If you're researching Spanish courses in Latin America, Argentina is the place to go.

The second largest country in South America, the nation can be divided into five main geographical regions. In the north, the tropical forests and savannas of the Gran Chaco are home to a large number of subtropical plants and animals. The Pampa covers the center of the country, made up of humid prairie ecosystems and dry plains. The rugged Andean mountains range the western border with Chile, and Patagonia, the southern region of Argentina, is full of rivers and forests.

The Mesopotamia region, on the eastern border with Brazil and Uruguay, features subtropical rainforests and the famous Iguazu Falls. Make sure you take a break from your Spanish program in Argentina to visit this vast system of 275 waterfalls, stretching along almost 3km of the Iguazu River.

Another of Argentina's greatest attractions is the Iberá National Reserve, also in the Mesopotamia region, which protects the diverse wildlife of the second largest wetlands in South America (the Iberá Wetlands). Here you can see marsh deer, maned wolves, caiman, water boa and over 300 species of birds.

Geography and wildlife are not Argentina's only highlights. The country has a turbulent history, falling to Inca rule in 1480 until Spanish conquistadors began to arrive in the 16 th Century, overthrowing the Incas and eventually establishing the Viceroyalty in 1776. From the late 19 th Century, Spanish colonists were followed by Italian, French, German, British, Swiss and other European migrants.

Argentine culture has naturally been influenced by its European roots, especially in the cosmopolitan capital, Buenos Aires, often described as the most European city of South America. Yet many indigenous traditions haven't been forgotten, such as drinking "mate", an infusion made from a holly species native to subtropical South America.

This unique blend of native and Western customs, as well as the country's stunning natural beauty, make Argentina one of the most attractive places to study Spanish in South America.