Attractions of South America e-Book

Patagonia

Patagonia is one of the most mesmerizing places on our planet. With breathtaking sights and never ending wonders of nature, Patagonia has become a travel and trekking haven for adventure aficio­na­dos worldwide.

Encompassing the South of both Argentina and Chile with a wide variety of wonderful mountains, lakes, glaciers and wildlife, Patagonia is there for you to set out on an unforgettable travel and trekking experience.

The name Patagonia stands for "Land of the Big Feet". Legends say that discoverer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew saw a tribe of nine foot tall giants with big feet. He named the tribe the Patagons or big feet.

 

 

Attractions of Patagonia

Whale whatching tour at Península Valdés
Off the fluke-shaped hump of Península Valdés, sea lions and elephant seals vie with killer whales and the local stars - southern right whales - which come to the warm waters of the Golfo Nuevo to breed.

San Martin de Los Andes
Stunning views of Patagonia's renowned lakes, volcanoes and forests. This is paradise for the relentless trekker.

Boat trips on the Beagle Channel
No trip to Ushuaia - the world's southernmost city in Patagonia - is complete without a boat trip on the Beagle Channel, the majestic, mountain-fringed sea passage and home to several species of seabird and marine mammal.

Perito Moreno Glacier
Mammoth blocks of ice detonate off the virginal Perito Moreno glacier providing a sound-and-sight spectacle that easily qualifies this frozen monster - and national monument - as one of the world's greatest natural wonders.


Patagonia Tours

Puerto Madryn Extension Puerto Madryn Extension - SAAR3
TOUR TYPE: Specialist Tour
LOCAL PAYMENT: NO LOCAL PAYMENT
TRAVEL TO: Argentina		 3 Days US$295.00
Patagonia Wonderland Patagonia Wonderland - SA3307
TOUR TYPE: Specialist Tour
TOUR FUND: Included in tour cost
TRAVEL TO: Argentina - Chile		 11 Days US$1,990.00
Patagonia Express Patagonia Express - SA30
TOUR TYPE: Overland Tour
LOCAL PAYMENT: US$665.00
TRAVEL TO: Argentina - Chile		 21 Days US$1,050.00
Patagonia High Road Patagonia High Road - SA29
TOUR TYPE: Overland Tour
TOUR FUND: US$1,145.00
TRAVEL TO: Chile - Argentina - Uruguay - Brazil		 51 Days US$2,510.00



Southern right whale with calf Península Valdez

Puerto Madryn, the city of whales, lies 1,500 km. (932 miles) South of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. The beautiful bay belongs to the Peninsula Valdés and the nearby town Puerto Pyramides is the place to set out for some whale-watching.

The magnificent whales can only be enjoyed in Patagonia during wintertime (Argentinean that is). The whales stay a few months to raise their newborn young. Impressive animals, a very beautiful experience.

Read more about the Whale Watching Tour


Perito Moreno

For the adventurous traveler, Patagonia in Argentina is just paradise as the country hosts a nature of supernatural beauty. The world's biggest moving glacier Perito Moreno is just something you have to see to believe it. Extraordinary, overwhelming...

Perito Moreno - Patagonia, Argentina

One of the most impressive sights of Perito Morenos is the thundering down of melted icecaps in the lake below.

The glacier is near Rio Gallegos and on your way to Ushuaia (the southernmost city of the world) if you come frome the area around Bariloche and Mendoza up North .


There are various hiking opportunities, boat excursions and other various adventurous outlets to get the best out of Perito Moreno.

Bariloche and Mendoza

Bariloche is a haven in Patagonia for ski addicts. Besides taking your chances on a snowboard you can set out for adventurous hikes in the surroundings.

Read more about Bariloche

Aconcagua, the highest mountain of South America, has been a challenge for mountain climbers and hikers from all over the world. It's near Mendoza, a city renowned for it's fine wine. Please note that you have to be an experienced climber to conquer the spirit of Aconcagua.

Read more about Mendoza


Patagonia Tours

Bariloche Ski Week Bariloche Ski Week - SAAR1
TOUR TYPE: Specialist Tour
LOCAL PAYMENT: NO LOCAL PAYMENT
TRAVEL IN: Argentina		 7 Days US$665.00

 

Patagonia - Argentina
Patagonia offers spectacular travel adventures. Whale-watching, mountains, lakes, hitch-hiking, boat ex­cur­sions and so much more...

 

Ushuaia

Ushuaia, the Southernmost city of the world, is enchanting and mesmerizing. It's all the way down in Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire), Patagonia (Argentina), and is the perfect place to embark on wonderful sightseeing trips on the Beagle Channel to explore the waters that reach Antarctica not too far away.

Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego is just a short distance away from the city and offers lakes, mountains and a natural beauty that will seduce the adventurous hiker all the way.

Read more about Ushuaia.

 


Must See Places in Patagonia

Bariloche - Ski Paradise
Mendoza - Aconcagua
Peninsula Valdez - Whale-Watching
Perito Moreno - Moving Glacier
Ushuaia - Southernmost City

 

 

 

© All photographs by Mark Van Overmeire*

*Photo "Torres del Paine" and "Perito Moreno" by Loic Bernard | Agency: iStockphoto.com