ARGENTINA & URUGUAY: PERFECT PLACES TO STAY, EAT AND EXPLORE

The eighth biggest country in the world, Argentina boasts spectacular glaciers, soaring mountains, world-class waterfalls, tranquil vineyards and an endlessly beguiling capital. Time Out's experts have scoured this expansive land - from the dizzying heights of the Andes to the world's most southerly extremes in Patagonia - to bring readers the best sights, hotels, restaurants and insider tips. For added inspiration, the collection also uncovers highlights from its lesser-known neighbour, Uruguay, where beach getaways include style-conscious Punta del Este and the remote escapism of Cabo Polonia.

Generously illustrated with color photography and featuring appendices packed with practical information, Time Out Argentina and Uruguay will be both an inspiration for readers and a useful tool for planning a perfect trip. Snapshots - Buenos Aires, Argentina If someone gave you a peso for every time the Argentinian capital has been described as the Paris of the South, you would easily have enough for the finest steak dinner in town. In reality, it's a whole lot more than that and the dramatic European buildings will never overshadow the city's distinctly Latino spirit.

Tango in the streets, time-warp cafes, pulsating nightlife, cutting-edge fashion, elegant polo matches and rowdy football derbies. A lifetime here is not enough. Mendoza, Argentina The heart of Argentina's ever-growing wine industry is situated at the foot of the snow-capped Andes in the country's far west.

With over 300 days of sunshine a year, the small-scale, tree-lined city of Mendoza is an ideal base for exploring the surrounding bodegas. Just out of town lies the mighty Aconcagua - the tallest peak outside the Himalayas - and, between June and October, one of South America's most stylish ski resorts, Las Lenas. Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay Across the River Plate, and only an hour's ferry ride from downtown Buenos Aires, sits this UNESCO Heritage-listed gem.

Here days are spent lazily meandering through cobbled streets dotted with vintage cars and bougainvillea. By night, the biggest challenge comes from deciding between the best of its character-filled restaurants, where you'll often find fresh seafood accompanied by live performances from local musicians.