Patagonia Argentina

PATAGONIA

This region is composed by the provinces of Chubut, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego, in each of them we will encounter landscapes of incredible beauty.  This region has 3 sectors: Southern Lake District The lake district gathers a set of unbelievable beautiful National Parks and its surroundings. Vast extensions of virgin woods, deep crystal-clear water lakes and the snowed peaks of the Andes are woven in an exceptionally attractive landscape that changes as the seasons go by. In winter, the mountains dress in white making ski an unavoidable passion. The scenic map of this district includes three major areas: San Martín de los Andes with its Lanín National Park, in Neuquén; San Carlos de Bariloche with its Nahuel Huapi National Park, in Río Negro; and finally El Bolsón with its Lake Puelo National Park, along with Esquel with its Los Alerces National Park, in Chubut. Central Patagonia The history of the evolution of the earth left its traces on this so special strip of land that extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the Andes. Its rugged coasts outlined by several gulfs, bays, estuaries and cliffs that plunge into the green waters of the Argentine Sea form an exceptionally beautiful natural reserve of invaluable species. The following species must be protected in order to safeguard its survival: Southern Right Whales, Sea Elephants and Sea Lions, Magellan Penguins, and countless marine bird species. But also the steppe counts on amazing autochthonous species such as guanacos and ‘ñandues’ (or rheas). A land of legend where millenary petrified woods, marine fossils outstanding for having been found so far away from the sea, relics of prehistoric plants and animals, bluish glaciers formed by the patient labor of the centuries up in the high Andean peaks, and ancient rupestrian paintings. Southern Patagonia The southern extreme of Patagonia offers tourist resources unique in the world. A land of legends that many audacious spirits in the world have dreamt to travel. A land rather bleak, barren, inhabited only by those who have accepted to challenge of loneliness and the only company of nature at its best. Due to its geographical position, it is exposed to strong winds, which is proven by its low constructions and the lack of vegetation in the cities, whose only trees grow bent following the wind direction and are thus called ‘flag-trees’ for the shape they adopt. ‘Los Glaciares National Park’ heads the long list of sites that, passing by the mythical Tierra del Fuego and the Islands of the Southern Atlantic Ocean, ends in the captivating ‘white continent’: Antarctica. The main cities of this region are: Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world and El Calafate, the gateway to an impressive land of glaciers

The North

Where history and tradition mean today…

Where mountain landscape provides a living…

The north area is the conjunction of a traditional rural landscape and a mountain one with gentle undulations, strongly characterised by its red sandstone, its streams and its vegetation (the mountain forest with the presence of species typical of the Chaco forest in particular the carob tree, white quebracho and palm tree groves). In contrast, in the north-west section of the area are the Salinas Grandes (salt mines) and the reserve “Monte de las Barracas” with the presence of guanacos in their natural habitat.

The area houses on of the most important archaeological sites in the country: Cerro Colorado, where the aborigines left testimonies of their culture in numerous pictographs which are a legacy of great importance at national level and now declared Reserva Cultural-Natural de la Provincia. But Cerro Colorado is also famous for having been the place of residence of the poet and folklorist Atahualpa Yupanqui. He is now buried near the Cerro.

However, there is also evidence of colonial times in the Jesuit Ranch of Santa Catalina and in the trace of the old Camino Real (Royal Road) to Alto Perú, with a number of villages where the traveller would stop on his trip. Those villages, some of which are now cities (Villa Tulumba, Ischilín, Villa del Totoral, Deán Funes, Quilino, Sinsacate, Cerro Colorado, Avellaneda), still keep architectural testimonies, customs, handicrafts, and production methodologies inherited from colonial times and from the XIX century.

The north area is an invitation to experience the present, tracing back to its past traditions, religious and popular festivities, a slow life-style in balance with nature; everything missing in the big cities at present.

&texto_info=The north area is the conjunction of a traditional rural landscape and a mountain one with gentle undulations, strongly characterised by its red sandstone, its streams and its vegetation (the mountain forest with the presence of species typical of the Chaco forest in particular the carob tree, white quebracho and palm tree groves).

&s01=<b>Casa de Caroya Provincial Museum:</b> Old estancia that belonged to Ignacio Duarte y Quirós, who donated the property to the Monserrat National School in the year 1687 to be used as a summer residence by its pupils. It used to be a sharp weapons factory for the Army in the year 1814 and served as lodging for the first Italian immigrants from the Friuli region that founded Colonia Caroya in the year 1878.&s02=<b>Colonia Caroya:</b>  Settlement of Italian immigrants of the Friuli region. It is famous for its regional wines, cheeses, cold meats, fruit preserves and jams. The Provincial Grape Harvest Festival is held here.&s03=<b>Jesús María National Jesuit Museum:</b> The UNESCO has declared it part of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In the year 1618 the Jesuits acquired the estancia. The old cloisters have pieces of a high archaeological and historical value, religious garments, an important numismatic and megalithic collection, and religious images.&s04=<b>Posta de Sinsacate Rural Museum:</b> The building is part of the network of sentry posts of the Old Royal Road to Perú. A carriage that belonged to Juan Manuel de Rosas stands out in its collection. The wake of the mortal remains of Facundo Quiroga was held in the Chapel.&s05=<b>Tulumba: </b>Small town that keeps almost colonial characteristics. The church (XIX) has a polychrome wooden carved tabernacle made by the indians of the missions for the Society of Jesus in Córdoba. The room preceding the vestry has a strange articulated Christ from the year 1799.&s06=<b>Cerro Colorado (Colorado Hill):</b>  In the cavities and eaves of its sides, the natives reflected moments of their daily lives and religious beliefs through pictograms. These cave paintings are considered to be the most beautiful artistic expressions of the pre-Columbian period. They constitute one of the most important pictographic sites of the continent. &s07=<b>Villa de María de Río Seco:</b> This is where Leopoldo Lugones was born in the year 1874. The house where he was born is today a Provincial Museum.  The last indian invasion to the town inspired the poet in his writing of “Romance del Río Seco”. The Virgin called “La Cautivita” stolen in that occasion, and then rescued by the inhabitants of the town is today kept in the Main Church.&s08=<b>Fernando Fader Museum:</b> This museum is in memory of the artist from Mendoza (1882—1935) who built the house and lived here with his family. Part of his work, considered one of the most valuable of the national art, was created in this place, Loza Corral, Ischilín.&s09=<b>Santa Catalina:</b> This estancia, declared part of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, was the most important Jesuit settlement of the province. The visitors can appreciate the temple (1763) with baroque facade, the noviciate, the workshops and housing for slaves and the native population. An old organ, pictures of the Passion and original boards of the retable of the main altar are kept here.&s10=<b>Tres Cascadas:</b> The natural ponds formed at the base of these three waterfalls of the Ascochinga river are an attractive swimming area.&s11=<b>Candonga Chapel:</b> A National Monument, this temple is a colonial relic of the XVIII century. It was the oratory of the Santa Gertrudis estancia. It has an image of Nuestra Sra. del Rosario in a wooden painted niche.&s12=<b>La Quebrada Dam:</b> Located in the city of Río Ceballos, it has a maximum dam elevation of 36 metres and it covers a surface area of 35 hectares. It collects the waters of a small water basin that has been declared Natural Provincial Water Reservoir.&s13=<b>Spilimbergo Museum:</b> This museum is located in what used to be the house of Lino Eneas Spilimbergo, in the city of Unquillo. Original paintings of the artist are kept here, where canvas of Francisco Vidal, Carlos Alonso, Malanca, Quinquela Martín, Cerrito and other famous artists are also exhibited.&s14=<b>Mal Paso Dam:</b> This dam was built between the years 1884 and 1886 to provide drinking water and irrigation capabilities to the green belt of the city of Córdoba. This dam was built before the San Roque Dam. It was an experiment to assess the quality of the lime found in Córdoba.&s15=&s16=&s17=&s18=&s19=&s20=&s21=&s22=&s23=&s24=&s25=&s26=&s27=&s28=&s29=&s30=&s31=