Itinerary in the extreme south of Argentina to observe Perito Moreno, the Fitz Roy massif, the Valdés Peninsula and Tierra del Fuego
In 1974, the English writer bruce chatwin He left for South America to make a long journey in Patagonia, the southern tip of the continent. The result was the book that would celebrate him as a travel writer par excellence: in patagonia. Stage after stage, Buenos Aires but also Land of Fire, Chatwin described the places he visited in an extremely poetic way, to the point of encouraging the first European tourists to organize a trip to the other side of the world.
Places of admirable beauty that, to date, have not undergone major changes. Huge, wild spaces beaten by the winds that give the sensation of being in a land at the end of the world. A majestic and uncontaminated nature made of lagos, montagne, volcanoes, glaciers e waterfalls that have made Patagonia a paradise for lovers of Hiking. But not only for them. Here are some unique animal and plant species in the world, such as the Patagonian fox, the guanaco, the Magellanic penguin and the calafate, an evergreen plant whose edible berries ensure tourists return to Patagonia.
Divided between Argentina e Chile, the territory of Patagonia has approximately 900 thousand square kilometers, also including Tierra del Fuego. It is divided into two zones: Andean Patagonia, characterized by the extreme ramifications of the Andes mountain range with its peaks interspersed with valleys and glaciers, landscapes of lakes and pine trees, and extrandina Patagonia, characterized by plateaus, steppes and enormous semi-deserts. extensions that reach the Atlantic Ocean.
recommended itinerary
Most tour operators offer an itinerary of around 15 days that you can also replicate on your own, if you want to be more independent. Some destinations are definitely unmissable, others optional. From Buenos Aires you can easily reach the Sierra de Fitz Roy, on the border with Chile, whose peak exceeds 3 thousand meters. This area is worth seeing.
First stop
The first stop is at Punta Tombo Natural Reserve, where you can admire the largest colony of Magellanic penguins that, from September to April, invade these beaches to reproduce. From here you reach the Peninsula Valdes, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, where it is also possible to observe the whale, and later Punta Piramides, where whales can be seen from July to November and where a colony of sea lions lives.
Second stage
The second stage is in Glacier National Park with the visit of Perito Moreno Glacier. It is worth taking the boat tour to get as close as possible to this spectacular place before it is too late. In fact, the largest glacier in the park is Uppsala. You get there after sailing through the Argentino lake embarking in Punta Banderas. Here you can cross the border with Chile and reach the National Park Torres del Paine, a biosphere reserve formed by a set of three enormous granite monoliths, the tallest of which measures 2.800 meters.
Third stage
The third stage is a Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world and capital of Tierra del Fuego. He National Park Tierra del Fuego It is populated by a wide variety of plant and animal species. Important archaeological remains that date back to primitive populations are also found here.
How to get to Patagonia
The advice is to fly Buenos Aires. The capital is also worth a visit. To travel to Patagonia it is best to at least book flights to Trelew, which is about 1.300 km from Buenos Aires, to El Calafate and to Ushuaia. A very picturesque way to get around is the narrow gauge steam train, To the trochita, better known as the Old Patagonian Express. It covers the 402 km distance that separates the towns of Esquel and Ingeniero Jacobacci.
Where to stay
The choice of hotels is wide. In Buenos Aires they are found naturally. hotels of each category, as well as in El Calafate, where the Inn y rural properties, perhaps with views of Lake Argentino, while in Ushuaia they are delicious madera chalet from where to admire the panorama of the Andes.
