Argentina Tourist Guide

Introduction

2009-04-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

The idea behind the Argentina Tourist Guide is that it should be a practical manual that helps the traveller on his journeys through our country, and with this in mind, it is a professional guidebook that has been produced as carefully as possible.
Our research and production work has basically been focussed on providing objective help which will above all be of great use to you on your travels around Argentina.
If our aim of providing through Argentina Tourist Guide an overall view of the history, culture, character and attractions of this beautiful country meets your expectations, then we will feel proud of having achieved what we set out to do.
Have a good trip!

Argentina
The name of the diverse

A poet was responsible for the name “Argentina”. At least, he it was who left the first documented evidence of the name in a long and now-forgotten poem entitled “Argentina and the Conquest of the River Plate”. Martín del Barco Centenera was is name, and he had arrived in the country in 1574. On is return to Spain, he felt the need to write down what he had seen. The adjectives he uses are “Argentino Reyno” and “Río Argentino”, referring to the country and the river as “silvery”, since like all his contemporaries he was convinced that he had been in the land of silver. Looking back on the history of Argentina, it does not seem mere chance that the country should owe its name to a literary work. Fiction and reality were intertwined in Martín del Barco Centenera’s poem, just as they would be intertwined throughout the country’s history. And it is from this mixture that there has arisen a literature which has been abundant in names that have become famous throughout the Spanish-speaking world. Since the dawn of independence there have been poets to accompany the exploits. And from that moment onwards, it can be said that each stage in the life of the country has had its literary representation. It is not surprising, therefore, that the names of its politicians and statesmen swelled the ranks of great writers during the 19th century.
Sarmiento, that majestic political figure, was also the most important essayist of is time, and this Facundo is still today a work without equal in contemporary Argentinian literature.
Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortazar, Leopoldo Marechal, Adolfo Bioy Casares, Ernesto Sábato, Ezequiel Martínez Estrada, Roberto Arlt, Macedonio Fernández, Juan Gelman and Juan José Saer are but a few of the writers and poets that the country has produced this century. All of them with concems that transcend the strictly literary, cash one in his own way trying to contribute something towards explaining that national obsession, understanding what we Argentinians are really like. A country built up as a result of successive waves of immigrants from almost all the comers of the world, and which covers such a vast expanse of land, cannot but be complex and difficult to describe.
The first thing that must be said is that today there is no such thing as a typical Argentinian. Put someone from Jujuy with a person from Buenos Aires, for example, and you would get the feeling that they did not come from the same country. And there is a lot of truth in this, because the development of different influences regions was the result of very different influences and experiences. However, there are certain feeling of belonging, certain passions and tastes, that to a greater or lesser degree extend throughout the country.
Like football, for example, from La Quiaca to Tierra del Fuego the whole country can be paralysed if the national team is playing one of those matches that are a matter of life or death. There is nothing more democratic than the passion for football, and the local field –that piece of wasteland converted into the neighbourhood football stadium- has been the school that as produced the greatest players of all time.
And precisely because football is football, so Sunday is the day for it. You don’t even need to go to the ground, because Sunday afternoons have a special atmosphere about them, totally dominated by comments about the matches, and however indifferent you might be, at some time or other somebody will go into very great detail with you about the result, even if you have not asked him to.
Bochini, Gatti, Maradona, and Kempes are not only the names of some of the most admired footballers, but have become almost like family names to Argentinians, as if those players were our own brother or closest friend. And that is why everybody feels obliged to comment on their lives. True fencers with words, we Argentinians engage passionately in a sort of national sport, which is indulging in controversy. We feel we have a right to express an opinion about everything that exist and even about things that do not exist, an if we do not have much information about the subject then that does not matter much either because we will soon find an argument, we will make a good deduction. The important thin is to argue, but most important of all is to win the argument, to knock out the opponent of the moment. On hay street comer in any city groups of people might gather to argue fiercely. The subjects could be extremely trivial or highly important. And it is better if the argument takes place in the street, because then there is a guarantee that it will end at some point.
In a bar, with a cup of coffee or “a glass of something” to help things along, the discussion can be never-ending in the full sense of the word: it may continue over various sessions, and of course everyone will join in, from the waiters to the head barman. This is like a second home: here romantic relationships are formed and broken, business deals are clinched, family events are celebrated, the names to be given to children are agreed upon, details of the private life of the public celebrity of the moment are argued about, people reflect on life and death –or simply read the newspaper.
Although this feature is particularly notable in the major cities like Buenos Aires or Rosario, it is nevertheless a widespread custom throughout the country. No provincial city is without its string of bars along the main street or around the square, no village, no matter how tiny, cannot boast that it has its own bar, called simply a “boliche”.
A mixture of moralists and philosophers who are always inclined to give our own explanations of things, we will say “it’s the `Galicians´ fault”, or “the `Neapolitans. It is important to point out that in Argentina all Spaniards are `Galicians´ and all Italians `Neapolitans´, just as anyone with oriental features is “Ponja” (Jap) even if he was born in Vietnam; North Americans are all “Gringos”, a nickname which is shared with Europeans from the same latitudes, while “Turks” applies to absolutely anybody of Arabic origin. These generalizations are far from being pejorative; rather, they are a sign of affection. For some strange reason, to call a Basque or someone from Andalicía “Galician” is almost a declaration of friendship, it is to recognize him as one of our own.
Although we are very fond of coffee, The Brew –like that, in capitals- is “mate”. It is true that this is not exclusive to Argentina; Paraguayans and Uruguayans share our addiction to this beverage that we can drink anywhere and at any time of day. Obviously, the tree nations will always argue over the origins of mate, but for Argentinians it is as important to claim sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands from Britain.
Although these days the green wave is spreading all over the world and is even trying to gain a foothold in Argentina, nobody can resist a good piece of meat. We really love eating red meat, and are proud of the fact that we can prepare it in countless different ways. Although food in general is comparatively much more expensive than it was twenty years ago, meat is still one of the most easily obtainable foods, and one that goes a long way, too. Throughout the length and breadth of the country restaurants can be found that offer wonderful grilled meat –“parrillada” if all the entrails are included- and “bife de chorizo”, the other great national dish.
But Argentinian food does not come to an end with the meat of the cow. If anything has remained from that tremendous merging of different peoples, it is the love of variety in dishes of different origins, to which must be added an infinite number of local variations. And that is why we Argentinians proudly boast that we can make “the best pizza in the world”, and also paella, bagnacauda, and pasta; but is always “the best in the world” because modesty and discretion are not to be counted among our virtues, and obviously a does not matter if we have not tried the food in other places.
Boasting apart, it is true to say that to eat well and with a variety of dishes in any town in Argentina is not just a matter of chance. Restaurants abound with international menus and also a whole range of gastronomic specialities.
The “Empanada”, a sort of pie, is another national dish, and each province in the north has its own distinctive way of preparing these; and being Argentina, we make “the best Arabic empanadas in the world” in Tucumán, one of the northern provinces –it couldn’t be any other way, could it”.

Estadisticas blog

Descriptive Geography

2009-04-12T21:06:00.000-07:00

Argentina shares with Chile the most southerly point on earth, controlling the Drake Passage which links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
In size, it is the seventh largest country in the world, and the second largest in South America. This vast extent is responsible for one of its most typical characteristic: the tremendous variety and contrast that can be found between one region and another, in terms of climate, scenery and people. There is no exaggeration in the official slogan which calls it “The land of the six continents”. From the dense jungles of the north to the semi-arid steppe of windswept Patagonia or the eternal ice of Antarctica, in the south; from the powerful majesty of the Andean cordillera in the west to the fertile basin of the River Plate and the Atlantic coastline in the east.
The hottest climates are to be found in the subtropical north western and north eastern provinces, characterised by dry and wet seasons; Mediterranean climate in the dry season near the Paraná. The harshest climate in terms of temperature is to be found in the Andean region and in Patagonia, except, of course, for the never-ending polar winter of Antarctica. But in general, its position on the South American continent means that the whole country belongs to a climatic zone that can be described as temperature, or moderate. This is particularly notable in the centre of the country, a vast temperature belt where there is a clear differentiation between the four seasons. Because of its location, the part north of the River Plate is influenced by the winds from the Atlantic, while the southern sector receives the influence of winds from the Pacific, even though the great natural barrier of the Andes has a modifying effect here.
Argentina is bounded to the north by Bolivia and Paraguay, and with this latter country it also shares the strategic north eastern frontier, which follows the rivers Pilcomayo, Paraguay and Paraná. To the east, its borders are with Brazil and Uruguay, before the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean is reached. To the west, the Andes form a natural frontier with Chile.
The relief of Argentina is comparable to that of Africa and Australia, but with the difference that it does not have the deserts that characterize both Africa and Australia. On the contrary, and thanks to the benign influence of the easterly winds, the extraordinary Chaco-Pampas plain has been able to develop with its climate that ranges from subtropical to temperate.
This plain, which is bounded to the east by the basin of the River Plate, is comparable in fertility to the Mississippi plains in North America.
The mountains in the country are relatively young; that they all lie in the western part of the country is explained by the fact that since the Palaeozoic period acrogenic forces have always come from the Pacific, and the uplifting of the Andes had repercussions on the whole of the country, since it completely rejuvenated its soil.
Because of its very special geographical features, Argentina is a country of plains, mountains –the highest peak in the southern hemisphere, Aconcagua (6.959 m) is to be found in the country-, lakes, valleys, beaches, eternal ice, contrast.

Buenos Aires

2009-04-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

As with any major capital, Buenos Aires is many cities rolled into one, yet at the same time it has a unique character all its own, and each step you take can lead you to some puzzling or unusual find.
Starting from the river, or more precisely from the port, the first building that attracts your attention is the pink Casa Rosada, which is the Presidential Palace, seat of the Executive Power, and home of numerous official departments.
Opposite this the Plaza de Mayo. This is the real political heart of the country, the spot where. Argentinians have gathered to vent their feelings and air their controversies for almost two hundred years now. It is virtually the city’s birthplace, and is also a good starting point for visitors.
The Plaza de Mayo is surrounded by a number of important buildings: the Cabildo (Town Hall), with its Historical Museum, its Sala Capitular where the patriots who began the independence movement met in 1810, and a fine colonial courtyard. Diagonally opposite the Casa Rosada is the Banco Nación building, a beautiful neo-classical construction which was originally home to the Colón Theatre, and the setting is completed by Buenos Aires Cathedral, containing the remains of José de San Martín.
Southwards from the Plaza de Mayo is the San Telmo district, The oldest part of the city and a favourite with tourist because here are to be found the antique shops and also a number of excellent restaurants and tango bars. It is one of the few places where you can get an idea of what the original settlement of Buenos Aires was like.
Around the middle of this century, a different type of inhabitant began to move into San Telmo. Artists, intellectuals and bohemians discovered the magic of the fine old houses and set up their homes or their studios in them. As time passed, antique dealers and artists came along too, realizing the immense historical value of this small isolated area that was struggling to survive in the middle of the concrete jungle rising up all around. San Telmo has been declared part of the historical heritage of the city of Buenos Aires, and there are laws to protect its buildings and ensure that no rebuilding work alters the general appearance of the area. Of course, these rules are not always strictly followed, and a number of brash buildings have sprung up, looking real “eyesores” alongside the centuries old walls.
As you wander along its streets you can come across the most extravagant people imaginable: from strolling puppeteers, painters, musicians of tango dancer, to ladies decked out in nineteenth century elegance offering their wares from disorderly stalls in the small square of San Pedro Telmo, the heart of the area.
This is an unforgettable walk, especially if it is Sunday. For is “The Day” in San Telmo, when walking through its streets is like joining in one big party which nobody knows who started, but which everyone is invited to.
Southwards, San Telmo runs into two other legendary district, La Boca and Barracas. The boundary between the there is Lezama Park. And this is somewhere you must visit too, not only to admire the magnificent, centuries-old trees, but because it is one of the most beautiful green zones in Buenos Aires. It stands on one of the two river bluffs still to be found in the city, and it has even been said that it was the site on which the city was originally founded.
In the fine old mansion that was once at the heart of the Lezama family’s estate, today is to be found the National Historical Museum. There is also an amphitheatre where during the summer months artistic performances are given, and every part of the park has its own distinctive beauty, with splendid trees with enormous roots, and fine statues.
La Boca is the colourful district. Inhabited since the latter part of the nineteenth century by Genoese immigrants, it still retains, the typical tin or wooden buildings painted in strident and vivid colours that they constructed. One of the most attractive places here is La vuelta de Rocha, were Almirante Brown Avenue follows a bend of the Riachuelo, and fine old Barges can be seen tied up like a piece of history that is reluctant to disappear. Very near here is the famous Caminito Street, an alleyway full of memories of the tango, and which at weekends becomes a real open-air arts centre.
But La Boca is also the lines of Italian eating houses in Necochea Street, or the Pedro de Mendoza school-museum that recall’s one of Argentina’s most popular painters, Benito Quinquela Martín, who immortalized the district on his canvases. And what is more, La Boca is, most importantly of all, football! On Sunday afternoon La Bombonera, the popular name for the local stadium, vibrates to the chants of the crowds who fill the whole area with football.
The west side of Patricios Avenue divides La Boca from Barracas, which got its name because it was the place where the big merchandise stores (barracas) were located those same buildings that today have become so fashionable. They have been used, for example, by one of Argentina’s best film directors, Fernando Solanas, as the setting for his film Sur. It is a tango area par excellence, with a couple of spots specially reserved for those with nostalgic tendencies. Always keeping the Plaza de Mayo as your reference point, if you walk northwards you come to the narrow pathways that surround the buildings of the major banks. This is the financial sector, or more simply, The City; where the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange is to be found, and where all is bustle and excitement. The City has one luxurious central feature, the Manhattan-style glass skyscrapers of the Catalinas Norte complex. Set against the river, the view from any one of these buildings is truly spectacular.
Only a few blocks separate Catalinas Norte the Plaza San Martín, with its magnificent array of fine trees, including jacarandas, palms, tipas and lindens. The square is surrounded by splendid building like the Kavanagh and the Plaza Hotel, which date from the early years of this country. The most important businesses here are shopping centres and art galleries. The Florida pedestrian area comes to and end at the square. Just as bustling as The City, this street is where the best clothes-especially leather goods are to be found.
It the southern part of the city shows the Buenos Aires of yesteryear, the north gives the image of a modern, cosmopolitan capital, always open to change, and welcoming to tourists. It is where the elegant cafes and restaurants are to be found, the big gardens, the refined French or Italian airs of its stylish and tasteful old houses –many of them now occupied by embassies-, women who look as if they have just escaped from the cover of some fashion magazine, and the art galleries.
In the north, for example, is La Recoleta, one of the most exclusive areas of the city, and where some of its best hotels are to be found. Not to be missed is the bandicraft market in Plaza Francia, nor should you fail to pay a visit to the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Palais de Glace, or the Buenos Aires Cultural Centre.
There are thee major roads to see in this part of the city: Alvear and Quintana Avenues, which both start from the Plaza Francia, and Arroyo Street. The obviously-French style of the building in these thee roads sums up the opulence of late nineteenth century Buenos Aires, together with the most sophisticated restaurants and pubs. However, it has not always been like this, and although the name itself sounds somewhat paradoxical today, the origins of this area lie with the Recollet Franciscan monks who settled there and built Nuestra Señora del Pilar Church, surrounded by a big vegetable garden. Subsequently, some of this land was taken over by the cemetery, which is still there today. It is the oldest in Buenos Aires, and the value of its artistic works together with some of the famous names buried there have meant that it has become part of the city’s heritage.
Further north are yet more stylish areas, including Palermo Chico and Belgrano. Santa Fe Avenue is the great commercial artery of the north, with all types of businesses and shops strung out along it, but especially notable for clothing and home furnishings at prices to suit all pockets.
In the centre west of the Plaza de Mayo, the avenue of the same name starts, and this runs as far as the Plaza del Congreso. Its route was the idea of Torcuato de Alvear, and the design was by the famous Argentinian architect Juan Buschiazzo. Part of the former Town Hall building had to be demolished to make way for it. The result is just over ten blocks that form one of the most successful architectural ensembles anywhere in Buenos Aires. Italian-inspired buildings live side by side with others covering the whole range of French styles, from Louis XVI right though to Art Nouveau. From the beginning of the century it became known as the most elegant avenue in the city.
The old Café Tortoni, meeting point for intellectuals in the early years of the century and one of the oldest cafes in the city, is still there today. A fine example of Art Nouveau style, it has retained the oak and marble tables where once Alfonsina Storni, Federico García Lorca, Baldomero Fernández Moreno and Arthur Rubinstein sat together, to name but a few of its illustrious customers.
The view of Congress Square is dominated by a big group of sculptures, the Monumento a los dos Congresos. The lights playing on the water coming from the fountains, together with the music, make a pleasant sight on summer nights. In front is the National Congress building, in imitation Greek-Roman style, with its front completely covered in grey granite. Two ramps on either side of a wide flight of steps are a prominent feature of the frontage, and it is all topped off with a large dome, 85 m high.

WHERE TO STAY

Tourist sites are well scattered in Buenos Aires, although most hotel facilities are to be found in an area spreading northwards from centre.
Numerous thee- and four-star hotels are concentrated in the centre along 9 de July Avenue and in nearby streets, and also in the area near the Colón Theatre in Corrientes, Callao, and Córdoba Avenues.
There are a number of apartment-hotels around the city area, as well as ordinary hotels. The Catalinas Norte complex contains one of the city’s five-star hotels. But without doubt it is in Recoleta and its immediate surroundings that the most extensive range of hotel facilities is to be found. Here some of the most luxurious hotels in all Buenos Aires have opened in recent years, to add to those that already existed. And everything leads one to suppose that future investments in this field will be concentrated in this part of the city, which offers a full range of facilities for executives and for the holding of conventions and other types of event. A number of these hotels are also developing Health Club facilities.
In the south, which is the historic part of the city and the most attractive, there is no accommodation for tourists, but good restaurants abound, and also places to enjoy live music; these include a number of “cathedrals” to the tango.

WHAT TO VISIT

Buenos Aires is a city where there is always lots to see and to, and if you are going to appreciate anything at all, then a stay of at least five days is advisable. If anyone were to try and cover even a third of the cultural activities advertised each day in the newspapers, then the day would need to have more than twenty four hours. From churches to museums, you are spoilt for choice, as the possibilities seem never-ending. The number of art galleries is almost infinite, along with libraries, cinemas, theatres, historical monuments, parks, football clubs, a zoo, the botanical gardens, and a planetarium and not forgetting a number of shopping centres that are worth a look even if only for their very individual appearance. Here we merely give details of the most important attractions.

Churches

The oldest and most interesting are:
*The Cathedral, crossing from the Town Hall, and facing onto the Plaza de Mayo. A dome 46 m high, and five naves. In its mausoleum lie the remains of several heroes of the independence struggle, among them San Martín, Las Heras, and Tomás Guido.
*Santo Domingo (1773), in Belgrano and Defensa (this is practically where the San Telmo district begins). Carved wooden retables. Its mausoleum contains the remains of Manuel Belgrano, creator of the Argentinian flag. The Camarín de la Virgen del Rosario houses flags that belonged to English invaders, and the church itself was a creole bastion during the defense of the city in the invasions of 1806 and 1807.
*San Ignacio de Loyola (1734), Alsina and Bolivar Streets (San Telmo). This as two towers, one of which contains an ancient clock that used to be in he town hall, where it indicated official time during the last century. It is one of the oldest buildings in the city, and under it pass a number of mysterious tunnels that were built in the 18th century and which crisscross much of the historical part of the city.
*San Francisco (1754), Defensa and Alsina street (SanTelmo). Its main feature is an enormous altar tapestry (8 m by 12).
*San Pedro Telmo (1734), Humberto I 340 (a stone’s throw from the square of the same name). Built by French and Italian Jesuits, baroque style.
*Russian Ortodox Catedral, Brasil 315 (opposite Lezama Park). Has beautiful majolica work and an equally-fine dome.
*Nuestra Señora de la Merced (1769), Reconquista 207 (in the Herat of the City). A fine baroque altar is worthy of note.
*Santísimo Sacramento, San Martín 1050. A carved pulpit and magnificent majolica work are its main features.
*Nuestra Señora del Pilar (right in the Herat of Recoleta). Built by Dominican friars, it is one of the only examples of colonial architecture remaining in Buenos Aires.

Museums

*The Cabildo (Town Hall) Historical Museum (in the Cabildo Building. Bolivar 65) has display of artifacts dating back to the second founding of Buenos Aires and continuing though to the suppression of the Cabildo as an institution in 1821. Open Afternoons, Tuesday to Sunday. Opening times differ in summer and winter.
*City Museum (Defensa 187, San Telmo), Interesting museum showing how the daily life of the city has evolved through its everyday domestic object. Open Monday to Saturday, closed in January.
*Historical Museum of the House of Deputies of the Nation (Rivadavia 1860, first floor). Recalls elected deputies who passed through the House by means of an exhibition of some of their personal possessions and a portrait gallery containing pictures of all the Presidents of the Republic. Open afternoons, Monday to Friday. Closed in January and February.
*Museum of Historic Costumes (Chile 832, San Telmo). Collections of civil and military garments from the colonial era to the early years of 20th century. Open afternoons, Monday to Friday.
*National Historical Museum (inside Lezama Park, San Telmo). Argentinian historical documents down 1943, and miscellaneous articles and objects. Open Sundays, and afternoon Tuesday to Friday.
*Municipal Museum of Modern Art (San Juan 350, San Telmo). Important centre for contemporary art. The building dates from 1918 and was once a tobacco factory storeroom. The original frontage remains intact. Open afternoons, Monday to Sunday.
*Pedro de Mendoza School Museum (Pedro de Mendoza 1835, la Boca). This cultural centre was the idea of Benito Quinquela Martín, the school opened in 1936, the museum two years later. Currently it has on display a large collection of works by contemporary Argentinian figurative artist, and it also houses much of Quinquela’s work. It is a fine old three storey house that looks out ever the Riachuelo, a mere stone’s throw away from Caminito Street. On the terraces are works by Argentinian sculptors, and the rooms that were Quinquela’s studio also contain many of the artist’s personal effect.
*Argentinian Puppet Museum (Pedro de Mendoza 1821, La Boca), Not only does this museum contain puppets, but also items relating to puppet theatres. Open Wednesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
*Isaac Frnándedez Blanco museum of Spanish-American Art (Suipacha 1422). The artistic heritage of this museum suffered seriously from the effects of a bomb that exploded in the Israeli Embassy in March 1992. However, it is home to an important collection of Spanish-American silverware, paintings, and furniture from the 19th centuries. Opening times are limited for the moment, and it only welcomes visitors between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., Tuesdays to Sundays.
*National Museum of Fine Arts (Avenida del Libertador 1473, Recoleta). Important collection of works by exponents of the plastic art worldwide, and a complete exhibition of Argentinian art from its origins to avant-gardism. It has been resident since 1933 in the famous architect Alejandro Bustillo. Surrounded by beautiful gardens containing sculptures by the French artist Emile Bourdelle, it is one of the most interesting spots in the Argentinian capital. Open Tuesdays to Sundays.
*“Hands-On” Science Museum (inside the Buenos Aires Cultural Centre, in recoleta). A highly original idea, this museum offers you the chance to immerse yourself actively in the world of knowledge –Optics, physics, ecology, mechanics, magnetism and electricity. Initially aimed at children, a couple of years ago it opened its doors to `children´ of all ages. Open all day Monday to Friday, and weekend afternoons. Closes for summer break.
Most of these museums charge an entrance fee, although this is never more than U$S5. Not detailed in these page are many other museums catering for various interests. However, we cannot fail to briefly mention the importance of the heritage of, or the fine buildings occupied by: the Enrique Larretta, Museum of Spanish Motifs; the museum of Argentinian Motifs; the José Hernández and Casa de Ricardo Rojas Museum; the National Museum of Decorative Arts and The national Museum of Oriental Art; the La Boca Wax Museum; the Antonio Ballvé Penitentiary; housed in one of the Jesuits Casa de Ejercicios Espirituales and the Museum of Indian and Creole instruments.

Cinemas, Theatres, Cultural Centres and Art Galleries

Buenos Aires has always been famous for its active cultural life, and its no lees busy night life. This is why it has been called `the city that never sleeps´. And although this is perhaps a slight exaggeration today, it is not entirely without foundation.
Restaurants, bar, discotheques, pubs and above all, cafes, stay open well into the early hour, and at weekends do not close at all. And it should also not be forgotten that although Buenos Aires is by no means exempt from the problems that confront any major metropolis, it is still a safe city where your can get about without danger, something that makes its night life an even more attractive proposition.
If there is one street which has contributed more than any other towards this nickname of `the city that never sleeps´, it is Corrientes Avenue. Here are to be found most of the capital’s important theatres, and although in recent years some have closed their doors, there are still a good many where national and international theatre groups perform a wide range of contemporary and classical works.
Also in this street is the General San Martín Municipal Centre, an enormous complex designed along advanced architectural lines and which contains several small rooms set aside for different types of theatrical performance, including one which only present works by little-known Argentinian artists.
The next block from the San Martín Cultural Centre contains another complex offering good shows. This is known as La Plaza, and it deserver a special mention of its own for, with entrances in Corrientes Avenue and in Sarmiento and Montevideo Streets, it stand on a large piece of land that once contained a number of popular eating places where everyone from intellectuals and artists down of La Plaza successfully brings together big open spaces and shops and restaurants, making it an important focal point in the life of the capital, despite the fact that it is one of its newest centres. It has a beautiful open-air amphitheatre where concerts of classical and modern musical are given, as well as special shows for children.
This street also has a number of cinemas, although Lavalle is the true “street of the cinemas”. From Florida to Carlos Pellegrini, cinemas and pizza houses follow on one after the other. And the crowds of people that can be seen here on a Saturday night is truly amazing –a feature of Buenos Aires that is almost beyond description There are plenty of cinemas too in Santa Fe and Callao Avenues, and also in Recoleta.
The famed nightlife of Corrientes Avenue dates back to the thirties, when it was still narrow and the favourite haunt of tango artist. It was in the forties that the street was widened and the theatres and cinemas began to spring up. And in the seventies Corrientes, still full of life and renovated, was the setting for the great cultural demonstrations of the middle classes. Then subsequently, for both natives and strangers alike, it became simply the “street of the bookshops”. Dozens of bookshops displayed the great literary works at prices to suit all pockets, in versions produced by the major Argentinian publishing houses. And alongside the ordinary bookshops there sprung up others specializing in old books, where the unfindable could be found.
In the nineties, Corrientes has a very different appearance. Many of these bookshops –where you could read all night if you wanted, or get involved in a complex and never-ending debate with the bookseller who happened to be on duty at the time- have disappeared. But book-lovers are in luck, for many of the shops are still there, and although today they are not open all night, it is frequently after midnight when they close.
Where the cinemas of Lavalle come to an end is where Tribunales-starts. And there, on the square with the same name, stands the magnificent Colón Theatre, one of the greatest lyrical setting in the world, and which every year host the most important international stars. With impeccable acoustics, the building retains the Italian-style lines that typified the country’s most important public buildings at the turn of the century, it has seven floors, and its enormous Gold Room can seat 2,500 spectators –an there is room for a further 1,000 standing. The building is set off by a beautiful dome, the inside of which has been decorated by Raúl Soldi. Attached to the theatre is its own museum, which holds records of all the major performances and shows that have been staged there.
A few blocks away, the Cervantes National Theatre –home of the National Theatre Museum- is an impressive building in Spanish neo-plateresque style. It was a donation by the Spanish actress María Guerrero, and was opened by her and her husband in 1921. The outside is a reproduction of the Alcalá de Henares university.
The art galleries are concentrated in the street around Florida, especially between the intersection with Córdoba Avenue and the Plaza San Martín. Important exhibitions are held of classical and these do full justice to Argentina’s reputation as a major centre for the plastic arts. There are also art galleries in San Telmo and Belgrano.

Shopping Trips

One of the traditional shopping areas is Florida, between the Avenida de Mayo and its end in the Plaza San Martín; the best buy is clothing, formen, women and children. It is in Florida that the famous Harrod’s stores are to be found, which are among the oldest and most prestigious in Buenos Aires, and which offer a complete range of products, including foodstuffs and fine wines.
The famous Galerías Pacífico is also in Florida, between Viamonte and San Martín street, and Córdoba avenue. Rejuvenated and transformed into an enormous shopping centre, these galleries have a splendid dome painted by famous Argentinian artists, including Soldi. The whole building has been declared a Historic National Monument, and inside are restaurants, internationally-famous fashion houses, and even a “Perfume Comer”; there is also a large central space, under the dome, where concerts are held.
Other shopping trips that should be borne in mind when you are visiting Buenos Aires include Alto Palermo Shopping, Paseo alcorta, Patio Bullrich and Puerto Madero. The first of these, in the north at the intersection of Santa Fe and Coronel Díaz. Avenues, is a building of enormous proportions that has completely transformed the appearance of the area where it stands. Concentrated there are businesses of all kinds, and additionally a cinema and a room for projecting documentaries.
Patio Bullrich is a former stable building that dates back to the end of the last century, where the most important members of the local aristocracy used to meet. Completely refurbished and converted into a shopping centre, yet keeping its original architecture and materials, access is from Posadas Street and Libertador Avenue, half way between Retiro Station an Recoleta, in one of the most exclusive parts of the city.
In marked contrast, Paseo Alcorta, in Palermo Chico, is a modern, four-storey building. The ground floor is other floors contain fashion shops. There are also four cinemas.

Warnings

Although the first impression your may get of Buenos Aires, if you do not know it, is of a chaotic city, it is not realty like that at all. Although it might seem difficult to find your way around, the layout is not particularly complicated. Congress Square is kilometre 0, and all distances in the country are measured from there. Thus, for example, from the square to Jorge Newbery airport, where all domestic flights arrive and depart. Is 8 km. And to Ezeiza, 40 km.
Rivadavia Avenue, which starts in the Plaza de Mayo and continues beyond the General Paz ring road that separates the city from Greater Buenos Aires; is the basis of the numbering and naming system, since on it are based the numbers and names of all the streets that cross it. To the left they go up from 0 in a southerly direction, and to the right from 0 in a northerly direction. Rivadavia Avenue runs from east to west, and its numbers go up similarly, as do those of all the parallel streets that start from the river.
There are not too roads running diagonally across the basic grid pattern, especially across the basic grid pattern, especially in the central area, which looks like an enormous draughts boand.
Costanera north and Costanera South Avenues follow the river, with the dividing line between them being, as always, Rivadavia Avenue.
A motorway network links Buenos Aires with its suburban belt to the north and south, and these roads meet in 9 July Avenue, by Contitución Station.
The railway stations are also nerve centres of underground transport. The starting point for all rail communication southwards is Constitución, at the end of 9 July Avenue, and this is linked to Retiro Station by one of the underground lines. Retiro is where rail services in a northerly direction start, and this is located on San Martín Square opposite the Catalinas Norte complex: The area popularly known as `Once´ contains Miserere station, from where trains leave for the west, and this too is served by one of the underground lines. The lengthy Corrientes Avenue comes to an en at Chacarita Station, opposite the cemetery of the same name, and this is an underground terminus as well as being the starling point for trains to the northwest.

Places of Interest in the surrounding area

If you are visiting Buenos Aires for more than thee days, it is a good idea to find the time to make two traditional excursions: one to San Isidro, and the other to the delta of the Paraná River, better known as Tigre. These have been poplar trips since the end of the 18th century. Both are part of the northern. Buenos Aires conurbation, and have excellent communications with the capital. They can be reached by suburban line of “micros” (you catch these in the city centre), by private car or by special minibuses on excursions organized by numerous tourist bureaux.
The quickest of these methods is the train, which takes about 20 minutes to San Isidro and around 40 to Tigre; trains depart from Retiro station every 8 or 10 minutes, with a slightly reduced service on Sundays. By road the journey is longer, and depends to a certain extent on how much traffic there is on the Panamerican Highway –traffic tends to be heavy at most times, but especially so on Sunday afternoons when people are returning home from their country houses and the various clubs in the area.
San Isidro was officially founded in 1784, but settlement really goes back to the time of the definitive foundation of Buenos Aires. Lying on the right bank of the River Plate only 21 km from the Federal Capital, initially it grew up as an agricultural area specially renowned for the production of flowers; slowly, however, the large farms began to give way to residential development, and the area became a summer holiday spot for Buenos Aires families at the beginning of the 19th century. Around the middle of the present century, first of all industrialization of the district, and then improvements to the road network, brought to an end its image as a peaceful summer resort, and a gradually merged with the large conurbation as an active commercial and industrial centre.
However, it has never ceased to be an interesting place to visit, as it has a fine port, which is today the exclusive reserve of those devoted to sport and leisure activities. And in its historic centre, traces can still be found of the time when it was a summer resort. There is a square that was built on what was once the river bank and which today leads into an attractive avenue running alongside the old railway station. Other attractions include and impressive cathedral steeped in history, and a number of fine old houses.
If you continue a little further, you come to the important residential area of Lomas de san Isidro, where many Argentinian celebrities have their homes,. Here impressive mansions can be discovered lying hidden deep in wonderful parks or else resting on the tops of small hills.
All day Sunday there is a handicraft fair in the square, and this is, of course, the best day to visit San Isidro. There are excellent cafes an restaurants nearby, and here in this small area you will fortunately not find any of the tall buildings that spoil Maipú Avenue, the main thoroughfare of this northern sector.
The most important and internationally-famous rugby clubs in all Argentina are based in San Isidro, as are the best polo clubs –polo is a sport in which Argentina it world leader. Even if you are not horse enthusiast you should not fail to visit the magnificent San Isidro Race Track, almost eight blocks of age old woodland and gently-undulating land crossed by numerous small stream.
The district is historically rich both in deeds and famous people. It is worth going along to the San Isidro Guides Association, as in the company of a guide you can discover more about the place and enjoy your trip all the more; guided tours are available on Sundays, and this is really the best way to get a general panorama of the area.
Before it finally joins the River Plate, the Paraná loses itself in a maze of small rivers and stream that are dotted with island covered with astonishing vegetation –this is the Paraná Delta. Since those far-off days in 1806 when Santiago de Liniers began the struggle to re-conquer Buenos Aires, which at the time was besieged by the British navy, this area has been eternally bound up with intriguing pieces of history and legends.
The island had supplied the port with firewood and fruit since the Colonial era. And it was precisely as a fruit growing area that this part of the country developed, but this activity slowly declined as the country underwent a major economic transformation, and today it is almost non-existent. But so that this past is not forgotten, There is still the Fruit Market, and although there is little there today to justify the name, it is nevertheless one of the most attractive places imaginable. There you will find every-thing from horrible flowerpots stuffed with artificial flowers to real plants, wicker and cane furniture, exquisite basketwork, honey, chesses and sausages, and pretty pottery and copper handicrafts. You can find everything at this market, which owes the fruit from the islands was unloaded from the ships and sold.
Back on dry land there is still more to see: the derelict building of the former Tigre Hotel, and delightful mansions, some of them uninhabited, silent witnesses to a past era that was indeed splendid. And you can also choose one of a number of trips through the delta itself. Today there are few island that are completely uninhabited, and which retain their original vegetation. What you will mostly see on all of them are magnificent gardens, weekend houses and clubs.
The traditional buildings are wooden chalets painted either white or in very vivid colours, with a notable English influence. Generally speaking, launches and catamarans follow the most-frequented routes, but despite the signs of “civilization”, the scenery is still breathtaking. There are channels where the vegetation has become so entangled and entwined that it forms a sort of green roof stretching from one island to the next. And there is one plant which, although not native to the area, abounds in the island: azalea, whose lilac, white, purple or pink lines burst out of the dense greenery of the trees and creepers, beautiful rosebushes can also be found on a number of island.
Usually, excursions though the delta last either half a day, or a full day with a stop for lunch at some pretty restaurant or other. But there are also short trips lasting no more than a couple of hours. All these start from Tigre Quay, but if you want you can make reservations previously at a travel agency.
Although this is a good trip at any time of year, it is especially beautiful in springtime or in autumn, when the range of colours in the landscape is staggering. If you have time, you should stop off on Tigre Quay or in one of the old shops or bars around there to chat with some boatman or old inhabitant. The tragic stories of love, suspense, and adventure that you will hear are worth putting in a novel, and are as seductive as the island scenery itself.

Cordoba

2009-04-10T19:41:00.000-07:00

WHAT TO VISIT

It was not in vain that a number of religious orders settled in Córdoba in its early years. They have left their mark in the form of numerous colonial buildings, which are the most valuable of the city’s treasures:
The Cathedral, an ambitious 17th century project. Work started in 1687, and was not completed until 1914. it has a notable wooden dome an a main altar made entirely of silver. Renaissance, baroque and romantic styles all merge in this building, which fronts onto the Plaza San Martín. There right on the road, a drawing on mosaics reproduces the front of the Cathedral.
The Cabildo, (Town Hall), also in the Plaza San Martín and –just like the Cathedral- reproduced on the road, has a fifteen-arched preserved market. In classical style, it is one of the last cabildos that can be admired anywhere in the country and is currently the subject of an important restoration project.
The convent of the Company of Jesus and its notable Domestic Chapel are part of the so-called Manzana de las Luces. The chapel is important for its roof of guadua bound with thin strips of leather and adorned with paintings taken from vegetables of the region.
Córdoba University Cloisters, Monserrat College, the churches of San Francisco and San Roque ; the convent of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns; the tree monasteries of the Franciscan, Dominican, and Our lady of Mercy monks, and the convent of Santa Catalina and San José, together known as The Teresas, are just some of the many examples of 17th and 18th century religious architecture.
The Juan de Tejeda Museum of Religious Art is to be found in the Carmelite Convent. Further important collections are in the Fray José de San Alberto Religious Museum and the Deán Funes Ecclesiastical Museum.
In what was the residence of the first governor, the Marquis of Sobremonte, a fine old 18th century house, there is today the Provincial Historical Museum. Popularly known as the Marquis’ House, this contains important collections of historical object and documents, as well as fine decorated vaults and typical pathways adorned with tiny stones extracted from river beds, which should not be missed.
But not everything is a relic of colonial architecture or an example of religious art. Córdoba has its Contemporary Art Centre which is housed in a elegant old 19th century house in the Chateau Carreras.
The Municipal Museum of Fine Arts occupies an elegant French-style country house and as important collections by Córdoba artists, as has the Emilio Caraffa Provincial Museum of Fine Arts, located in Sarmiento Park.
To round off the museum visits, don’t forget the Museums of Mineralogy; Zoology; Medicine, Meteorology and Anthropology. When added to the art and religious ones, this makes a total of twenty two museums, which cater for a wide range of different interests.
There are other architectural curiosities that should not be forgotten as you wander around Códoba. The Chalet de Hierro (Iron Chalet) is the only work of its kind anywhere in Latin America, and was designed by the engineer Eiffel, the builder of the famous tower in Paris. There is also the Casa Giratoria (Rotating House), at the intersection of Paraná and San Lorenzo Streets, which was completed in 1951 and was a product of the imaginative mind of an immigrant of Syrian origin called Abdón Sahade. Built from everyday materials, it is extremely solid and can even support a second floor, it is 51 m in circumference and is moved by two thee-horsepower motors. It is supported above a platform on pillars with wheels at the top; an electric key makes it rotate in either direction at a speed of one metre per minute, thereby completing one rotation in 55 minutes. It is currently inhabited by one of the builder’s grandsons, who allows visitors to enter.
If you are travelling with children or are a nature lover, then you shouldn’t miss Sarmiento Park, a vast green expanse which borders onto the sports fields of the National University of Córdoba. It has a beautiful wood and delightful sport in which to linger. Inside the park are the Zoological gardens, laid out over a large ravine where the natural elements have been used to the best advantage to provide the animals with a suitable habitat.
In the same park you will find the open-air Greek Theatre, which respects the structure of ancient Greek Theatres, and where during the summer interesting musical performances are held.
Córdoba is a city you should walk though, it is a pleasure to wander though its streets and discover its architectural contrast. The French, or Italian-style country houses, which typify Argentinian architecture of the second half of the nineteenth country stand side by side with austere baronial mansions that still retain their mysterious tiled courtyards with the well in the centre, and their shady porticoes. Alternating with these are bold examples of modem architecture, with showy glass and brick frontages.
Many of the colonial buildings are to be found in the pedestrianised area between Obispo Trejo, Rivera Indarte, Deán Funes, 9 de July and 25 May Streets.
Córdoba was one of the first cities in Argentina to have pedestrianised streets, and what is more, these are wonderful gardens full of flowerbeds that are unbelievably clean and well-kept. In this sector the colonial architecture blends happily with modern commercial galleries which cross from street to street and attractive cafes that cheerfully set up their tables with sunshades in the open air. Here it is impossible not to be taken in by the charm, by the desire to sit down at one of the tables and enjoy the view of a particular bell tower, a curious shop window, the exquisite balcony on some shop, or simply to watch the people walking leisurely by.

Shopping

The pedestrian zone is where the most elegant shops are to be found and here you can find clothing, perfumes and articles for the home. All with splendis windows display, and alternating with pastry shops, restaurants and pubs. As with any city in a permanent state of change. Córdoba has experienced the shopping centre phenomenon, and there are several of these, all extremely modern and offering a complete range of goods. Everywhere in the central area, and especially in the old part, there are shops offering articles of a regional nature, and you can find good examples of elaborate silverwork, ponchos and leather goods, including shoes and sandals. And, of course, mate gourds and associated equipment abound, and to suit all tastes.

Places of interest in the surrounding area

Punilla Valley

The city of Córdoba is the gateway to this valley, so named because its topography is similar to that of the “puna” plateau, and it makes a very interesting tour. Here can be found many of the attractions of the province. The journey starts by taking the motorway that leads to Carlos Paz, one of the most important holiday resorts in the country, situated on San Roque Lake, and a mere 34 km from the provincial capital. Here are to be found a whole range of excellent hotel facilities, recreation centres, restaurants, tearooms and pastry shops, as well as discotheques and pubs aplenty. The lake, a sheet of water that was formed when the primitive San Roque dam was built in 1890, gave rise to the town, which was founded in 1914. Today it is a pretty place with over 60.000 inhabitants, whose life depends on the lake, which is suitable for all kinds of water sport. If you are looking for somewhere a little less congested, especially in summer, then “La Villa”, as the people of Córdoba like to call it, is also the starting point for visiting the small and extremely beautiful villages that abound in the valley. If you follow route 38 in a northerly direction, in rapid succession you come to Bialet Masse, Cosquín –which is considered to be the national folklore capital in view of the fact that during the summer the country’s most important folk festival is held there –Valle Hermoso, La Falda, Villa Giandino, La Cumbre, Los Cocos and Capilla del Monte (at the foot of Uritorco Hill, the highest point in the Sierras Chicas, it is a resort centre with mineral springs). Near here is the legendary Ongamira Valley, a strange landscape of caves with numerous remains indicating that it was once inhabited by primitive men very different from the indigenous tribes that the Spaniards found when they arrived. It is one of the richest archaeological sites in the country, and students have estimated that it dates back about 5000 years from the relics that have been found there.

Alta Gracia – Villa General Belgrano

This Circuit is to the south of the provincial capital, leaving by the motorway and then taking route 45. First, you come to Alta Gracia, a town with a history; it was the summer resort of the Viceroys, and the house where Viceroy Sobremonte used to spend the summer can still be seen. There are also important buildings constructed by the Jesuits, since the city was originally a Jesuit hacienda. The ruins of the writer Enrique Larreta’s estate can also be visited, and the house of the composer Manuel de Falla, which has been converted into a museum.
Nearby, the Astronomical Observatory the Satellite Communications Station, and Los Molinos Dam are all worth a visit before you continue your journey to the delightful Villa General Belgrano. This was founded by central European immigrants who made it into a veritable Alpine enclave in the Córdoba Hills. It contains typical chalets, and also Archaeological and Carriage Museums. Each year it also hosts a Beer Festival and a Chocolate Festival, which attract many tourist, and a Tyrolean Carnival. Of course, tearooms abound, offering typically-German confectionery delicacies, for which it as become famous. From Villa General Belgrano those with a sweet tooth can make a short trip to another Alpine Village, La cumbrecita, which has only 80 permanent inhabitants, and where delicious cakes and tarts are sold.

The history Trail

The Mule Trail, formerly the Camino Real or Royal Road, which used to connect the towns of Upper Peru and the North west whit the coast and Buenos Aires, can be followed in a northerly direction from Córdoba. This trail leads to Ascochinga, 64 km. from the provincial capital, but without straying too far from it you can enjoy a number of small paradises. Villa Allende and Unquillo are two suburban areas of Córdoba itself that offer surprisingly-attractive old mansions set in shady parks that are decidedly rural in appearance. From Unquillo, or via the Pajas Blancas road (which also leads no the airport), Río Ceballos can be reached. This is barely 34 km away from the city. It was founded in 1830 by Juan de Ceballos, who laid it out along the course of the river which today bears his name, and this is why it has such attractive, winding streets. Not to be missed in this small town situated 679 m above sea level is La Quebrada Park, a nature reserve with an extremely rich ecosystem known as Chaco Serrano, and an extensive variety of fauna and flora including rare species like the puma, grey fox, wild pig and grey deer.
La Quebrada Dam is part of the park of the same name, and is an excellent spot for canoeing every year both provincial and inter-provincial competitions are held here. And all other water sports are allowed too -except motorized ones!- Around the dam there is a path accessible only to those on foot and which leads to the Condor Falls, set amongst luxuriant vegetation; upstream is another fine waterfall, Los Hornillos, with a height of over ten metres. Other interesting laces to visit in this area include Los Altos –a group of luxury residences right in the hills-, the Ñu Porá Christ Monument by the sculptor Cortinovis, Santa Teresita and Itatí Caves, and La Candonga Jesuit Chapel.

Warnings

Córdoba is the only city in Argentina where the “colectivos” operate on the token system, and these can be purchased from the bus Station and news kiosks. It is also the only city to have trolleybuses, which help notably to reduce traffic congestion. But in the historic part of the city, it is best to walk.
Córdoba as only one campsite, located after the Fair Complex on the Suquía river. Towns in the surrounding area are notable for their excellent tourist facilities in general, and all have more than one campsite.
The Municipal Tourist Office organizes a number of different town tours. Within the central area, these can be undertaken on foot or in minibuses. Possibilities extend to an ecological circuit, the San Vicente district, various industries, and the Nueva Córdoba and Las Rosas areas. During Holy Week and the winter and summer holiday periods, the Town Authorities issue visitors travelling by car whit special licenses (“obleas”) which allow you to go where you want with access to the centre and free parking in controlled areas. These “obleas” can be obtained from service stations, the Town Hall, the Bus station and hotels.

Mar del Plata

2009-04-09T19:59:00.000-07:00

WHAT TO VISIT

La Rambla is an absolute must. Although there have been various versions of this, the most recent was a project by the famous architect Alejandro Bustillo. It was built in 1930 and is a grand esplanade along Bristol Beach, presided over by two statues of sea lions; on the esplanade the Casino and the Provincial Hotel have been built.
Torreón del Monje; this was opened in 1904, a donation to the city by Ernesto Tornquist,: Its design recreates a sort of medieval fortress and Jesuit belltower. It has a wonderful view over the sea, and currently houses a pastry shop, tearoom, exhibition halls and a solarium on the terrace.
Chateau Frontenac; this is an imitation of the castle with the same name in the city of Quebec, in Canada. It was built under the direction of the architect Bastillo, and combines various architectural styles in a harmonious balance. It currently houses a top class hotel.
Mogotes Point Lighthouse; brought into use in 1891, its instrumentation made it at the time one of the most modern in South America. An electronic system was installed in 1975, activated by a photoelectric cell which automatically switches the system of lights on and off, depending on the brightness or otherwise of the natural light. The lighthouse is 35 m high and can be seen from various point around the city.
The Tank Tower; this is 48 m high, and is another of the city’s privileged viewpoints.
The Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Cecilia; work started on this in 1893 and culminated in 1898. It is a reproduction of the Gothic style of the 12th and 13th centuries. Its most important features are its enormous stained glass windows, its central chandelier and its belltower with five bells.
The Port; apart from its economic importance, Mar del Plata port is a great leisure centre. In the immediate vicinity there are numerous beaches that are very busy in summer, while the artificial lakes formed by the breakwater are ideal for windsurfing, canoeing and entertainment such as giant water slides. There is a shopping centre nearby with shops selling all kinds of canned seafood and restaurants of all categories which likewise specialize in seafood. A separate spectacle is the sea lions that come in close to the wharves every evening at sunset, along with dozens of coastal ships and fishing vessels from the high seas.
Peralta Ramos Forest; this is a residential area covering some 400 hectares, and planted with eucalyptus, acacias, and cypress trees. It originally belonged to the family of the city’s founder, and today, with streets that fancifully come to an end amidst the woods, it is home to two tearooms, a high-class hotel with restaurant, a children’s play area, and leisure areas for riding bicycles or horses.
Los Troncos District; this owes its name to a chalet that was built there in 1938, and whose fence and main entrance door are made of quebracho and lapacho trunks brought from Salta. This area is the best exponent of the architectural richness of Mar del Plata: chalets surrounded by extensive parks which represent a never-ending variety of different European architectural styles. Los Troncos almost merges with Playa Grande, one of the first areas to be inhabited by aristocratic port families. It has retained its residential nature, and no construction of apartment buildings is allowed. Other more recently attractive are Santa Mónica, La Florida, Pinos de Anchorena and Parque Luro.
Villa Victoria; this is one of the most famous houses in Los Troncos. It used to belong to the writer Victoria Ocampo, and when she died she donated it to the city on the condition that it be converted into a cultural centre. Respecting the terms of her will, it is today a museum sponsored by the foundation that bearsher name, with a programme of cultural activities throughout the year. All the house’s original furniture, which was made to the instructions of the writer’s father in 1905, has been preserved. The whole house was prefabricated in wood and brought directly from Norway, it is the only house with these features in the country.
Mar del Plata is a city full of curiosity and beautiful spots worth exploring. Other places of interest that should be visited include a number of museums: the Natural Science Municipal History Museums, Mogotes Point Lighthouse, the Juan Carlos Castagnino Municipal Art Museum and the Man of the Port Museum.

The beaches

Mar del Plata has a coastline 47 km long. The most popular beaches are obviously the more central ones, Bristol and La Perla. But from Punta Iglesias northwards can be found a whole string of newer resorts which are reached from the inter-resort road that links Mar del Plata to the coastal towns and villages that extend in an unbroken line all the way to Las Toninas, south of Cabo Corrientes –the most westerly point in Argentina on the Atlantic- are to be found some of the most famous beaches anywhere on the country’s Atlantic Coast: Playa Chica, Playa Grande, the various beaches around the port, and the Mogotes Point complex. Until a few years ago Mogotes Point marked the end of the built-up area. But today, beyond the point are numerous resorts, some private, all much less busy than many others elsewhere, and with very good facilities. The nearest town to the south -45 km away- is Miramar. Practically the entire journey between the two towns is through a built-up area, along provincial road nº 11, and this is one of the most attractive drivers in the area. Barely 10 km along this road from the centre of Mar del Plata is the Chapadmalall holiday complex, where the president has his summer residence.

Places of Interest in the surrounding area

Avery attractive trip from Mar del Plata along provincial road 226 takes you to Los Padres hills and lake. The hills are part of the Tandilia system, and although not very high, are notable for the strange shapes created by erosion of the rocks. Los Padres has been developed as a residential town. It has pastry shops, arestaurant and 18-hole golf course, as well as a shopping centre and numerous places selling regional products. Its name recalls the Jesuit priests who once settled in the area.
Only four kilometres from the hills is the lake of the same name. This too is an important leisure centre, with two large pastry shops, wooded walks, and places where boats and horses can be hired. Two fishing clubs are also based on the lake, the Atlantic and the Fishing and Casting Club.
He lake covers an area of approximately 640 hectares, and the abundant wildlife both in it and on its shores has been well preserved.
On the same spot where the former Nuestra Señora del Pilar Reduction used to stand,a replica has been built which is fully in line with all the known historical data on the settlement. It was declared a Historical Site in 1950.
In the area immediately around Los Padreslake was to be found the ranch on which José Hernández spent part of is childhood and adolescence, and where he learnt the secrets of country life that would later on appear in his literature. In José Hernández Traditionalist Museum, which houses important collections of silverware, Creole handicrafts, and everyday objects of country life.

Warnings

Mar del Plata enjoys excellent communications with the rest of the country. Busses from all parts serve its Bus station –a beautiful railway station that has been remodelled to adapt it for us new use-.
It is connected to Buenos Aires by route nº 2 (dual carriageway). Route 226 links Mar del Plata with other inland cities of Buenos Aires province, and also leads to Balcarce, home of the Juan Manuel Fangio Automobile Museum; here many of the prizes and awards won by that giant of world motor racing. Juan Manuel Fangio, are on display, he was born in the town.
The airport is near the Parque Camet area, and daily flights connect it with Buenos Aires; in high season there are also direct links with Rosario, Córdoba and other major cities.
The city itself has 24-hour taxi and “remises” service, and an extensive bus network.
Mar del Plata is a city which can easily be visited on foot; distances are not excessive, and the only time that walking can be a hit hard is in streets that are somewhat hilly by nature. In any case. It is advisable to make some trips on foot, especially through Los Troncos and along the Avenida Costanera from la Rambla to Cabo Corrientes.
A number of other excursions are also possible. Boat trips are available from Dock B in the port Minibuses leave from Colón and San Martín Squares in the centre for balcarce and Los Padres Hills and lake. Trips can also be made by air, although costs are higher.
Mar del Plata has a bustling night life. Most pubs and discotheques where you can dance the night away; are concentrated in Avenida Constitución. In recent years the textile industry has made considerable advances, and Mar del Plata fabrics have become famous throughout the country for their quality and varied designs. Most businesses in this field are to be found in Juan B. Justo Avenue, and here wholesale as well as retail sales take place. This is one of the busiest streets in the city; where tourists and traders from all corners of the country make purchases.
Finally, don’t miss the famous Mar del Plata “alfajores” –cakes made of walnuts, almonds and honey- which are as well-known as its casino and its sea lions. They really are a Mar del Plata “trade-mark”, and although you can get them today almost anywhere in the country., eating them in Mar del Plata its own special charm.

Mendoza

2009-04-08T19:17:00.000-07:00

A major festival

In March every year, Mendoza holds its great festival. At this time, the whole city is alive with preparations, mysteries and emotions. It is the Wine Festival. For the people of Mendoza, a festival of work, a time to give thanks for the vines that the earth has produced. The tradition dates back to the end of the last century, when workers used to celebrate the end of the grape harvest to the sound of two typical beats of the region, the “cueca” and the “gato cuyano”. The celebration took on the nature of a formal festival in 1936, and since that time has become a major tourist attraction. The festivities begin on the Friday With the Blessing of the Fruit and the Offering of the New Wine; these are followed by a parade of decorated and brightly-illuminated floats through the streets of the city centre, another parade of gaucho groups in their traditional costumes, dance groups representing all the different immigrant races, and the great closing ceremony at midnight on the Sunday in the Greek Amphitheatre in San Martín Park, where hordes of locals and tourist alike come together. During the months of January and February, there are departmental festivities where the candidates for the Beauty Contest on the final night of the celebrations are elected.

What to Visit

As has already been mentioned, Mendoza was destroyed by an earthquake in 1861, when it was a city three hundred years old with interesting colonial architecture. Obviously, therefore, the tourist today will find no traces of its colonial past, but what he will find is an attractive and welcoming modern city of which the inhabitants are immensely proud.
The main street is the Avenida San Martín, the true commercial heart of the city. The Paseo Peatonal Sarmiento, literally roofed over by the foliage of its abundant trees, is the ideal spot to carry out the ritual of any Argentinian town worth its salt, namely relaxing over a coffee at any time of the day in one of the smart bars tht line the street. And in the adjoining streets there will always be the chance to do some shopping. If it is regional goods that you are looking for, then the place to go is the Avenida Las Heras, where you will find plenty of shops offering a wide range of products, from hand-woven clothing to sweets, dried fruit, spirits and wines of such high quality that even a teetotaller would be tempted.
But there are a number of other places that should not be missed. These include General San Martín Park, with its monumental iron gateway welcoming visitors to the green paradise within. It covers an area of 512 hectares and was designed by the architect Carlos Thays, inside can be found works by the renowned sculptor Lola Mora, and by Marly. The avenues in the park are named after the different species of trees to be found there, and it is a delightful experience to ride a bicycle or simply wander through the park.
The exploits of San Martín are recalled in the wonderful bronze figures by the Uruguayan sculptor Juan Manuel Ferrari at the Monument to the Army of the Andes, on the top of the hill known as the Cerro de la Gloria. Also inside the park are to be found the Zoological Gardens and the Frank Romero Day Amphitheatre, principal setting for the Wine Festival. Other attractions of this beautiful park include a number of private clubs, the Malvinas Argentinas Stadium, the University Centre of the National University of Cuyo, and El Rosedal Drive, which follows the shore of a large artificial lake.
Squares abound, but among the best are the following:
Independence Square, heart of the “new city”. Here are to be found the Municipal Museum of Modern Art and the Julio Quintanilla Theatre.
Plaza España, or Spain Square, where there are scenes depicting the founding of the city, painted on Spanich majolica.
Plaza Italia, built in honour of the Italian immigrants.
Paseo de la Alameda, where are to be found the San Martín Museum and the General José de San Martín Public Library.
The San Francisco Ruins are the sole reminder of the old city. There is to be found Foundation Square, today rechristened with the name of the city’s founder, and opposite this a Jesuit church dating back to the 18th century survives.
The Enoteca Giol Museum of Wine was the first wine vault-school in Mendoza. On display are oak casks from Nancy, prizes awarded at international competitions, and ancient machinery. The museum is in Civic Park, alongside the Government Palace, the Municipal Building and the Palace of Justice.
Other interesting museums include: the Museum of Cuyo Past, the U:N:C: Archaeological Museum, and the Mineralogy, Natural Science and Anthropology, and Emiliano Guiñazú Museum, together with the Aquarium.

Places of interest in the surrounding area

Las Heras
This is to the west of the provincial capital, part of Greater Mendoza; its wester limit is the impressive barrier of the Andean range, which rises to its highest peaks in this area. A number of mountain passes connect this department with Chile and Las Cuevas international tunnel is particularly worthy of note.
Las Heras has a glorious past, because this was where San Martín’s army made its preparations, and the name it bears today recalls one of that army’s most loyal and heroic generals, Juan Gregorio Las Heras.
The following should not be sissed:
Aconcagua Provincial Park, a protected area of natural beauty containing the fabulous Aconcagua, which at 6,959 m above sea level is the highest mountain in America. Puente del Inca (186 km from Mendoza) is the nearest town to Quebrada de los Horcones, the main access point to the park which takes you to Plaza de Mulas (4,200 m), the base camp for those wishing to try and climb Aconcagua by its shout slope. Punta de Vacas (161 km), is the village nearest to Quebrada de Vacas, the normal route to Plaza Argentina, the base camp for climbing it vía Los Polacos Glacier, Plaza de Mulas has a hotel, one of the highest anywhere in the world.
A special permit is needed to enter the park, and this can be obtained from the Undersecretary of tourism in Mendoza.
The same Route Nº 7 will take you to Potrerillos, the Uspallata Valley, Villa Vicencio and Cacheuta, all areas of outstanding natural beauty with majestic scenery. The Statue of Christ the redeemer, a giant stone monument built at the friendship between. Argentina and Chile, marks the exact frontier between the two countries.
The Ranchillos Ruins are worth visiting, and ancient, fortified, indigenous town.
El Plumerillo used to be a training ground for the army of the Andes, and still today contains a chapel where religious services are held.
In winter, ski lovers can enjoy the Los Penitentes Winter Sports Complex, which boast good hotel and apartment facilities, modern ski lifts, and slopes of varying difficulty.

Godoy Cruz
This is part of what is known as the Wine Trail. Many of the most famous vineyards in the country are to be found here. Names like Bianchi, Arizu and Escorihuela, to name but a few, have brought it this fame. The vineyards are open to the public, and apart from seeing how the different wines are produced, visitors can also enjoy wine tasting. This is the smallest, but at the same time the most industrialized, of the departments that make up Greater Mendoza.

Maipú
This department was colonised after the earthquake of 1861 by settlers seeking safer lands. It lies on a plain on the banks of the Mendoza river, one of the principal sources of water in the province. Although it is the main producer of olives, being responsible for fifty percent of the production from the entire province, it is better known for its vineyards.
With 167 top-class establishments, it is also part of what is known as the Wine Trail. Here are to be found the Giol Vineyards, founded in 1896 and recognized as being the largest in the world. Peñaflor ad López, are two others, equally famous. In the San Felipe Wine Museum you can appreciate the evolution of the most important industry in the province, through various items of machinery and working objects.
Also to be found in this area is Barrancas Chapel, dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary; one of the oldest in the region, it has been declared a Historic National Monument. There is also the Maipú Archaeological Museum, which contains important archaeological remains of the indigenous peoples from the Barrancas district.

Luján de Cuyo
This is one of the most fertile departments, also boasting many beauty spots. Among these is the Cipolleti Dam, built on the foundations of what was the first artificial drainage system made by the Huarpes long before the arrival of the conquistadors. Since 1983 it has been the setting for the annual Feriagro, and exhibition organized by the agricultural producers of the region to promote their products in international markets. It is also home to an oil refinery which at one time marked the first oil exploitation anywhere in Latin America.
Attractions which should not be missed include:
The Emiliano Guñazú Museum, in the house formerly belonging to fader, and which contains important plastic art collections; the surrounding are particularly attractive, a tree-lined road that forms a natural tunnel.
Chacras de Coria and Vistalba, two summer resorts particularly favoured by inhabitants of Mendoza as places to relax at weekends.
Potrerillos, which has areas with abundant aquatic vegetation, since it is the source of numerous streams; it is an ideal spot for photographing the many varieties, of birds that live there.
Cajón de Cacheuta is an ideal place to go rafting on the Mendoza river; those of a more sedentary nature may opt for the peaceful thermal spring of a modern spa.

Rosario

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At the beginning of the 19th century, the appearance of Rosario would have surprised any visitor to the city. A public and private architecture clearly inspired by France and Italy was replacing the humble buildings that had stood there previously. Santa Fe and Argentina Boulevards (today Oroño and Pellegrini Boulevards, respectively) were at the time the most elegant in the city, with important private mansions. The Municipal Palace was built, along with the Provincial Courthouse, and the Post and the Customs Buildings, hotels like the Majestic, and the Railway Station, this latter in Renaissance style.
After 1919, when the University Reform programme changed the principles of further education in Argentina, Rosariohad its National University of the Litoral, which subsequently changed its name the national University of Rosario. This very quickly became a breeding ground for top professionals and one of the country’s leading academic centres, alongside Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Tucumán.
By the mid-thirties the port, a faithful reflection of the Rosario economy, was exporting 35% of all the cereals produced in the country, and in this period people started to call it the Chicago of Argentina, since its cereals market virtually led the world. But Rosario was more than simply the busting activity of its port. Since the first cold store was set up there in 1924 with North American capital, a result of increased cattle rearing in the region, establishments involved in the meat industry began to grow.
The major economic and social transformations that have occurred in Argentina over the last thirty years, but particularly in the nineties, have had dramatic repercussions on the economic activity of the city, which has undergone serious setbacks, from which it is now trying to emerge.
Nationalization of the port in the forties meant that with administration concentrated in Buenos Aires merchandise left or arrived only as trans-shipments. The city saw its port fall into decline, a port that hard been its pride and joy as well as wound that was difficult to heal. Later there would be others.
Rosario continued to grow, but not in a planned way. The population began to move away from the central areas towards the outskirts, and the city ended up by absorbing the numerous small municipalities that had formed around it into one great conglomerate, wile a number of industrial establishments closed down.
Despite all these problems, Rosario still has considerable influence over the life of the nation as well as a very busy cultural and commercial life. Rivalry with Córdoba as to which is the second city in the country seems to be never-ending.
It is the permanent home of all kinds of national gatherings and congresses, and for this it can boast excellent conference facilities together with and extensive range of hotels and restaurants, to this can be added its favourable geographical location and its excellent communication links witch the rest of the country, both by land and air.
A modern motorway links Rosario with Buenos Aires and with Santa Fe -169 km. Its airport at Fisherton, a little under hall and hour away from the city centre, has several daily flights to and from Buenos Aires, and connections with other important cities in Argentina. Its bus terminal is extremely busy throughout the day, with services to all corners of the country, including all provincial towns. There is a half-hour frequency all day long between Rosario and Santa Fe and Paraná -capital of Entre Ríos province-, and connected to the capital of Santa Fe by tunnel under the river.
Rosario is a must on the itinerary of important visitors to Argentina, also for national theatre groups who present the first performances of their works in Buenos Aires or Mar del Plata. For their part, local theatre groups have an extensive programme of activities, as do musical groups.
Particularly since the seventies, Rosario has seen the rise of a number of truly important popular musicians, such as Fito Páez, Juan Carlos Baglietto, and Enrique Lopis, to name but three.
Plastic arts from the studio of Antonio Berni, Juan Grela and Eduardo Barnes, together with the work of the writers Mateo Boz and Enrique García Belloso, all hail from Rosario. Its most famous sons are the great actor Alberto Olmedo, Libertad Lamarque the “novia de América” and “negro Fontanarrosa”, one of Argentina’s most talented narrators and graphic humorists.
The city can boast numerous theatres , auditoriums, and cultural centres, all of which play an active role in the cultural life of Rosario. These include the Bernardino Rivadavia Cultural Centre in Pinasco Square, La Comedia Theatre, which faithfully reflects the architectural style of the early years of this century, El Círculo (formerly the Opera House), and the Astengo Foundation (which used to be the Odeón Theatre). El Círculo is home to the Fosos del Teatro Museum, devoted to the work of Rosario artist Eduardo Barnes.

What to Visit

A tour through Rosario simply has to start down on the Avenida Costanera, or more precisely on the old quayside in the port. Opposite, up on the hill, is Urquiza Park. From the quay all that can be seen is leafy woodland, you have to climb quite a lot of steps to reach it. Here is to be found the Municipal Astronomical Observatory.
Continuing along Costanera Avenue from south to north, you come to the Monument of the flag, with its impressive 75 –m-high tower, from the top of which you get one of the best views of the city and the river. This monument is the symbol of Rosario.
You need to continue several blocks further north to reach España Park. This was created to celebrate the city’s 500th Anniversary, on land given up by the railways, and has two levels, one of which serves as a terrace with wooded zones and children’s play areas; the other contains exhibitions and conference halls and the Colegio Hispano Argentino, which boasts a fine amphitheatre looking out over the river. The whole complex has been built entirely in brick and is a fine example of contemporary architecture, well worth a visit.
Costanera Avenue continues from the park through many other green areas, past clubs devoted to fishing and water sports, until La Florida resort is reached, this has recently been refurbished, and has excellent facilities. It is an ideal spot to spend a day.
Something else that should not be missed is a tour through the pedestrian only areas in the central part of Rosario: San Martín, Córdoba and Sarmiento. Here galleries and shopping centres abound, offering a whole host of articles at prices to suit all pockets; there are also numerous bars with their tables outside on the street.
It is the Córdoba pedestrian area that La Favorita to be found, one of the largest and oldest stores in the country, which still retains almost completely intact its original marble frontage and bronze lamps and adornments.
Going eastwards from Córdoba you come to the historic centre of the city, the Plaza 25 de Mayo, barely three blocks away from the Monument of the Flag and the river. The square is bounded by a number of important buildings: the Cathedral, the Municipal Palace, the Post Office, the Concejo Deliberante, the Estévez Museum of Decorative Art and the Jockey Club. Two blocks north of the square is the beautiful Customs House, which is also well worth a visit, as is the old Chamber of Commerce building -there is now a new one too, which has a conference room, tearoom, shops open only to members and others which serve the general public, an underground car park and a terrace. All of this is an example of the best architecture on offer in Rosario today.
Oroño Boulevard, despite the fact that a number of apartment buildings have been built there, still manages to retain the architectural unity of its noble mansions.
One of the entrances to Independence Park -something else that should not be missed- is on Oroño Boulevard. Not only is this one of the finest green areas anywhere in the city, it also contains many sporting and cultural attractions. These include two museums, the Provincial Historical Museum and the Municipal Museum of Fine Arts, both of which are extremely important in their respective fields, and the Racecourse, the Municipal Stadium, the Riding Club, the Provincial Club and one of the shrines of Rosario Football -the ground of Newell’s Old Boys (the other shrine, that of Rosario Central, is to be found in the suburb of Arroyito). The park dates back to 1910, and is a copy of the great park and public gardens of Europe; indeed, many of its fine decorations and adornments were imported from the Old Continent.
The Patio de la Madera is a culture and leisure complex built on former railway land opposite the bus terminal. It houses a number of conference halls and is surrounded by a Plaza Sec -made of concrete-, where open-air performances take place during the summer months. The old platform of the former railway station has been converted into an internal street containing restaurants and bars.

The Monument of the Flag

This memorial was finally inaugurated on 2o June 1957, after a whole host of problems that delayed realization of the scheme by almost ninety years! The first monument was the work of Nicolás Grondona, an engineer from Genoa, and was built with contributions from the public that were collected in record time. It was a marble pyramid with motifs relating to the creation of the flag. It was finished in 1872, but unfortunately when the river flooded six years later, the monument was destroyed. A new project in 1909 was entrusted to Lola Mora. The great sculptor from Tucumán spent almost fifteen years working on it in her studio in Rome, using exclusively Carrara marble. When the work eventually reached Rosario, it was left lying abandoned for many years because a commission decided that it “lacked interest”. It was only many years later that the citizens of Rosario set about making amends for this injustice, and what remained of the various sculptures were erected miscellaneous squares and public places; finally, when the Patio de la Madera was opened, they were all reunited in their final resting place.
The present monument has distinct neo-classical lines, and apart from its very high lookout tower, has a pole thirty metres high on which the national emblem burns. It is the work of the Rosario architect Angel Guido, who conceived three enormous -yet solemn- blocks. Each block has a number of allegorical sculptures, and the blocks are connected together by a wide walkway.

Places of interest in the surrounding area

Thirty km north of Rosario along route nº 11 is San Lorenzo, which played a vital role in the battle for independence in the River Plate region. Not to be missed here are San Carlos Monastery -which contains a Historical Museum- and the battlefield (Campo de la Gloria). The monastery is set in very beautiful surroundings overlooking the Paraná River.
Another very interesting trip is to the nearby island in the river. There are regular tours from Rosario which last about two hours. But there are also day trips that go as far as Victoria, a pretty town on the other bank of the Paraná directly opposite Rosario, in Entre Ríos. One section of the journey is covered by land, utilizing a system of paths between the various islands in the area. This is an ideal way to see and enjoy the wild scenery of the river banks, and there are also good opportunities for fishing.

Bariloche

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San Carlos de Bariloche

The name Bariloche is probably a deformation of Vuriloche, one of the mountain passes that was used by the native tribes. Development of the town was closely linked to the forestry, agricultural, and cattle-rearing activities that grew at the same rate as its fame as a mountain resort.
In effect, it was its setting at the foot of the Andes, on the wonderful Nahuel Huapi lake, and surrounded by mountain peaks, lakes and forest, that converted this tiny village into the most important winter sports centre in South America, and a mecca for international tourism thoughout the year.
The 95,000 inhabitants recorded in the 2001 census bear witness to the tremendous growth of recent years, when this figure is compared with the figure of just over 6,000 who lived there in 1947.
Today the vast majority of the town’s income is derived from tourism, and in Bariloche are concentrated the most important hotel and leisure facilities in all Patagonia. It is, furthermore, the starting point for various tours of the Andean region of Patagonia. The town itself extends around the lake with extremely beautiful Alpine-style buildings, which have, however, been adapted to national tastes and are built of local wood. Worthy of note is the Civic Centre, a group of buildings consisting of the Municipal Administration Building the Tourist Office, the Post Office, Customs Building, the Francisco P. Moreno Museum and the Sarminto Library.
The Civic Centre was the work of Alejandro Bustillo, who was also responsible for the Llao Llao Hotel, possibly one of the mostbeautiful in the country, and the La Rambla and Provincial Hotels and Casino in Mar del Plata.
For many years Bariloche has been the tourist capital of Argentina for the young. Thousands of secondary-school pupils make their traditional end-of-course trip to this town which, unlike any other in the south, combines magnificent scenery an sports facilities with a bustling nightlife -there are plenty of discotheques where dancing the night away is the norm.
Cathedral Hill, only 16 km away, welcomes thousands of skiers every years; expert, professionals and beginners alike, since there are facilities for all. With 67 km of slopes and 2000 hectares of excellently maintained skiable mountainside, it is the most important ski centre in the southern hemisphere. It 32 different skilifts have a capacity of 20,200 people per hour, and even for non-skiers it is a wonderful sight to see all of this in action at the height of the season. The range of activities available to skiers includes the famous torchlight descents that take place at night. There are hotels, restaurants and bars right on the hillsides, with splendid glass-covered terraces where you can sit and calmly contemplate the scenery while enjoying the very best cuisine or simply drinking a coffee by the fireside.

Excursions

San Carlos de Bariloche is known as the Capital of the Southern Lakes, and when talking of this city you are talking of the most important international tourist centre in Argentina today. The excursions that start or end in Bariloche are many and varied, but all have one thing in common –they are extremely beautiful. Here we mention but a few
A tour through the Nahuel Huapi National Park can in itself be never-ending. It contains areas of wild beauty that even today are rarely visited, and which can only be reached if you are in the company of expert guides.
Anyway, if you do not have a lot of time, there are a number of tours that should not be missed, and which enable you to get a good idea of what the park is.
One of these is called the Small Circuit. After short journey along Bustillo Avenue, the first stop is at Campanario Hill, with its chairlift and rotating restaurant at the summit (1,400 m). Next comes the San Pedro peninsula , where the Regatta Club is; from near here you get a splendid view of the most famous island in the lake, Victoria Island.
One of the major attractions of this circuit is the Llao Llao Hotel, a magnificent building dating back to 1939 which dominates the landscape of the Llao Llao Municipal Park, with Tronador Hill and Puerto Blest as a backdrop. At this point you will only have travelled some 25 km from the centre of the city, but will have the impression that you have already discovered various new worlds. There are a number of different alternatives for continuing this circuit. One is to follow the trail that leads to Lago Escondido (Hidden lake), whit the beautiful Villa de Tacul, or alternatively you can continue along Bustillo Avenue to López Bay, crossing a bridge over the Angostura river which connects Nahuel Huapi Lake to Moreno Lake, and where there is a magnificent natural viewpoint. In front of you, the impressive López Hill and Montañez Cemetery.
The Southern Circuit leads along provincial route 258 to the area of El Bolsón, some 120 km from Bariloche. This is the first ecological municipality in Argentina, and has been declared a non-nuclear zone, it is one of the few places that remains unspoilt by the and of man. For many years now it has been a favorite haunt of craftsmen, who live and work there. Amazing nurseries and orchards can be visited, all cultivated without the use of agricultural chemicals. The Belvedere establishment is the only place in South America devoted entirely to the breeding of Anglo Rubian African dairy goats and Frisian dairy sheep; a local cheese is produced that is famous throughout the entire region. A truly-delicious local beer is also brewed.
The area around El Bolsón is well worth the trouble of reaching, trusting to luck along roads that are not easy and not always well surfaced. Places that should not be missed include the valle del Azul, the Cerro Lindo with its Tricolor Lake -there water passes through various shades of colour, ranging from violet to the most incredible greens and blues- and Perito Moreno Hill. Amigo Hill, which is almost entirely covered by a cypress forest, is a municipal nature reserve, and offers one of the finest views over the Village and its surroundings.The large Circuit is the one that follows the route of the seven lakes to San Martín de los Andes in Neuquén province. A journey of 250 km during which you can lake in the full splendour of this part of the Andean region of Patagonia. It is described in detail in the chapter Tourist Circuits and Areas of this guide.

Tucumán

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San Miguel de Tucumán

No description of San Miguel de Tucumán would be complete without mentioning that it is known as the Garden of the Republic, a nickname that will be seen to be fully justified the moment you start to walk a bit through its main square, through 9th July Park, of through any of the suburbs. Flowers are in bloom throughout the year; all the different types you would expect from a place with a subtropical climate. Jacaranda trees –their tops crowned with lilac flowers- and lapachos, with their pink and violet blooms, are typical of the exotic flora of the north. To see these at the end of the winter, or in springtime, when they are in full bloom, and spreading freely along all the paths to make a veritable carpet of flowers, is one of the finest sights that nature can offer tourists who come to Tucumán at this time of years. But there is one other little detail which will not go unnoticed –the delicate aroma of orange blossom that permeates many of its streets and squares, since tows of orange trees have been planted along the paths.
24th September Street is the commercial heart of the city; shops of all kinds, but especially ones selling clothing and fine-quality footwear, make up a whole brash array of commercial establishments that only seem to quieten down when it is time for that holiest of provincial rituals, the siesta. In marked contrast is Muñecas Street, with its elegant boutiques which tempt even the most demanding of customers.
If it is handicrafts that you are after, San Miguel de Tucumán offers these in abundance. In general, these types of shops are concentrated around Independence Square and the Casa Histórica. In the surrounding streets, tourist are seduced by sweets and delicacies that alternate in shop windows with ponchos and beautiful fabrics that have come from different points around the province. The typical Tucumán handicraft is the “randa”, which is not found in any other province. It is a fine linen cloth which originally came from Spain; the secret of how to make this as been handed down from generation to generation since the eighteenth century. The finest randas come from the tiny village of El Cercado in Monteros department, some 60 km from the provincial capital. Another handicraft which is unique to this region is the famous Tucumán poncho; woven from llama, alpaca or vicuña thread, it is and article that is much in demand since it is ideal for even the harshest of climates. However, production has declined noticeably of late, because the animal are in danger of extinction. On top of all this, as in other provinces in Argentina, good-quality leather goods, silverware and products made from straw and palm can be found in Tucumán.

What to visit

The wide, shady streets that are given a touch of colour and a very delicate fragrance by the large numbers of orange trees, plus the fact that is has none of the drawbacks of a large metropolis, combine to make San Miguel de Tucumán an ideal city to walk around.
Your tour could well start in Independence Square, in the middle of which is a fine sculpture to Freedom by Lola Mora. Facing onto the square is the Cathedral, the third oldest in the country, after Buenos Aires and Córdoba. It was moved from the original site of the city, Ibatín, to the spot it occupies today. It has undergone a number of renovations and modifications over the years, its present frontage dating back to 1856. it is neoclassical in style, with two Byzantine domes. Inside there is no clearly-defined style, but it contains the wooden cross that was used when the city was founded, and the remains of General Gregorio Aráoz de Lamadrid. It also houses a small museum where valuable vestments and priestly robes from the colonial era. It has recently been declared a Historic National Monument.
If you cross from the Cathedral to the other side of Independence Square, you come to San Francisco Church, one of the oldest in the city. Intil 1785 it belonged to the order of Dominicans, but in that year it passed to the Franciscans. Inside are to be found pictures dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, some of the chairs used at the historic session of Congress in 1816, robes that belonged to San Francisco Solano, and the tombs of a number of Tucumán’s illustrious citizen. On its main altar can be seen the first flag that was raised by Belgrano in Tucumán. It is surrounded by railings which are a fine example of Spanish colonial work, donated by the congregation in 1694.
The church of La Merced, also known as Victoria Church, and located in 24th September Street which Rivadavia, recalls the passage of Manuel Belgrano through Tucumán. Inside are to be found a number of relics which form part of the country’s historical heritage, including a picture of Our Lady of Mercy, who Belgrano proclaimed General of all the Armies of the Fatherland: the gold-handled stick offer by him, and two flags captured from the Royalists, one at the battle of Salta (1813) and the other at the siege of Humahuaca (1817).
A few short steps away from the Cathedral is the Provincial Historical Museum, in the house which was the birthplace of Nicolás Avellaneda –one of two presidents of the Republic to have been born in Tucumán. Since 1941 this building has been a Historic National Monument. Its rooms contain displays of furniture, clothing, coins and other relics of the last century. The building itself is an architectural gem of the 19th century, a two-storey house with a fine staircase made of carved quebracho; it also has beautiful internal courtyards.
The last stopping-off place on this tour through the central part of San Miguel de Tucumán has to be the Casa Histórica, known to Argentinians simply as La Casa de Tucumán. It is true that virtually nothing remains of the original house belongin to doña Francisca Bazán de Laguna –just the room where the congressmen met- but the rest has been so carefully reconstructed that it is hard to tell the difference. The house led a very chequered existence until 1941 when it was declared a Historical National Monument, and the renowned architect Mario Buschiazzo was given the task of restoring it to its original appearance. To do this, Buschiazzo worked with original documents of the period, including photographs taken in 1869, and also excavated the foundations. Two bas-reliefs depicting the Independence struggle by Lola Mora –yet another of the glories of Tucumán- adorn the rear courtyard.
Since 1968 the house has provided a very original attraction which has appealed to thousands of visitors, both Argentinians and foreigners alike. This is a son et lumiére presentation which by means of a highly-developed audiovisual system recalls the Independence struggle in colours, light and sound. Production of this involved not only a large team of technicians but also a number of leading figures in the world of Argentinian music and theatre.
An absolute must is a visit to 9th July Park, which contains numerous activities ranging from cycle ways to pastry shops. But its main attraction are the gardens which are in flowers all year, with hundreds of examples of typical trees of the region, jacarandas, lapachos, and tipas. With display bearing titles like La Pérgola (The Bower), El Rosedal and El Reloj de Las Flores (The Flower Clock), together with its collection of replicas of famous statues imported from France at the beginning of the century, the park is an absolute delight. It is reached from Independence Square by following 24 September Street in an easterly direction for eight blocks.

Places of interest in the surrounding area

In its tiny area –it covers barely 0.6% of the total land mass- the province of Tucumán offers a wonderfully-varied range of different scenery; from plains covered with thorny scrub to luxuriant jungle on the slopes of the mountains, and from saline depressions to snow capped mountain peaks.
The Calchaquíes peaks and the Quilmes ranges are prominent in the north west, while further south are to be found the Aconquija range, which has majestic snow capped summits reaching up to almost 5,000 m above sea level. Many rivers rise in these mountain systems and drain in an easterly direction to where the land gradually levels off to form a plain.
It is important to remember that distances in Tucumán are always short. Most roads are paved and in excellent condition, an so it is very easy to tour the province by car.
A number of excursions can be made in a day, returning to the provincial capital to spend the night. One of these takes you to Marcos Paz, Yerba Buena, La Rinconada and San Pablo. This is the most attractive residential area, and from the road that leads up San Javier Hill (1270 m) there are wonderful views over the city of San Miguel de Tucumán. At the foot of the hill lies La Rinconada, where the Golf Club is located, with swimming pool and children’s play area. Climbing up the hill, you come to Villa Nogués –here there is an inn and tennis court. And Raco, two village resorts with fine week end houses. These places are no more than 50 km away the city.
Leaving Tucumán along national route nº 9 and branching off onto provincial route 311, you come to San Pedro de Colalao, another pretty summer resort where a large swimming pool –with water from the Tacana River- is the attraction for visitors from near and far. It is also a favourite place four young people as it has a very active night life.
Another extremely attractive tour from San Miguel de Tucumán is along national route 38 to Acheral (46 km), and then branching off onto provincial route 307 which takes you to the valley region. A mountain track (partly unsurfaced) then leads you alongside the Los Sosa river to the Tafí Valley (2,000 m). The entrance to this valley is absolutely breathtaking. Awaiting you ere is a beautiful landscape of dense jungle which rises up the slopes of mountains with summits as high as 5,000 m above sea level. Rivers cut through the wole valley. But there is more than simply the scenery to astound visitors here: there are the remains of its ancient inhabitant, who left behind strange, carved stones known as menhirs, which are scattered over a hill in La Angostura Park.
Las Carreras, El Potrerillo and El Mollar are other valleys in the Tafí system, and these can boast inns, restaurants, hotels and pastry shops. There is a polo club, and also a hunting club. The local sweets and cheeses produced in Las Carreras are famous.
The valley reached its highest point in Infiernillo dale; from ere it drops down to Amaicha del Valle (164 km). From this point on the scenery changes completely, with vegetation typical of a dry, hot climate. Amaicha del Valle is home to the only indigenous community still surviving today in the province, and is also famous for its Pachamama Festival; this revives the ancient rituals of worshiping the land. Anyone interested in the archaeological past will want to visit the ruins of the ancient city that was once inhabited by the Quilmes Indians, and which is only 20 km away.
If you follow provincial route 301 in a southerly direction from San Miguel de Tucumán, you can visit interesting villages like Taco Ralo (119 km) and Simoca (50 km). A local handicrafts market is held every Saturday in the latter, and regional dishes which date back many years can be tried. Taco Ralo has an inn and thermal springs.

Patagonia

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Andean Patagonia region

Astonished at the size of the footprints they saw in the snow, the first explorers of Patagonia came to the conclusion that it was inhabited by giants, and so they gave these people the name Patagones, or “Big Feet”. The earliest references to the unnatural size of the Tehuelches and Onas, the original settlers, go back to 1520, when Ferdinand de Magellan sailed down the Puerto Deseado coast and his crew landed at San Julián. It is true that the men they saw where very tall and robust, but in reality they were not all that much bigger than the northern Europeans, it was just that they wrapped their feet in animal skins so that they could walk on the snow. It did not take the astonished Europeans long to realize that it was not only Patagonia’s inhabitants that where large, but also its lakes; and that its coast and steppes were never-ending, its mountain peaks unreachable. And as if all that were not enough, there were also those immense blocks of ice drifting through the water.
And the Patagones, the “Big Feet”, were not the only inhabitants. For there were also hundreds of species of strange mammals, birds and fish that made up an absolutely magnificent ecosystem. Five hundred years on, and despite the irreversible impact of human activities, Patagonia is still today a region that as been barely touched by man. Possibly one of the last refuges of nature on our planet.
The Argentinian portion of Patagonia covers an area of 786,165 km2, and extends from the Atlantic coast to the Andes, an expanse of land that is about the same size as Germany and Spain together. This is 80% of the total area of Patagonia –the remaining 20 per cent belongs to Chile. In all this vast region there are no more than one and a half million inhabitants, distributed through its five provinces: Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut, Santa Cruz, and Tierra del Fuego. It represents one sixth of Argentina, but contains only 3,5% of its population.
Two national routes cross Patagonia.
Route 3 starts out in Buenos Aires, crosses the centre of Buenos Aires province, and then runs almost parallel with the Atlantic coast right down to Lapataia Bay in the Tierra del Fuego National Park, crossing the southern tip of the Andes in the process.
The other is Route 40, which like a real spinal chord joins the northern and southern extremities of Argentina, running parallel with the Andes. If you have enough time –a month would be ideal- and are out to make a detailed study of the region, then you could do worse than go out by Route 3 and return by Route 40 as far as San Martín de los Andes. The distances are immense, and at times the road seems desolate; the wind is strong and there are plenty of rough sections, especially on Route 40. But what you will discover as you will readily agree that no price is too great to pay for such an experience.
Just one little point to illustrate what you will see: merely between San Carlos de Bariloche and San Martín de los Andes there are at least eleven different and important tourist circuits. Between Lanín National Park in Esquel, south west Chubut, there are four national parks, more than a hundred lakes, 6,000 kilometres of rivers, hundreds of streams, mountains, and age-old forest, many of these containing specimens that disappeared long ago from other parts of the world. A staggeringly rich variety if you think that this section is but a tiny part of the vastness of Patagonia.
Here we suggest just a few of the many tours; they are the most important ones, and are based on the idea that people only have a short time available for their travels. It is supposed that in all cases the journey from Buenos Aires to the tourist centres is accomplished by plane.

Andean Patagonia

San Martín de los Andes – Seven Lakes Route
San Carlos de Bariloche

A journey of slightly more than 200 km, through scenery that mere words cannot possibly do justice to. The seven famous lakes –Machónico, hermoso, Falkner, villarino, Correntoso, Espejo, and Nahuel Huapi- are notable for their deep, clear blue water, and the forest display an impressive range of greens.
You follow the rough Route 234 and at its junction with Route 231 it is a good idea to turn off towards Villa Angostura, a beautiful mountain village with good tourist facilities on the north side of Nahuel Huapi Lake. And absolute must here is a trip to the Quetrihué peninsula, for at its southern tip is the Bosque de Arrayanes, a unique forest containing myrtle trees over 1,000 years old. Other placeswell worth a visit in Villa Angostura are El Mesidor, the work of the famous Bustillo, which is a presidential residence that has been visited by numerous world-famous personalities who have visited the country, and Manzano Bay; a former Jesuit rest centre which owes its name to the numerous apple trees (manzanos) planted by the missionaries.
Another possibility when you get to the intersection of Routes 234 and 231 is to take the latter in the opposite direction –westwards- and go round the southern edge of Espejo Lake to El Rincón, where there is an Argentinian customs post before the road climbs to the Puyehue Pass (usable throughout the year, and one of the most accessible passes) and from there crosses into Chile. Route 234 is not surfaced, and so this tour is only advisable in spring, summer, and early autumn.
Although smaller than Bariloche, San Martín de los Andes competes with it in terms of the quality and range of its tourist facilities and the beauty of its scenery.
In spring or summertime, the main attractions are the numerous walks in the village or its surroundings, hoseriding and trips on the lake. But in winter the place turns almost exclusively into a skiing resort. The main centre is at Chapelco, 13 km from San Martín de los Andes it started life very modestly in 1946, but today Chapelco (2,390 m above sea level) can boast 26 excellently maintained slopes, a whole range of first-class facilities for skiers (including a nationally-famous ski school), and ten modern ski lifts with the capacity to transport 11,000 skiers an hour.
Excursions are organized from San Martín to the Lanín National Park, which covers a vast area extending to the Chilean frontier in the west and the Nahuel Huapi national Park in the south. There are 24 lakes in the immediate vicinity of San Martín, and countless paths that invite you to walk through the countryside. The waters of the lake basin in general drain towards the Atlantic, but Lácar is an exception to this, as its waters flow into the Pacific, and because of this it represents the main water supply for the Chocón Cerro Colorado, Piedra del Aguila and Alicurá hydroelectric schemes.
Lanín Volcano (3,774 m) is inactive, but is still dominates the landscape of the park, in which there are there nature reserves. And fishermen, as long as they take note of the times when fishing is prohibited, can catch excellent trout, salmon, and Patagonian mackerel.
Adjoining the park is the small town of Junín de los Andes, connected to san Martín by Route 234, which is paved on this section. From there, numerous trips can be taken to the volcano, and these enable visits to be made to some of the more important lakes, such as Huenchulafquen, Tromen and Paimún.

San Carlos de Bariloche – El Bolsón – Esquel

Bariloche, situated on the south east shore of Nahuel Huapi lake (extensive details can be found in the Destinations chapter of this guide), is a town that is sufficiently attractive to warrant a lengthy stay. The minimum should be four days, but if you decide to stay a couple of weeks, then you can go on a different excursion every day.
Then, after you have decided to stay for ever, it is a good idea to continue your journey in a southerly direction. Route 258 runs alongside lakes Gutiérrez and Mascardi, and at the edge of this latter is the village of the same name, where accommodation can be found, including good camping facilities. Al Pampa del Toro, a 10 km diversion along an unpaved road to lakes Steffen and Martín, in the wildest part of the park, is strongly recommended. When you rejoin the main road you will be at the end of the of the park and entering El Bolsón, the most southerly of the Río Negro district. This means you will have travelled about 130 kilometres. El Bolsón offers the most exquisite harmony between the landscape and human creatuion. Wonderful handicrafts in a spot where twentieth century technology has not yet arrived.
18 km further on along Route 258 you come to Epuyén, and from there another westerly diversion can be made to the lake Puelo National Park, where the lake itself is the major attraction. This is the smallest of the national parks, right on the border which Chile, and covers an area of 27,900 hectares. It has a very special micro-climate which enables vegetables from the Chilean Andean region to be grown, and this is the only place in Argentina where they can be found.
This park is also home to numerous native animals that are in danger of extinction elsewhere, such as the puma or America lion, and the Chilean mountain goat or guemal. Ferrets and other exotic species like the wild boar or the American bison can also be found in the park, and public access to several areas is restricted.
The administrative centre is in the small town of Lago Puelo, 3 km from the park, and which has good communications with neighbouring towns. Some 160 km further south from there along Route 258 is Esquel, the main tourist centre in the province of Chubut.

Esquel

Esquel, stands on the banks of the Esquel River; it is in a beautiful natural setting, framed by the thickly-wooded slopes of La Zeta, El 21, La Cruz and El Nahuelpán hills. Its date of foundation is taken as being that on which the telegraph was officially installed in the former 16th October settlement, out of which the town grew.
Esquel is the main gateway to Los Alerces Park , one of Patagonia’s many wonders. The park’s 24,000 hectares, which come to and end at the Chilean border, are home to numerous authentic natural treasures, and lend themselves to all sorts of different tours. In summer the lakes excursion should not be missed, this starts from Puerto Limonao, crosses the connected lakes of Futaleufquen, Verde, Menéndez and Cisne, and enters the most spectacular part of the park. Here are to be found magnificent larch trees (alerces) approximately 3,000 years old, and which reach heights of up to 70 m.
The main attraction in winter is La Hoya ski centre, 13 km from the town. it has a ski school and slopes to suit all tastes and abilities, with ski lifts that have a capacity of 4,000 people per hour.
A number of interesting day trips can be made from Esquel. One of these is along Route 259 to the pretty town of Trevelín, which in Welsh means “village of the mill”, in memory of the first flour mill to be built in the area.
There then follows, an attractive journey along Route 259 past the Nant Waterfalls and the fish farm to the Futaleufú international pass, which leads to the Chilean village of the same name; its traditional wooden buildings are typical of southern Chile. If you like, you can continue to Chaitén, capital of the Chilean province of Palena, which is 225 km from Esquel on the Pacific Ocean.
Another interesting day trip is to the village of Lago Rosario, which lies on the lake of the same name, and which is renowned for its locally-woven fabrics. From there you continue to Vintter Lake; another good fishing spot where the scenery is wonderful.
For those with a sense of nostalgia there is one trip which is like a journey through time. You have to be ready to sit on wooden seats for a long period, for this is the narrow-gauge (75 cm) rail trip from Esquel to Ingeniero Jacobacci. “La Trochita”, as the locals lovingly call it, is and old train hauled to be declared part of the country’s historical heritage; while it waits to know its fate, it continues to haul passengers twice a week.

The Atlantic Coast

Puerto Madryn – Valdés Península – Rawson
Gaimán – Punta Tombo – Camarones

There are good connections by air between Buenos Aires and both Rawson and Trelew. This tour can start from either of these two towns, preferably by car. Public transport is available, but the possibilities are much more limited.
Puerto Madryn is situated at the mouth of the Chubut River; a few kilometres north of the original Welsh settlement. It is a small but pleasant town with generally good accommodation and services. Its first inhabitants were Welsh settlers who landed on the shores of the New Gulf, fleeing from political persecution in Great Britain.
The coast off Puerto Madryn, in the peaceful waters of new Gulf, is a haven for skin-divers in summer. The water is crystal clear, and the tremendous variety of underwater like can easily be observed on this 400 km wide platform -one of the widest in the world- that runs right down the Atlantic coast.
But Madryn’s major tourist attraction is the Valdés Peninsula, an incredible refuge for sea mammals just 20 km away. It is reached via Route 3 from its junction with provincial Route 2, a road that on the peninsula is unpaved.
Its most famous guest, the enormous, tame, right whales, start to arrive from the south in July. They go there to mate and breed their young. It is wonderful to see these two-ton “babies” frolicking with their mothers as they clumsily learn their lessons. They can be observed by taking a boat trip from Puerto Pirámide. The whales stay until December, with the babies being born between August and October. This is the only place in the world where they can be seen so close to the coast.
Other equally illustrious visitors arrive in early January, the sea lions. Always full of life and always in schools, they can be observed in hard-fought battles to win over the females –nobody has taught them the idea of monogamy- or to mark out the individual territory of each male, all the time performing wonderful pirouettes in the water or showing off their swimming skills.
You should not leave the Valdés Peninsula without looking at the bird life. Bird Island has some exclusive residents; the public are not allowed access, but the birds can still be seen if you have suitable optical equipment. There is an `Interpretation Centre´, and all excursions on the peninsula are accompanied by a wildlife guide. It is best to book these excursions in advance, since the number of tourists allowed onto the peninsula is strictly controlled, in an attempt not to harm its delicate ecosystem.
You will see more sea lions and sea elephants at Punta Loma, 15 km south of Puerto Madryn. And continuing along Route 3, you come to the towns of Rawson and Trelew; lying on opposite banks of the Trelew River; Rawson is the administrative centre for the whole province, and its neighbour Trelew the busiest town in the area, with buildings dating back to the time of the original Welsh settlement and an interesting paleontological Museum.
The Tombo penguin colony is reached via Route 1 (in poor condition) and then a further 24 km along a dirt road. About one million penguins congregate here between September and March; they can be observed from a prudent distance, as they are somewhat timid, but they are very likable.
You continue along Route 1 as far as Camarones, a small fishing village with a fine and almost deserted beach, where even in summer you will almost certainly not be able to go swimming. The water is very cold, but if you are a fishing enthusiast, then you will be able to enjoy yourself. During summer a colony of sea lions can be seen off the beach.

Comodoro Rivadavia – Puerto Deseado
Puerto San Julián

The San Jorge Gulf is like a huge mouth opening onto the Atlantic between the provinces of Chubut and Santa Cruz. There, on the sea but surrounded by arid and monotonous scenery, lies Comodoro Rivadavia Lonely, in the middle of the gulf, and with no major tourist attractions, this is the most important oil city in the country.
If you have come down from the valdés Peninsula, Punta Tombo or Camarones, you will have travelled along Route 3, one of the best sections of which comes after Comodoro Rivadavia, where it runs alongside the gulf. The road turns away from the coast at the small oil town of Caleta Olivia, and continues to Puerto Deseado, another small town lying on the estuary of the same name. Excellent fishing is available there, even for sharks. You will also see beautiful sea birds, including the very strange grey cormorant. The whole area is one of deserted beaches and excellent fishing; most of the coast belongs to great estates and has difficult dirt tracks.
By way of contrast, the section of Route 3 that links Puerto San Julián, Luis Piedrabuena and Puerto Santa Cruz is monotonous and desolate. These three towns are on some of the very few natural harbours in Argentinian Patagonia, lying on estuaries where there is good fishing. The variety of seafood is excellent, (it includes prawns and octopus), as is the range of fish –hake, cod, bream, sole, mackerel and dogfish. You do not need to be a fisherman, for on these beaches where it seems that no human foot has ever trodden before yours, you can pick up the seafood with you’re bare hands and later enjoy cooking it as your fancy takes you. There are no restrictions on fishing along Patagonia’s Atlantic coast. But it is always a good idea to ask in the different villages what the best time to go is, and to fish in the company of experienced fishermen. To reach the two `petrified forest´ in Chubut, you take Route 26 from Comodoro Rivadavia, which is paved for the first 60 km, as far as Colonia Sarmiento. From this tiny village you continue southwards along a dirt road. Nearby are two interesting lakes with good fishing: Musters and Colhué Huapi.
If you rejoin Route 3 and head towards the province of Santa Cruz, you turn off in Puerto Deseado and continue for some 45 km until you come to the Santa Cruz Petrified Forest Nature Reserve.

Río Gallegos – Río Grande – Ushuaia
El Calafate – The Glaciers

Río Gallegos

This is the most southerly mainland town in Argentina, and capital of Santa Cruz province, which is second in size only to Buenos Aires province. Located on the banks of the Gallegos River, it is a good deep-water port, and because of this fact, through it passes much of Patagonia’s important wool production. Basically, a is an industrial town and highly important in the economy of the region, but it has little to attract tourist.
Its international airport has connections with other parts of Patagonia and with Chile, which means it is the starting point for the most interesting tours, especially those to the province’s two national parks: The Glaciers, and Perito Moreno, in the Andes, where some of the most important lakes in Patagonia are also to be found, such as Buenos Aires, Viedma and Argentino.
There are a number of interesting places to visit near Río Gallegos: the impressive Laguna Azul (Blue Lagoon) in the crater of an extinct volcano, which gives you the strange sensation of being in the middle of a lunar landscape; the Penguin Island provincial reserve, and the capes of Buen Tiempo and Vírgenes; where there is a beautiful lighthouse you can see the island of Tierra del Fuego –shared by Argentina and Chile- and you will have come to the tip of the Argentinian mainland. In other words, you will be that little bit nearer to the “end of the World”.
Route 3 continues on the island, still in Argentina, until it comes to and end at Lapataia Bay in the Tierra del Fuego National Park, after passing through Río Grande and Ushuaia. This section is unpaved.
The first town you come to when crossing the island is Río Grande, on the banks of the river of the same name where it flows into the Atlantic, and still in a landscape of steppe with no natural barriers to protect it from the wind. It is the economic capital of the island, rich in oil and gas, and with a lively industrial estate. Despite its industrial features, Río Grande is a welcoming town with good links with Buenos Aires. It is 230 km from Ushuaia.

Ushuaia

Ushuaia is the capital of Argentina’s newest province, Tierra del Fuego; or to give it its official name, Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Isles del Atlántico Sur, a title it has held since 26 April 1990.
It is the only town in Argentina situated on the other side of the Andean range, and along with the small Chilean village of Puerto Williams, is the most southerly in the world. Because of its geographical position, with the Andes to the north, the Beagle Channel to the south, and the Tierra del Fuego National Park to the west. Ushuaia can only grow in an easterly direction. For the same reason, it looks more like something out of a picture than a real town.
The earliest inhabitant, the Yaganes or Onas, had named the bay well: Ushuaia meant “bay which penetrates to the west”.
The first Europeans to visit these coast were Ferdinand de Magellan and his crew, on their famous first circumnavigation of the globe in 1520. For more than ten thousand years before that date, the area had been inhabited by the Yaganes.
The last decade has seen a sort of “new discovery” of Tierra del Fuego, but this time by tourist. Slowly but surely, Ushuaia and Río Grande are leaving behind their image as the Cinderellas of the Country, and are finding a destiny more in line with their tourist potential. Some forty thousand tourists arrive every year, avidly seeking contact with a vegetation that still retains its natural features, to go skiing (the best slopes in the country are to be found there), to sail Tierra del Fuego’s channels, or go on excursions to Cape Horn of Antarctica. In Ushuaia itself, san Martín Street is a busy commercial centre where imported products can be bought.
But Ushuaia much more than just a good shopping centre. You only need to turn your head away from the commercial centre to come face to face with the exciting water of the Beagle Channel, to rejoice in the sight of the ships that have dropped anchor in the port, and remember that your are no more than 500 km away from Antarctica.
Most of the town itself can be visited on foot. You should not miss the Museo del Fin del Mundo (the end of the World Museum), which contains an interesting selection of items relating to the past history of the island, a bird room, and a complete library of books on Patagonian subjects. Another “must” is the End of the World Lighthouse.
Excursions to the park can be by land or sea, or ideally by a combination of the two, since it is best not to miss anything. There is a lot to see: native forests, Laguna Negra (Black Lagoon), the Pipo River; Las Agujas Forest, the Lapataia River –its bay provides one of the best views of the park, and marks the end of Route 3. ask Ushuaia travel agencies about guided walks and horse riding tours of the park.
Ships start from the port for the journey through the channel to Lapataia Bay. And there are other excursions to neighbouring towns in Chile: Puerto Williams, virtually opposite Ushuaia, Porvenir or punta Arenas. You sail through a landscape of fjords that is typical of the Chilean coast. In an easterly direction trips go to the End of the World Lighthouse; to Bird Island, to Martillo Island (for the penguin colony), and to Harberton Bay, which belongs to the Harberton estate; the Harbertons were descendents of Ushuaia pioneer, Thomas Bridges. Another interesting excursion is to Staten Island, also in an easterly direction.
But the real attractions are the Antarctic crises. These can be undertaken in different types of ships, ranging from the extremely luxurious to much more economical options. Either before you leave, or else on board ship, experts give talks on the scientific value of this type of expedition. All these trips take place in spring –from the beginning of October and summer.
You take the same road that brought you the island -Route 3- in order to go back to the mainland. Whichever way you are going, between Río Grande and Ushuaia you should stop to make a trip to Fagnano and Escondido Lakes. The first of these is one of the biggest lakes in Patagonia, and is shared with Chile; on its Argentinian side it covers an area of about 500 km2. By the lake is an inn that should not be missed. A small diversion will take you to the charming village of Tolhuin (it has less than a thousand inhabitants), hidden in the middle of a forest.
Another diversion will take you to Escondido (Hidden) Lake. And it is along Route 3 that Ushuaia’s five ski centres are to be found, including the famous Valley of the Huskies, the only place in all South America where Husky dogs are bred –the ones that pull sledges.
Once you have crossed back from the northern tip of the island, you continue on the mainland along Route 3 to its junction with Route 40 near Río Gallegos and head for el Calafate. This is a 312 km journey, mostly paved. You should stop at the tiny settlement of La Esperanza to stock up on supplies, for after this there is nothing but Patagonian steppe.
Another way of getting from Tierra del Fuego to El Calafate is through Chile, crossing at the island’s only frontier post of San Sebastián, from there you go by boat through the Straits of Magallan (belonging to Chile) and on to Puerto Natales, an attractive town on the Pacific, from where you can continue over El Turbio pass, which is open all year round, to the town of Río Turbio, in Santa Cruz. Back on Argentinian soil once more, the journey continues along the unpaved Route 40 to El Calafate. This route is, of course, much longer, and the various customs inspections can be irritating, but its value lies in that this way you will see something of the Chilean part of Patagonia.
The small village of El Calafate, which as no more than three thousand inhabitants, has good tourist facilities, and is the gateway to The Glaciers National Park. Lying on one shore of Argentino Lake, its hotels and restaurants are adequate, and it also has cheaper accommodation available in family homes adapted as pensions and the like. It even has a couple of discotheques.
El Calafate also has a modest airfield, and light aircraft link it with the provincial capital. Once you are fully relaxed, you have to get ready for one of the most exciting experiences that nature can offer. 60 km from the village the Andes mountains await you, with their colossal icefields. A road runs along the shore of Argentino Lake, which covers an area of 1,415 km2. this divides at Buenos Aires hill, with one road leading to the National Park and the other to Puerto Bandera, where lake excursions start to the Upsula, Onelli, Agassiz and Bolados glaciers.
UNESCO has declared The Glaciers National Park part of the Cultural Heritage of Mankind. It covers an area of six hundred thousand hectares in the Andean zone, and 47 glaciers come down into this Ice Field, the most famous of them being the Perito Moreno. This extends over the southern arm of the lake at an average height of 60 m, and pieces of ice are constantly breaking off its front wall and falling into the empty loneliness that is all around. This glacier also “moves”; every two or three years it advances towards terra firma, a phenomenon which draws thousands of tourists from far and wide. The pressure of the water causes the glacier to split, and enormous blocks of ice begin to drift like ghost ships along the Tempanos Channel; on the days immediately before this magnificent natural spectacle, the waters of the Brazo Rico begin to rise. It is advisable to always travel in this area in the company either of guides or people who know the region well; never try to go off on your own.
If you decide to go on the lake excursion, you will have to get up early: departure time is 7.30, and as they say, “there are no more”. Return is around 6.00 in the evening. But what you will experience during this short period of just under twelve hours is worth any sacrifice. You travel along the northern arm of lake to the Upsala glacier; the biggest of all. There you will see what looks like a giant tongue of ice, 50 km long and 10 km wide, although these measurements are only approximate. It just has to be seen, that’s all! The excursion continues to Onelli Bay; and then by land to the lake of the same name, where there are yet more glaciers: Agassiz, Bolados and Onelli. The return leaves you deeply moved, leads you to reflect on the origins of the universe, of simply leaves you speechless. But nobody can remain indifferent.
The northern tip of the park extends to Viedma Lake, 1,088 km2 in area, where the Viedma and Moyano glaciers can be seen descending into its waters; the road is unpaved and twists around the lake as far as Chaltén, on the western shore, where there is a store offering basic provisions. In the background can be seen two mountains: Torre (3,128 m) and Fitz Roy (3,375 m). Both these peaks have been the goal of numerous mountaineers. Inhospitable, yet with an impressive beauty, this area is ideal for a number of adventure tours that start from El Calafate (see Adventure Tourism chapter).
Viedma lake is 240 km from El Calafate, and in summer a minibus company operates a service between the two places. This is along Route 40, and if you follow this north wards and then turn off onto a dirt road, you come to the Perito Moreno National Park, at the foot of Mount Lorenzo (3,700 m). this park covers an area of 115 thousand hectares and is a wonderful nature reserve set in wild, beautiful scenery. There are no facilities in the park, but a number of campsites and very basic hotels can be found along Route 40. in the surrounding area, well known spots like Bajo Caracoles and the Cueva de las Manos should be visited in the Pinturas River Canyon.

Iguazu Falls

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translated from Spanish

Iguazu Falls – (cataratas del Iguazú)

Since Posadas, Misiones province, Route 12 is the most popular way to get to the famous Iguazu Falls, 310 km. Cataracts are a goal for foreign tourists soon get to the Argentina. Normally move by air to Puerto Iguazu, but it is advisable, even once, arriving by land. The stretch of Route 12 between Posadas and Puerto Iguazú is dotted with beautiful villages in which they should stop, eg, the ruins of Candelaria, Santa Ana and Loreto. Of the dozens of ruins of the Jesuit missions that have been in the province of Misiones in Paraguay and the San Ignacio Mini, which are located in San Ignacio, 55 km from the capital, are the most spectacular and unique were subjected to a process of restoration. We need to know to see what he could only attempt to achieve the indigenous settlement was not made with blood and fire. In San Ignacio keeps the house where he lived Horacio Quiroga, one of the great writers rioplatense and one of the most unique literary history of these latitudes. Uruguayan and Argentine origin for adoption, Quiroga lived long years in the jungle, where she wrote stories about the master and the man who is able to resist. The house and furnishings were built with their own hands. The landscape is different from missionary everything you can imagine. The soil is red because of the large foundations that contains iron. Therefore, it is extremely fertile. If you are encouraged to explore, find, and side to side of the road, streams and small waterfalls erupt amid the tangled vegetation. Despite the rich indigenous forest have been cleared so huge and replaced by pine trees, there are parts where it is still something. It should be a high Tobaya breaks, a few miles from Puerto Rico, also in Monte Carlo to visit the provincial orchid, and to see native trees in the region Schelm Provincial Park, near Eldorado, one of the most important missionary of the interior, surrounded by an aura of legend of the famous kingdom of gold sought by the conquistadors. Hence, it is less than an hour by car to get to Puerto Iguazu. This small town grew as a center for tourism that comes to admire the walls of water more than 70 m in height, forming the Iguazu River. There are several inns and a simple pair of chain hotels, campsites. Cataracts are a kind of giant crescent in the middle of the jungle. The river produces more than 1,500 m3 per second with over 250 jumps of different sizes. The most famous: Two sisters, Mbiguá, Saint Martin, Two Musketeers, Three Musketeers, and the Garganta del Diablo, which forms the border with Brazil. The whole system falls within the Iguazú National Park, home to native vegetation and rich fauna - unfortunately not very neat and with some species in grave danger, and hundreds of bird species. There are a number of gateways through which they have different angles of the jumps, only for the very bold in the tour is reserved rubber boats. For ecological reasons are not recommended for helicopter rides over the area, but can do the least apprehensive. The park is the natural border separating Argentina from Brazil and Paraguay. You can cross to Foz de Iguazu on the Brazilian side-by-the Tancredo Neves International Bridge, only 500 m in length. From Foz has a panoramic view of the entire set of waterfalls on the Argentine side that can not be achieved because it is within them.

Adventure Tourism

2009-04-03T18:26:00.000-07:00

Translated from spanish…

In the mountains and the sierras

In the Esteros del Iberá

In the national parks

In the mountains and the sierras

Argentina shares with Chile the privilege of having some of the highest peaks in America. Most are concentrated in the central mountain range. To the south, and as the environment becomes more humid, the hills are gradually losing altitude. No wonder, then, that these two countries are mecca for climbers from around the world and the greatest heights are naturally the most precious gems. Needless to say this sport is reserved only for experienced climbers, who can not undertake this alone, should have the right equipment and use, more particularly, to reliable sources of information and advice, such as clubs Andean distributed along the Andean provinces. Beyond the purposes of this guide a detailed enumeration of all possibilities of mountain climbing offered by the country given that there is great expertise in Argentina. This text is limited to providing information on some of the most famous climbing, some on hills lower, but easier access to justify the start of this adventure, and some possibilities for trekking in the mountains. For location, taking into account the heights of the Cordillera Central. The king of the Andes is the Aconcagua, in Mendoza (6959 m). Pissis volcanoes (6882 m) and Ojos del Salado (6864 m) will compete for the scepter. The first one shared by the provinces of La Rioja and Catamarca, the second shared by the provinces of Catamarca, in Argentina and Atacama in Chile. I still Mercedario hill in San Juan (6770 m) and Huascaran (6768) in the department of Ancash, Peru. The list of the highest mountains and volcanoes of the Americas continues with a number belonging to or shared with Argentina Chile It is known that the ancient American cultures used to pass the higher elevations. There are numerous testimonials from his tenure in higher summits. Without further anthropological studies, it suffices to mention the discovery (1985) to 5300 m altitude, in one of the slopes of Aconcagua, the body of an indigenous child with clothes and blankets funeral, and next to the wrapper cuerpecito offerings of gold, silver valva and marine shellfish. The ice kept the body intact approximately 500 years. Perhaps in these rituals to the heights that would trace the origins of the human need to defy nature. Perhaps the earliest American men have to lead the list of the first climbers. Climbing Aconcagua is an adventure that many record attempts and also cost many victims. The first ascent to the summit was to Mathias Zurbriggen in 1897. Currently, the Aconcagua Provincial Park receives about 2,000 visitors per year, however not all dare to scale. Most are content with a bit of trekking in the hill more accessible. This activity uses the services of specialized guides are used and two access roads. One Horcones The Gorge, which is reached through Puente del Inca (the valley to reach the regular buses) from Horcones continues to Plaza de Mulas base camp where there is a refuge and the Hotel Plaza mules, which is considered the highest hotel in the world. The other entry is for Cow Creek and from there to Plaza Argentina (to 4200 m), which has a base camp. To enter the park requires a credential that is processed in the de Turismo de Mendoza, and must be displayed to guard all the time required. There are different rates as a foreigner or native, and activity to undertake. Trekking permits are valid for 3 to 15 days. It is forbidden to fire, or cutting firewood outside the camp locations and the waste is deposited only in the locations indicated by the rangers. Besides trekking can do horseback riding. Cerro Fitz Roy (3405 m) in the province of Chubut, always attracted the attention of scouts even though it is not among the highest elevations. Located in a very busy area of Patagonia, north of the enormous Lago Viedma, the system of peaks and needles has never been climbed to their summits. The climate is harsh and its slopes are often rough with gale-force winds and major snow. In the area there are good mountain guide for the conduct of trekking groups. Usually these groups are organized in the summer and starting point, once it is reached there is the tiny village of Chalten, whose population is not a hundred people. The services can be found in Chaltén are regular, there are several inns, but few have central heating. Inside and outside the town there are campgrounds and indeed, in the summer this is the preferred type of accommodation. The base camp is Rio Blanco, where both mountaineers and trekking enthusiasts sometimes need to spend days waiting for the bad weather subsides. It is common to horse and with the necessary provisions, the horses will get some people in the area. The climb begins along a path surrounded by native forests and requires good physical condition. The path is opened and then makes the circuit easier, which leads to Laguna Capri. From there, time help, are some of the most impressive peaks of the complex as Mermoz and Guillaumet needles. To reach the camp you have to cross the river several times via bridges trunk, and sometimes we must vadearlo. In summer, the camp looks like a tower of babel, you can hear any language. From here you can take several circuits of varying degrees of difficulty, but always in the company of experienced people. If you are beginner circuit Laguna Capri is one of the shorter. Another is the gap that leads to the Tower of incredible emerald. Opposite is the silhouette of Cerro Torre complete. There are several more, all of impressive beauty, but none for those who have no experience in the mountains. In the vicinity of the hill Tronador (3478 m) is known as the Pampa Linda, a starting point for hiking and horseback riding excursions. Just 86 km from Bariloche, the first 38 Route 258, paved, the rest by gravel road. There are strict timetables for the ascent and descent, on which must be secured before the trip. There is a tourist complex with restaurants, bars and accommodation and there are excursions to hire half, one and two days. You can reach the source of the River Manso, the snowfields of Tronador or Meiling refuge (2000 m), surrounded by glaciers and Alerce Chestnut Overa. This activity is done only in summer and, like all previous mountain guide. The closure of San Luis in the center of the homonymous province, with the Aconquija in Tucuman, and the Sierra Chica de Córdoba are some of the places where the trekking and horseback riding have become a small adventure to integrate proposals for alternative tourism, ever more frequent and widespread. The advantage of this activity is less risk involved in the high peaks and is also an interesting experience. The central cord of the Sierras de San Luis, with average altitude of just under 200 m, is a good place for trekking without major difficulties. The target area is the Water Hedionda hill (2250 m). The first leg starts in the town Suyuque New to the monastery of the Benedictine nuns. The next section continues until the rock formations known as El Castillo, the road will stumble across valleys to the second height of the hill Retana (2200 m). The more adventurous can attempt the summit, which allows an overview of the whole serrano: east of the string Comechingones; west, just drawn on the horizon, the first foothills of the Precordillera. North of the hill is reached Retana Water Hedionda through its western slopes. These trekking do not require special physical training and its objectives are quite achievable, even for beginners. It is recommended not only to make them without a guide who knows the area properly. Another interesting proposal is the trek which passes through the dense jungle tucumana and rises to the heights of Aconquija. The trails are narrow and closed, because the vegetation is decreasing as it rises. By reaching the 3,000 m there are still quite high pastures that at this point give way to rocks. From 4200 m apart from the spectacular view of the mountain range, discovered the ruins of an Incan people called Pueblo Viejo, a top area attractions. At this point also shows some of the fauna. The best view would require more effort, is the top of the hill Tipillas (5400 m). It is a trek without much difficulty, but requires great physical exertion, lasts between 10 and 12 days and the best time to do so from May to September. During the summer it is not advisable, the rains are very intense. On the way, some of the watercourses that flow through the mountains, you can go fishing for trout.

In the Esteros del Iberá

Located in the heart of the province of Corrientes, these enormous waterlogged soils occupy an estimated area of 23,000 km2, which corresponds to 25% of the total area of the province. Iberá Lagoon, which takes its name throughout the region, 17,000 km2 and is entirely dominates the landscape, characterized by the presence of a flora and fauna of exotic specimens-some endangered, and importance of such diversity that although on a smaller scale, make it comparable to the marshlands of the Brazilian Mato Grosso. After suffering quite predation, the marshes became provincial reserve. Today is one of the circuits of adventure tourism in the country more attractive, ideal for practicing modalities that are known as bird and wildlife watching, photo safaris, horseback riding, canoeing and trekking tours. These excursions should be undertaken in the company of guides who have vast knowledge of the area. Otherwise we must refrain from making, because the adventure can become dramatic for those who come from an urban center. Both in Buenos Aires as the capital Correntina there are travel agents who work these special programs to the area of Ibera. The location for these excursions is Carlos Pellegrini, north of Mercedes and 80 km. the only accommodation in the area provided it stays and its capacity is limited, so it is better to make reservations well in advance and provided by companies authorized by the owners for marketing. At the very expressive Iberá Guaraní language means "shining water". The name can not be more appropriate for this large stretch of water that form a labyrinth of creeks and lakes not connected to any organized hydrographic system therefore does not drain into any of the major rivers crossing the province. The complex ecosystem of Iberá formed on the original bed of the Upper Parana, which across the river Aguapey were fed into the Uruguay River. The Paraná was moving westward, until it took its current course in the latest geological era. Summer and autumn are the seasons of heavy rainfall, with annual average exceeds 1,400 mm. The particular topography of the region and its subtropical climate, which, by the concentration of moisture, the summers are hot sharply, hence the scarcity of established human population. Thus, for decades remained the exclusive hunting ground of the neighboring landowners who ventured to guide baquianos, and also served for the practice of subsistence hunting by some former residents. Poorly explored, with very difficult access, was settled over esteros fantasy reality, and legends that the rich imagery correntino wove them are part of the landscape as much as the beautiful birds and alligators that inhabit them. In the brindle coloring stand clear of vegetation patches of old sand banks that settle in the swamps. There is a predominance of dense vegetation and ceibo ombú; sand banks are also very popular for birds that used to make their nests. The range of biomass, amount of organic life, vegetable and animal-is due in part to the area Ibera is a penetration of the neighboring regions of the jungle missionary and eastern forests of the Chaco. The Timbó also called ear black, has been adapted so well to the region that is considered typical of estuaries. Form small nuclei wild, although lower than in their home-the-jungle missionary because you do not have to compete with other species for sunlight. Another species is unusual among the trees or the Higuerón ibapoy, fruit highly prized by some animals. These are precisely those who are responsible for reproduction to expel the seeds through their feces, often placed in the trunk of a tree healthy and robust. The new Higuerón begins to grow inside her and their extensions intersect with it, strongly embracing its trunk until it almost drowns, hence its name of "strangler tree". On the northwest of the marshlands, an arm of the Gran Chaco brings its own species as' quebracho 'and the red palm caranday. For the southern plants are introduced themselves to a dry area, the Espinal, with copies as' ñandubay '-algarrobo's family and native to the forests of the central Chaco. The ñandubaysales coexist with other species such as the 'guabiyú', the 'Urunday', the 'lapacho black' and 'ambay. The enumeration of tree species would be endless, but not the most important thing to see in the estuaries. Its characteristic vegetation is aquatic. Rushes, cattails and reed introduced its roots to two meters deep in a thicket in the middle of the water plant, one of the reasons why they navigate the marshes is extremely difficult and not recommended for novices. The roots intertwine underwater really floating islands called 'embalsados', which serve as a reservoir of nests and food pantry for fish. It is common that many animals are concentrated near the reservoirs in search of food, to navigate the waters, these islands even carry small animals. One of those who choose this means of transport is the 'chajá', which builds its nest in the reeds and sometimes in the water. Among the many species of aquatic plants, which are the most abundant 'lentil', the 'cabbage water', the 'Camalote' and 'irupé. The latter, with a beautiful flower is the symbol streams. One of the animals that feed on aquatic plants, the 'carpincho' does the same with Camalote and helps monitor progress on water too. It is the world's largest rodent, weighing about 65 kilos and has managed to survive despite the intense persecution that is because it has the ability to submerge and disappear completely from the surface for several hours in case of danger. Aquatic turtle, also skulks through the area of the plant prefers, however, feed on live or dead, and their only predator is the 'alligator', American crocodile, the king of real estuaries. The giant reptile, which reaches more than measuring three meters long, whose existence dates back some 100 million years, live in swamps intertropical and is in serious danger of extinction. Their close relatives, the "alligator Over 'and' black alligator 'also ran the same danger, with great damage to the ecosystem and even to humans. Other endangered species such as the 'jaguar', the 'giant otter', the 'cat Oz', the 'deer' and 'marsh deer', the largest of the deer that inhabit the country, with a unusual eight-pointed antlers, with excellent swimming skills, refugees survive in the Esteros del Iberá and can be seen very rarely. The 'anteater' and 'maned wolf,' and typically Chaco also threatened by the relentless persecution of men, are among the many who have found refuge in their area Ibera. The maned wolf, known as the swamp fox for his great physical resemblance to this animal, has given rise to the popular legend lobizón man in a full moon transforms into a wolf-transposition of European ancient legend. In turn, the bottom of the mats has a rich fish fauna consists of dozens of species, which let the 'gold'. Known as the river tigre, fish this large and beautiful aspect of the dam is more coveted by freshwater fishermen. Voracious, feeding on other fish like 'Shad', the 'mojarra' and 'piranhas' - the most aggressive fish in South America. Already in the area, along with many mammals and birds of the swamps, beautiful storks live there are different varieties, and among the best known 'tuyuyú' with ducks, herons, gulls and flamingos. But besides these beings since more than 10,000 years maintained the delicate balance of an ecosystem irreproducible, appear to be other people in esteros: supernatural beings who, as the locals live. A single day that passes in the Ibera listening to the mysterious stories of the villagers would suffice to convince the most skeptical that he has entered the territory of magic, or would say Corrientes, in the land of the Paye, "which expression Guaraní summarizes the sense of magic, so indecipherable, so fearsome, so fascinating, which is not dependent on the will of men but of forces alien to them.

In the national parks

The reason for including them here as an alternative adventure tourism is that they all can enjoy some of the most widely used of this type of tourism. Some, like Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi and Lanin, have a great tourism infrastructure are easily accessible and highly attended by the traditional tourism. Others, like the National Park Baritú, El Rey or Reserva Natural Laguna de los Pozuelos have little or no infrastructure and are very difficult to access due to ground conditions and / or lack of proper roads. Obviously, is a challenge for ecotourists and are recommended a visit only for those with a special interest in learning about these natural treasures. In any case, the minimum asking its visitors is that they act with greater responsibility and avoid causing any damage by negligence or unscrupulous.

Northeast

Iguazú National Park

Like the Nahuel Huapi, is creation came in 1934, but the decree of foundation dates from 1922. Initiative was the great architect and landscaper Carlos Thays, who had participated in the expeditions of exploration carried out in northern Argentina. Located at the northwest corner of the province of Misiones, at the confluence of the Parana and Iguazu rivers and in the tripartite boundary zone between Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. It has an area of 55,000 hectares, within which are the magnificent waterfalls of Iguazú. Along with the glaciers, this collection of more than 250 jumps of over 70 m high monument is perhaps the greatest natural treasures Argentina. Inside the park there are services for tourists, including an international class hotel, roads, bridges to jump from a spot close by, an information center and a museum of local fauna. The picturesque circuit paths below to see about the vast variety of plants, butterflies and small insects that live in the jungle missionary. Ferns, orchids and begonias put together with a myriad of colorful butterflies an even more amazing to note this landscape full of life. In the park you can hire canoes to carry the traveler from Puerto Canoas to the famous Devil's Throat, a spectacular gorge where the water is' Cases' mobile walls forming 150 m wide and 700 long, which serve as the border with Brazil . The complete and intense of the park requires at least a full day to do so at a pace more rested, and if it takes time for the inevitable photographs, not less than two days. The town serves as a seat Puerto Iguazú, where you can find nice hostels, in many cases served by its owners, and some hotels. Is well equipped and also has restaurants of international cuisine. Like the rest of the province, is populated mostly by descendants of Central European immigrants who have left their mark on the cuisine and the architectural features of their simple but comfortable house. The current landscape is the result of a series of processes that began some 200 million years, characterized by effusions of lava that gave rise to thick cover of basalt, the largest on the planet. Cataracts are much younger, it is estimated to have formed about 200 thousand years ago, as a result of erosion of the river rocks on the water falls on the different levels formed by the erosive process in the different structures of basalt. The jumps are huge arc-shaped or of different height, and fall on the Paraná originate a thunderous noise that is heard for miles around Aryans and the considerable height makes the water to get to the bottom, gives the illusion optical "vanish" in a multitude of bright points that lead to dramatic rainbow can be seen. Spectacular, the falls are, however, the only attraction of the park. More than 2,000 plant species and 400 bird species account for the enormous wealth amassed jungle missionary, ostensibly in the park. Defined by subtropical botanical pluriselva integrates Paraná phytogeographic province, part of the great southern Brazilian jungle. Originally the province of Misiones was occupied by this forest, characterized by the presence of giants between 20 and 30 m in height that are truly "green roofs" and are home to many epiphytic plants that grow from their trunks and branches forming a Plant impenetrable network from the ground to the highest heights. Intensive logging practiced in this province since the beginning of the century eliminated vast areas of valuable timber, while others were burned to plant pine trees. What has been preserved in the park, but fortunately is not the only thing left for the province is from this diversity that makes it absolutely unique within the country and South America, although it is home to species common across the boundaries, introducing themselves as the forest formations basement, the laurel forest of the jungle and mirtácea.

Chaco National Park

It was created in 1954 during the heyday of logging in a few years that has devastated the rich chaqueño Mt. Located in the province of Chaco, about 12 km from the provincial capital. Is not very large (15,000 acres) but has the house all the environments of the Chaco plains. This extends from the mountains of southern Bolivia Subandean beyond the rivers Paraná and Paraguay. The park has several distinct environments: jungle riverbank, mount strong dominant legendary quebracho-colorado, palm savannah with caranday, estuaries and marshes that provide habitat for many species of waterbirds. The rich fauna of the eastern Chaco also lives in the park, which houses still seriously endangered species as the 'puma' and 'cat'. Although weak, there are services in the park, including campgrounds, health and self circuits. Like its neighbor, Pilcomayo, the landscape is not spectacular, but can be monotonous. Its real treasure is the fauna and the plain presented and is ideal for those who visit a real love nature and are capable of understanding the delicate balance. Of course, as in all the parks in the northeast and northwest regions, it is not advisable to visit in the summer because high temperatures and insects can turn the ride suffering.

Pilcomayo National Park

Located in the northwest of the province of Formosa, on the south bank of the River Pilcomayo. It has 60,000 hectares, with a predominance of savannah and palm esteros white or caranday. On the coast in a dense gallery forest, and land a little higher with pockets of mountain species in the Chaco plains, phytogeographic province in which it is Formosa. Abundant wildlife and Formosa is one of the provinces sought by sport hunters. Hunting is prohibited in the park and in the national reserves, but not elsewhere in the province, with permission and respect the terms. The 'jaguar', the 'cat ounce' and 'tatú cart', still, very occasionally, can be sighted in the park, have been pursued to exterminate it is currently completely prohibited hunting.

El Palmar National Park

Located in the province of Entre Rios, between Route 14 and the Uruguay River, has an area of 8,500 hectares. It was created in 1966 to protect the only family of palms' Yatay 'that exists in the temperate zone of the plain chacopampeana. It has a campsite, an interpretation of nature and a restaurant. However, you should consult on these services, since they are not available throughout the year. It takes half a day to tour the park, which has beautiful corners and is surrounded by a large number of natural streams and the typical formation of gallery forests near the rivers. Recommended birding and wildlife, although the latter carries some difficulties and require a further stay. The trips depart from the traditional cities of Colón and Concordia, equidistant from the park, and where is good to find out about walks linked to ecotourism.

Northwest

Calilegua National Park

Is at the foot of the close of Calilegua, department of Ledesma, Jujuy Province. Although about 100 km far from San Salvador de Jujuy, the provincial capital, and its steep topography makes it extremely difficult to access, which is grounded. For the same reason, its flora and fauna characteristic of the subtropical highlands have remained in a state of great purity. The predominant species of Yunga to a height of 450 meters above sea level, it happens in the rainforest after the mountain and 1800 meters, forests, culminating in the peak heights of the mountains with an alpine meadow type. The succession of environments is one of the most notable features of this park is an area of approximately 76,000 hectares. It was created in 1974 to protect the rich biodiversity, which has virtually no known human modification. It is the last refuge of two native species already extinct: the 'jaguar' and 'lazy'. In the park there are no facilities.

El Rey National Park

In the province of Salta, 80 km from the capital. It was created in 1947 and covers an area of 44,162 hectares. It is the only one of the three acceptable infrastructure. Abundant species in the Chaco region and the forest of Tucumán. Nogales, timber giant cedars and put a note in this jungle of spectacular height.

Baritú National Park

In the far northwestern province of Salta, 70 km from Oran. It is a magnificent example of the species of fauna and flora of the Yungas. Of great beauty and variety, their access is extremely difficult and, curiously, can only be done from Bolivia. Created in 1974, with 72,000 hectares, has no infrastructure for tourism. Is limited by the hills and the Black Pavas. Topography of hills bristling has not yet led to a full recount of its avifauna. It is assumed that there can still be found 'lazy', 'porcupines' and disappeared until the' bear goggles'.

Center

Lihué Calel National Park

Located in the heart of the province of La Pampa, on the edge of the provincial route 152 that splicing to the national route 22, connecting the provincial capital, Santa Rosa, with the city of Neuquen, is a paved road, rather transit, and access to the park is easy. It has an area of 10,000 hectares and a project expansion. The park lies at the foot of the mountain of the same name and is an important example of the flora of the steppe bordering the Pampas plains, wildlife preserves some native birds and offers good fishing opportunities in the nearby lagoons. We need to identify the periods of fishing if you want to get good copies of silverside freshwater catfish and tarariras. You can also see some rock paintings.

Patagonia

Laguna Blanca National Park

In the province of Neuquén, 30 km from the city of Zapala, a major industrial center in the region. It has 8200 hectares. The population characteristics are 'black-necked swans,' for whose protection the park was created in 1945. is accessed by dirt road and offers special interest for bird watching.

Lanin National Park

Located in the province of Neuquen, with an area of 198,000 hectares, 184,000 are for the other three nature reserves that are adjacent to the park, extends over the Andes, and is chaired by the Lanin volcano (3,776 m), now extinct. Accessed from the cities of Junín de los Andes, alumina or Saint Martin de los Andes. Its creation is simultaneous to that of the national parks: Alerces glaciers and, in 1937. It houses a rich pine forest and fauna. It has beautiful scenery and is perfect for the practice of trekking. There are numerous species of birds to see: great white heron, zorzal Patagonian Patagonian parrot, chucaos, fio-fio, and condor, among others. It is a refuge for several endangered species such as pudu, huiña cat, puma or potrillero huemul. It is not easy to view your comment and you need experts who understand the place. Hunting is strictly prohibited, although in the park there are hunting seasons for two species: the red deer and wild boar. You must find out the suitable season for this sport, as for sport fishing, and the vast network lacustrine lakes -24 Total all originated in the glacier-rich Patagonian silverside, and several specimens of the family of salmonids, in addition to the trout. Huenchulafquen is its largest lake, connected on its west by Lake Paimún. Within the park are available for fishing trips on the lakes, as well as fishing trips in summer seasons, spring and early autumn. There are camping and lodge within the park and is ideal stay there several days and travel for the most part.

Los Arrayanes National Park

South of the province of Neuquen, in the area of the Nahuel Huapi National Park, on the peninsula Quetrihué, is the only forest myrtles is in the world. This little gem is only 1,000 km in length, and access to it, just walk from Villa La Angostura, no you can camp there or perform any sporting activity except walking and only in permitted areas. Walking on a path established to know about these specimens tree whose height exceeds 18 m, some specimens reaching up to 25-m feature quite unusual since the myrtles are shrubs reaching heights up to 8 m grow lonely, never in forest. Its thin bark of a cinnamon color sensitivity is apparent in thin plates that are scattered on the floor giving a very special place. The average age of these trees is about 300 years, and together with some typical of the Andean region and very threatened, and as cohiue raulí. It is a national park since 1980.

Nahuel Huapi National Park

It is the largest and oldest building of the Republic of Argentina. It covers 420,000 hectares and is shared by the provinces of Neuquen and Rio Black. Among the many rivers and lakes that are home to the magnificent Nahuel Huapi (564 km2), which gives it its name. At certain times of the year, the Hua Hum River is suitable for rafting without major difficulties. Apart from the traditional tours in the park, there is some perfect for lovers of a more participatory tourism. Horseback riding, lake expeditions, trekking, wildlife watching, photo safaris and rafting in the river Limay are activities that can carry those seeking a greater share of tourism and commitment to the landscape, without neglecting the activities of trekking and climbing hills, the latter are not always suitable for people without experience, but the other, with a little enthusiasm and the essential good company of guides, they are accessible even to those who engage in this type of adventure. In certain areas of the park, and under very strict conditions, is allowed to hunt deer and wild boar, you need to find out the permitted time of year and what are the general conditions.

Puelo Lake National Park

It occupies 23,700 hectares in the northwestern province of Chubut, on the Andes. It is accessible from Lake Puelo, where does the administrative center of the park. Is 20 km from the town of El Bolson Rio Negro, about 120 km to 160 km from Bariloche and Esquel. With these two cities are connected by regular bus route and in good condition. They shape their environment hills Needles, Cuevas, Esperanza, Platform and Three Peaks, which give beauty to the landscape. Within the park there are good services for visitors and it is possible to camp. Presents a special microclimate that permits the development of species not common to other Andean-Patagonian parks. Among its exotic formations are hazel, and the ticket ulmo, trees of great beauty. It also good training for the typical flora of the Andes Mountains Coihues, thorns and blue myrtles. Plants such as blackberries and rosehips, from Europe and introduced artificially, have been developed extensively in the park moving forward on large surfaces. It was created in 1970 to protect a remarkable ecosystem that, in terms of fauna, endangered species like the puma, which once let in all the forests and mountains of the country and now has reduced to a few areas; huemul, the cat and the fox took refuge in Lake Puelo. With the company duly authorized guides, visitors can venture into the park to observe these species. Also with the permission with strict regulations and you can practice sport fishing in the lake, which abounds in native and introduced species. As in other parks in the region are advised summer seasons, spring and early autumn.

Los Alerces National Park

It covers some 240,000 hectares on the mountain range of the Chubut province, about 100 km north of Esquel, the largest city in the area, which serves as a park. Anyway, inside the park there are good services that include various types of lodging-inns, cottages, camping. Should be consulted before going, because it is open all year. The park begins at the height of Lake Rivadavia. It is advisable to visit in summer to make trips on the lakes lake chains, which lead through beautiful scenery to the ancient forest of larch which distinguishes it from other parks on both sides of the ridge. Trekking trips can last all day and take different paths, each with a special attraction. You can find waterfalls, cave paintings, native species of flora, the Cinco Saltos, among many other attractions. A Futalaufquen Lake, the largest lake system which houses the park, there is an interpretation of nature with thorough information on all aspects of the park. The area surrounding the park has the advantage that it is still very little frequented by mass tourism, despite its meager infrastructure should seek advice and adventures of gravel roads to visit one of the prettiest areas of the Patagonian Andes.

Perito Moreno National Park

It is one of the country's oldest park, created in 1937 to protect the rich flora and fauna which houses Patagonian Andes, where forests are lenga. It has 115,000 hectares spread northwest of Santa Cruz province, at the foot of San Lorenzo hill (3706 m) It is a place of rugged beauty, without any infrastructure, the only shelter it provides some stays in the vicinity where you can also request information about camping areas. Everything here is solitude and beauty. There are several lakes which can be reached only on foot or horseback. If it passes with caution and avoid frightening the animals, it is possible to observe several species that are difficult to see in other areas, so do birds, there are cave paintings, several waterfalls and glaciers.

Los Glaciares National Park

Also in the province of Santa Cruz but to the southwest, this park of 600,000 hectares of continental ice was declared a World Natural Heritage by UNESCO. Created in 1945, houses the most spectacular glaciers, among which are the famous Moreno and Upsala. The town serves as a base is the Calafate. One form of adventure tourism that has become increasingly popular in the area of glaciers on trekkng. Has some risks but it is fascinating. Clamp used to snag the shoes, and under the watchful eye of the guides, after a bit of practice, and is able to walk on the glacier. Before sailing on Lake Argentino in a rubber raft for about 20 minutes. Contrary to what might assume, and that seems the most daunting landscape, this trek does not require much experience or physical condition. Just follow the directions of the guides and have a great desire to do it. Of course there are programs much more complex than trekking trips include skiing and last two to three days, but only for people with very good preparation and experience in the mountains.

Tierra del Fuego National Park

It occupies the southwestern tip of Tierra del Fuego on the Beagle Channel and the border with Chile, covers 63,000 hectares. It was created in 1960. its interesting flora includes only 6 species: lenga Guindos, ñires Notre, cinnamon and wood hard.

Practical hints

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* Don’t go on the excursion unless you are sure of the price and the services agreed because, although you will find serious and responsible operators, unscrupulous ones abound too.
* You can check in hotels if you find you need the services of a travel agency –there are more than 4.000 of them registered in the country-. Hotels with three start or more tend to work with serious agencies, and some have offices in the hotels themselves. You will also find travel agencies in the airports.
* It is usual for there to be different rates depending on whether it is high or low season; it is worth remembering this, because the differences are substantial.
* As occurs in most countries in the world, hotels have the habit of excessively overcharging on telephone rates, and take no notice of discounts for certain hours of the day, or for holidays.
* In Buenos Aires and in the other major cities, public telephone boxes have sprung up all over the place during years. From these, it is possible to make calls to anywhere in the country and to foreign destinations too, comfortably seated and with the possibility to take notes. Fax and Internet services are also available.
* If you wish to see one of the excellent shows or plays that are on throughout the year in Buenos Aires, it is best to make advance reservations. These can be made through your hotel. *Remember that most theatres have no performances on Mondays, and that reductions are available on certain days.
* In the Federal Capital and other major cities, the taxi meter shows the cost of the journey. Make sure that this is working, for as soon as some drivers realize that you are a foreigner, they will try to cheat you. To be safe, ask the driver approximately how much the journey will cost, and discuss the price if you think it is too much. And learn and old trick used by the locals: if you know exactly where you are going, clearly state at least a couple of roads on the way so that the taxi driver will realize that you know where you are. This way you will avoid unnecessary trips.
* “Remise” agencies abound and this is a much safer way of travelling if you do not know your way around. Their numbers have multiplied rapidly in Buenos Aires, and the boom has even spread to other cities too. Some agencies have exclusive contracts with hotels.
* The electricity supply is at 220 volts; extreme care is necessary with electrical appliances.
One golden rule for tourists: never carry very much cash around with you. There are pickpockets known as “pungistas” who are particularly fond of busy trains, buses, and “subtes” (underground trains), so be on the lookout and take precautions.
* Although crime rates in Argentina are much lower than in other countries in Latin America, violence does, of course, exist, and especially in Buenos Aires. Robberies on roads and in service stations are becoming more common. It is advisable not to travel at night, and not to travel alone. If you are driving a vehicle, always try to follow a truck or other vehicles.
* Don’t forget that Argentina is also a third world country. This means that you will see streets and public places that are none too clean, and beggars in plenty as soon as you get but a few blocks away from the more elegant areas. It is not very pleasant, but at the same time it is nothing to get frightened of.
* Some places are especially attractive for robbers: railway stations and minibuses. You need eyes in the back of your head in these places.
* If you need tourist information, provincial capitals and other main tourist centres have reliable information offices.
* Parking has to be paid for in various sectors of the federal capital and in other cities. Check on how to do this when you are there.
* In Córdoba, for example, “obleas” are distributed to tourist in high season, enabling them to park free of charge. They can be obtained from hotels and in the airport.
* Nautical activities are very important in Argentina, no town on the coast is without its clubs specializing in fishing, rowing, regattas, etc. but if you are interested, then details are readily available in the respective tourist information centres or in the provincial representations in Buenos Aires.
* Despite the fact that Argentina has a very long coastline, do not hope to go diving here. It is not an activity that is particularly popular, due primarily to the low water temperatures. Three diving stations exist: Las Grutas, Puerto Madryn, and Puerto Pirámide. The necessary contacts can be made in the respective areas if you are interested. There are a couple of specialist clubs, and some others that have diving departments.

Driving tips for Argentinian roads

In the northwest, distances tend to be deceptive and local information unreliable. Throughout the northern part of the country, “alconafta” is used for cars –this is a mixture of naphtha and sugar alcohol-, which can cause problems for some models.
In the south you will find rough, unsurfaced roads which can change dramatically in a matter of a few days if it rains or snows, and even if there is a strong wind. Bends can become very dangerous. If you are travelling in winter it is essential to take chains with you, in case you get stuck. Remember that on mountain tracks vehicles going up have priority.
In the more remote areas it is not looked on well if you ask a local something from “inside” your car. To be polite you should get out, greet the person, and then ask what it is you want to know.

Glossary

Afanar / afano: steal, rob, act of stealing.
Apoliyar: sleep.
Bacán: wealthy.
Bife: a cut of meat. In figurative sense, a slap in the face.
Bombilla: metal tube for sucking “mate” (see below).
Bondi: bus.
Cana / vigilante: policeman.
Canillita: newspaper seller.
Catrera: bed.
Coimear: bribe.
Colectivo: bus for short or medium distance passenger transport.
Confitería /café: place for social gathering where drinks, sandwiches, snacks, etc. are served.
Croto / linyera: tramp.
Curda: drinking, spree, binge. Also drunkard.
Estancia: agricultural establishment covering large area.
Fajar: punish.
Galletita: small sweet or salted delicacy sold in packets in street kiosks and supermarkets.
Guita: money.
Laburar: to work.
Lunfardo: popular Buenos Aires slang. Today, a number of terms have spread throughout the country.
Mate: receptacle made of wood, metal, or from marrow or calabash. Also the drink made from the mate plant which is sucked from this receptacle through a “bombilla” (see above).
Morfar: to eat.
Payador: someone who improvises songs, usually on country topics, to a guitar accompaniment.
Pibe: child.
Pilcha: clothes.
Pucho: cigarette.
Remises: chauffeur-driven cars hired by the kilometre or by the hour.
Subte: abbreviation for underground trains.
Tachero: taxi driver
Vieja: mother
Yerba: name of the plant used in preparation of “mate” drink (see above). In Argentina, this plant is cultivated industrially.
Yeta: evil influence. Bad luck.

Consulates

Austria
French 3671 – tel: 4802-7195/7096/1400

Belgium
Defensa 113, P. 8 – tel: 4331-0066/69

Bolivia
Belgrano 1670, P. 1 – tel: 4383-7038/5595

Brazil
C. Pellegrini 1363, P. 5 – tel: 4394-5260/5264/5270/5227

Canada
Tagle 2828 – tel: 4805-3032

Colombia
Santa Fe 782 – tel: 4805-3032

Costa Rica
Libertad 1245, Iº “A”– tel: 4814-1660

Chile
San Martín 439, P. 9 – tel: 4394-6582/6371

Cuba
Virrey del Pino 1810 – Tel: 4782-9048/9089/9149

Denmark
L. N. Alem 1974, P. 9 – tel: 4312-6901/6935/7680

Dominican Republic
Santa Fe 1206, P. 2 – tel: 4811-4669

Ecuador
Quintana 585, P. 10 – tel: 4804-6408

El Salvador
Santa Fe 882, P. 12 – tel: 4394-7628

Germany
Villanueva 1055 – Tel: 4771-5054/59

France
Santa Fe 846, P. 3 and 4 – tel: 4312-2409

Guatemala
Santa Fe 830, P. 5 – tel: 4313-9160/9180

Haiti
Av. Figueroa Alcorta 3297 – tel: 4802-0211/9266/5979

Honduras
Santa Fe 1385, P. 4 – tel: 442-1643/2800

Israel
Av. De Mayo 701, P. 10 – tel: 4342-1465

Italy
M. T. De Alvear 1149, P. 5 – tel: 4325-6132/36

Jamaica
Esmeralda 1066, P. 9 “H”

Japan
Paseo Colón 275, P. 11 and 9 – tel: 4343-2561/64

Mexico
Larrea 1230 – tel: 4821-7170/72/36

Netherlands
Av. De Mayo 701, P. 19 – Tel:4334-3474/4000/3360

Nicaragua
Av. Corrientes 2548,P. 4 “I” – tel: 4951-3463

Norway
Esmeralda 909, P. 3 “B” – tel: 4312-1904/7418

Panama
Santa Fe 1461, P. 5 – tel: 442-8543

Paraguay
Viamonte 1851, P 5 – Tel: 442-8543

Peru
San Martín 969, P. 2 – tel: 4311-7575

Portugal
Córdoba 315, P. 3 – tel: 4312-3524

Spain
C. Pellegrini 1163 – tel: 4811-0078/70/4079/3884

Sweden
Corrientes 330, P. 3 – tel: 4311-3080/88/89

Switzerland
Santa Fe 846 P. 10 and 11 – tel: 4311-6491/95

United Kingdom
Dr. Luis Agote 2412 – tel: 4803/7070/7071

United States
Av. Colombia 4300 – tel: 4774-8811/8511/9099/7611

Uruguay
Las Heras 1907 – tel: 4803-6033/37

Venezuela
Esmeralda 909, P. 4 “A” –tel: 4311-0450 – 4312-2786

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