Why go: One of the most breathtaking sites in all of South America is the Perito Moreno Glacier in Southern Patagonia.

The deal: Because El Calafate, the nearest town, caters mainly to tourists - who arrive in droves thanks to a new airport and the cheap peso - you could pay $300 a night or more at luxury hotels and converted estancias (ranches).

But you can still snag "Argentine prices" if you travel in April, when demand cools and rates come down as much as 35%.

Where to stay: Hotel Kosten Aike (kostenaike.com.ar) charges $150 a night during the off-season vs. $231 at other times. Rooms at the Hotel Posada los Alamos (posadalosalamos.com) drop from $253 a night to only $169.

Getting there: A round-trip ticket from Buenos Aires to El Calafate on Aerolineas Argentinas (aerolineasargentinas.com) is $328. Another option is a package tour. Patagonia-Argentina.com offers trips to El Calafate and the glacier park that start as low as $570 a person for three nights, including the hotel and air fare from Buenos Aires.

Tip: Hielo y Aventura (hieloyaventura.com) arranges guided hikes across the Perito Moreno Glacier for about $80.