Andrew Loughlin continues on his Latin America journey in sophisticated Mendoza...

I stayed at Hotel Cordillera, which is right in the heart of MENDOZA. This city, in the heart of the wine growing district, had tree lined streets and a warm feel to it, and is certainly is a sophisticated place despite the country's recent financial difficulties. Food and clothing are hugely undervalued compared to the UK , and as a result I would suggest 40-60% cheaper, in terms of cost of living. I ate at 1884 Restaurante, which was an excellent venue and offered great value, and probably the best in town. I took a tour round this beautiful garden city, including the St Martin Park, which is a stunning area, and dominates the city. Mendoza has 360 days of sunshine each year and only 9” of rain, so the climate is a lot drier and hotter here. Wine is what this area is famous for so for those looking to visit a winery, Bodega Familia Zuccardi is superb - www.familiazuccardi.com. They are only open for meals during the day, but can also offer evening dinners and a tango show on request.

Other options in Mendoza include taking in a Tango show at Teatro Las Sillas, Tajamar and Lazaro.

One point to note however: Everywhere you look you find people with a little pot and straw, and the ubiquitous flash. They sit in groups, in parks and plazas, on buses, in offices, courtyards and kitchens. Young and old, rich and poor, Gauchos and city slickers, all imbibe the herb, Mate (pronounced mahtay), share it like a sacred bonding agent through good times and bad. Indeed, an offer of mate is an offer of friendship and a signal of acceptance. It's the Argentinean equivalent of the peace pipe. It is, however, an acquired taste and to the novice it can taste very bitter and too hot. Beware – mate is everywhere!'

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Then on to PUERTO IGUAZU in the far north-eastern corner of the country. This is a one-horse town, orientated around the Iguazu Falls, and the options are fairly limited in what else to do. We stayed in the Hotel Catarata, on the Argentinean side, which is categorised as a 5* (equivalent to our 4*). They have a heated indoor small pool, sauna, Jacuzzi and spa alongside a main outside pool facility. A set dinner is offered to guests for $25/£5 for three courses.

One evening we went to a Rafain show in Foz on the Brazilian side. We arrived at 8pm and ate at the beginning, and the buffet food was excellent. The show was presented simultaneously in three languages and involved a cultural dance programme focusing not only on the three neighbouring countries, but throughout Latin America. The show finished at 11pm and is an ideal way to spend the evening.

We investigated other local nightlife, but there's not much other than the Lautaro Resto Bar, in the centre of town, which is a pleasant place to eat and drink but fairly quiet otherwise. There is also a club at the Three Frontiers which we did not go to. Perhaps it was because our visit was during the week and things may be a little livelier at weekends?

As for accommodation, the Hotel Cataratas on the Brazilian side is a wonderful old colonial style establishment that occupies a prime view of the Falls. The 4* Hotel Saint George has 75 rooms and is well situated close to the centre of Iguazu. The best hotel by far is the new 5* Casino Iguazu – we had a lovely dinner here one evening, the outdoor pool is heated, and they can offer a great gym facility. The 4* Hotel Esturion is again well situated near to the town centre, and a minute or two from the Falls, and the 3* Hotel Libertador is centrally based and offers something for the lower range of the market. One of the most disappointing was the 4* Hotel Latino. Slightly outside of town is the Sheraton International, which occupies the best views from the Argentinean side.

Andrew continues his journey with a visit to the Iguazu Falls click here.