The Andes mountain range shows
its beauty in the Patagonian provinces. Millennial silent forests with
native vegetable species are extended along the shores of glistening
waters. On top of the mountains, nature overflows with granite peaks and
ice fields spreading their glacier tongues into lakes of unsurpassable
beauty.
Imposing mammals and sea birds,
half-way between real life and fantasy, spend certain seasons on the rough
coasts of Patagonia where they complete part of their life cycle. Seals
colonies play on the islets and sandbanks. The world’s most important
southern elephant seal continental colony is located in Peninsula Valdés.
Every year, southern right whales come to Nuevo and San José gulfs to
breed. Patagonian hares, “ñandúes” (South American ostrich) and “guanacos”
run about the steppes, and the largest colony of Magellanic penguins in
the world is located in Punta Tombo. This life cycle repeated since time
immemorial, unfolds itself in front of the astonished visitors’ eyes.
In the south, Tierra del Fuego
and the World’s southernmost city, Ushuaia, are the gateway towards the
vast and mysterious Antarctica.
Río Negro
Things to do
Adventure
Tourism. Trekking, mountain-biking,
horseback riding, and mountaineering in mounts Catedral, López, Otto,
Perito Moreno, Piltriquitrón and Tronador, and in the Nevado mountain
range and Chall-huaco Valley. Rafting and canoeing in rivers Manso and
Limay. Ecotourism in the San Matías gulf and Somuncurá plain.
Skiing.
Cerro Catedral winter resort offers 30 ski lifts and 52-Km.-long ski runs.
You can also go skiing on the slopes of mountPeritoMoreno.
Holiday
resorts. On the Atlantic coast, you can
enjoy beautiful beaches in Las Grutas, San Antonio Oeste, El Cóndor and
Playas Doradas; and you can also go fishing and diving.
Hunting
and sport fishing.Red deer and wild boar
hunting in certain estancias (cattle ranches). Salmon and trout fishing in
lakes, rivers, and streams.
Golf.
Golf courses near San Carlos de Bariloche.
Casinos.
In San Carlos de Bariloche, Viedma, Cipolletti, Las Grutas and El Cóndor.
Places to visit
SAN CARLOS DE BARILOCHE, ARCHITECTURAL CITY.
This City stands out because of the architectural structure
of its stone and wood buildings. Its main square has a charming clock,
which, when striking 12, shows four wooden carved figures of
representative characters. The city's civic center is highlighted by the
City Hall and Patagonia Museum. Bariloche’s scientific advances are shown
in the Centro Atómico, and its culture is reflected on the music
association Camerata Bariloche. San Carlos de Bariloche is the gateway to
Nahuel Huapi National Park, a beautiful landscape of lakes, forests, and
snow-capped peaks. Sailing along its lake, you can reach Isla Victoria
(Victoria Island), Bosque de Arrayanes (Arrayanes Forests) and Puerto
Blest (Blest Port).
EL BOLSÓN AND HOP GROWING. The
road to El Bolsón goes through a wonderful natural landscape, bordering
lakes Gutiérrez, Mascardi, and Guillelmo. In this town, hop and fine
fruits are grown.
VIEDMA, CAPITAL OF THE PROVINCE.
On the outskirts, there are several holiday resorts and a site with a
permanent seal colony.
Neuquen
Things
to do
Adventure
Tourism. Trekking in mountains and forests.
Rafting and canoeing in rivers. Horse riding through steppes, hiking or
mountain-biking along footpaths. Photographic safaris and camping. Bird-watching
in LagunaBlancaNational Park. Sailing across lakes Lácar and Nonthué.
Ski season
from June to September. Winter resorts you
can go to for alpine and cross-country skiing, such as Chapelco, with 29
ski runs (a total of 27 Km long), Cerro Bayo, Caviahue, Batea Mahuida,
Cerro Wayle and Primeros Pinos.
Hunting
and Sport fishing.Red deer and wild boar
hunting in private lands. Fishing trout of up to 11 Kg. in lakes, rivers,
and streams.
Health
Tourism. Bathe in the sulphur waters of the
Termas de Copahue, 190 Km away from Zapala, which are well-known for their
therapeutic qualities.
Places to visit
LANÍN: "THE MAPUCHES’ EXTINGUISHED VOLCANO".
In Lanín National Park, at the foot of the magnificent
volcano of the same name, there are local flora species such as the pehuén
or araucaria, cypress, coihue (an evergreen used for thatching), raulí (evergreen
beech) and ñire (an Antarctic beech). As far as the fauna is concerned,
huemuls (type of deer), pumas, foxes and pudús (the smallest deer in the
world) inhabit this park. San Martín de los Andes, an active town of
alpine-style architecture, is the starting point for sailing trips to
lakes Lácar and Nonthué. There are also walking tours departing from Junín
de los Andes, to Lake Huechulafquen, of agitated waters, and Lake Paimún,
located at the foot of volcano Lanín.
SEVEN LAKES ROUTE. A
200-Km.-long itinerary joining San Martín de los Andes with San Carlos de
Bariloche and surrounded by great snow-covered peaks and natural forests,
and with view of lakes Machónico, Hermoso, Villarino, Falkner, Correntoso,
Espejo and Nahuel Huapi.
NAHUEL HUAPI’S IMMENSITY. The
arms of Lake Nahuel Huapi penetrate into the forests and mountains of
Nahuel Huapi National Park. Villa La Angostura lies on the shores of the
lake, with typical stone and wood constructions.
BOSQUE DE ARRAYANES (Arrayanes
Forest). Located in Los Arrayanes National Park, this forest shelters
hundred year-old trees, which can reach more than 20 meters high. It is
said that Walt Disney was inspired by this wonderful place when creating
the atmosphere for the movie "Bambi". Villa La Angostura is only 10 Km.
away from the Park.
BOSQUE SUMERGIDO (Immersed
forest) AND VALLE ENCANTADO (Enchanted Valley). Half a hundred naked
cypresses arise from the depth of the lake in the Bosque Sumergido. Valle
Encantado is a vast area with eroded rocks of unique shapes.
Other places of interest:
Villa Traful, on the coast of lake Traful; Caviahue, next to lake Agrio or
Caviahue; Copahue, with thermal waters on the spurs of volcano Copahue;
Aluminé, on the shores of the lake of the same name, and Chos Malal, with
remains of old native settlements. There are also thermal waters in Termas
de Domuyo and Termas de Epulafquen.
Chubut
Things
to do
Adventure
Tourism. Trekking in Lago Puelo and Los
Alerces national parks. Rafting in rivers Carrileufú and Corcovado. Diving
in Puerto Madryn.
Skiing.
La Hoya winter resort is 13 Km away from Esquel, and open from June
through October.
Sport
fishing. Salmon and trout fishing in lakes
and rivers. Deep-sea fishing in Mar Argentino.
Watching
marine life. On the Atlantic coast, you can
see whales, orcas (killer whales), birds, seals, and elephant seals.
Welsh tea
and traditional confectionery. Gaiman and
Trevelin are typical Welsh communities where you can have Welsh tea with
traditional sweets and confectionery.
Places to visit
HUGE AND ANCIENT LARCHES (Alerces).
Los Alerces National Park preserves this type of trees, which can be more
than 60 meters high and are more than 3,000 years old.
ANIMAL PENINSULA. In Peninsula
Valdés, you can visit sea bird colonies, as well as sea lions and elephant
seals from the South, and the Southern right whale (ballena franca
austral).
SEALS AND ELEPHANT SEALS. An
important colony of 800 South American sea lions lives below the steep
rocks of Punta Loma, while 1,500 come to breed to Punta Pirámide Natural
Reserve from December through February. Punta Norte reserve shelters the
world’s most important southern elephant seal continental colony. These
animals get their name from the males’ trunk-like nose.
ANNUAL WHALE GATHERING. Gulf
Nuevo and Gulf of San José are the places where Southern right whales come
to give birth and perpetuate their species from June through mid-December.
Whale sightseeing tours depart from Puerto Pirámides.
PENGUINS. More than 1,500,000
Magellanic penguins and other sea bird species, such as skuas, sea gulls,
gaviotines (member of the gull family) and cormorants inhabit Punta Tombo.
Other places of interest:
Bosque Petrificado Sarmiento is a geological reserve formed by the
outcropping of almost 65-million-year-old fossilized forests.
Source:
Argentina
