(MONEY Magazine) – They don't call Argentina the land of six continents for nothing. To the north it's got muggy rain forests; to the south Patagonia, with its stretches of icy landscapes; and in between, lush wine country, an arid desert and a hip metropolis. The country is bouncing back from last year's economic collapse, but its still depressed currency means you can stay at luxury hotels for $100 and eat prime rib for $10.

GETTING THERE American Airlines and United fly nonstop to Buenos Aires from major U.S. cities like Miami, New York and Washington, D.C. It's a 10-hour flight, but don't worry about jet lag--Argentina is just an hour ahead of eastern daylight time.

GETTING AROUND Argentina is roughly the size of India. Consider getting a Visit Argentina pass ($450) from Aerolineas Argentinas. It lets you fly between three interior cities, as long as you start in Buenos Aires.

WHAT TO DO For a taste of city life, there's Buenos Aires (see the sidebar). You can ski the Andes in July--the Swiss ski team trains on the 4,000-foot drops of Las Lenas in the summer. Ski out from the five-star Hotel Piscis. Call 54-11-4326-1351 (a central booking number) for deals; a weeklong package this July--for room, ski passes and two meals a day--will run $1,400 per person, double occupancy. Or sip your way through the internationally known wineries in the Mendoza: Visit the Bodega La Rural, one of the oldest in the country, and stay at the Park Hyatt Mendoza ($145, double occupancy; 54-261-441-1234). For culture, travel northwest to the desert region; Salta, with its stunning architecture and museums, is more than four centuries old. A night at the Hotel Salta costs just $76 (54-387-431-0740). And don't miss Iguazu Falls (above), which make Niagara "look like a kitchen faucet" (Eleanor Roosevelt). Hear the falls roar as you sleep when you stay at the Sheraton Iguazu in the national park ($100; 54-3757-491-800). Finally, way down south is Patagonia. There are many places to explore here, but from Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city, you can do everything from sea-kayaking to hiking to going on glacier boat trips. The best time to go is during Argentina's summer--October through March--but book now if you want to travel there later this year: Ranches and B&Bs fill up far in advance. Lost World Adventures (800-999-0558) organizes custom packages.