Tango, Buenos Aires

The tango is a gorgeous symbol of Argentina and the passion of its people. The dance has become almost a cliché, but still to see it in motion surrounded by the brightly-painted pastel buildings of the La Boca district of Buenos Aires is a truly unique and beautiful experience.

While seeing the passionate dance done by veteran Argentine dancers is awe-inspiring, to truly appreciate the difficulty of tango you may want to try it yourself. A fun and more authentic way to catch the first few movements of this fluid dance is to go to a tango club. If you hit one of these on the right night you will be able to get a short lesson, which will be followed by free dance time. If you are not an experienced tango dancer this is probably just a good time to observe real Porteños (people from Buenos Aires) in the throes of a dance just between two people and not for an audience. However, if you would like to learn more of the dance and get a little time to practice there are also full classes available all over the city.

Just to observe the dance at its highest and most entertaining level one can’t miss the opportunity to see a live tango show in Buenos Aires. These shows range from glitzy stage performances with props and a story-line to more simple dances in restaurant basements. One of the longest running and best shows is at the Buenos Aires institution Café Tortoni. Here you can catch a tango show with an old world ambiance in the dimly lit brick basement after a meal at the classic eatery.

Penguins, Punta Tombo

Somewhere around the middle of September every year a small desolate strip of rocky terrain along the south-east coast of Argentina turns into one of the world’s most amazing breeding grounds. It starts with the arrival about 400,000 Magellanic penguins at Punta Tombo Wildlife Reserve and ends when the waddling tuxedo-clad creatures return to the sea to feed for the next four months.

Punta Tombo, being the world largest Magellanic penguin colony, was designated as a fauna reserve by the province of Chubut in 1979 and this puts restrictions on where the visitor can travel. These restrictions should be strictly observed as they are there to protect the penguins, and the visitors, as the penguins are notoriously protective of their young. Despite the restrictions this amazing reserve will give you a once in a lifetime chance to not only see thousands of the adorable water-birds, but to actually get very close to them as they waddle right across the path on their way down to the sea.

The thin peninsula is also home to a variety of other wildlife, from the llama-like guanaco to the cormorant. In fact the entire area is full of interesting wildlife including Right and Orca whales as well as sea lions and dolphins. This makes a visit to Punta Tombo not only unforgettable, but also possibly part of a larger Argentine safari.

Going to see the world’s largest Magellanic penguin colony is surprisingly easy as Punta Tombo lies only 110 km from the city of Trelew and only 180 km from the major beach town of Puerto Madryn. This means that it is easy to book a tour from the town. If you would like to see the penguins on your own schedule and have your own transport you can follow the paved Route 3 south from Puerto Madryn until Trelew where you change onto the small provincial Route 1. This is the unpaved section that brings you to the reserve, which can be impassable in bad weather – so check ahead of time.

Hill of Seven Colours

The Cerro de Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colours) in the small town of Purmamarca is one of the most spectacular examples of the amazing geological sites along the Quebrada de Humahuaca (Humahuaca Canyon). This canyon, which follows the Rio Grande, is characterized by the mineral-rich hillsides that have made it an other-worldly landscape splashed with bright earth hues – ranging from deep reds to greens and even bright oranges. The drive along Route 9 through the quebrada between the towns of Purmamarca and Humahuaca is surrounded by some of the area’s most impressive beauty. The trip isn’t a hard one to make, either, as there are frequent buses coming from the provincial capital, Jujuy. However, a nice alternative to allow for photo stops is renting a car in Jujuy.

Although it is the natural beauty that draws most of the visitors to the area it is of cultural interest as well. There is a strong influence from the many indigenous people that have called the region home for thousands of years. The cultural traditions of these people have been well-preserved and are very visible in the markets and adobe-style houses of the region. There are even white adobe churches more commonly associated with the highlands of Bolivia and Peru.

Gauchos

A dusty path in the blazing sun in the mountains of central Argentina – and around a bend comes the first of an extended line of horses. They plod along, some stopping to eat the grass at the side of the road. The last three horses to come around the bend are carrying three sun-soaked men wearing large round hats with folded edges, their baggy pants straddling the saddle. They shout at the horses and keep them moving down the trail toward the river. These are gauchos, Argentina’s answer to North America’s cowboys.

Examples of this fascinating culture can be found throughout the country in nearly any rural area, but one town is especially known for its gauchos. San Antonio de Areco sits in the rolling pampas about 113 km north west of Buenos Aires. One of the main reasons for its distinction as the gaucho capital of Argentina is the fact that one of the country’s most famous gaucho tales, Don Segundo Sombra, was set in the town and the author, Ricardo Güraldes, called the town his home. There is also a annual festival, the día de la tradición, which celebrates all the parts of the gaucho lifestyle which are enjoyed by Argentine people to this day. Although San Antonio de Areco may be the recognized gaucho culture centre of Argentina, examples of it can be found in every part of Argentine life.

One of the most important influences that gauchos have had on Argentina is the effect they have had on Argentine cooking and diet. Barbecued meat isn’t only a major part of the average Argentinean’s diet but the barbecue, or asado, is an important part of the social fabric for most people. Gaucho parties and ranch tours in Buenos Aires.

Perito Moreno Glacier

One of Argentina’s single most incredible natural wonders is is Perito Moreno Glacier, in the southern Patagonian province of Santa Cruz. The sight of this craggy ice wall rising 74 metres out of the water of Lake Argentino is truly awe-inspiring. This huge wall only shows about one-seventh of the actual height of the glacier as the rest is below the waterline.

This wall is the front line of one of the world’s few advancing glaciers and is followed by the massive ice flow that stretches 30 km back to the enormous South Patagonian Ice Field. The whole glacier covers an area of over 257 square km. With such a mass of advancing ice it is not rare to see huge chunks of ice (some the size of houses) begin to crack off the mass, sending booming gunshot sounds across the lake, followed by an eruption of water as the chunk splashes down.

Perito Moreno Glacier is only one of 48 glaciers that flow from the South Patagonian Ice Field, but it is definitely the most easily accessible. Countless buses run daily from the nearby tourist centre of El Calafate. These take you to the Los Glaciares National Park with a stop at a boat dock, where you have the opportunity to take a short boat trip to see the glacier from the water level. From there you will be dropped at the main visitor centre where you can set out on the winding series of boardwalks and staircases that allow you to see the glacier from many angles.

Los Glaciares National Park was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981 and remains one of Argentina’s most important and impressive natural wonders. For the closest possible look at the glacier ice walks are offered, which take you on a short guided tour around one portion of the glacier.

El Chalten

The rugged and jagged peaks of the Fitz Roy range surround the small town of El Chalten Argentina and make the developing tourist town an amazing place for Argentina’s outdoorsy visitors. The sight of the Torre and Fitz Roy peaks rising sharply above the surrounding hills can be seen from many places in the town. These two peaks, some of the most impressive and recognizable in Argentina, are accessible by beautiful day hikes that start at the outskirts of the town.

The town itself holds its own charms, as it has only begun becoming a tourist draw. You can still make your way around town without having the gorgeous mountain surroundings obscured by rows of tourist shops, high-rise hotels and exhaust-belching tour buses. There are definitely enough amenities for any independent traveller to be very comfortable, although at this point they are all in their early stages of development. Still, the parks administration office in the town has helpful information and can give you simple maps.

In addition to the two major mountains of the area there are countless other day hikes, multi-day camping excursions or full rock climbs you can embark on using the small town as your base.

Lake District

One of Argentina’s biggest draws for its own people is the stunning lake district. This area, stretching along the western border with Chile, boasts some pristine mountain wilderness and incredible, clear lakes.

Many of Argentina’s own tourists flock to Bariloche around holiday times for its ski slopes, lake side scenery, and European chocolate all within a well-established tourism infrastructure. Bariloche is also the best place to get all the information and gear needed to start out into the back-country of Nahuel Haupi National Park, which encompasses much of the lake district. The park is home to day hikes and multi-day trips that can take hikers to remote lakes, mountains or some of the parks snow-capped volcanoes.

For those looking for a spot in the lake district that doesn’t require days of hiking – but still isn’t a tourism Mecca – there are still plenty of options. The quaint towns of San Martín de los Andes, El Bolsón and Villa la Angostura all offer different options. From the upscale lakeside beauty and European-inspired architecture of San Martín to the fun and whacky hippie market of El Bolsón there are so many options of things to do and see in this highlight of Argentina.

The Friendliest People on Earth

Although it is the bounty of natural and cultural sites that will attract you to this diverse and beautiful land, it will be the endless kindness of the people that will make you want to stay forever.

Whether you are looking confused on a busy street corner in Buenos Aires or fumbling through a Spanish sentence in a small town market, the people of Argentina are incredibly patient and friendly and you will be amazed at how far they will go out of their way to help. Not only will the locals’ helpful nature be a big aid when you are lost or puzzled, but the passion of the Argentine people is what makes them even more alluring. This passion comes through in every facet of life – boisterous dinners starting just before midnight, the love of dance, food, wine, and most of all fútbol (football, soccer).

Whatever it is that brings you to Argentina there will be many, many reasons that you will want to stay. To any visitor who spends some time it becomes obvious that Argentina is so much more than its obvious, world-class sites it is about the amazing experiences to be had and the incredible people that you will encounter along the way. It is this mix of sites, experiences, people, and of course the food and drink that make Argentina one of the world’s most amazing places to visit. Once you spend a little time you will realize that no amount of time will ever feel like enough.
__________________________________________
SOURCE:
“8 Reasons to Stop Putting Off That Argentina Trip”
By Brendan Nogue
January 4th, 2010
http://www.bootsnall.com
http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/10-01/8-reasons-to-stop-putting-off-that-argentina-trip.html

Today, thankfully, an invasion of a much more positive sort is taking place. A flurry of boutique hotel openings, a roaring wine trade and the shifting global focus towards South America as a whole are all factors inciting British travellers to make their next stop Argentina.

Walking through the streets of capital city Buenos Aires does feel strangely familiar: patisseries piled high with creamy cakes, cafes on street corners – it’s all very European and distinctly Italian.

The ornate architecture, spanning colonial, art deco and neo-gothic styles, could easily have been lifted from Paris, Barcelona or Rome, and is a reminder of the city’s decadent past.

A fine example of turn-of-the-century grandeur is the recently- restored Teatro Colon – which, according to the late Luciano Pavarotti, was one of the best opera houses in the world.

Golden-framed balconies draped with thick velvet curtains, and magnificent chandeliers hanging in marble-pillared halls are riches very much at odds with the economic turmoil that plagued Argentina in the late Nineties. That period of hyperinflation is now over, however, and the country is developing at a rapid rate.

From the French-style service in restaurants, to the dusty antique shops of San Telmo selling treasures once imported from overseas, European sentiment can be felt throughout the city.

It’s not by coincidence.

The arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 15th and 16th centuries had a dramatic impact on all of South America, but it was the influx of immigrants from Genoa in the late 19th and early 20th century that has really shaped the cultural landscape of Buenos Aires.

The famous Caminito, a street museum filled with brightly painted houses, souvenir stores and steak restaurants, is a recreation of their dockside dwellings and is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.

Entertainment takes place every day; tango dancers in red dresses split dangerously high up the thigh cling to their partners in a passionate embrace, while gauchos (Argentine cowboys) in culotte-style trousers perform traditional dances involving furious Cossack-like squats.

The Caminito can be found in La Boca, which is also home to the most famous football stadium, Bombonera, where sporting deity Maradona once played for Boca Juniors.

I’m told devotees have even set up a Church of Maradona, where it’s possible to get married. To seal the agreement, bride and groom must simulate the ‘hand of God’.

Despite my efforts, sadly I never found the church. Portenos (residents of Buenos Aires) have a reputation for being cold and arrogant, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, the only frosty reception I encountered in Argentina is when I left the city and headed south to the ice fields of Patagonia.

When I first arrived, after a three-hour flight from Buenos Aires, I was relieved to find the area’s trademark gusty winds remarkably sedate. With its beautiful but unforgiving windswept plains bathed in an icy glow, it feels like one of the last unsullied corners of the earth, where nature still has the upper hand over man.

It was already 9.30pm, but the sun was still a good 90-degree angle from the ground.

DURING the summer months of November to February, the days are long with temperatures of up to 24 degrees centigrade – ideal conditions for trekking.

I made my way to Los Glaciares National Park, home to the Perito Moreno, one of earth’s few ‘advancing glaciers’.

This astounding 5km mass of ice tumbling down into the Lago Argentino creaks and lurches forward at a rate of about two metres a day. At sunset, the 60-metre high icy mound is cloaked in orange; by sunrise it shimmers in pink; and as the day takes hold, deep blue beams of light appear to pierce this fairytale creation that could pass itself off as a majestic wedding cake.

Getting up close – either by boat, trekking with an organised tour, or by foot on one of the viewing platforms – affords an even greater sensory experience.

Sight is one thing, but it’s the sound that really brings Perito Moreno to life. Sucking, popping, croaking and crunching – the ice is in constant flux. At any given moment, blocks fall away to create icebergs in the creamy, silver lake.

At the north side of the park, a three-hour bus journey from Calafate along the impressively photogenic Route 40, lies El Chalten. This small town is the stepping off point for some of the area’s best trekking routes.

I set off on a walk that should take eight hours, but two hours in and I’d barely covered any ground.

Every second step is a photo opportunity. Rivers, frozen in time, cascade through mountain ranges; gnarled tree trunks and branches, burned silver by the wind, cover the forest floor like victims on a battlefield. The final stretch of my steep climb to the Lago de los Tres, nestled below the jagged peaks of Mount Fitz Roy, was tough, arduous and at times – with gale force winds whipping against my face – almost death defying.

But all the pain, anguish and buckled joints are worth the final reward.

Crossing one last peak, I found myself at the base of a turquoise blue lake, within a stone’s throw of the Fitz Roy swathed in thin smoky wisps of cloud.

If Patagonia has more in common with the icy landscapes of Antarctica, the tropical forests of Misiones – in north-east Argentina are closer to the postcard image of South America.

A FIVE-HOUR flight from El Calafate, via Buenos Aires, it feels like a different continent. The area’s largest attraction is the Iguazu Falls, a series of 275 waterfalls and cataracts shared by Brazil and Argentina.

Argentine authorities have done well to save their park from descending into a Disneyland attraction.

A small train brings visitors to the base of the Devil’s Throat, a long and narrow chasm where half the river’s water falls, while walkways wind through the forest and under waterfalls giving a true sense of the surroundings.

Sarah Marshall was a guest of Journey Latin America. A 16-day holiday to Argentina starts from £3,657 per person, inc. flights. Visit journeylatinamerica.co.uk or call 020 8747 8315.

Air Europa flies from London Gatwick to Buenos Aires, via Madrid, from £691.30 return (aireuropa.com/0871 423 0717).
___________________________
SOURCE:
“TRAVEL: Argentina becoming a hot favourite with travellers”
The Liverpool Post
Jan 26 2012
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-culture/2012/01/26/travel-argentina-becoming-a-hot-favourite-with-travellers-99623-30193838/

One of the countries that appears distant to visitors from India is, in reality, easily accessible and makes a great travel destination. The origin of its name goes back to the first voyages made by Spanish conquerors. The survivors of a shipwrecked expedition found native people in the region who gave them silver objects as presents. The news about a legendary Sierra del Plata—a mountain rich in silver—reached Spain around 1524 and since that date, the Spanish named the river as Río de la Plata or River of Silver and the area as Argentina from the Latin word argentum or silver.

From the sub-tropical forests of the north to the spectacular mountains and glaciers of the southern tip, Argentina has them all. An ethnically diverse country built with the hard work of thousands of immigrants who came from 1895 to 1915 mainly from Spain and Italy, Argentina is the second largest country in South America, after Brazil. Further waves of money and immigration from Europe before and after that period led to Argentina becoming one of the 10 richest countries in the world. Immigrants from other parts of Europe and from Syria and Lebanon came to Argentina during the first half of the 20th century to settle in this vast country that has become one of the G-20 world economies. The Argentine wine industry, amongst the largest outside Europe, is now the fifth most important in the world.

Argentina is about 3,900km long from north to south and has the fertile central plains, called the Pampas, the source of Argentina’s great agricultural wealth. The rugged Andes range forms the western border with Chile and includes Mount Aconcagua, which, at 22,841ft (6,962 metres) is also the highest summit in the southern and western hemispheres.

After landing at the Ezeiza International Airport located 27km southwest of Buenos Aires, it is convenient to go to one of the taxi booths at the airport and get a private taxi or to the Manuel Tienda Leon Company counter in the arrivals area to get a shuttle bus ride to the city centre. The fare to the city is
50 pesos ($12) with a travel time of 45 minutes.

The following morning, I took a short taxi ride to Buenos Aires’ Jorge Newbery domestic airport located not far from the city centre for the two-hour flight to Iguazu Falls. One of world’s ‘must see’ sights, Iguazu Falls is located where the Iguazu River tumbles over the edge of the Paraná Plateau. The United Nations has declared Iguazu Falls a ‘World Heritage Site’. Several islands along the 2.7-km long edge divide the Falls into about 275 separate waterfalls and cataracts varying between 200ft and 270ft high. About half of the River’s flow falls into a long and narrow chasm called the ‘Devil’s Throat’ and the border between Argentina and Brazil runs through the Devil’s Throat. A boat ride to the base of the falls cost me 200 pesos ($55) and, later, I took the local bus to Iguazu town where one can visit the place known as ‘Hito de las Tres Fronteras’, a point where the borders of three countries, namely, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, converge.

After an overnight trip to Iguazu, I was back to Buenos Aires the following afternoon. There are many historic and cultural attractions in dazzling Buenos Aires where nearly 40% of the country’s 41 million people live. Gran Buenos Aires (Greater Buenos Aires), in terms of population, is a city almost as large as New York or London. However, after a brief orientation, you will find that the compact city centre is accessible and easily explored on foot, by bus, taxi and underground.

In the historic Plaza de Mayo or May Square, the place where Buenos Aires was founded, is located the Pink House (Casa Rosada) which houses the historic balcony from where Evita Peron, made famous by the song ‘Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina’, used to address people. Within easy walking distance is the Cabildo, the colonial city-hall, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the spectacular mausoleum of General San Martin, Argentina’s independence hero.

The older parts of Buenos Aires are most colourful. The area of San Telmo is a neighbourhood of bohemians, artists, antiques shops and cobbled streets and includes Dorrego Square, popular for its weekly antiques market. In the ‘Bar of the Imaginary Characters’, you can see a traditional café much frequented by intellectuals and artists. The neighbourhood of La Boca, with its colourful painted houses, is where a lot of artists open their studios and workshops. Walking along the charming street of Caminito, one can breathe the typical atmosphere of the area with its love for tango and soccer. Tango dancers performing live at street corners in La Boca is a common sight. Tango originated at the end of the 19th century in the suburbs of Buenos Aires and quickly grew in popularity. Buenos Aires and sensual tango dancing go together and tango’s lyrics and music are marked by nostalgia, expressed through melodic instruments similar to the accordion-like bandoneón.

The provinces of Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire) on the southern tip of Argentina, a region also known as Patagonia, have magnificent glacier vistas, some of the finest national parks in South America with photo-worthy opportunities including shimmering turquoise lakes, snow-capped mountain peaks, roaring waterfalls and pristine forests.

I took the two-and-a-half-hours long flight to Calafate, a small town located on the shores of Lake Argentino. From Calafate, there are several conducted day-tours that can easily be arranged. I booked a tour to the Glacier National Park with the Fernandez Campbell Company. After an early morning pickup from the hotel, we drove through sub-Antarctic forest which marks the gateway to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, a World Heritage Site. The park’s centrepiece is the Perito Moreno Glacier which, because of unusually favourable local conditions, is one of the world’s few advancing glaciers. The huge icebergs on the glacier’s 180-ft high face calve and collapse into the Canal de los Témpanos as they advance about 300ft a year. The roar of the gigantic ice wall as it crashes into the surrounding channel is an unforgettable experience. It is possible to stand on a hill with spectacular viewpoints directly opposite the huge imposing wall of ice. Generally the nose of Perito Moreno is characterised by cold wind and highly changeable conditions and you should be prepared with layered warm clothing and a warm hat.

A three-hour (220-km) drive north of Calafate is the village of Chalten built in 1985 to help secure the disputed border with Chile. Also located within the boundaries of Los Glaciares (Glaciers) National Park, Chalten village is well-visited by trekkers and climbers who hike to the base of Cerro Torre and Cerro Fitzroy mountains, both spectacular granite towers.

An hour-long flight south of Calafate is Ushuaia, considered the world’s southernmost city and the take-off point for all tours to the Antarctica. Ushuaia has one of the world’s most dramatic settings—surrounding jagged glacial peaks rise from sea level to nearly 4,500ft. Ushuaia lies on the north shore of the Beagle Channel, just east of the Tierra del Fuego National Park. Since 1950, the town has played host to an important naval base, supporting Argentine claims in Antarctica.

I took a short but scenic steam train ride from Ushuaia to Lapataia Bay in the National Park where you can see the southern end of the Pan-American Highway which starts in Alaska and runs 17,848km all the way through Canada, the USA, Central and South America down to the southern-most tip of the continent. A boat cruise on the Beagle Channel is highly recommended as, in addition to spectacular scenery, you see many species of marine mammals and birds. The Channel is named after the ship on which Charles Darwin sailed here in 1832. The Beagle Channel forms a part of the border between Argentina and Chile.

A country the size of Argentina requires several weeks to tour and, on this first visit, I was able to see only a small part of its attractions. On the three-hour flight back from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires, I made plans to come back and visit Bariloche, Mendoza and Trelew, places that my fellow travellers said were some of the most interesting cities in Argentina.

Why Go There:

Occupying the southern half of South America, Argentina is a large country with a huge diversity of natural and cultural attractions. Home of tango, spectacular natural scenery, the western hemisphere’s highest mountain and eight World Heritage Sites, Argentina will not disappoint.

Getting There:

The US as well as European airlines offer connections to Buenos Aires either via US or via Frankfurt, Madrid or London. From almost everywhere, South America is a relatively costly destination, but discount fares can reduce the bite considerably. Contacting a travel agency that specialises in the USA and South America often offers the cheapest fares.

Visas:

Tourist visas are easily available from the Embassy of Argentina in New Delhi. Please visit www.indembarg.org.ar

Where To Stay:

It is strongly recommended that you go through a reputed Argentinian tour operator who will be able to provide you with guides, transportation and hotel bookings in a country where language can be a problem. I made my travel arrangements through a well-established company, Troelsen Travel—
www.troelsentravel.com.ar
___________________________________
SOURCE:
“Argentina: The heart of Latin America”
May 21, 2011
http://moneylife.in
http://moneylife.in/article/argentina-the-heart-of-latin-america/16614.html

1: Machu Picchu, Peru

It’s no wonder Machu Picchu is Peru’s most-visited site. Dating to the mid-1400s, it’s a marvel of mortar-free limestone architecture perched on a high plateau deep in the Amazonian jungle. Get there via train from Cusco or, if you’re not faint-hearted, make the trip on foot via a multi-day hiking trail—you’ll travel through deep Andean gullies and enjoy stunning views.

2: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Whether your curiosity is piqued by the International Olympic Committee’s selection for the 2016 Games, or you’re heeding the call of the famous twin beaches Copacabana and Ipanema, Rio offers more than you can imagine, and offers it at all hours. With breathtaking views from Corcovado Mountain and breathtaking deals in the city’s endless malls and markets, Rio de Janeiro is a vacation paradise, whatever it is you travel for.

3: Buenos Aires, Argentina

The birthplace of the tango is, like the dance itself, captivating, seductive and bustling with excited energy. Atmospheric old neighborhoods are rife with romantic restaurants and thumping nightlife, and Buenos Aires’ European heritage is evident in its architecture, boulevards and parks. Cafe Tortoni, the city’s oldest bar, will transport you back to 1858, and the spectacular Teatro Colon impresses just as it did in 1908. Latin America’s shopping capital offers the promise of premium retail therapy along its grand, wide boulevards.

4: Cusco, Peru

Incan majesty and Andean baroque exist side-by-side in Cusco’s stone streets, epitomized by the Qoriacancha palace and the church of Santo Domingo flanking the Plaza de Armas. In this high-altitude melting pot of Amerindian and mestizo culture, you’ll find extraordinary textiles, lively summer festivals and archeological wonders.

5: Florianopolis, Brazil

Florianopolis was dubbed by Brazilian weekly Veja as “the best place to live in Brazil”, so it’s only natural that tourists would want to check it out, too. And do they ever. Florianopolis is a thriving destination for its perfect beaches, excellent surfing, amazing seafood, and juxtaposition of a modern megacity with 16th-century colonial fortresses and relaxed markets and parks.

6: Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala

Antigua Guatamala is known as the best-preserved Spanish colonial city in South America. Stroll the cobblestone streets, lounge with the locals in Central Park on sunny afternoons or hike up one of the volcanoes overlooking the city for amazing views.

7: Jericoacoara, Brazil

If you want to step off a plane and be at a mega resort 15 minutes later, Jericoacoara probably isn’t for you. But if you want an unspoiled beach town, and don’t mind bouncing along rough dirt roads for an hour to get there, you might just think it’s paradise. Kitesurfing, windsurfing, Capoeira, and, of course, just lying on the beach are popular activities.

8: Buzios, Brazil

If there’s a “beach economy,” Buzios is its Wall Street. Its more than 20 beaches, world-class galleries, clubs and boutiques draw an elite set of travelers. Surfers love Geriba Beach, snorkelers enjoy Ferruda, hip Ossos Beach offers upscale beachside cafes and laid-back Ilhabela Beach offers a more down-to-earth Buzios experience.

9: Ushuaia, Argentina

The world’s southernmost city is located on the Beagle Channel, between the Martial Range and the end of the world. It is a key access point to skiing at Cerro Castor and Glaciar Martial, wildlife adventures with penguins and orcas in the Beagle Channel, and Tierra del Fuego National Park. Of course, it’s also the port of call nearest Antarctica, and a unique destination for kayaking, sailing or having a drink in a warm hotel bar.

10: Torres del Paine, Chile

Hike the trails of Torres del Paine National Park and see spectacular views of forests, lakes, and glaciers. Whether you choose to stay in a hotel or to rough it at one of the park’s many campsites, you’ll surely have a vacation to remember here

11: Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena, a gorgeous fishing village on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, has excellent beaches, a historic old town (that’s entirely walkable) and beautiful colonial architecture. It’s also one of the safest places in the country, so it’s no wonder it’s a popular port of call for cruise ships. Need a break from exploring the cobblestone streets? Stop at an outdoor cafe for excellent pastries and people-watching.

12: El Calafate, Argentina

Building on its must-visit location, the once-tiny El Calafate has grown quickly to cater to and profit from the visitors to nearby Los Glaciares National Park. Many visit to see such natural wonders as Perito Moreno Glacier, a massive glacier that’s actually composed of many other pieces of shifting ice. Yet travelers will find that El Calafate is much more than merely a gateway to the Patagonian wild—it’s a fun town offering all sorts of outdoor adventures.

13: San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina

Nipping at the ankles of the Andes, San Carlos, the largest ski area in South America, also offers thrilling boating, trekking, paragliding and climbing. The truly brave at heart can take the plunge into icy Lake Nahuel Huapi, which, even in summer, never rises above a chilling average temperature of 57°F. Beaches like Playa Bonita and Villa Tacul are stunning, but try to avoid the city in July, when the town is inundated by high-school students.

14: Morro de Sao Paulo, Brazil

Part of Morro de Sao Paulo’s charm is its mix of upscale, new hotels and restaurants with older, shabbier pousadas and taverns. This car-free and carefree island has just one road and a handful of beaches… it’s a wonderful place to get away from it all.

15: San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Looking for an unusual and beautiful landscape? Sandstone canyons, flamingo-dotted salt flats, steaming geysers, hot springs, volcanic peaks and alien-looking rock formations are on offer all around San Pedro de Atacama. Hiking, biking and horseback riding are the preferred means of exploration. Death Valley here is surprisingly great for picnics.

16: Foz do Iguacu, Brazil

Giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots, endangered jaguars and clouds of butterflies are among the attractions at this World Heritage-designated park that marks the border between Brazil and Argentina. By foot or by raft, explorers can view one of the world’s most stunning waterfalls, Iguazu Falls. Among the park’s 270 waterfalls, spectacular Devil’s Throat combines 14 falls and generates a “perpetual rainbow” in good weather

17: Salvador, Brazil

Brazil’s former capital is renowned for its African-influenced cuisine, music and architecture. Known as “the Capital of Joy,” because of its exuberant week-long Carnaval celebrations, Salvador brims with contemporary music and art amid architecture that has gone untouched since the 17th century.

18: Punta del Este, Uruguay

Punta del Este is known as the St. Tropez of Uruguay, thanks to its beautiful beaches, upscale resorts and swanky nightclubs. The Vegas-style Conrad Casino adds to the lively entertainment scene. For a break from surf and sand, saddle up with a local gaucho and ride horseback through the wild plains surrounding the city.

19: Porto de Galinhas, Brazil

An hour or two south of Recife, Porto de Galinhas was made for the not-so-extreme tourist. Raves one traveler, “It’s what it doesn’t have that makes it great:” no heavy traffic, no nightlife to speak of. Explore the natural tidal pools that form in the reef, feeding fish that swim all around you; or ride a dune buggy to romantic Muro Alto beach. Or skip all that and doze in a hammock by the warm, green, clear Atlantic.

20: Sao Paulo, Brazil

The largest city in South America, Sao Paulo’s cuisine and art is as multinational as its diverse population of 10 million. With the restaurants of the Jardins district serving every food imaginable to diners from around the world, you wouldn’t be out of place going to Sao Paulo just for the dining. But you’d be missing out on world-class museums, diverse and vibrant neighborhood tours, and crazy-good shopping.

21: Bogota, Colombia

Ten million people call vibrant, passionate, sprawling Bogota home. The energy of this metropolitan heart of Colombia is in part fueled by its hundreds of eclectic and authentic dining hot spots, fantastic wines, and frequent foodie festivals. Ask the locals where they like to eat, then walk off your empanadas and aji with a stroll through the historic district of La Candelaria or during an indulgent shopping adventure on the North Side.

22: Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Tamarindo is a prime spot for surfing and sportfishing, diving and sunning. Nesting leatherback turtles do their thing along the beaches from October to May and, for some nesting of your own, gorgeous beach houses, B&Bs and luxury hotels line the sunny sands. Shopping and dining options are superb and plentiful, perfect for sampling the true flavors of Costa Rica.

23: Santiago, Chile

Santiago is one of those metropolitan joys where the more you look, the more you find. Funky cafes and dance clubs dot Bellavista, Forest Park art collections range from pre-Columbian to contemporary, and architecture runs the gamut from the 16th-century San Francisco Church to mirrored office towers. Shop with the locals at Mall Panora¡mico and give your palate meals to remember with hearty Chilean fare.

24: Uyuni, Bolivia

Most travelers come to Uyuni to visit some of the world’s most unusual terrain—the Salar de Uyuni. This is the world’s largest salt flat, and you’ll want to bring a camera for surreal photos of salt-encrusted ground, geysers, and multicolored lakes.

25: San Pedro, Belize

San Pedro is “La Isla Bonita” that Madonna made famous. Now it’s a tourist mecca, but still boasts great beaches and plenty of dive shops so you can enjoy the sun, sand, and sea. Plan a side trip to Caye Caulker while you’re here; it is less developed and more laid back, and has its own splendid swimming areas.
________________________________
SOURCE:
“Top 25 Destinations in Central & South America”
http://www.tripadvisor.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/TCDestinations-g291958-cTop25-Central_America.html

GETTING THERE

Aerolineas Argentinas (020 7290 7887; www.aerolineas.com.ar) connects Gatwick with Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport daily via Madrid, from £700 return. Travelling on an international flight with the airline qualifies you for a Visit Argentina pass, which offers discounts on internal flights.

PACKAGES

You can visit the Patagonian glaciers as part of a 13-day “Best of Argentina with Rio de Janeiro” tour offered by Titan HiTours (0800 988 5858; www.titanhitours.co.uk). Prices are from £3,395 per person, including direct flights from London, internal flights, VIP home departure service, transfers, selected meals, the services of a tour manager and excursions.

If you have time to visit only one glacier, make sure it is Perito Moreno
Photo: Corbis Images

Tailor Made Travel (0845 456 8050; www.tailor-made.co.uk) can put together a trip to Argentina and Patagonia from £1,139 per person based on twin share (valid for travel until end of April).

GETTING AROUND

Car rental companies Avis (www.avis.com.ar) and Hertz (www.hertz.com.ar) both have agencies in El Calafate, but this is the sort of destination where guided tours generally offer better access (such as to mini-treks on Perito Moreno) than going under your own steam.

Many hotels will organise glacier treks and excursions; or try Visit Patagonia (0054 2902 491119; www.visitpatagonia.com.ar) or Estancia Cristina (491133; www.estanciacristina.com). Day trips cost from around £50 per person.

WHEN TO VISIT

The best time is during the Southern Hemisphere summer – from late November through to April. The forested uplands in the national park can be quite wet from March to late May, and the Argentine summer holidays (late December and January) are very busy.

THE INSIDE TRACK

If you have time for just one glacier visit, do Perito Moreno. You get closer to the ice than at Upsala and it is more awe-inspiring. Take a mini-trek on the glacier itself.

Chocolate is very popular. Try a local flavour such as calafate, made from the bittersweet berries of the gorse-like plant that gives the town its name. Best chocolateries are Ovejitas de la Patagonia (Ave del Libertador 1197) and Almacén Patagónico (Ave del Libertador 1032), which also sell home-made preserves.

Dress lightweight but in layers – T-shirt, shirt, light jersey, zip-up fleece, zip-up waterproof coat/windcheater make a good combination. Temperatures can vary quite a bit depending on whether you are in or out of the wind, on the ice or in the forest. Shedding and unzipping is an easy way to cope.

On a Perito Moreno excursion go early and, if you have the option, choose to visit the balconies before going on a mini-trek. That way you’ll have the balconies more to yourself. Most larger groups do it the other way round.

WHAT TO BRING HOME

Sheep rather than cattle are the stock of local ranches. Big woolly jumpers and hand-woven blankets are the things to buy, and you’ll find them at Pueblo Indio (Ave de Libertador/9 Julio), or the artisans’ market on the eastern end of Avenida del Libertador. Light to transport are the gourd cup and silver drinking straw for mate, the bitter tea beloved not just by gauchos, but Argentines across the board.

FURTHER READING

Bruce Chatwin’s classic In Patagonia is a must, but buy it before you leave – English editions in Argentina are expensive.

The BEST HOTELS

Rukahue £

Modern, family-run inn on the outskirts of El Calafate, with comfortable wood-panelled rooms and big picture windows for the fine views (0054 2902 493964; website accessible through www.interpatagonia.com; doubles from £32 with breakfast).

Hosteria Alta Vista ££

A Thirties homestead on a large cattle estancia just outside El Calafate, Alta Vista preserves its cosy farmhouse atmosphere, but with a stylish Provençal touch. The restaurant offers good, home-made food and the owners create a real feeling of homely welcome. (499902; www.hosteriaaltavista.com.ar; twin room with breakfast from £305).

Eolo £££

Set on a slope in a 9,880-acre estancia, 17 miles from El Calafate, with magnificent views across the steppe and to Lago Argentino, Eolo offers supreme comfort in a glorious wilderness. Staff are genuinely friendly and well-informed about local flora and fauna. It is ideally situated for trips to the Perito Moreno and Upsala glaciers, and offers plenty to do in the way of hiking, birdwatching and riding. The restaurant (see below) is one of the best in the region (492042; www.eolo.com.ar; doubles from £455 per night, full board; minimum two-night stay).

THE BEST RESTAURANTS

Pura Vida £

Locals’ favourite for southern Patagonian cuisine such as lamb and sweet potato pie, or wholesome lamb stews for £15 (Ave del Libertador 1876; 493356).

La Tablita ££

The place to go for pit-roast Patagonian lamb. Big platters of grilled meat, and starters such as hare escabeche or spicy lambs’ tongues, in a busy hall-like setting at the start of the main street. Dinner £25 (Coronel Rosales 28; 491065).

Eolo Restaurant £££

Chef Patricio Viale comes up with dishes such as sweetbreads with truffle-potato cream, or local trout with roasted peppers, in a restaurant with a view across the steppe. It offers a sophisticated change from the usual heavy Patagonian fare. The restaurant is primarily for hotel guests, but if you phone beforehand they can often fit you in. Three-course lunch with soft drinks £28.50, dinner £35 (492042; www.eolo.com.ar).

WHAT TO AVOID

Surprise sunburn. Wear high-factor sunblock and sunglasses on the glaciers.

Independent trekkers should note that maps are often out of date: check routes with park rangers.

Many so-called “direct” flights between Buenos Aires and El Calafate actually land in Bariloche: check flight details carefully.

Winter is bitterly cold, and facilities close.
_____________________________________
SOURCE:
“Patagonia travel essentials”
By Rodney Bolt
02-Jan-2011
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/southamerica/argentina/8233491/Patagonia-travel-essentials.html

Two glaciers sit almost side by side in one of the wildest and most starkly beautiful regions of Argentina. The Upsala is melting rapidly, but Perito Moreno, less than 40 miles away and part of the same ice field, is stable – if anything, it has advanced steadily over the past century. The glaciers present a puzzle. One that I had come to Patagonia to try to unravel.

“That’s the trouble with Nature,” said my guide, Claudia Guerrido. “There are rules, but Nature doesn’t always play by the rules.” Claudia is a botanist. She’s about to do a doctorate on tree rings, looking into what ancient forests in the area can tell us about the long-term climate.

The Eolo hotel is set mid way between two glaciers

We were in the deepest south of Argentine Patagonia, heading out of the little town of El Calafate, beside Lago Argentina – the lake into which both glaciers feed. Across the lake, mountains rose abruptly to picture-book points, frosted with snow. Beside it stretched the shale, thorn bushes and dry clump-grass of the Patagonian Steppe, the largest desert in the Americas.

My hotel, Eolo, was set in the midst of this magnificent desolation, midway between the two glaciers, in a corner of a 9,880-acre estancia.

It was nearing sundown when I arrived. The glaciers would have to wait for the morning. Meanwhile, I took a walk through the scrub that sloped gently in front of the hotel to a patch of wetland.

Flamingos – birds I had thought belonged in warmer climes – stalked the shallow water; beside them were swans, a rare breed with white bodies but black heads and necks. A pair of Andean condors circled overhead, glided effortlessly on their awe-inspiring 10ft wings towards the mountains. Hares hopped unconcerned between clusters of hard, yellow grass.

In the dying light, the sky – dappled with cloud – became a watercolour wash of more shades of soft blue and gentle grey than I had ever thought possible. It took the faint strains of a tango from the hotel bar to remind me that I was in Patagonia, not some corner of Paradise – that and the bleached skeletons of cattle and sheep in the shale. This is tough country, even for farm animals. But that night I went to sleep with the curtains open. I had never before looked forward to waking at dawn.

Claudia was there early, for the short drive to the Perito Moreno glacier. Keeping an eye open for wild guanacos (similar to llamas) and rhea, we left the dry steppe and were soon winding up through the mountain forests of Los Glaciares National Park. Here, a series of balconies and walkways is cut into a cliff fronting a tongue of the glacier, where it meets the waters of a fjord.

“It’s as if the landscape were made to view the glacier,” said Claudia, and indeed, the 200ft-high wall of ice is just a few hundred yards from the cliff face.

Over the past few decades, the approaching ice has, from time to time, met and frozen to the cliff face. Slowly, the waters of the lake erode it from beneath, forming an arch, and pressure builds up from behind until, with a dramatic crash, the ice-bridge collapses, and the slow process begins over again.

This first happened in 1980, then in 1988, then in quick succession in 2004, 2006 and 2008. Some say this shows the glacier is speeding up its advance; others relate the change in behaviour to global warming, or say that the Perito Moreno is atypical, fed by a larger snow catchment than other glaciers.

The ice wall seemed close enough to touch, jagged and fissured in places, pockmarked in others, at times white, at times (where the ice was oldest and densest) a surreal blue.

Here and there it was streaked with brown, where the glacier had crushed and devoured boulders in its path. It seemed very much alive.

Suddenly a crack like a gunshot would ring, or we’d hear a deep thunderous rumble and fearsome roar, and part of the ice face, sometimes the size of a skyscraper, would shudder and crash into the lake.

“But that’s perfectly natural, not necessarily anything to do with global warming,” Claudia pointed out. “It happens because Perito Moreno touches the bedrock. There is nowhere else for the ice to go when the lake water melts it.”

We made our way to the lake shore. A boat took me across to a rocky beach, where a guide was waiting to lead a group of us on a trek across the ice. For the next couple of hours, boots in crampons, obeying instructions to waddle like penguins up inclines and stomp straight-footed on the way down, we walked on the glacier.

Up close, the ice surface sparkled with tiny crystals, broken by deep turquoise shafts and pools formed by the action of dripping water. We climbed steep slopes and descended into crevices, returning exhilarated and exhausted.

The approach to the Upsala glacier, next day, was more sedate – in a boat up a branch of Lago Argentino. Unlike Perito Moreno, the Upsala glacier sits on a layer of water. Here there are fewer dramatic cracks and crashes. As the ice erodes from underneath, icebergs break off and float away – but they are doing so at such a rate that they have completely blocked the entrance to the fjord leading to the glacier.

We moored at a former estancia nearby, and a park ranger took us in a 4WD through a moonscape terrain to a mountaintop viewpoint. It overlooked a vast valley now deserted by the glacier, which is withdrawing at a rate of 650ft a year. But the ranger was adamant that the Upsala’s retreat had to do with local geological and environmental conditions, not climate change. I’m not sure I was convinced – there are so many other glaciers in rapid retreat. But then, there was the stable Perito Moreno, just over the hill.

Discussion of these issues can grow heated, and in the end I don’t think I did manage to solve the puzzle I had come to unravel. But one thing I was sure of – that I had just been in one of the most intoxicatingly beautiful spots on Earth.
_____________________________
FUENTE:
“Argentina: Perito Moreno, Patagonia’s icy crown”
By Rodne
02 Jan 2011
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/southamerica/argentina/8231640/Argentina-Perito-Moreno-Patagonias-icy-crown.html

Situated 400 miles off the south eastern tip of South America and comprising over 740 islands, the Falkland Islands are an increasingly popular addition to South America or Antarctica itineraries for intrepid independent travellers and cruise passengers.

Whether you’re attracted by its fabulous remoteness, stunning wilderness and wildlife or deeply drawn by history, the Falklands is a natural paradise, home to over 770,000 penguins, elephant seals, whales, amazing birdlife, and 345 native and naturalised species of plants. Add on another destination and you will pack in more experiences to one break without sacrificing that all important relaxation time.

Wildlife experiences, remote island adventures or amazing wilderness – one of the following twin-centre packages will provide you a Falklands experience with something extra!

Falklands & Antarctic: Wildlife Odyssey – Discover the World (01737 218 800 / www.discover-the-world.co.uk) can combine two incredible itineraries into one wonderful wildlife adventure with their 13-night Falkland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula Wildlife Odyssey from £9,400 per person. The eight-day Falklands island-hopping itinerary incorporates the archipelago’s diverse and abundant wildlife, from the one of the world’s rarest birds of prey to the strikingly beautiful king penguin and elephant seal colonies at Volunteer Point. Make light of the Drake Passage, flying direct from Punta Arenas in southern Chile to King George Island, the largest in the South Shetlands archipelago, before boarding a ship for a six-day wildlife cruise adventure around the Antarctic Peninsula. The itinerary includes domestic & international flights, accommodation, some meals and shipboard accommodation. Based on travel from December 2010 to January 2011, to tie in with the Antarctic season.

Falklands & Easter Island: Remote Islands – Cox & Kings (020 7873 5000 / www.coxandkings.co.uk) can tailor make a 13-night Remote Island Package that combines seven nights on the Falkland Islands, visiting Stanley, Pebble Island and Sea Lion Island, with three nights in Santiago and three nights at Hotel Otai in the small town of Hanga Roa on Easter Island. The 13-night private trip costs from £4,195 per person, based on two sharing, including all flights, transfers, B&B accommodation and excursions.

Falklands & Chile: Amazing Wilderness – Group tour and tailor-made specialists Journey Latin America (020 8747 8315 / www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk) can offer a 22-day Wilderness Package to Patagonia and the Falkland Islands from £4,739 per person. The itinerary includes Santiago de Chile, Falkland Islands, Punta Arenas, Torres del Paine, El Calafate and Buenos Aires. This price includes international flights, domestic flights, airport transfers, accommodation, excursions and most meals.

For further information on the Falklands Islands please visit www.falklandislands.com. Media enquiries should be directed to Tryph Greenwood and Suzanne Holiday at Keene on 020 7839 2140 or falklandstourism@keenepa.co.uk.

Become a Falklands fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/naturesbestkeptsecret.

Notes for Editors:

• The Falkland Islands have a raw, unspoilt quality that entices locals and tourists back time and again. Visitors to the Islands are spoilt for choice with more than 227 species of identified birds (including several of the world’s largest endangered breeding colonies), as well as whales, dolphins, elephant seals, sea lions, delicate flora and rugged geographical formations.

• The best time to visit the Islands and experience the local culture and wildlife is October to April. The average summer temperature (December to March) is 15º Celsius (59º Fahrenheit) and the Falklands has more sunshine hours and less rainfall than the UK.

• There are over 40 international tour operators offering tailor-made packages and escorted tours to the Falkland Islands. See www.falklandislands.com for the latest list.

• Visitors can reach the Falklands on the weekly LAN Airways flight via Chile or the charter flight operated twice weekly from RAF Brize Norton in the UK by the Ministry of Defence.
We have sent you this press release because we believe it is of genuine professional interest to you. However, if you do not wish to receive our releases and updates in the future, please reply to this email with ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.
_________________________________
SOURCE:
“DISCOVER THE PERFECT PARTNER AND GET MORE FROM YOUR FALKLANDS ADVENTURE”
10 May, 2010
CISIONWIRE
http://www.cisionwire.com
http://www.cisionwire.com/keene/discover-the-perfect-partner-and-get-more-from-your-falklands-adventure

When traveling to Argentina travelers tend to be overwhelmed by the choices and options that await them. Local Argentine operator SayHueque recommends 4 must sees when in Argetina: Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Mendoza and El Calafate.

Buenos Aires

Known as the Paris of South America, Buenos Aires proudly embraces this title, as well as shows off plenty of its own culture! Traditional European flavors abound, cobbled streets are lined with rustic outdoor cafes, local antique and artisanal markets offer plenty of bargain shopping, and the mouthwatering aroma of prized Argentine beef sizzling on an open parilla (barbeque) wafts through the air. Of course, modern Buenos Aires also is home to some excellent local designers and you will certainly find the perfectly soft leather jacket, long leather boots not to mention the handbags! Don’t forget to take in a dinner-tango show or to check out the colorful San Telmo and Recoleta neighborhoods.

Iguazu Falls

A world heritage site and one of the new 7 Wonders of Nature, Iguazu Falls is one of the most breathtaking sights to behold. With over 250 waterfalls surrounded by the tropical jungle of Argentina and Brazil, travelers can’t get much closer to nature in all her glory.

One of the most popular destinations on the continent, travelers will marvel as colorful parrots fly overhead and chatter away in the nearby trees of this jungle oasis. The Argentine side of Iguazu Falls is where they will get up close and personal with the falls, that is, they will actually feel the refreshing mist from the towering 80 meter Gargant del Diable waterfall cool them off as their tan improves from the strong South American sunshine. While the Brazilian side of the Falls is perfect to appreciate the panoramic vistas and sweeping landscapes.

Mendoza

Mendoza is located at the base of the Andes in eastern Argentina and just a stone’s thow from the nearby Chilean border. Besides the towering Aconcagua Mountain, the western hemisphere’s tallest at 6962 meters (22841 feet) and a plethora of adventurous activities that are available nearby (including horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, etc), Mendoza is home to over 100 wineries and vineyards, as well as a few lovely spas.

El Calafate – Perito Moreno Glacier

El Calfate is a small city known as the gateway to Patagonia and hosts many traditional restaraunts that serve up regional delicacies such as Patagonia roasted lamb, empanadas and artesanal microbrewed beer. It is also the ideal base for visiting the massive Perito Moreno Glacier.

Perito Moreno Glacier is the most visited glacier in Patagonia and offers some of the most breathtaking views that one could imagine. Located on the shores of Argentina’s largest lake, Lake Argentino, and just two hours from El Calafate, day trips are easy to make and there are some great activities available that range from walking along the viewpoint trail, taking a boat cruise up close to the massive ice wall, or even trekking on the glacier
itself!
______________________________________
SOURCE:
“4 must sees in Argentina”
Thu, May 27, 2010
merinews
http://www.merinews.com
http://www.merinews.com/article/4-must-sees-in-argentina/15817658.shtml

Travelling across Patagonia takes approximately 4,500km from Cordo­ba to Ushuaia. The whole Patagonia journey took the 14-member team around two weeks to complete.

The journey was full of sights and sounds, colour, flavour, texture, taste and excitement. There is really too much to describe, but here is a rough sketch of the journey the team un­dertook as part of a quest to find the ultimate adventure.

Patagonia is a region on the south­ern most part of South America. Some named Patagonia as “Home of the Gods” and “Foot of the Gods”. It is

comprised of the southernmost part of the Andes mountains that is located in Argentina and Chile.

The team started their journey from Buenos Aires, the Argentinian capital, to Cordoba, the second largest city of

Argentina. From Cordoba, we headed south to the best wine-producing area in the region – Mendoza.

Mendoza is famous for producing Malbec wine, using a variety of purple grapes in the process. Malbec wine is

very popular in Argentina and Chile. One notable change in scenery in the Mendoza region was the hazy condi­tion of the landscape. We were told that it was due to the natural moisture from the ground. Perhaps the same moisture needed to grow the excellent purple grapes.

Then, we experienced a view of the famous pampas on the way to Malar­gue. The journey continued through Neuquen and Rio Grande before we camped at the beautiful Lake Alumine. Though it was summer (this is the Southern Hemisphere), it was freezing after sunset. The nights were as cold as 3 to 5 degrees Celsius. In the morning, a thin layer of frost melted with beautiful sunrise overlooking the lake.

From there, we started to enter the re­gion with many famous lakes. One town in particular with a great lake view is San Martin. As we passed that, we reached another beautiful town with a gorgeous lake view – Bariloche. There, we went to the Bariloche mountain to enjoy the full view of Bariloche town. Unexpect­edly, it snowed during our visit.

After staying for two nights at Bariloche, we went to Los Antiguos through Esquel. In Los Antiguos, we had our second camp near the lake. Much can be said about camping in the Argen­tinian countryside. The excellent pan­oramic view itself is better than staying at any hotel.

In Gregores, we had a stay over at a private ranch, to experience living like the Argentine in the Patagonia regions. We had traditional roast lamb and also marvelous sausages with bread and ol­ive oil. In the ranch, some of us took a horse ride overseeing the wild ducks and also the sheep in the farm. The ex­perience was spectacular.

We thought the best was over, but we were wrong. We reached El Calafate next, a town named after the famous Ar­gentine black berry.

El Calafate is the home of the famous Perito Moreno glacier. Named after the 19th century explorer Francisco Moreno, Perito Moreno spans 250 square km.

It is the largest glacier in the region and one of the most important tourist attractions in Patagonia. We spent a full day admiring the Perito Moreno Gla­cier at the Perito Moreno National Park by cruise and also by driving up to the mountain. Many tourists from around the world gathered here to see the natu­ral wonder.

After enjoying that, we travelled fur­ther south to Rio Gallegos. The first im­pression of Rio Gallegos was that the town was very windy! It was really quite

hard to walk around, and dust was flying everywhere.

We then went to the Tierra Del Fuego region of Argentina. Our destination point will be the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. However, in order to reach Ushuaia, we must enter Chile and take a ferry across the Strait of Magallen and exit Chile to re-enter Argentina.

As we were travelling on our Ma­laysian cars, entering Chile was quite troublesome with the paperwork and other hassles. Most of them don’t really speak English but thankfully our guide Booby translated nicely for us. If you’re travelling in Argentina, a good guide is a must.

Upon arriving at the Strait of Magal­len, we could see the long queue of trucks and trailers waiting to board the ferry. Surprisingly, we spotted a group of Commerson’s dolphins in the straits.

Next, we reached Paso Garibaldi, lo­cated near the sharp peaks of the Sierra Valdivieso and Sierra Alvear. Some say this is the end of the Andes mountains and the Patagonia.

Lastly, we reached our final destina­tion of the Patagonia adventure, Ushua­ia. Ushuaia has a population of 100,000 residents and it is also the nearest port to Antarctica. Ushuaia is also famous for its fresh king crabs.

Many restaurants pro­vide dishes serving king crabs or dishes using the seafood as an ingredient. Not forgetting the dolphin island near El Ha­berton, the infamous light house and also “the end of the world” train ride.

Even though it’s summer, the weather in Ushuaia was very cold. The temperature averaged 10 to 15 degrees Celsius daily, with the warmest days

reaching 23 to 25 degrees Celsius.

The whole Patagonia adventure took us around two weeks. Driving along Route 40 was the biggest challenge and we always kept extra petrol in our spare tanks. We helped stranded motorists

along the way as well. We passed plains with dirt, mountains with snow (they have snow all year long), vine­yards, volcanic dust, amazing lakes and breathtaking landscapes. Not forget­ting the many friendly Argentines and also Chileans who helped us along the way. We attracted the immediate at­tention of the locals as we were driving cars from Malaysia in their country.

I stayed in Ushuaia for nine days be­fore going back to Buenos Aires. After celebrating my Chinese New Year and spending a good 29 days in Argentina, I came back home. It was truly an amaz­ing experience. However, the team is not done yet with South America.

4×4 World Explorer are veterans in organising long distance 4×4 expedition-styled

adventure vacations. Since 1992 they have covered the continents of Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Americas. The spirit of adventure is their driving force. Do check out their website at 4x4WorldExlorer.com for their latest South America expedition.

The group might be planning to re­turn to South America in June for a full trip. They left their cars there, so they are definitely going back!
_________________________________
SOURCE:
“Stepping into the Home of the Gods”
By Wilson Ng
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
Wilson Ng is a part time blogger who loves to travel, looking for good food and spending time with his family. Do check out his adventures as well as food reviews at his website
www.Plac­esAndFoods.com
Malay Mail Online
http://www.mmail.com.my
http://www.mmail.com.my/content/35418-stepping-home-gods

What a welcome to Southern Patagonia and what a sublime moment. And you birders, listen up. The second day, our small group of adventures saw a flock of condors on the ground, more than 10 of them, while more swooped down for the condor caucus. Even our guide went mad over the rarity of it.

Southern Patagonia is a magical place at the far tip of South America. If you place your thumbnail on a map at the very southern end of South America, that’s Southern Patagonia — a region so remote that the next stop south is Antarctica across the Drake Passage. The countries of Chile and Argentina split the region: Chile to the west and Argentina to the east. And that’s another story.

Guanaco, a deer-like animal with large, beautiful eyes, in Chile.

I was on my way south from the small town of Calafate (pop. 8,000, 46° F) on Lago (lake) Argentino to the Parque Nacional de Glaciares, a World Heritage site of about 1.8 million acres that includes its monster glacier, the Perito Merino. Further north is Mount Fitz Roy, famous among climbers.

The drive through the Argentine pampas, or steppes, was so desolate it made the landscape between Mandan and Richardton look like the Garden of Eden, but all bets were off entering the park.

Andean mountains, lush with Lenga forests, framed the almost-impossible-to-describe enormous glacier. You get a sense of its size and power when you climb the 600 steps to see a small part of the top.

The Southern Patagonia Ice Field is the third largest in the world after Antarctica and Greenland. Glaciers are formed only by snow that loses its bubbles and compacts into a solid mass. No seawater. The luminous blue one sees in the ice is created when light passes through many ice layers, shedding the colors red and yellow on its journey.

Southern Patagonia glaciers have a great importance to global climate change: Of its multitude of glaciers, only three are not retreating: the Perito Merino, Spegazzini and Pio XL. The most important glaciers are: Upsala, Agassiz, Onelli, Spegazzini, Perito Merino and the Grey. You may be hearing more about them in the future.

In the Tierra del Fuego, the huge Pia glacier seriously retreated between 2000 and 2007, forming a larger lake, and the Marinelli glacier in Ainsworth Bay in the midst of the Darwin Range receded more than 8 miles since about 1945. In 1928, it was an immense ice field; in 2004, a lake.

A 2003 study by the U.S. Jet Propulsion Laboratory found that Chilean and Argentine glaciers were melting so fast they contributed to a sea level rise around .04 mm/year between 1975 and 2000. Data from the 2000 space shuttle along with data from 63 studied Patagonia glaciers found an accelerated ice loss of about .2 mm/year between 1995 and 2000.

On a less serious note, what would the pampas be without gauchos? They’re here and real and work hard — their version of our cowboys. In Chile, gauchos are called shepherds and that’s where we met Hector with his dogs herding flocks of sheep and cattle on a 17,000-acre estancia (ranch) after we crossed from Argentina into Chile. Nothing is small here.

You also might encounter wild animals: the Patagonian puma — the major predator, larger than America’s but less aggressive — still can kill nightly 15-20 sheep, guanaco (deer-like with large beautiful eyes), rheas (a kind of ostrich), red fox, Chilean huemul (the rare endangered animal that looks something like a cross between a deer and a horse with horns) and too many birds.

Dogs (the most dangerous), pigs, horses and cows also run wild. Cows? Wildlife just got infinitely richer as we entered Torres del Paine and the Paine Massif, an eastern spur of the Andes, a virtual cathedral of frosted spires.

In Torres del Paine, the paved road gave way to gravel but also to spectacular glacial waterfalls, forests, lakes and the Grey, Dickson and Tyndall glaciers.

Overnighting at Lago Grey and its imposing glacier, I crossed a narrow suspension bridge over the Rio Pingo (love the name) to walk the lake’s beach and wallow in its beauty — and sun! But what fisherpeople might love most in the park is the Serrano River. The average salmon caught in the Serrano is 35 pounds; the record is 70.

It took forever to get out of the park over rough roads but what a reward — mouth watering, perfectly grilled salmon from the river at a Ma and Pa Kettle kind of restaurant and store with a master chef.

Later on the Chilean steppes, we collapsed at Rio Reubens (another great name) for beer and tea before getting to the Estancia Rio Verde for the night.

You can have your Four Seasons and Ritz Carltons, but I’ll take this rustic estancia any day. El Patron, who presides over its 49,000 acres, greeted us with buoyant charm, great food and great Chilean wines.

Although it’s on an open Pacific bay with icy wind blasting away, the huge stone fireplaces ablaze and ready to grill meat made everything perfect.

Although Punta Arenas (pop. 133,000), cold wind included, is a dream come true, more so is a small ship voyage south of there to the wild Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn.

I can hardly say the words without visceral joy. Punta Arenas on the Last Hope Sound, with its bright yellow port buildings and blue roofs overlooking the Straits of Magellan, was a strategic port before the Panama Canal was built. To avoid rounding Cape Horn, ships used the Magellan Straits, though not easy, to get from one ocean to the other.

Tierra del Fuego is where the real wilderness and my excitement begins. The names of Darwin, Beagle, Fitz Roy (Captain of the HMS Beagle) and Magellan are everywhere. Ferdinand Magellan — now there’s a brave man — in 1520 sailed his ship, the Santiago, 373 miles through the straits that bear his name, ending in a new sea he called the Mar Pacifico.

The Magellanic Forest at Ainsworth Bay is truly enchanted — a tapestry of unearthly greens, shapes, waterfalls, rock faces, lush mosses and happy flowers — so pristine you wanted to keep it in a genie’s bottle forever, the wet, mud and all. Back at the beach, the other reality wasn’t too bad. We were served hot chocolate and Johnny Walker scotch before lurching into our zodiacs. Bliss.

Nearing Cape Horn, dawn broke through a thick blackness. Feeling the swells at night, I thought there was no way we could land. About 6:30 a.m., the captain announced the wind and water were too treacherous to get ashore safely. So we had to forego the 160 vertical steps to the top of the Cape. Wind was blowing 40 knots, gusting to 60. We did get close enough to see the home, lighthouse (southernmost in the world), red helicopter, radio tower and albatross monument.

A couple with their two children live at the top for a two-year term. There’s even a small shop. Steps or not, it was a disappointment not to land. I’m sure the couple was disappointed as well. You don’t just drop in.

From Cape Horn, we sailed up the Murray Channel to Wulaia Bay on Navarino Island, site of a long-ago-abandoned tiny naval station and a sacred island to the Yamana aborigines.

A word about the aborigines south of the Magellan Straits: there are few survivors of the Yamana, less than 100. Among the earliest inhabitants were the Aonikenk people, now extinct. They were nomads, hunters and gatherers, and called the giants. Large footprints, bones and fossils give evidence of this. I asked, what does giant mean for height? I was told 6 feet. But imagine — extinct, like an animal.

We left for Ushuaia, one of my favorite cities, the world’s most southern city (pop. 50,000), and into Argentina.

Time to explore, meet some locals, shop and fall asleep over my king crab dinner and Cape Horn Pale Ale at Cantina de Freddy. A glorious end.
__________________________________
SOURCE:
“Southern Patagonia: A magical place”
By CAROL M. RUSSELL
Citizen Travel Writer
Sunday, April 11
http://www.bismarcktribune.com
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/article_a584cfc4-4421-11df-b264-001cc4c002e0.html