Jeff’s trip to Argentina & Uruguay

Shrewdly founded by early Spanish settlers at the delta of the Río de la Plata, Buenos Aires, the sprawling capital of Argentina, has long been one of Latin America’s most important trade hubs, now also a thriving centre of culture, politics and technology. A gay mecca consistently at the forefront of progress and acceptance in the region, Buenos Aires is a worthy city to visit, even if only for the empanadas alone. Besides its meaty gastronomy scene, led by prime Argentine beef and twists on European classics, Buenos Aires boasts upscale luxury hotels and countless distinct barrios to explore; such as fancy Puerto Madero and Plaza Serrano. Buenos Aires is also home to a very active gay scene, particularly across Palermo. There’s a bit of a blur between what constitutes a gay bar, club, café and even restaurant, so let’s just refer to them as gay hangouts.

One of the planet’s most awe-inspiring sights, the Iguazú Falls are simply astounding. A visit is a jaw-dropping, visceral experience, and the power and noise of the cascades – a chain of hundreds of waterfalls nearly 3km in extension – will stay with you forever. An added benefit is the setting: the falls lie split between Brazil and Argentina in a large expanse of a national park, much of it rainforest teeming with unique flora and fauna, and each side offers a very different perspective.

Hiding in plain sight, Montevideo is a chill, earthy, cosmopolitan city with one of the world’s only 'homomonuments'. Uruguay is actually one of the planet’s most liberal nations and by far the most open-minded in Latin America when it comes to homosexuality. With a staunch division between church and state, same-sex sex has been legal since 1934 and gay marriage since 2013. The nation has been called ‘a model for social inclusion in Latin America’ and ranks fifth in the world on the Gay Happiness Index. All that and it’s a great city to boot. Fifteen miles of coastal promenade for running, swimming, sunning, or ambling aimlessly holding your partner’s hand. Posh shopping districts and quaint colonial architecture. Leafy plazas and serious grilled meats. But what really sets the city apart is how authentically laid back the culture is, while at the same time being worldly. Montevideo is hippie and hipster at the same time.