24 Feb 2009
Reflections on Argentina
As we set to depart from Argentina, we leave satisfied to have fully seen this country. From the 16 lane street of Buenos Aires, to the desolate Route 40, it´s beautiful in every way. The people, the landscape, the variety, the culture, the history. For anyone fortunate enough to travel here, spend at least a month exploring all that it has to offer. Rent a car if you really want an experience. If you have less time, we´ve compiled what we deem to be a ¨Best of” to help inform your travels (included are items from the brief stints we spent in Uruguay and Chile).
If you have two weeks, come between December and February. Now is a good time as the dollar remains strong against the Argentinian Peso. Start in Ushuaia (the southernmost town in the world) and work your way up through Tierra del Fuego, Torres del Paine, Califate, El Chalten, and Bariloche. It´s the best bang for your 2 week buck, as you work your way through both the Patagonian steppe (barren and flat) and along the rugged Andes which boarder Chile. Some of the best hiking and scenery you will ever encounter. And drive.
With more time, continue up from Bariloche through the 7 Lakes District (nod to San Martin de los Andes) to Mendoza. Spend time in Buenos Aires to catch a futbol game and eat the best beef and ice cream you´ve ever tasted. A 3 day trip up to Iguazu Falls and another 3 days relaxing on the sandy beaches of Punte del Este, Uruguay, are next on the list. Though very remote, Punta Tombo is a once in a lifetime experience with its colony of 1Million penguins. If you like penguins, it´s a can´t miss.
Thus, our Best Of (beginning with food, of course):
- Best empanadas: Tercera Docena (Buenos Aires)
- Best ice cream: Volta (Buenos Aires). American Cookies and Dulce de Leche con brownies are the best flavors
- Pizza: Blanka (Buenos Aires)
- Cerveza: Beagle (Ushuaia, Argentina)
- Wine: Camillo Patti Cabernet and Norton Reserve Malbec
- Hostel: 1949 Hostel (Punte del Este, Uruguay) or 1004 Hostel (Bariloche, Argentina)
- Best Hostel Experience: Trotamundo (Mendoza)
- Best Hike: The¨”W” (Torres del Paine, Chile). If you can spend more than 5 days, do the full Circuito (it takes 8 or so).
- Small Town: El Chalten, Argentina. Nestled below Fitz Roy and Cerro Torres, it has one of the most breathtaking settings we´ve ever seen
- Camping spot: Tierra del Fuego
- Place that has a dot on the map but is debatably not a town: Tres Cerros
- Stretch of Road: Route 40… either between Torres del Paine and El Chalten or driving into Fitz Roy
Drink yerba mate (a Porteno tradition), eat as many empanadas as your stomach can bare, go to parillas, befriend the locals, see a futbol game (Boca or River, or Boca vs Rives, if possible), trek your way through Patagonia, bring multiple memory cards, pack lightly, and be prepared to never want to leave!
Here’s a link to some of our pics…. a best of AR if you will… enjoy!
http://picasaweb.google.es/allison.johnsonmoore/BestOfAR?feat=directlink