Tucuman: A Tour around the Calchaquies Mountains

Tafí del Valle

Without doubt, the Calchaquí mountains are one of the most attractive places to visit within the Province of Tucuman. The entrance to “Tafí del valle” city is amazing, from there you can have a complete view of the whole valley. At the centre of this valley, you can find La angostura dam, an artificial water reservoir, that gives the place a magnificent view. At the south of this dam, it is a town called Mollar, here we can find the archeological reserve called “Los Menhires”, full of monololiths, made out of metamorfological stones by Tafí natives. These monoliths protected their cultives and animals. Many of them, have feline images or human faces representations.

Tafi del Valle principal Square

Menhir Park

You can find different prices to send the night , hostel prices start on $20 pesos per person for the night, there are also hotels between $250 and $350 for the room (capacity: 4/5 )

This region has an excellent climate. Dry and cool. Average temperature in summer is around 25º, and during winter snows. (Located at 2000 metres above the sea level)

There are many things to do, like visiting the crafts fair of the place, horse riding, or a long trekking to the peaks of the Calchaquí mountains.

La Angostura Reservoir

Amaicha del Valle

Going forward on route 307, taking an interesting mountain road to Amaicha del Valle, passing by the “Abra del Infernillo”. This is the highest place, located at 3042 above the sea level, from here there is a spectacular view of all peaks and hills of the place.

Amaicha del Valle is a charming town, surrounded by green vegetation. Huge amount of visitors come here to visit the Pachamama Museum, the principal square and the “inmaculada Concepción statue.

One of the main attractions of Amaicha del Valle is the traditional festival of Pachamama (tribute to Mother Earth) which takes place in February, At this festival, the oldest woman of town is chosen to receive the name and legacy of the Pachamama.

At the entrante of Amaicha del Valle, it is the complex called “Pachamama Museum”. Here you can find copies of different things from different historical periods, the oldest is from 800 before Christ, from the Calchaquí Valleys. This complex is around 10000 m2 and here you can take guided visits of the place, and give very complete info. At the entrance, you can find a representation of the place, where you can see all the hills and rivers of the zone.

Here you can buy crafts and typical foods of the place.

The Pachamama Museum

Continuing northeast by route 307, it is the last tourist place of the area: Quilmes Indian Ruins.

Located at the beggining of the hill “Alto del Rey”. This fort was built at the slope of the hill. At the middle, there is a sacred stone, where, the chief lived. Tourists arrive constantly, once the guide give them a basic explanation, let the tourists climb up to the top of the hill. At the base of the hill there is a place to have a drink, taste typical food or buy some crafts.

Written by: Fernando Cabrera

Posted by: Fernando Cabrera

Translation: Lucas Ensinck

Contact us: argentina_tourism@yahoo.com.ar

TANGO

The Tango

Buenos Aires is a province with so many places to be visited, each one with its own attraction to any person, either visitors or not. It’s located in the centre of the country and is the province with the most cultural, social and economic activities, also is the most populated one.As we don’t want to waste the plenty of places Buenos Aires has to offer we will be dedicating a post for each place.

No doubt that tango is the style and dance music that characterizes Argentina the most and even more the region near the Buenos Aires’ harbor and surroundings.
Basically in the orquest, the bandoneon with its particular sound plays an essential part in it.
The language used in the composing of the lyrics is known as “lunfardo”, which means a vulgar expression of feelings and sadness referred to life’s things and love, the suffers and eradication of the immigrants.
On of the most attractive things about this dance is the particular and complex choreography characterized by a series of precise movements made by the couple in which the man is the one who takes the lead of the dance guiding the woman the movements all along the dance.

Places, directions and schedules

Sitios Argentina

Shows at night

Tango City

Buenos Aires

Mi Buenos Aires querido

Caminito “The Path”

A place that nobody should miss is the well know “Caminito” path. It’s located in the neighborhood of La Boca on Garibaldi, Araoz de Lamadrid, del Valle Iberlucea and Magallenes streets.
The path is one of the favorite tours for the Argentineans and visitors. Its name has been given by a famous 1926’s tango wrote by Gabino Coria Peñalosa and Juan de Dios Filiberto.
Its well known because of its epic houses made by chapa and painted with too many colors, many recognized artists painted on them.
In Caminito and surroundings many street show are exhibited and on weekends a market of artesanias occupies the streets.
Other of the attractions in this place are the exhibitions of tango, typical Argentinean dance characterized by its lyrics, music and dance which gets the attraction of the tourists.
Buenos Aires is full of milongas shows, another Argentinean dance, and Argentinean restaurants.

Some of the most recognized milongas can be found in the following:

Buenos Aires Tourism

Written by: Fabian Eckerdt
Posted by: Fernando Cabrera
Translation: Lucas Ensinck
Contact us: argentina_tourism@yahoo.com.ar

Iguazu Falls and Jesuit Ruins Tour

The North-East

On the other side of the country, on the lands of Corrientes we can find one of the most important saving drinking water in the world, then driving through 14 national route we reach Misiones, the province of the red soil, where we can find places unable to forget. In Puerto Iguazú we arrive to the amazing Iguazú Falls which belong to the National Park of Iguazú; also in the villages of San Ignacio Mini, Nuestra Señora del Loreto, Santa Maria la Mayor y Santa Ana we can find the original jesuitics ruins with more than 300 years ages.

The Iberá Esteros

This huge humidity system is composed of a diversity of animals, flowers and plants. The depth of the Esteros allows plants to grow up to the surface, where can be seen juncos, achiras, camalotes e irupés, natural plants of the area. The environment allows the living of different floating islands, colors, and all king of animals such as carpinchos, yacarés and others, and more than 300 types of birds making this place incredible and unable to forget.

National Park of Iguazú

This National Park, declared Natural Patrimony of the Humanity by the UNESCO, has as the major attraction, The Iguazú Falls were discovered in the sixteen century and are distinguished on their own amazing beauty. The diversity of flora and fauna, where you can find unique species of animals and plants and also the 270 falls, situate us in a paradisiacal place.
The different of altitude, according to the sea level, on the Iguazú river coming from Brazil to Argentina create this amazing falls where it can be seen jumps up to 82 metres, been the most impressive one The Garganta del Diablo. This jump, which can be reach walking through the jungle, amaze us incredibly on its own majesty as the fall of the water disappears on the deep depth of the earth.

Jesuitics Ruins

They are located in the villages of San Ignacio Mini, Nuestra Señora del Loreto, Santa Maria Mayor y Santa Ana. With more than 300 years, they show us the influence of the most important cultural history of Catholicism.
In the San Ignacio Ruins, the most preserved ones and visited by the tourists, it can be seen the Church, which can be walked in the interior, and also the houses and the school. In the main square the priests’ houses still on foot as also the aborigines houses, the temple and the cemetery are.
In the night, at the main square, we can enjoy different shows of lights and sounds with stories that help us understand the experiences of the mission.

As we said in our last post any experience you would like to share with us is welcome also if you are thinking about visiting these wonderfull places and need more information, just leave us a comment and we will answer as soon as we can.

Written by: Lucas Ensinck in collaboration with Daniel Blachere and Fabian Eckerdt

Posted by: Lucas Ensinck - Fernando Cabrera

Translation: Lucas Ensinck

Contact us: argentina_tourism@yahoo.com.ar

Hotels

Iguazú Grand Hotel Resort & Casino

Panoramic Hotel Iguazú

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

In this province located on the south of Argentina, everything is beauty and immensity: amazing snowed hills, spectacular cliffs on its coasts, impressive glaciers, extensive plains and worm habitants make this place a paradisiacal destiny.
The visitors feel trapped by this place of legends, of navigators stories and of intrepid adventurers and also of the impressive landscapes. The mountains, the woods, the water that everything surrounds and the architecture so characteristic of the cities, combine in a way that bring a unique identity recognized and appreciated by all the visitors from every part of the world.
Its kilometers and kilometers of desolated plains drive us to the coast where everything changes, the colonies of seals, whales and penguins give and unforgettable show.

Penguins at Puerto Santa Cruz, Puerto Punta Quilla.

The cave of the hands

The rupestres manifestations which are presented as truly pieces of art, for example the cave of the hands, declared by the UNESCO as cultural patrimony of the humanity, are other wonders that make this place unique. Its untouched paintings done by more than nineteen thousands years ago by the Tehuelches and ancestors, had been discovered by the priest, father Alberto D’Agostini.

The National Park of the Glaciers

No doubt that one of most beautiful places that this province has and is also considered patrimony of the humanity is The National Park of the Glaciers, on the south-west of the province, it brings a landscape defined by abrupt hills and a unique scenic join, being the most celebrated one the Perito Moreno, 195 km2, which descends from the top of the Andes hills, with a 5km width and 60 meters high blocking the entrance of the river Rico to the Argentinean lake. Even though some times the Rico obtains to get through the glacier, and when that occurs the ice of the glacier fragments falling into the water and making a huge crash.
Although the Perito Moreno dimension is impressive is no the biggest of all, the Upsala has 595km2, which it can be reached by boat to then walk around.

Upsala Glacier



Icebergs floating at the Glacier National Park


Closest view of icerbergs floating over Argentinean Lake (Lago Argentino) at Glacier National Park

The Fitz Roy Mountain

The Fitz Roy Mountain, which is also located in The National Park of the Glaciers, stands out because of its sharp peaks and that is why is one the most difficult to climb, the Tehuelches called it the “Chante” which means in their language “mountain that smokes” because of its peaks always surrounded by clouds it gives the impression of a volcano in activity.

If you had the chance to visit this amazing place and would like to share your experience with our visitors, do not doubt about it and leave us a comment. As well for the ones who didn't have the chance to visit it and would like more information about a particular place, please leave us a comment and we will give you more detailed information.

Written by: Daniel Blachere

Posted by: Fernando Cabrera

Translation: Lucas Ensinck

Contact us: argentina_tourism@yahoo.com.ar

Argentinian Traditional Food

El asado (The Barbecue)

Without doubt, what characterizes us is what we call “asado” (Barbecue). It can be cooked in different ways:Grilled: it uses vegetal charcoal for its baking. Cooking time is around one hour and a half or two. Generally, small cuts to medium are preferred and it is possible to eat it along with achuras (offals) and other cuts like chicken, pig, etc.

A Barbecue can be made al “asador”. In this case a fire is made on the ground or in a fire pit and surrounded by metal crosses of around 1, 30 mts (asadores) that hold the entire carcass of an animal splayed open to receive the heat from the fire. Generally this style is used for cuts of meat of about 10 kg and its baking is made with wood since the metal crosses are placed at 45 degrees on the fire and is the heat of the flame which cooks it. Cooking time is of 5 hours approximately. It is begun to cook on the side of the bones for three hours and a half, after this, it is turned over, to cook the fat side.

Next, we will refer to a list of “achuras” (offal)

• Kidneys: They may be sprinkled with rock salt and make them with lemon juice.

• Chitterlings: (large intestine), sprinkled with salt or with lemon juice. Barbecue for about 40 minutes or until they look golden brown on each side and crunchy



• Sweetbread: (Placed at the beginning of the intestine – at the esophagus of the animals), one of the preferred offals by people and one of the most expensive dishes.



• Chorizo: Sausage made out of meat and spicies



• Black Pudding or Blood Pudding: Sausage without meat, filled with coagulated blood and spicies.

Chorizo, Sweetbread, Kidneys

“Empanadas” are a common dish served at parties, family reunions, or in national holidays.
Made out of ingredients, wrapped in pastry. These ingredients usually consists on beef, boiled egg, green olive, and even raisins. They might be prepared with cheese, ham and cheese, chicken, fish, “humita” (sweetcorn) or spinach. Empanadas might be baked, fried, salad or sweet. One of the empanadas with higher reputation in Argentina are the Empanadas from Salta (Province of Salta, Argentina)

Another of our typical food is the “locro” (stew). Typical stew, often served on May 25th (May´s Revolution anniversary)

Yellow corn
Beans
Beef
Chorizo
Bacon
Fat
Onion
Chili Powder
Pumpkin

Other websites of argentinian traditional food

Comidas tipicas

Written by: Fernando Cabrera

Posted by: Fernando Cabrera

Translatión: Lucas Ensinck

Contact us: argentina_tourism@yahoo.com.ar

Quebrada de Humahuaca

On our first publication we will dedicate to Province of Jujuy, specially to 3 of the most beautiful and wonderful towns of “Quebrada de Humahuaca”: Purmamarca, Tilcara and Humahuaca

Starting from the Province Capital, after riding 65km, we arrive to a city called “Purmamarca” (meaning in Aimara Language “Town of Virgin Land”)

It is a marvellous place, unique all over the country and the region.

Walking by “Florida” street, we arrive to the foot of the denominated “Cerro de los Siete Colores”. (Seven Colours Hill). Their different layers are the result of the marine, lacustrine and fluvial sediments that 600 million years ago were in the area, and after, as a result of tectonic movements, acquired the present location. The best view you can have is from the route, 400 mts of distance.

Exactly behind the hill there is a place called “Paseo de los Colorados”, this name is due to the unbelievable reddish colour of the landscape. As years went by, the rocks and mountains started to shape in different ways, providing the village with the ideal contrast since it delights the senses of all the tourists.



At Main Square around 10.30am , there is a crafts fair where you can get regional products such as pottery, carpets made with looms, ponchos, musical instruments (such as Indian flutes, erques and sikus ) and typical clothes from the Quebrada

Main square

In front of main square we can find the Main Church. Built in 1648, has cardon roofs and mud tiles, with a particular architecture as well as valuable paintings and images from Cuzco inside (from XVII century).


Tilcara

As to make a difference with Purmamarca, speaking from a geographical point of view, Tilcara is a bigger city, this is why, we can find native population. Due to this, there are a lot and different services, museums, craft shops, restaurants, bars and places to spend the night.

Tilcara is located at 2465 meters above sea level and 84 kilometers to the North of San Salvador de Jujuy City, this town brings all its charm and hospitality to tourists. A place that its worth visiting is “Purcará de Tilcara”, these ruins had been rebuilted, and belong originally to inhabitants, it has an strategic location, from here it was possible to have control over the Quebrada. At the top you can have a great view of the Quebrada, with a unique landscape of different colours: different tones of grey and brown, mixed with an intense red.

Pucará de Tilcara map

On main square you can find all kinds of regional products: food, musical instruments and clothing.

The Church was finished on 1865, you can find plastic works of José Armanini, the Coronel Alvarez Prado body rest here, a defensor of “Quebrada de Humahuaca” during the independence war.



Humahuaca

Continuing along Route 9, is situated Huamaca, considerated Historic Capital of the Quebrada, and centre of the carnival. Because of its strategic location (at the middle of the Quebrada) it turns out to be the best place to stay and rest.

Its narrow paved streets with streetlamps and adobe houses make you think time has stopped here. There is a great variety of museums, showing regional products, folkore, painting and sculptures.

Wedding at Purmamarca

Humahuaca crafts fair

Humahuaca has an important main square, where at 12hs at noon you can receive the Solano Saint blessing.

Solano Saint

One of the attractions is the Monument to the Independent Heroes created by Ernesto Soto Avedaño. Placed in Hamahuaca city, for its importance for our national history, because a lot of battles started here in defense of our nationality. It is possible to watch it from the distance and thanks to its altitude, appreciate its amazing beauty.

Monument to the Independent Heroes

Written by: Fernando Cabrera

Posted by: Fernando Cabrera

Translatión: Lucas Ensinck

Contact us: argentina_tourism@yahoo.com.ar

Hotels

La Comarca