Favorites stays, tours, seductive travels in Argentina and Chile

Before listing some of my favorites, I wanted to share with you these everyday sensations, those that make me feel so good in Argentina and Chile. I think, and I hope, that you’ll be able to perceive or feel a little of these different moments during your trip.

In particular:

  • This feeling of freedom. Yes, here I feel “simply” free. First of all because there is space and wide open spaces, and more things are allowed. The general atmosphere is more “cool”.
  • Drink mate with friends. Sharing a mate is a moment that I really like. A special moment where time stops a little, the opportunity to talk about everything and nothing, to exchange, to laugh, to remember…
  • Enjoy Argentine meat! I’m not an avid carnivore, but I must admit that the meats here are succulent and we don’t joke with the portions!! “El Ojo de bife” is my favorite piece, I recommend it; also the “cordero”, a lamb grilled in the estancias, which is generally a real treat!
  • Recharge one’s batteries and meditate. There are so many landscapes that offer this possibility. Being at the edge of a lake, surrounded by primary forests, facing a volcano or a mountain range, often alone or almost, and contemplating this beautiful, pure nature; it’s the most beautiful therapy that exists to recharge your batteries, to approach a meditative state.
  • Go on the road. Driving here’s relaxing. Long straight lines, little traffic, feeling free while driving. A little background music, heading to a new destination, new surprises and encounters awaiting me!
  • Talking about football. I wasn’t a football fanatic, but here I had no choice. Since this is the very important topic of discussion here, I like to listen and tease my friends about this topic. They always react quickly!
  • Take advantage of public holidays. I believe Argentina is the only country in the world that has so many public holidays! Also almost all professions have their dedicated day. It’s incredible!

 

Autumn in Patagonia

One of my greatest favorites is not a place or a monument but rather a season, magical and delicate: Autumn in Patagonia… Among my favorites, I’m not going to talk about classics such as the Iguazu Falls, the Atacama Desert, the Perito Moreno Glacier, the Fitz Roy, the Peninsula Valdes, the Torres del Paine Park, the Easter Island… (must see …

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Bahía Bustamante

This is Bahía Bustamante, a place on the Atlantic coast that I love because it is unique in its “exclusive” side: a privileged location and incomparable tranquility It is the only seaweed production village on our planet. I propose to follow the footsteps of its founder Lorenzo Soriano and to know this village which, in its prime, between the years …

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Caleta Tortel

Caleta Tortel: Before I decided to visit this Chilean village at the end of the world, what struck me was its location. I invite you to take a closer look at a map of Chile to understand the complexity of this extraordinary territory of Patagonia. I always thought such a village must be worth visiting… And I was not disappointed. …

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Carlos III Island in Chilean Patagonia

Chilean Patagonia is made up of sites with evocative names, synonymous with adventure and the end of the world: like Punta Arenas, Strait of Magellan, Cape Horn… Carlos III Island is not a paradise island, I’ll tell you that straight away. Very small, you could walk around it in 2 hours, it is about 10 hours by boat from Punta …

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Charles Darwin in Argentina

There are places that sometimes attract my attention when History and its explorers have visited these distant places in the past. Puerto Deseado, is one of them, and is certainly not the destination that will come to any traveler’s mind, however… I invite you to follow in Charles Darwin‘ footsteps, who noted in his logbook, on December 23, 1833, when …

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O’Higgins and San Martín Lake

Among the many lakes found in Argentina and Chile, Lake O’Higgins / San Martín stands out. This lake is located in a glacial basin in the Patagonian Andes and offers the most irregular geographical pattern of the great Patagonian lakes. It’s subdivided into eight arms, some of which, Cancha Rayada, Chacabuco, Maypú and la Lancha, are located in the Argentina …

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San Carlos de Bariloche

San Carlos de Bariloche is a must-see destination, very popular for Argentines and all travelers who discover it! But above all it’s my biggest “favorite”. I love this region of Argentina so much and I am keen to introduce people to it. It’s this wonderful place that I chose for settle down, to live a new life. Every time I …

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Tolar Grande

The first time I went to Tolar Grande, very few tourist tours offered it in their brochures. Indeed, even though it’s a day’s drive from Salta, Tolar Grande stands out: here, the mineral kingdom is omnipresent. Tolar Grande is a village that features many mining sites. Most are also abandoned because companies prefer the Chilean side closer to the sea …

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And, if I had to close my favorites, I would mention:

  • A volcano among the approximately 2,000 volcanoes in Chile? This would be the Osorno Volcano, a perfect cone overlooking the Llanquihue and Todos los Santos lakes.
  • A natural curiosity? The Marble Cathedrals in Chile (see the header image of this page). Natural caves where everything is covered in marble. A unique phenomenon in the world accessible only by boat or kayak.
  • A colorful place? The Quebrada de Humahuaca and particularly the Serranía de Hornocal in the Northwest Argentina.
  • A southern beach? Punta Ninfas beach with its difficult access which ensures the privilege of being alone with elephant seals.
  • Two lakes to pitch my tent and recharge my batteries? These would be Lake Epuyén and Lake Alumine with all its islands.
  • A relaxing and picturesque village? That would be San Marcos Sierras in Argentina.
  • A national park, among all the national parks in Argentina and Chile? It would without hesitation be the Perito Moreno National Park in Argentina. This park is the least visited of all, with a few hundred visitors per year. Impressive in its southern harshness, one can feel the solitude of the first pioneers and the exhilarating beauty of the great wild south. A marvel - which is worth it!
  • A natural reserve? These would be the Ponds of Iberá "Esteros del Iberá", where the fauna is of unequaled richness. And unlike many natural parks in the rest of the planet, the animals that the leaflets promise you, here, you'll actually see them up close!
  • An artist? It would be Victor Jara for the struggle he symbolizes and Pablo Neruda for the simplicity of these words and the strength of his poetry.
  • Music, a song? It would be Naranjo en Flor and Mi Buenos Aires Querido which sum up all the nostalgia and skin-deep sensitivity of Argentines.