Argentine Patagonia
I was tired of difficult challenges at altitudes, such as the Cordillera Blanca (Peru) and Aconcagua (Argentina).
One of the most traditional trekking in South America, and without altitude, is Torres del Paine – Chile.
As I like to know much more than just the place, I got together with some friends and we went to visit Patagonia.
Patagonia is a geographical region that comprises the vast southern tip of South America, both Argentina, and Chile.
Having the Andes mountain range as a dividing line.
The Argentine side is pastures, deserts, and arid steppes while the Chilean side is fjords, glaciers, and temperate forests.
As each one of the group had theirs own schedule, we were able to meet in each place depending on each one’s schedule.
Everyone should be in Puerto Natales, to do the Torres del Paine trail.
So I created my agenda which would be to visit Argentine Patagonia, make the circuit O of Torres del Paine, and head to Ushuaia.
My friend Alessandro had an initial schedule like mine.
We left São Paulo and went to El Calafate, El Chaten, Torres Del Paine.
After Torres Alessandro came back and I continued with Gabriel to Ushuaia.
We went from São Paulo to Buenos Aires and then to El Calafate, with a stopover in Bariloche.
El Calafate
It is the starting point to discover various tourist attractions in Argentine Patagonia.
The city itself doesn’t have much, but the turism infrastructure is very good.
There are hardly any pictures of the city, and I don’t have many either. I got some from the internet.
The main attraction of Los Glaciares National Park is the Perito Moreno glacier.
The park is 80 km from the city.
One of its main features is that the glacier is practically on the road.
Perito Moreno Glacier
The Perito Moreno Glacier is considered one of the most important freshwater reserves in the world.
It is about 5 kilometers wide and 60 meters high.
It has an incredible infrastructure of walkways that allow tourists to admire the glacier, take amazing photos and effortlessly.
For those who really want to get closer, there is the nautical safari, where after the boat you can walk on the glacier.
I just made the boat, as the walk would be very short.
El Chaten
El Chalten is the region’s mountaineering mecca, it has many trails.
This is where Fitz Roy and Cerro Torres are located, although the altitude is not a problem, they are very technical mountains with very extreme weather conditions.
They are mountains for professionals, I was content to just enjoy them from mountain viewpoints.
It is also home to the continental ice crossing and part of the team that will make the circuit O of Torres del Paine went to make the crossing.
El Chalten is a very small and charming town.
The main attractions are the mountains and the trails, one of the main attractions being the continental ice crossing.
Alessandro and I arrived and went to see the city and went to the viewpoint to better see Fitz Roy.
Trekking in El Chalten
El Chalten is full of trails for all tastes.
As we didn’t have much time, we decided to make some of one day.
See here the Laguna de Los Tres trail and Laguna Torres.
After getting to know the city, some trails, and meeting the people who were crossing the continental ice, it’s time to go back to El Calafate and take the bus to Puerto Natales.
After the Torres del Paine trekking (Chile), see here.
Alessandro had to return to Brazil.
I would go to Ushuaia alone, but Gabriel decided to go with me.
So we went to Punta Arenas Veja Aqui, and then to Ushuaia.
The trip from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia was calm but very long, 12 hours, cost of US25.00.
We passed through the Magalhaes Strait, Chile/Argentina border and after many more hours on the bus we arrived in the city in the early evening.
Ushuaia
Ushuaia is known as the city at the end of the world, as it is the southernmost city on the planet.
It is the closest to the Antarctic continent, just over 1000 km away.
The city is located between the Andes Mountains and the Beagle Channel, offers a variety of attractions ranging from museums to ski resorts (in winter), but the main attraction is nature-related tours..
Trekking Laguna Esmeralda
To go to Laguna esmeralda, the path is the Vale de los Lobos resort, which is a winter center, offering sleigh rides and skiing, among others.
We took a VAN that left us at the headquarters of Valle de Lobos and from there we started the trail.
The trail is quiet, but it has a lot of mud or ice depending on the season you are there. A waterproof boot helps a lot.
Only at the end is there a bit of a climb, for us there was a lot of clay and as we had the right boots, it wasn’t too bad.
The lagoon has a very beautiful view of the mountains.
Tierra del Fuego National Park and and doomsday train.
The park is one of Ushuaia’s main attractions and comprises a huge green area, with about 63,000ha, is bathed by the Beagle Channel, and is located about 12km from the city center.
The best way to get there is by train from the end of the world.
History says that the train was built to take prisoners to cut wood, but today it’s 7 km long has a fascinating landscape.
In the park is the end of Route 3 (3079 KM) which starts in Buenos Aires, crosses the whole of Argentina, crossing Patagonia and reaching Ushuaia.
There are many trails with varying levels of difficulty.
We got a map at the information center and went to explore the park, arrived at the Chilean border,
More information Train del fin del Mundo.
Now the end of this adventure has arrived.
Time to go home.
