We would like to make a trip to Argentina in the New Year, and are keen to a have some beach time too, preferably at the end of the holiday – our budget is up to £3,000pp. Are there any nice beaches in Argentina? Fiona Carver, Woking

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: Argentina may have the Pampas, the Perito Mareno Glacier, and it’s good time capital, Buenos Aires, but it lacks great beaches. You could eek out some fun in Mar Del Plata or Pinamar, but they are pretty nondescript resort towns and they get unpleasantly chocka with locals in summer. I’d say the ideal end to your trip is to flop in style, either in Uruguay, or better still, Brazil.

The right time of year for this is from November to March, when Argentina’s south isn’t too cold and when summer is still swinging at the Brazilian beaches. There are frequent flights between Argentina and Brazil too, so it makes sense to fly up to Rio for example, head out to the beaches, and then fly back to the UK from there.

You should definitely take a couple of days to explore stunning Rio, but then I’d say decamp to the stunning 17-beach peninsula town of Buzios, 105 miles northeast of Rio. It was a simple fishing village until Brigit Bardot and boyfriend holidayed here in the 60’s, and now it’s a glamorous resort, with cobbled streets, fine restaurants and bars, a handful of posh posada’s, and exquisite beaches.

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Don’t worry if that doesn’t sound quite you – Brazil has the perfect beach for every taste - and you could stay at some more tranquil slices of sand by the Atlantic rainforest near Paraty (south of São Paulo), or go Crusoe at the remote islands of Fernando de Noronha.

A South American specialist, like Last Frontiers can talk you through the tantalising options. As a guide, they can tailor make a 16-night trip from £2,597pp, visiting Buenos Aires, an estancia in the Pampas, and the Perito Moreno glacier, then fly to Rio for a few days before the perfect beach break at Buzios. The price includes flights from London to Buenos Aires (and back from Rio), domestic and regional flights, transfers, B&B throughout, except full board in the Pampas.

Or try Bales Worldwide , Sunvil, and Veloso Tours

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