Mendoza

Mendoza has numerous attractive places to visit, in the south as well as in the north. Because of its variety of landscapes it is considered a tourist option for Argentineans and visitors; furthermore it counts with a lot of lodging options as for students to hotels up to five stars with casino.
When talking about Mendoza we can’t leave out the Aconcagua hill, where many sports can be practiced such as climbing, rafting and horse riding.At the end of March the National Party of the Vendimia takes place, there the national queen is elected and many carriages march in the main streets. Also other parties are celebrated in this province such as the Province Party of tourism in San Rafael in October, National Party of the tune in Tunuyan and in General Alvear the national party of cattle farming takes place in may.

Source: Wikipedia

Aconcagua

It is highest peak in America with 6962 meters above the sea level. There are different ways of climbing it, each with different rates of danger. In the “normal way” the hill is climbed through camping with resting parades. The main spots in the way are Campo Base, The Semaforo, Piedras Conway, Plaza Canada, Piedras de 5000, Cambio de Pendiente, Nido de condors, Berlin, Piedras blancas, Piedras Negras, Independencia, Portezuelo de los Vientos, Gran Travesía, La Canaleta and Cumbre del Aconcagua.
The other way much riskier than the normal is the Glacier of the Polacos, this approximates to the peak through the valle of las vacas. It is one of the most dangerous climbings. The first people to ascend the hill were the French Pierre Lesueuer, Adrien Dagory, Edmond Denis, Robert Paragot, Lucien Berardini y Guy Poulet

The caves

Its importance is because they were the last inhabitants to populate this route, which constitutes the main corridor of the Mercosur that connects Brazil, Argentina y Chile, through the Cristo Redentor tunnel. 9 km away of this population there is the monument to the Cristo Redentor.

Potrerillos

It is located 38 km away from the city of Mendoza in the Andean Corridor; it reaches a surface of 1500 hectares with 14 km of length and almost 3 km of width. Its imposing presence plus the beauty of the landscape, the pure air, the weather and the mountains make this spot a great place to visit.

Tupungato

The high of this volcano is about 6650 meters above the seal level and it can be watched from the centre north valleys of Mendoza.



Las Leñas

It is one of the most important ski and snowboard centers in the country. It has 13 ways of elevation that allows visitors to access to 27 ski tracks classified in beginners, intermediate and advance. Some tracks are illuminated for night skiing.

Ski Route

Wines

Mendoza is the first national producer of wine and with the pass of years it acquired international fame.
Many of its variety of wines are exhibited in international halls being the outstanding ones the malbec, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, barbera d'Asti y pinot noir for red wines and riesling, semillon, chinin blanc, torrontés and chardonnay for white wines.
San Rafael is the main producer of wine in the province; it counts with famous winery such as Bianchi, Goyenechea y Súter among others.

To know more about wines

The Coast

Mar del Plata

Few cities around the World offer the diversity of options as Mar del Plata does, the main summer destiny of the country. The city receives 7 millions visitors during the year. On summer most of the South American theater shows are exhibited there.
The variety of hotels and gastronomy are the most outstanding things the city offers.
For the Golf lovers, Mar del Plata has 5 golf fields of international level and 4 clubs, the most luxury one is the Marayui located on route 11 km 15.

Casino to Mar del Plata

Lodging

On the Varese bay, one of the best landscapes of the coast, we can find the Torres de Manantiales Apart Hotel (http://www.manantiales.com.ar/), luxurious apartments each with a view to the sea. With a total of 190 apartments and duplex, includes breakfast and garage. Las nubes café, on the 28th floor, is the highest viewpoint of the city, ideal to watch the impressive view within music and drinks. Also the hotel offers its private club on the beach with more than 7 hec of marine rainfalls and beaches with cliffs, the club is located on the 17 km to the south; and also the spa of sea in which sea water is used for beauty and relax treatment.

To spend the night at a first level suite, nothing better than the Sheraton Hotel (www.sheraton.com/mardelplata), one of the 3 five Stars hotels in the city, the other 2 are the Costa Galana and The Hermitage. Here a luxurious suite for two persons costs around $822 a night, including hydro massage, breakfast and access to the exterior acclimatized pool.

The beaches

The baths of the south, passing the Light still being the top ones of the city, on the most sophisticated one is La Caseta (http://www.lacaseta.com.ar/), It has everything to make you want to stay forever, you can play volleyball, paddle, also has pools for children, games, class gym, surf and a wi – fi room with computers. It is very common in this place to see sportsmen, famous singers and Stars of the theatre shows of the city.
If you wish to watch the city from the sea, the harbor offers trips on exclusive Yates and cruise which allows visitors enjoy the exceptional coast landscape, places as the Isla de los lobos, la base naval, los astilleros y la escollera del norte are part of this amazing view.

Pinamar

It is one of cities with level of Atlantic coast, located in the province of Buenos Aires, 340 km away from the city of Buenos Aires. The sea in Pinamar is worm due to the origin of its water is from brazil, the sand is clean and it has dunes and forests.
The temperatures vary according to the season. Because of Its landscape many activities can be done in this place such sports, long walks, excursions among many others.

San Bernardo

It’s the closest city to the city of Buenos Aires, it is one of the calmest places so it is great to go and relax. Generally adult people visit this place and the main activities are fishing, because of its huge deck, and safari races in the “Punta Medanos” beaches.

Villa Gessel

A city for visitors that look after wide beaches, warm sea, tranquility and informality. Most of the time is visited by young people because of the numerous disco clubs, parties and concerts.
The weather in this region is warm, in summer time the temperature rises up to 33º C .

Miramar

This city offers beautiful landscapes with wide and modern beaches, it is a perfect place to enjoy with the family. The temperature range in summer time from 14º C and 33º C, at the night the pedestrian street is the main attraction because of its numerous shows, pottery markets and restaurants.

Carilo

It is a mixed between private neighborhood, forest and beach, it a class calm beach that counts with a shopping center, a golf field of 18 wholes and tennis courts.

Written by: Daniel Blachere and Fabian Eckerdt

Posted by: Fernando Cabrera

Translation: Lucas Ensinck

Contact us: argentina_tourism@yahoo.com.ar

Entre Ríos

Entre Rios is one of the provinces with more political history in Argentina. Its main economical activity is the cattle farming and the agriculture. We are going to refer to the activities that attract more the attention of the visitors: the carnival, the fishing in the Uruguay and Paraná rivers and the beautiful beaches

The Carnival

The Carnival of Entre Rios is one of the most important ones in South America and the world; it is the biggest outdoor show in the country.
It is done every January and the groups that participate in it prepare themselves the rest of year for the show.
These groups of more than thousands of people, characterized by their colour, music, brilliance and the colourful customs, compete together to see which one is going to be the winner. Every group has a queen that will also compete to be the queen of the carnival
The Gualeguaychu Carnival, together with the Brazilian one is the most important one in the world. The most famous groups that compete every year are Kamarr of the Club Sirio Libanés, Marí-Marí of the club Central Entrerriano and Papelitos of the Club Juventud Unida.
Moreover in many occasions these groups invite famous personalities to participate in the show.

The Fishing

This is other activity that can be done in this beautiful province. The Paraná river and other rivers constitute one of the most important water reserves in Argentina, making this place very attractive to fishmen from all around the world because of the presence and the size of the fishes.
As well as the fishing, visitors can enjoy the beautiful landscapes in a moment of relax on the coast of the river.

Thermal waters

The visitors can choose for an effective treatment by therapists or simply spend a couple of days to relax in excellent thermal waters.
The different places have each a pool and lodging complex, the temperature of the pools range between 35° and 40 °C, depending on the places. This temperatures are natural no artifact is used.
Among the variety of therms the biggest ones are in Concepción del Uruguay, Colon, Chajari, Concordia, etc.

The Beaches

Other of the most attractive things in Entre Rios are its beaches and spas, situated on the coast of the Uruguay or Paraná rivers.
The warm weather, the plentiful rivers and the clean and thin sand make this a place a paradisiacal destiny where many water sports can be practiced such as windsurf, water-skiing, rowing, etc. Moreover the beaches offer many other services such as camping, restaurants and many other things so the visitor can enjoy full their vacations.

Written by: Fabian Eckerdt

Posted by: Fernando Cabrera

Translation: Lucas Ensinck

Contact us: argentina_tourism@yahoo.com.ar

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

The city of Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina and a worldwide metropolis. It is located in the point in which the Rio Paraná becomes the Rio de la Plata opened to the Atlantic Ocean.
The Rio de la Plata and the Riachuelo are the natural limits on the east and south of the city, while on the north and west the avenue general paz. This avenue connects the city with the province of Buenos Aires, a place with a high concentration of population and strong economic activity.
Buenos Aires nowadays is the most important city of Argentina; it’s the economic and political heart, has the main harbor and is the seat of the state government. It is a city full of museums, theaters and historical corners, among them all the ones that stand the most out are the Plaza de Mayo, in which its located la Casa Rosada seat of the Executive branch; the famous Colon Theater, one of the most famous theaters in the world; the cemetery of the Recoleta the oldest and aristocratic one in the continent and the Obelisco, built to celebrate the fourth centenary of the city foundation and where for the first time the Argentinean flag was raised.
It is very popular the neighborhood of La Boca where most of the Italian immigrants of the XIX century established, so different to the San Isidro, a high class residential neighborhood. Other attractions are The Mezquita of Palermo, the biggest Islamic temple in South America and Tierra Santa, the only religious park in continent, where images of Jerusalem of more than 2.000 years old are reproduced.
Many personalities had been born in the city, writers as Jorge Luis Borges and Adolfo Bioy Casares, musical symbols as Carlos Gardel (writer and interpreter of tangos, like “Mi Buenos Aires querido” or “Volver) and the politician Evita.

The city of the tango and football

Among the external symbols of the city we can find The Tango which many architectural works had been dedicated to, one of them is the pedestrian bridge in Puerto Madero made by Santiago Calatrava. This work represents a couple dancing tango where the white mast is the man and the curved figure of the bridge is the woman. This kind of music is heard in every neighborhood of the city, although the most traditional ones are San Telmo and El Abasto.
Also stands out in the city the passion for football, almost half of the Argentinean teams among them the well-known River Plate and Boca Juniors, belong to Buenos Aires.
The Casa Rosada “The Pink House”
This palace known as the Casa Rosada “Pink House”, is the seat of the executive branch. Located where the fortress of Buenos Aires was, is composed by two buildings, no identical, joined by a central arch which can be reached through the Plaza de Mayo. The meaning of the pink colour is that symbolizes the union of two historical oppositte political ideologies, the strong red of the federales and the white of the unitarios.

The Plaza de Mayo

This square is the place in which the city of Buenos Aires was born, in the centre of it there is a white pyramid that holds up the statue of the republic. Opposite to the square is the colonial Cabildo, symbol of the independence and next to it are the Cathedral, the Pink House and some ministries.

The Colon theater and the National library of Argentina

This neoclassic building was inaugurated in 1908 twenty years after was built. Is the biggest and most important one of South America with an attendance of 4200 people. Many concerts, operas and ballet shows are exhibited.
The national library was inaugurated in 1992, in this modern building the famous writer Jose Luis Borges used to write his works. The building is composed by three huge underground deposits and an elevated body supported by four impressive mainstays.

The Colon Theater

National Library

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

Salta

Salta is a city in northwestern Argentina and the capital city of the eponymous province, situated at the foothills of the Andes mountains.

The city is located in the Lerma Valley, 1,152 meters above sea level. The weather is warm and dry, with annual averages of 756 mm of rainfall and an average temperature of 16.4 °C (20.4 °C in summer, 10.8 °C in winter). January and February are the months with greatest rainfall. During the spring, Salta is occasionally plagued by severe, week long dust storms.

Nicknamed Salta la Linda ("Salta the Beautiful"), it is a tourist destination in part due to its architectural attractions, such as the 18th century Cabildo, the Cathedral, and the Plaza 9 de Julio city park. It has also a number of museums, including the Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña, which houses the bodies of 3 Inca children found frozen at the summit of Mount Llullaillaco. Salta is also the starting point of the "Train to the Clouds" (Tren a las nubes), and on the way to red-soiled Cafayate, as well as to other nearby tourist destinations.

Salta principal square

Cafayate

The town is an important tourist centre for exploring the Calchaquíes valleys, and because of the quality and originality of the wines produced in the area. It was founded in 1840 by Manuel, Fernando de Aramburu at the site of a mission. In 1863 the Cafayate Departament was created, of which Cafayate is the capital.

Cafayate´s Church

Wine yard and winery

Wines

The wine production is most important in the Valles Calchaquíes, followed by Tafi del Valle. The wines produced in the region benefit from the low-humidity mild weather of the valleys that receive an average of less than 250 mm per year. The most characteristic type of wine cultivated in the area is Torrontés. Most wine-cellars around the town host free guided tours.

Wine yard

Written by: Fernando Cabrera

Posted by: Fernando Cabrera

Translation: Lucas Ensinck

Contact us: argentina_tourism@yahoo.com.ar

Source:

Wikipedia

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