Corrientes is one of the oldest cities in Argentina, founded in 1588 at the confluence of the Paraná and Paraguay rivers, about 1,000 km north of Buenos Aires. It is a pleasant place to stop for a few days — not spectacular, but genuinely relaxed and authentically Argentine without the tourist polish of the big cities.
The city is laid out on a perfect grid. The heart of town is the Plaza 25 de Mayo. Shopping is centred on the Junín pedestrian street between Salta and Catamarca. The riverside Parque Mitre is shady and pleasant for an evening walk. The Convento de San Francisco on Mendoza street is one of the nicer historic buildings; the Museo Histórico and the Museo de Bellas Artes are both worth a visit.
Just across the river is Resistencia, the capital of Chaco province, known for its outdoor sculpture collection — statues on every park, sidewalk and square — which makes a worthwhile short excursion.