Travel in Argentina is absolutely wonderful if for no other reason than a favorable 3 to 1 exchange rate on the US dollar. While traveling style varies widely from budget traveler to affluent wine tourists, a common interest among all travelers is a desire to find good return on a dollar spent. So, without further ado, here are the five best ways to spend $100 on any given Saturday in Mendoza.

Lovely Boots from Mule.

The city of Buenos Aires is probably my favorite world capital. This year, as I do almost every year, I decided to go back for a visit; and even though I had gone with the intention to spend most of my time with my Argentine friends, I could not help myself and I did a bit of shopping as well. After all, I am a super fan of their superlative leather. Needless to say, I had to buy an additional suitcase to accommodate my leather booty. There is this common belief that the best leather is found in Italy; but this is partly a myth because Italy has been buying its best leather from Argentina for a long, long time.

Photo by Rebecca Caro.

If you’ve traveled to Argentina, you may have heard about the tradition they have there of eating ñoquis on the 29th of every month. On restaurant menus all across the country, the ñoquis appear as a special feature on this day. Ñoquis are those pillowy, fluffy potato dumplings known as gnocchi in Italy– light and dense at the same time; in Argentina they feed both spirit and belly. Why? And where does the tradition come from?

It’s been a while since we’ve chosen a winner but here it is: Leonardo JC with his vibrant picture form the Iguazu Falls in the Iguazu National Park. The columns of water falling and all the green that grows on rocks shows how full of life this Argentinian landscape is. This is definately a must see if you are on the land of the asado enough time to allow you a 2 day visit to Iguazu.

Inger at her beginner polo class.

Living in the capital, it is sometimes easy to forget that Argentina is not only about the Buenos Aires night life, tango, Malbec, great meat and empanadas. Yes, you will say, I know it is about estancias, nature and gauchos too.

But did you know that it is also has over a hundred years of polo tradition? That it is home to the world’s best polo players? That you can learn to play polo even if you never have ridden a horse before?

Photo by Alexander Zabara

So there I was—a more-or-less intermediate level tango dancer, with all the bravura that a lifetime of other dance techniques has given me, which means the tendency to show off when I don’t know what I’m doing. I was in a very popular class of what is conveniently called “tango nuevo.” signifying that everyone is young and experimental and in this case, pretty good. We were learning some complicated steps and finding new possibilities with each different partner and I was trying to hold my own along with everybody else.

Thanks to Bruno Girin for This Photo

Going out at night is more than just a fun hobby in BA, it’s a way of life. Much like southern Europe, it’s common to eat dinner as late as 11 or 12, and even families with small children can be seen munching into the wee hours of the night. Not that you’re small children, but if you’re in BA, you’re out late as well. This means that if you’re looking to paint the town red, you’re going late, hard, and fast. Here’s some great suggestions on what to do this weekend that will surely appease the nightlife junkie in you. Get ready for the late-night Weekend Buzz. Also, check out our in-depth nightlife guide for more on what to do and where to go.

The adventure: rent a car and visit the famous Valle De La Luna (Moon Valley) inside Parque Nacional Ischigualasto, San Juan. We found a good deal at Classic Car Rentals, in San Juan, and secured a nice four door Chevrolet Corsa, and a contract that stated unlimited kilometers.

Thanks to Pablo David Flores for This Photo

Rosario is Argentina’s 3rd largest city, and home to over one million inhabitants. The city is located on the shore of the Parana river, and has beautiful skylines and nature reserves nestled on the river banks. Known as the commercial hub for the region’s vast farming and manufacturing industries, Rosario is now gaining favor with tourists and expats as well. They have a thriving music scene, art scene, and restaurants, as well as one of the country’s largest student populations. Check out our in-depth guide to all things Rosario, and let us know if you have any questions, or need help planning your next trip. Argentinatg@gmail.com