PATAGONIA AND BUENOS AIRES:
For November 2017 we have planned a trip including hiking in Patagonia and also some activities in the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires. Patagonia is a huge area starting from green plains of the province of La Pampa all the way down to meet the Antarctic. Patagonia takes about half of immense land of Argentina spreading for six provinces sized of many European nations. North - South journey there can be considered two days of intense driving by private car.
In November the temperature in Buenos Aires rises up to 35 Celsius but in Patagonia there are days that on high lands the temperature can go close to 5 Celsius as well. Sun on the hills in Patagonia can be hot though so same day can have you wearing shorts and T-shirt and night time wrapping around your blanket and using a scarf and hat. Still North Europeans would call that summer!
As 10 days guided itinerary we have counted two days of traveling from over seas both ends so this would make a perfect two week trip.
Patagonia being that vast we have chosen high lands of the provinces of Rio Negro and Chubut for this trip. They offer excellent hiking on rising hills that do not make the treks technically too advanced. Expect also the most beautiful lake areas with crystal clear waters and small cities and towns with culture and many stories to tell!
DAY 1: BUENOS AIRES BY BICYCLE
The best and cheapest flight connections always lead to Buenos Aires. You could use that as excuse but BA is also one of the most living cities of the world with metropolitan area growing up to 15 million inhabitants. Surprisingly Buenos Aires has also been very progressive of finding solutions for its traffic challenges with fast growing biking lane net work that leads you to the major attractions and areas of interest mainly separated of the motorized traffic.
The first day we spend then cycling to see La Boca, the old port known as the home of tango and famous football stadium, Recoleta taking name of the cemetery where many important figures in the Argentine history like Evita has their mausoleums, the most historical location of city: Plaza del Mayo square housing president´s Casa Rosada and also enjoying street food lunch at Puerto Madero pedestrian boulevard on the side of the Costanera Sur nature reserve that will be equally visited as well as many other major sites of the city!
The ride will finish and end at the Botanical Garden in the neighborhood of Palermo which is known for good accommodation and restaurant options but also close to Jorge Newberry domestic airport.
Night at Palermo area.
DAY 2: BARILOCHE
Early morning flight to Bariloche (2,5 hours)
Bariloche lies on the shores of beautiful Nahuel Huapi lake like a hidden Swiss Alpine village. It is actually the biggest skiing resort of South America. Swiss and German immigrants built this city so here you will get some beer and chocolate mixed for experience. We have an easy walking tour of town and accommodation in the center to be ready to start our journey for more nature oriented destinations.
This all starts with breath-taking drive on the mountain sides to the Southern side of Rio Negro province on day 3!
DAY 3: DRIVE AND ARRIVAL AT EL BOLSÓN
About 120 kilometres South from Bariloche lies a hidden valley where you can find the city of El Bolsón. The name taken straight from the J.R.R. Tolkien´s hobbit town it was originally a village founded by Argentinian hippies who escaped to this hidden valley to leave free and on their own during the 70s dictatorship of Argentina. El Bolsón has grown to be a lovely and lively city known for one of the biggest artisan fairs of Argentina. After arriving at the accommodation time to get freely familiar with your home base for the next days.
DAY 4: HIKING AT LAGO PUELO NATIONAL PARK AND TOWN
Lago Puelo lake is another big crystal watered lake and on its shores lies the Lago Puelo National Park known for its endeemic Valdivian flora of ferns and evergreen trees meeting very arid and stony shores areas of the lake. Over Lago Puelo you can cross to Chile so during the years the town on the side of the national park has grown popular for local tourist from both sides of the border. Transport back and forth to El Bolsón where the night is spend.
DAY 5: HIKE FROM EL BOLSóN TO EL HIELO AZUL GLACIER
It´s time for one a bit more advanced hike. We rise from the town of El Bolsón of 334 meters up to where the El Hielo Azul opens in front of us at level of 1338 meters from the sea. The top of the glacier is in more than 2 kilometres. This can be considered a full day hike with duration up to 10 hours. Up on the mountain there is a nice scenic restaurant for lunch.
DAY 6: TRIP TO THE BUDDHIST STUPA IN EPUYÉN AND EL HOYO, THE CAPITAL OF FOREST BERRIES OF ARGENTINA. VISIT TO MAPUCHE COMMUNITY
It´s strange to think you would find Buddhist communities this far from Asia but just 35 kilometres away from El Bolsón you can find the biggest stupa (holy place) of Southern America. Hike to see the stupa and after that down to the town of El Hoyo for lunch, also nominated the capital of forest berries of Argentina.
After lunch at an organic farm we do a hike admiring the variety of berries and fruits that grow wherever you want to walk in that area. Basically you can just eat berries while you walk. We rise a bit on the hills as well to admire natural construction techniques of local houses. We also visit a native American community. Mapuches were at these lands way before the Spanish and Portuguese and still live in balance with the nature. Transport back and forth to El Bolsón where the night is spend.
DAY 7: EL CAJÓN AZUL MOUNTAIN LAKE AZUL
El Rio Azul - the blue river - flows down from the El Hielo Azul - blue ice - glacier and at upper valleys create the most beautiful mountain lake area called El Cajón Azul - the blue box. The mountain path is breath-taking and an top there is a restaurant for resting. Full day hike up and down from El Bolsón.
DAY 8: TRIP ON THE OLD PATAGONIAN EXPRESS
A vintage style train The Old Patagonian Express runs between El Maiten and Epuyen, both about 50 kilometres of El Bolsón. We enjoy these small towns and the famous train ride brought to the publicity of H.D. Thoreau and drives on mountain routes of famous Route 40.
Last night at El Bolsón so if you haven´t done your memento shopping at the artisan market it´s time to do so!
DAY 9: RETURN TO BARILOCHE AND HIKE TO EL CERRO LÓPEZ
Very early start to drive to Bariloche (120 km) and full day hike up to El Cerro López hill. On Cerro López you will how a goodbye view for Patagonia with its mountains peaks and lakes that you will remember for the rest of your life!
DAY 10: BACK AT BUENOS AIRES
The last day of the trip together starts with a morning flight to Buenos Aires. The day can be spend for example shopping at Micro Centro, at artistic active neigbourhood of San Telmo or the Bosques de Palermo park area. Your guide will listen for your wishes and interest and put together a nice day program reflected for the departure times. We all know that some people like tango some shopping or just popping into art galleries and excellent free museums that BA has plenty. The quickest can do it all before nice good day dinner enjoyed together :)
For November 2017 we have planned a trip including hiking in Patagonia and also some activities in the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires. Patagonia is a huge area starting from green plains of the province of La Pampa all the way down to meet the Antarctic. Patagonia takes about half of immense land of Argentina spreading for six provinces sized of many European nations. North - South journey there can be considered two days of intense driving by private car.
In November the temperature in Buenos Aires rises up to 35 Celsius but in Patagonia there are days that on high lands the temperature can go close to 5 Celsius as well. Sun on the hills in Patagonia can be hot though so same day can have you wearing shorts and T-shirt and night time wrapping around your blanket and using a scarf and hat. Still North Europeans would call that summer!
As 10 days guided itinerary we have counted two days of traveling from over seas both ends so this would make a perfect two week trip.
Patagonia being that vast we have chosen high lands of the provinces of Rio Negro and Chubut for this trip. They offer excellent hiking on rising hills that do not make the treks technically too advanced. Expect also the most beautiful lake areas with crystal clear waters and small cities and towns with culture and many stories to tell!
DAY 1: BUENOS AIRES BY BICYCLE
The best and cheapest flight connections always lead to Buenos Aires. You could use that as excuse but BA is also one of the most living cities of the world with metropolitan area growing up to 15 million inhabitants. Surprisingly Buenos Aires has also been very progressive of finding solutions for its traffic challenges with fast growing biking lane net work that leads you to the major attractions and areas of interest mainly separated of the motorized traffic.
The first day we spend then cycling to see La Boca, the old port known as the home of tango and famous football stadium, Recoleta taking name of the cemetery where many important figures in the Argentine history like Evita has their mausoleums, the most historical location of city: Plaza del Mayo square housing president´s Casa Rosada and also enjoying street food lunch at Puerto Madero pedestrian boulevard on the side of the Costanera Sur nature reserve that will be equally visited as well as many other major sites of the city!
The ride will finish and end at the Botanical Garden in the neighborhood of Palermo which is known for good accommodation and restaurant options but also close to Jorge Newberry domestic airport.
Night at Palermo area.
DAY 2: BARILOCHE
Early morning flight to Bariloche (2,5 hours)
Bariloche lies on the shores of beautiful Nahuel Huapi lake like a hidden Swiss Alpine village. It is actually the biggest skiing resort of South America. Swiss and German immigrants built this city so here you will get some beer and chocolate mixed for experience. We have an easy walking tour of town and accommodation in the center to be ready to start our journey for more nature oriented destinations.
This all starts with breath-taking drive on the mountain sides to the Southern side of Rio Negro province on day 3!
DAY 3: DRIVE AND ARRIVAL AT EL BOLSÓN
About 120 kilometres South from Bariloche lies a hidden valley where you can find the city of El Bolsón. The name taken straight from the J.R.R. Tolkien´s hobbit town it was originally a village founded by Argentinian hippies who escaped to this hidden valley to leave free and on their own during the 70s dictatorship of Argentina. El Bolsón has grown to be a lovely and lively city known for one of the biggest artisan fairs of Argentina. After arriving at the accommodation time to get freely familiar with your home base for the next days.
DAY 4: HIKING AT LAGO PUELO NATIONAL PARK AND TOWN
Lago Puelo lake is another big crystal watered lake and on its shores lies the Lago Puelo National Park known for its endeemic Valdivian flora of ferns and evergreen trees meeting very arid and stony shores areas of the lake. Over Lago Puelo you can cross to Chile so during the years the town on the side of the national park has grown popular for local tourist from both sides of the border. Transport back and forth to El Bolsón where the night is spend.
DAY 5: HIKE FROM EL BOLSóN TO EL HIELO AZUL GLACIER
It´s time for one a bit more advanced hike. We rise from the town of El Bolsón of 334 meters up to where the El Hielo Azul opens in front of us at level of 1338 meters from the sea. The top of the glacier is in more than 2 kilometres. This can be considered a full day hike with duration up to 10 hours. Up on the mountain there is a nice scenic restaurant for lunch.
DAY 6: TRIP TO THE BUDDHIST STUPA IN EPUYÉN AND EL HOYO, THE CAPITAL OF FOREST BERRIES OF ARGENTINA. VISIT TO MAPUCHE COMMUNITY
It´s strange to think you would find Buddhist communities this far from Asia but just 35 kilometres away from El Bolsón you can find the biggest stupa (holy place) of Southern America. Hike to see the stupa and after that down to the town of El Hoyo for lunch, also nominated the capital of forest berries of Argentina.
After lunch at an organic farm we do a hike admiring the variety of berries and fruits that grow wherever you want to walk in that area. Basically you can just eat berries while you walk. We rise a bit on the hills as well to admire natural construction techniques of local houses. We also visit a native American community. Mapuches were at these lands way before the Spanish and Portuguese and still live in balance with the nature. Transport back and forth to El Bolsón where the night is spend.
DAY 7: EL CAJÓN AZUL MOUNTAIN LAKE AZUL
El Rio Azul - the blue river - flows down from the El Hielo Azul - blue ice - glacier and at upper valleys create the most beautiful mountain lake area called El Cajón Azul - the blue box. The mountain path is breath-taking and an top there is a restaurant for resting. Full day hike up and down from El Bolsón.
DAY 8: TRIP ON THE OLD PATAGONIAN EXPRESS
A vintage style train The Old Patagonian Express runs between El Maiten and Epuyen, both about 50 kilometres of El Bolsón. We enjoy these small towns and the famous train ride brought to the publicity of H.D. Thoreau and drives on mountain routes of famous Route 40.
Last night at El Bolsón so if you haven´t done your memento shopping at the artisan market it´s time to do so!
DAY 9: RETURN TO BARILOCHE AND HIKE TO EL CERRO LÓPEZ
Very early start to drive to Bariloche (120 km) and full day hike up to El Cerro López hill. On Cerro López you will how a goodbye view for Patagonia with its mountains peaks and lakes that you will remember for the rest of your life!
DAY 10: BACK AT BUENOS AIRES
The last day of the trip together starts with a morning flight to Buenos Aires. The day can be spend for example shopping at Micro Centro, at artistic active neigbourhood of San Telmo or the Bosques de Palermo park area. Your guide will listen for your wishes and interest and put together a nice day program reflected for the departure times. We all know that some people like tango some shopping or just popping into art galleries and excellent free museums that BA has plenty. The quickest can do it all before nice good day dinner enjoyed together :)