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Things to do in Argentina
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December 16th, 2009Argentina TravelArgentina travel is a wonderful world of action, adventure, culture, history, rugged natural resources and glamorous nightlife all rolled into one amazing country. Come see why Argentina travel is so hot these days, from Buenos Aires to Patagonia to Iguazu Falls!
Top Things to do in Argentina
Experience Iguazu FallsLounge at Beach ResortsThe Atlantic coast of Argentina, kown as the Costa Atlantica or Mar y Sierras, which means Sea and Hills, is beautiful, with hills rolling down to sand dunes at the water’s edge. Argentine people take their vacations here, and many have second homes, with the main area stretching between Mar del Plata to San Clemente del Tuyu. Mar del Plata first became popular as a vacation spot in the late 1800′s, when only rich people from Buenos Aires could afford the train trip to this area. Around the time of WWII, the area was accessible to the middle class, and Mar del Plata was a hot spot for vacationers. A casino was opened, at the time the largest in the world, and the main road from BA was paved. As new roads were built, small coastal villages became resort areas along the coast, full of individual character. Fishing is superb, especially in towns on the bay where the Rio Salado empties into the ocean. San Clemente is very popular for sport fishermen. Some towns, such as Santa Teresita, have golf courses and lots and lots of seafood restaurants.
Take the Train to the Clouds
This is Tren de los Nubes, a fully-equipped luxury train that climbs steep Andes mountains without the use of cogs. If you get on in Salta in the early morning, you’ll arrive in the Quebrada del Toro gorge about an hour later. The climb is made in a way that reminds you of a hiking trail, in that it uses switchbacks on the steepest parts. The views are amazing, and there really isn’t anything like it anywhere else. By night time you’ll be back in Salta after rolling through the old town of San Antonio de los Cobres and stopping in La Polvorilla Viaduct. The entire loop trip takes 14 hours and you can buy tickets in the main station in Salta and in Buenos Aires.
Go to Valle de la Luna
In the northwest region of Argentina you’ll find the Valle de la Luna, or Moon Valley. There are two amazing natural formations here you’ll want to see: one of Moon Valley itself, and the other is is Talampaya Canyon. The valley is actually a victim of terrible wind erosion, which has resulted in some awesome-looking sandstone formations. Geologists love this place, and do palaeontologists, since in prehistoric times the area was covered by a lake, which makes for tons of fossils to dig up. The Talampaya canyon is impressive, with gigantic cliffs that hold cave paintings put there by pre-Spanish people. There are condor nests everywhere, to complete the image.
Traverse the Uspallata Pass
From Mendoza in the Andes, drive up into the mountains starting on the Pan-American Highway towards the border with Chile. Leave the whole day for this trip, and start early. You can take a tour, if you want, but driving is better since you can stop amywhere and any time you want. And you will want to stop and just gape at the amazing scenery. Better not to go in in winter (July through September in Argentina) since roads get icy and dangerous. Always bring warm clothes, because you’ll be climbing high up into the Andes mountains, from 2,500 feet to 8,200 feet to be exact. You can continue on into Chile, but you will need a visa. No visas are issued at the border so get them in Mendoza. The Pan-American Highway has been used since the time of the Incas as a route through these tough mountains. You’ll be following the Mendoza river, and the first stop you won’t want to miss is Cachueta Hot Springs. You have to have a doctor’s prescription to get in though! After that there are various beautiful resort towns and ski areas, with cliffs and lookout points all along the way. Look out for a small cemetary where unsuccessfull climbers of Mount Aconcagua are buried. This mountain is 22,834 feet and the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere. Aconcagua means stone watchtower, and is always covered in snow. The southern face is a formidable 3,000-foot wall of sheer ice and stone. Continuing along the road, there’s a natural stone bridge with bubbling hot springs underneath, which is called Puente del Inca. Last sight is Statue of Christ the Redeemer, at the Chilean border.
Learn About History and Argentina travel at Jesuit Missions
Posadas is the capital of Misiones, a province near the border of Paraguay, in the northeast region of Argentina. The Jesuits arrived in the early 1600′s and explored the region, settled there, and converted the native people, the Guarani. These brave Jesuits didn’t control the local areas for long, for soon after, they were bothered by slave traders and then explorers from Portugal and Spain. They had to leave in 1777 but their mission building are still there, and these mission ruins are worth checking out. One is called San Ignacio Mini, built in the 1600′s, and at one time around 5,000 Indians lived here. This misison has been more fully restored than others in Misiones.
See the Perito Moreno Glacier
Climb Mount Aconcagua
Ski at Las Lenas Ski Resort
Marvel at the Ojos del Salado Volcano
Take in Buenos Aires
Visit Tierra del Fuego
Land of Fire is actually a group of islands at the southern tip of Argentina, with one main island actually called Tierra del Fuego. This main island is divided into a Chilean part and an Argentine half. It’s pretty cool here year round, and the vegetaion is very shrubby. There are a few native animals, like the Andean wolf, rodents, and the guanaco. Since there are lots of kinds of algae in teh sea around Tierra del Fuego, whales love the waters in this area. Tourists love the area in part because it’s been written about so much by past exporers and naturalists such as Darwin and E. Lucas Bridges, who wrote Uttermost Part of the Earth, an extremely popular adventure story.
Tour the Wine Country
Go to Patagonia
Visit the Pampas-Gaucho Country
This is the province of Cordoba, found between the Andes and Buenos Aires, it’s the center of the country in many ways. The economy is based out here, in ranching and farming, traditionally and more recently agri-business and commerce. It’s flat land out here, that’s the pampa, and also valleys. You’ll see gauchos taking care of their cattle or you’ll see racing horses. The actual city of Cordoba is the second largest in the country, and you can see wonderful colonial architecture. Cordoba province also has mountains and lakes, where you can go fishing or trekking. And of course horseback riding. The village of Villa Carlos Paz, near Cordoba, is a vastly popular tourist destination, with mountain resorts that hold folk festivals, Oktoberfest, and general celebrations. Tags: Argentina Activities, Argentina Travel, Iguazu Falls, Things to do in Argentina

