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Top Sights: Argentina
Have you spent time in Argentina, or are you planning a trip there?
Share ideas for must-see attractions and activities.
Many of the photos can be viewed at http://www.pbase.com/faerie_39/southern_patagonia
These cover several stops on the Amazing Race including Puerto Montt and Petrohue from episode 3 and Ushuaia from episode 4. Bariloche in Argentina is not far from Petrohue and Torres del Paine, near the stop in Punta Arenas Chile are places to visit in Patagonia.
These cover several stops on the Amazing Race including Puerto Montt and Petrohue from episode 3 and Ushuaia from episode 4. Bariloche in Argentina is not far from Petrohue and Torres del Paine, near the stop in Punta Arenas Chile are places to visit in Patagonia.
Buenos Aires:
Bariloche: In Nothern Patagonia, Bariloche is one of the larger cities in Patagonia. It sits on Lago Nahuel Huapi. As the crow flies, it is pretty near Petrohue in Chile, only the Andes, notably Mount Tronador, stand between the two places. To get between Chile (Petrohue or Puerto Montt) and Bariloche, you can take a bus to Todos Los Santos, followed by a boat across the lake. From there, clear Chilean customs and take a bus through a very rugged area. And you will arrive at customs in Argentina at one end of Lago Frias (which was in the movie Motorcycle Diaries).
Take a boat to the other side of the lake (while you wonder how they ever got a boat here ...) and you'll be greeted by another bus. Which will take you to a boat to cross Lago Nahuel Huapi. It will let you off below the spectular Llao Llao hotel (pronounce the double 'l' like the Zs in Zsa Zsa Gabor and people will understand it). From there, take another bus to Bariloche. Bariloche has a very European feel, and is filled with chocolate shops. Take the chair lift to Cerro Campanario at Bustillo km 18 (you'll understand what this means when you get there) and meet El Gringo, the charming photographer at the top. Even if you don't speak Spanish, and he doesn't speak a word of English, you'll still be able to communicate with him! elgringofoto.com.
In town, the food is excellent and prices are often shockingly cheap. Especially for those who like a good steak.
Ushuaia: The town's motto, the end of the world, the beginning of everything. Ushuaia sits on Tierra del Fuego and bills itself as the southernmost city in the world. There are a few smaller settlements nearby (Puerto Williams in Chile is just a few miles away), but nothing that is close to Ushuaia in size. Ushuaia sits on the Beagle Channel, named after Darwin's ship. The local history is fascinating and there is a suprisingly good musuem, converted from the old prison, that covers it. The native Yamana have a fascinating and heartbreaking history. Nearby, go to Tierra del Fuego park and the end of the Pan American highway. The photo at the Bahia Lapatia sign is pretty much required for any visitors here. There are also boat trips on the Beagle Channel and if the weather cooperates, it is magic. Take the longer trip. You'll see the lighthouse, seals, cormorants and eventually, a penguin colony.
The Beagle Channel teems with life, image stabilized binoculars will allow you to see much more than the naked eye can. The surrounding landscape is rugged.
A highlight of the boat trip is the wind-sculpted Island of Gables. And look for the bent Patagonia trees.
You'll likely see some larger ships navigating their way. Good chance it is either coming from or headed to Antartica. Most people arrive in Ushuaia from the Argentine side, but if you come from the much closer Punta Arenas, Chile, carefully check flight times and availability. Not suprisingly, fish is the preferred food here and meat is commom, but good luck finding vegetables!!
Glaciers National Park: The park is part of the massive Southern Patagonia icefields, with numerous glaciers. The most famous is Perito Moreno Glacier, with its huge face. The glacier creates a barrier between two lakes and every few decades, there is a massive break in the glacier. Though the Moreno glacier and Park Torres del Paine in Chile are physically quite close, it is a lengthy trip to go between these stunning parks.
Torres del Paine in Southern Chile: Torres del Paine is the crown jewel of Chile’s remarkable park system. Life Magazine put it in its 'Heaven on Earth' issue, Nat’l Geographic has it in '50 Places of a Lifetime'.
Torres del Paine is a place of adjectives. If the weather is at its most notorious, you’ll be using the four letter kind. All of them. If the weather cooperates, you’ll use remarkable, stunning, magnificent, etc. Before long, you realize that you’re gonna need a new dictionary.
The parks larger lakes, each of a different color, are near sea level. Rising up abruptly above the lakes, the central massif is densely populated with peaks above 8,000 feet. This is what most people come to see. The Cuernos (horns) are the sharp mountains with black tops. The Cumbres (summits) are the tallest peaks and snow capped even in summer. The namesake peaks, the Torres (towers) are massive, set against the wide Patgonian sky. Looking at the three towers, the glacier at its base and the cliff wall that drops into the milky green lake is one of those places where adjectives fail.
While there are glaciers in the upper reaches of the park, Glacier Grey is easily accessed by boat. The glacier face formed at Lago Grey is the southern tip of the Southern Patagonia icefields.
Wildlife abounds, the llama-like guanacos are common. Condors and eagle-like carrancho fly above. You will likely see foxes, huemel (deer) and the ostrich-like rhea.
Be sure to stop at Laguna de los Cisnes. The Chilean flamingos, which hang out with black neck swans on are worth seeing. Bring a long lens and powerful binoculars, as they seem to shy away from visitors.
One thing to enjoy and appreciate, the park's creative bridges.
Many people do the multi-day treks known as the W or the Circuit. It is common for people to go from Torres del Paine into Argentina to the Glaciers park.
Punta Arenas in Southern Chile:
Bariloche: In Nothern Patagonia, Bariloche is one of the larger cities in Patagonia. It sits on Lago Nahuel Huapi. As the crow flies, it is pretty near Petrohue in Chile, only the Andes, notably Mount Tronador, stand between the two places. To get between Chile (Petrohue or Puerto Montt) and Bariloche, you can take a bus to Todos Los Santos, followed by a boat across the lake. From there, clear Chilean customs and take a bus through a very rugged area. And you will arrive at customs in Argentina at one end of Lago Frias (which was in the movie Motorcycle Diaries).
Take a boat to the other side of the lake (while you wonder how they ever got a boat here ...) and you'll be greeted by another bus. Which will take you to a boat to cross Lago Nahuel Huapi. It will let you off below the spectular Llao Llao hotel (pronounce the double 'l' like the Zs in Zsa Zsa Gabor and people will understand it). From there, take another bus to Bariloche. Bariloche has a very European feel, and is filled with chocolate shops. Take the chair lift to Cerro Campanario at Bustillo km 18 (you'll understand what this means when you get there) and meet El Gringo, the charming photographer at the top. Even if you don't speak Spanish, and he doesn't speak a word of English, you'll still be able to communicate with him! elgringofoto.com.
In town, the food is excellent and prices are often shockingly cheap. Especially for those who like a good steak.
Ushuaia: The town's motto, the end of the world, the beginning of everything. Ushuaia sits on Tierra del Fuego and bills itself as the southernmost city in the world. There are a few smaller settlements nearby (Puerto Williams in Chile is just a few miles away), but nothing that is close to Ushuaia in size. Ushuaia sits on the Beagle Channel, named after Darwin's ship. The local history is fascinating and there is a suprisingly good musuem, converted from the old prison, that covers it. The native Yamana have a fascinating and heartbreaking history. Nearby, go to Tierra del Fuego park and the end of the Pan American highway. The photo at the Bahia Lapatia sign is pretty much required for any visitors here. There are also boat trips on the Beagle Channel and if the weather cooperates, it is magic. Take the longer trip. You'll see the lighthouse, seals, cormorants and eventually, a penguin colony.
The Beagle Channel teems with life, image stabilized binoculars will allow you to see much more than the naked eye can. The surrounding landscape is rugged.
A highlight of the boat trip is the wind-sculpted Island of Gables. And look for the bent Patagonia trees.
You'll likely see some larger ships navigating their way. Good chance it is either coming from or headed to Antartica. Most people arrive in Ushuaia from the Argentine side, but if you come from the much closer Punta Arenas, Chile, carefully check flight times and availability. Not suprisingly, fish is the preferred food here and meat is commom, but good luck finding vegetables!!Glaciers National Park: The park is part of the massive Southern Patagonia icefields, with numerous glaciers. The most famous is Perito Moreno Glacier, with its huge face. The glacier creates a barrier between two lakes and every few decades, there is a massive break in the glacier. Though the Moreno glacier and Park Torres del Paine in Chile are physically quite close, it is a lengthy trip to go between these stunning parks.
Torres del Paine in Southern Chile: Torres del Paine is the crown jewel of Chile’s remarkable park system. Life Magazine put it in its 'Heaven on Earth' issue, Nat’l Geographic has it in '50 Places of a Lifetime'.
Torres del Paine is a place of adjectives. If the weather is at its most notorious, you’ll be using the four letter kind. All of them. If the weather cooperates, you’ll use remarkable, stunning, magnificent, etc. Before long, you realize that you’re gonna need a new dictionary.
The parks larger lakes, each of a different color, are near sea level. Rising up abruptly above the lakes, the central massif is densely populated with peaks above 8,000 feet. This is what most people come to see. The Cuernos (horns) are the sharp mountains with black tops. The Cumbres (summits) are the tallest peaks and snow capped even in summer. The namesake peaks, the Torres (towers) are massive, set against the wide Patgonian sky. Looking at the three towers, the glacier at its base and the cliff wall that drops into the milky green lake is one of those places where adjectives fail.
While there are glaciers in the upper reaches of the park, Glacier Grey is easily accessed by boat. The glacier face formed at Lago Grey is the southern tip of the Southern Patagonia icefields.
Wildlife abounds, the llama-like guanacos are common. Condors and eagle-like carrancho fly above. You will likely see foxes, huemel (deer) and the ostrich-like rhea.
Be sure to stop at Laguna de los Cisnes. The Chilean flamingos, which hang out with black neck swans on are worth seeing. Bring a long lens and powerful binoculars, as they seem to shy away from visitors.
One thing to enjoy and appreciate, the park's creative bridges.
Many people do the multi-day treks known as the W or the Circuit. It is common for people to go from Torres del Paine into Argentina to the Glaciers park.
Punta Arenas in Southern Chile:
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