Argentina offers a host of great vacation activities. You can admire volcanic landscapes, lakes, forests, canyons and waterfalls, and shop in the chic boutiques of Buenos Aires. But to taste the spirit of the country, try these quintessential Argentinean activities - tango tours, wine tasting in the Andes, and whale watching. You'll have a vacation like no other and touch the beating heart of Argentina.

Tango To connect with the spirit of Argentina, you need to immerse yourself in the national dance, the tango. In fact, the tango is more than just a set of dance steps; it's an expression of the spirit and passion of the people. The tango has its origins in the bawdy houses of late 19th century Buenos Aires. It was spurned by the upper classes for many decades but it finally captured their hearts. In fact, the Perons were great aficionados of the tango. Later, rock and roll nudged the tango out of favour for a while, but it didn't stay down for long. Nowadays, the tango is undergoing a definite renaissance and you can take many tours devoted to this sultry dance culture. Not only will you learn to master this most sensual of dances, but you'll have vibrant nights out in this passionate city that few tourists get to see. In the daytime, other than taking tango lessons, you can visit tango museums to study the culture, traditions and milestones of the Argentine Tango. Many of these museums are the converted residences of former tango stars.

Wines The next key to the Argentine heart is to learn all about the country's wines. Argentina is a producer of world-class wines and a tour not only allows you to swirl them around your palate but also to experience one of the country's most evocative regions, that of sun kissed Mendoza which nestles at the base of the Andes. A two-hour flight from the capital, Mendoza has

been the hub of Argentina's wine country since European settlers brought the art of winemaking in the 19th century. Nowadays, Mendoza is home to more than one thousand wineries. Mendoza offers many wine tasting tours to the many wineries of bogegas as they're known locally. Mendoza is also home to the continent's largest wine museum. If you're a real wine lover, try and go in March when the week-long Vendimia Festival is held. It commemorates the gathering of grape crop with a range of events at the bogodas.

Whales The next unique Argentinean tour takes you to windswept Patagonia to watch the whales in Peninsula Valdés. Some 600-700 whales sport offshore here during their mating season. If you want to see the whales, you'll have to time your visit carefully. The season for whale watching runs from May to December, with September and October being the best months. This is when the whales come to the peninsular for their mating rituals. Boat trips to observe the whales usually also include visiting sea lion colonies and cormorants. Other than whales, the Peninsula Valdes is home to such fascinating fauna as marine wolves, Magellan penguins, and dolphins.

So when you visit Argentina, don't just wander around gawking at the monuments. Choose one of these unique tours and really connect with this exotic country and its flamboyant people. Before travelling to Argentina, make sure that the hotel reservations are in place. Hotels in Buenos Aires and hotels in Mendoza can easily be booked in advance through the Internet, and then you will be able to enjoy Argentina at the best.

Richard has over 20 years experience in the travel industry and writes for Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers cheap hotels in Argentina.