and humid, so that's the best time to hit Patagonia, where the weather's milder and more services are available.