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A second area enjoying the attentions of travel writers in the know, Patagonia is an immense, beautiful land brimming with variety. A mere two and a half hour flight south from Buenos Aires, Patagonia offers a totally different take on Argentina. The North boasts awe-inspiring natural beauty, the Lake District of thousands of kilometres of pine-covered landscapes bursting with impressive waterfalls, forests and, of course, lakes – without a boat in sight. It is a haven for those who enjoy outdoor pursuits – horse riding with the gauchos (cowboys), fishing with the experts or simply contemplating life. Or you can cross into the Chilean Lake District perhaps via the pretty Tyrolean-like town of Bariloche. Vast swathes of rugged land characterise Southern Patagonia, traditionally used since the end of the 19th Century for the raising of sheep. Down here, Calafate is a destination on the rise as it is the gateway to the Los Glaciares National Park, home to 47 lake-based glaciers that drain into the Atlantic. Calafate, named after a small indigenous bush, has some amazing hotels and you can cross from here to the Chilean Torres del Paine national park, home of the famous Explora hotel. If mountain-climbing is your thing, further south you will find El Chalten, the trekking and climbing centre of Patagonia and its highest peak, Mount Fitzroy (3,375m, 11,073ft). Or further north on the Atlantic is the Valdes Peninsula, a 400km jut of rock, a naturalist haven and the ideal place to spot to see Orcas, walruses, sea lions and penguins. Patagonia has it all, including Gaiman, a unique village has retained its strong Welsh roots and customs since the first settlers arrived in 1865. Here you can enjoy a traditional Welsh tea, well-deserved after exploring the raw beauty of Patagonia. To explore the options in Patagonia, please contact your Aracari representative.
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