Slightly seedy but nevertheless authentic, Caleta Olivia earns its living refining oil and processing fish. High winds plague the port, but are preferable to its sporadic dust storms. Located south of Comodoro on costal RN 3, Caleta Olivia is, however, a convenient place to change buses to more inspiring locales, such as the petrified forests, Puerto Deseado or Los Antiguos.
Category: Argentina
The-Lake-District El-Bolson Argentina
It’s not hard to see why the hippies started flocking to El Bolsón back in the ’70s. It’s a mellow little village for most of the year, nestled in between two mountain ranges. When summer comes, it packs out with Argentine tourists who drop big wads of cash and disappear quietly to whence they came.
Northwest-Argentina La-Quiaca Argentina
Truly the end of the line, La Quiaca is 5171km north of Ushuaia, and a major crossing point to Bolivia. It’s a cold, windy place that has decent places to stay and eat but little to detain you. Once a bustling railroad terminus, La Quiaca’s main sign of life these days is weary Bolivians trudging between the border and the bus terminal toting heavy bags. Nevertheless, it’s not dangerous, and noble stone buildings recall more optimistic times.
Preserving several diverse ecosystems that reflect subtle differences in relief, soils and rainfall, this very accessible park (03725-499161; entrance free; visitor center 9am-7pm) protects 150 sq km of the humid eastern Chaco. It is 115km northwest of Resistencia via RN 16 and RP 9.
Patagonia Perito-Moreno Argentina
Those who confuse this dull agricultural village with the jaw-dropping national park of the same name or the glacier near El Calafate might wonder why the only tourist attraction is cruising the strip on Saturday night. Perito Moreno is a brief stopover en route to the more inviting Andean oasis of Los Antiguos. It also makes a good launch pad for visiting Cueva de las Manos and Parque Nacional Perito Moreno. The main drag, San Martín, leads north to RP 43 and south to RN 40; it’s 128km south to Bajo Caracoles and 135km north to Río Mayo.
Tierra-Del-Fuego Rio-Grande Argentina
A monster trout sculpture at the entrance to town announces that you have come to the de facto fly-fishing capital of Tierra del Fuego, with some of the world’s best blue-ribbon angling for colossal sea-run trout. Exclusive fly-in lodges on nearby estancias lure the likes of Hollywood heavy hitters and former US presidents with dreams of the big one. But if you didn’t come with rod in hand, the longest that you will likely stay in windswept Río Grande is a few hours, before hopping on a bus to Ushuaia, 230km southwest.
The lovely hilltown of Tafí is where the folk of Tucumán traditionally head to take refuge from the summer heat. The journey from the city is a spectacular one; about 100km northwest of Tucumán the narrow gorge of the Río de los Sosas, with its dense, verdant subtropical forest on all sides, opens onto a misty valley beneath the snowy peaks of the Sierra del Aconquija. The precipitous mountain road is a spectacular trip – grab a window seat on the bus.
Villa Pehuenia is an idyllic little lakeside village on the shores of Lago Aluminé. There are several Mapuche communities nearby, including the community of Puel, located between Lago Aluminé and Lago Moquehue. The villa lies at the heart of the Pehuen region, named of course after the pehuen (araucaria) trees that are so marvelously present. If you have a car, the Circuito Pehuenia is a great drive; it’s a four- to six-hour loop from Villa Pehuenia past Lago Moquehue, Lago Ñorquinco, Lago Pulmarí and back around Lago Aluminé.
Patagonia Camarones Argentina
In the stiff competition for Patagonia’s sleepiest coastal village, Camarones takes home gold. Don’t diss its languorous state: if you’ve ever needed to run away, this is one good option. Its empty beaches are conducive to strolling and the sociable townsfolk are masters in the art of shooting the breeze. It is also the closest hub to the lesser-known Cabo Dos Bahías nature reserve, where you can visit 25, 000 penguin couples and their fuzzy chicks.
Patagonia El-Calafate Argentina
Named for the berry that, once eaten, guarantees your return to Patagonia, El Calafate hooks you with another irresistable attraction: Glaciar Perito Moreno, 80km away in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. The glacier is a magnificent must-see, but its massive popularity has encouraged tumorous growth and rapid upscaling in the once-quaint El Calafate. At the same time, it’s a fun place to be with a range of traveler services. The town’s strategic location between El Chaltén and Torres del Paine (Chile) makes it an inevitable stop for those in transit.