Argentina Discovery

ACONCAGUA & WINES

The region of Cuyo has its own famous ‘star': Cerro Aconcagua, summit of Amercia. We will be able then to enjoy it from distant spots or to approach to some of its walls during the treks;  we can also add the possibility to do some birds watching in the South region of Mendoza, rafting in the Mendoza river, horse rides or to take a tour of wines discovering its warehouses, knowing its production and secrets. The zone offers alternatives you shall not miss. From here we can cross to Santiago of Chile to combine with other circuits.

Discovery Tours at Aconcagua & Wines (Cuyo)

XMD - Mendoza Escapade (4 days) City of Mendoza – High Summits of the Andes - Aconcagua & Wine cellars. Individual - All season - Beginning all days XMW - Wine Tour Mendoza (3 days) Thematic trip visiting wine cellars and vineyards. Individual - All season - Beginning all days

Adventure Tours at Aconcagua & Wines (Cuyo)

ACM - Multiple adventure at Mendoza (5 days) Rafting River Mendoza, horse riding & trekking. Individual - All season - Beginning all days

Intense Trekking at Aconcagua & Wines (Cuyo)

TPF - Trek to Plaza Francia (7 days) Trek towards the base of Aconcagua 's South face. Individual - All season - Beginning all days

In the northeast of Argentina the Iguazú Falls form jumps like the devil’s Throat that have positioned the national park of Iguazú like of the most visited of Argentina. To this amazing experience we can add a visit to Swamplands of Ibera, the second greater wetland of South America, a site privileged for the watching of birds with over 350 different species. WATERFALLS & SWAMPLANDS

In the northeast of Argentina the Iguazú Falls form jumps like the devil’s Throat that have positioned the national park of Iguazú like of the most visited of Argentina. To this amazing experience we can add a visit to Swamplands of Ibera, the second greater wetland of South America, a site privileged for the watching of birds with over 350 different species. Once embarked in the crossing its streams we will appreciate its animals like the Jacare, the Red deer of Marshes and the Lobito of river. Also within the Mesopotamian region we will be able to complete the visit crossing the Jumps of the Moconá.

Discovery Tours at Waterfalls & Swamplands (Mesopotamia)

DEM - Waterfalls, Swanplands and the Saltos de Mocona (8 days) Iguazú Falls, Ibera Swamplands, Saltos del Moconá Individual - Year Round - Begins on every day DFE - Waterfalls and Swamplands (5 days) Iguazú Falls , Ibera Swamplands Individual - Year Round - Begins on every day XIF - Iguazú Falls (3 days) Iguazú Falls Argentinean and Brasilean sides Individual - Year Round - Begins on every day Latest Posts 07/05 - Discovery Patagonia 13/04 - Argentina Mull Open Source Move 01/03 - Fossils Found of a Big Bird Kermit Wouldn't Like in Argentina 01/03 - Patagonia, Nature at its Most Pristine & Solitary 10/01 - Pixel: Photoshop for Linux 06/01 - Fossil Found of a Big Bird Kermit Wouldn’t Like 29/12 - Plant-insect association, with interest in biological control 19/12 - San Carlos de Bariloche 27/11 - Penìnsula Valdès

 

GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE AREA

PN Tierra del Fuego (Tierra del Fuego national park) was created in 1960 through the Law Nº 15.554 and covers a 63.000 hectares surface. It is situated in Patagonic Forest and Altos Andes eco-regions.

The Patagonic Forest eco-region is characterized by a climate that goes from warm to cold, with snows and winter rains. It has a landscape dominated by high and irregular mountains, with glacier valleys and “semidesiduos” forests.

Altos Andes eco-region is characterized by a hills chain and slopes over “endorreicas” plains.

CULTURAL RESOURCES
The first inhabitants

The first human occupation of the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego was 10.000 years ago. It was occupied by a large ethnic variety. This situation shows that they related very much with a difficult environment like this one.

In the current Park lived the yamana tribe. In the Beagle Channel coasts and in Roca Lake exist many sites that show an ancestral relationship between the inhabitants and the nature.

The inhabitants installed their camps in the beaches in order to take advantage of maritime resources. They travel by canoe, constructed with branches and "lenga's" wood, and dedicated to sea wolfs hunt and molluscs collection. Through the coast visitors can find the rests accumulated of that consume. They used to live in huts made by branches and trunks and their clothes were just leather layers.

These groups disappeared when the first creoles and European settlers appeared in 1880. Diseases were the cause of the extinction of the culture. Other reasons were the “shoot exercises” of the european explorer, who also poisoned the aborigines in order to be free to exploit the sea wolfs. The demographic information is incredible: at the beginning of the settler's arrival, in 1880, there were 3.000 yamanas, but ten years later they were only 1.000. And in 1910 they were no more than a hundred

NATURAL RESOURCES
Landscapes, flora and fauna
The landscape of the area is complex and abrupt because of the erosive action of the glacier accumulation process, which doesn't exist nowadays. After much geomorphologic process, the Cordillera de los Andes raised as a group of mountain chains that surrounded a deep forest valleys crossed by rivers and lakes.
In the coast sector there are Lapataia and Ensenada Bays, where precipices and little beaches are intercalated and constituted an ideal ambient for a seaside “avifauna”.
Between the flora that characterized the “Andino-Patagonico” forests, the “lenga” is the better distributed, forming large extensions of pure forests that covers the mountain slopes from the level of the sea to 600 metres.
The “guindo” or “coihue de Magallanes” coexists with the “lenga” in the wettest areas, like in Pipo River Valley and in some mountain slopes in the south side. Over their branches lives the “farolito chino”, a “hemiparasita”, and the “pande indio” or “llao llao”, a parasite fungus.
The pure “guindo” forests develop in the rainiest areas, like Beagle channel coast. There also grows other species from the wet forest like the 2canelo” and the “leña dura”.

In many places the “canelo” is abundant and forms little forests. In the windiest regions the “guindo” acquires a particular shape, known as “arbol bandera”. The prickly bushes like “calafate”, “chaura” and “michay” –which has orangey flowers- grows in the “sotobosque”.
In the wettest grounds grows “frutilla del diablo” and little ferns. During the summer plants with beautiful flowers like "orquideas amarillas" and "luzuriagas" cover the “sotobosque” ground.
Is common to see in marginal areas of the forests “mata negra” brushes accompanied by “calafate”, “parrilla” and “notro”. This last specie, with red tubular flowers typical of the spring of Tierra del Fuego, can be found also in the Beagle Channel coast and in the west side of Lapataia Bay.
On top of 600 metres over the sea level develops the “altoandina” vegetation composed by little bushes, plants “en cojin” and “gramineas”. They develop over rocky grounds that alternated with “vegas” or “malines de altura”. The vegetation of this ambient is adapted because of the wind exposition, the water disponibility and physics characteristics of the ground.
The “turbales” or “turberas” are typical of Tierra del Fuego landscape. Rests of vegetables compressed by the relief depressions compose the “turba”. The “turba” growth is only possible in wet areas, where low temperatures are registered and avoids organic matter decomposition. Low pressure in a less oxygen and acid ambient produced the slowly died plants accumulation that produced the “turba”.
One of the typical herbs that grows in the marine area of the Park is the “siempreviva”, and also grows there little bushes like “chaura” and “mutilla”, and “liquenes” and “musgos” covers the rocks next to the sea.
In the maritime littoral “cachiyuyo” forests, big seaweed, stands out. In the area live a little wild animals variety, composed by twenty mammals specimens and ninety types of birds. But there isn't any amphibian.
One of the mammals that can be easily seen is the “zorro colorado fueguino”. The “guanaco” is an herbivorous that lives in the high zones almost the whole year and only goes down to low valleys during the winter.
Other specimens like the “murcielago orejas de raton”, “raton colilargo”, “rata conejo” and “raton lanoso”, and “huillin” (a carnivorous aquatic mammal from the otter family that lives in the Beagle Channel coasts and in Lapataia Bay) are also present in the area. The flashiest and most present birds in the visited areas are three types of “cauquenes”. They are “cauquen comun”, “cauquen real” and “caranca”, which lives in opened places and beaches. In some occasions they are accompanied by noisy “bandurrias”. Other typical birds are “carpintero patagónico”, “maca común”, "maca grande”, “garza bruja”, "pato creston”, “pato overo”, "pato maicero”, “aguila mora”, "carancho austral”, “chimango” and "tero común”. Usually condors can be seen over flying the peaks and “fueguinos” valleys.
In the marine coast, during the low tide, “diente de perro”, “mejillones”, and red and green seaweed can be seen.
In Lapataia Bay and in the estuary that forms the Cormoranes Archipelago are many molluscs like “mejillones” and “lapas”. Also abounds other molluscs like the “vieira”, the “caracol de luna”, “caracol con diente”, some crustaceans like “centolla” and native fishes, like “sardina fueguina”, “merluza de cola” and “robalo”.
During the summer, in crystal clear jellyfish concentrations can be seen. Also is possible to observe different birds like “gaviotas”, “patos vapor”, “ostreros” and “cormoranes”.

WALKS AND SERVICES
The maintenance is in Ushuaia city. Inside the protected area there is an organized camp in Roca Lake zone, and many free camps in Lapataia and Ensenada Bay and in Pipo River. This Park has short pedestrian paths, which starts from different points of Route 3, like:
De la Isla Walk: It covers across 800 and travels across Cormoranes Archipelago, Lapataia River and Ovando coasts.

Laguna Negra Walk: Its waters present a dark coloration because of the presence of vast “turbales”.

Walk to the Viewpoint: The route covers 500 metres and gets to Lapataia Bay directly through “lengas” forests. From the viewpoint visitors have a panoramic view of the bay.

Turbal Walk: It covers 400 metres up to Lapataia Bay. The walk goes through “lengas” forests and let visitors visit an abandoned “castorera”. It also goes round a “turbal” up to National Route Nº 3.

Walk to the “castorera”: After a 400 metres walk, visitors get to the castorera, where the “castors” constructed their dikes over the “Los Castores” brook.

They're many alternatives to make longer visits:

Pampa Alta Path: It connects Pipo River and Ensenada camps, and crosses “lenga” and “guindo” forests. In Pampa Alta visitors have a panoramic view of the Beagle Channel. It has high difficulty and covers 5 km.

Seaside Path: Joins ensenada camp with Lapataia sector. Visitors can visit the marine coast in Lapataia and Ensenada Bays. It has middle difficulty and covers 8 km.

Path to the Hito XXIV: It goes through the north coast of Roca Lake, which has a glacier origin. It has middle difficulty and covers 10 km.

Path to Guanaco Hill: It includes guanaco Hill ascension (970 metres) through a very hard incline. The path has low difficulty and covers 8 km

CAMPING
The access tickets to the camping area of the National Park, last for 48 hs. from the time this access tickets are presented together with the camping permission extended by the APN personnel or by the Campamento Organizado Lago Roca personnel.

The camping permission without the access ticket is not valid for camping.

CLIMATE
The region's climate is cold, wet and doesn't have dry season. The annual media rains is 700 mm and increases in autumn. The sea influence y the west winds incidence during the whole year determinates a uniform climate. Middle temperatures are low, and in winter they descend up to 0º and in summer they don't exceed 10 Cº. Snows, which are abundant, accumulate during large periods in valleys and slopes

ACCESS
Visitors get to Tierra del Fuego National Park through National Route Nº 3, which is 11 km far from Ushuaia, the most southern city of the world. People can get to that place by plane or by ship

SUGGESTIONS
Remember that you are visiting a protected area, so that is important to pay attention on signs and rules. This attitude contributes to preserve the region and to enjoy it.
The administration suggests the visitors:
-To camp only in authorized places, and not to make trench next to the tent.
-To use heater. If you don't have a heater make small fires only in authorized areas. Use dry and thin wood. Never let fire alive. Before leave the place, put it out carefully, with a lot of water.
-To take bags for garbage with you.
-To ask for permission and follow the instructions in case you want to fish “salmonidos”.
-To remember that is not allowed the entrance with pets.
-Not to feed wild animals.
-To remember that the limit speed is 40 km/h

CONTACTS
Tierra del Fuego National Park
1395, San Martín St.- (V9410VGA)
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego
Telephone number: 02901-421315
E-mail address: tierradelfuego@apn.gov.ar

Administración de Parques Nacionales
690, Santa Fe St. (1059)- Buenos Aires
Telephone numbers: (011) 4311-6633/0303
E-mail address: informes@apn.gov.ar

This park and national reservation is close to Colon in the province of Entre Rios it is situated on the western margin of the Uruguay river. It conserves a representative sector of extensive palm trees of the Butia Yatay where until the end of the last century they extend through the zone. These palms can reach heights up to 12 meters and they boarder 200 years of age.

In this captivating park that contains an ample richness of flora and fauna. You'll find a special contrast that gives way between the palm trees and the forest from the gallery to the shores of the river and streams. There are various footpaths and trails that exist for you to get to know the park. Some of them can be traversed by car.

The terrain in the park is, for the most part, undulating and sandy, interrupted occasionally by jutting sandstone rocks and streams from the high plains that travel down towards brooks, quietly hidden among the dense vegetation of the forest. This is the continuation of the missionary forest that borders with the Uruguay river, and that at this latitude, does not exhibit much richness in its flora. The most characteristic trees of the area are the laurel, ceibo, ingá, willow, espina corona (thorn of crown), among others.

In another area of the park, close to the administrative center of the park, the species are different.. There, the palm trees give way to ñandubays, coronillos, molles, talas, and locust trees, typical xerophytic vegetation.

The wildlife of the park, a majority of the animals already extinct, is comprised of chinchillas, ferrets, capybaras, nutrias, giant river otters, skunks, mountain cats, rattlesnakes, painted and river turtles.

28 miles south you will find Colón, it's located on the western riverbanks of the Uruguay river. It's an eminently touristic city that accounts on a grand infrastructure of hotels, casinos, camping and beautiful beaches. You can also take part in the possibility in fulfilling activities like fishing, excursions on boats, trekking, etc.

Amongst the places that are worth seeing you will find the Forciaz mill. The Justo José Gervasio de Artigas international bridge that unites Colón and the Uruguayan City Paysandú. The Fiesta Nacional de la Artesanía (the national festival of handcrafts) is put into effect in February; an event that you can not pass up.

More infotmation about Colon and El Palmar National Park

• Iberá National Reserve
• El Palmar National Park

Wind and water have eroded sedimentary rocks in a part of Argentina’s San Juan Province known as Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon). These mushroom-shaped rocks are among the unusual formations found here.

Eroded rocks known as the Ischigualasto formation cover an area of about 50,000 hectares (about 120,000 acres) in the San Juan Province of Argentina. The area is nicknamed the Valley of the Moon because of its supposed resemblance to a lunar landscape. A variety of dinosaurs flourished here during the Triassic Period, making the area one of the richest paleological sites in the world. The Ischigualasto Formation, which forms the central part of the valley, belongs to this period. Some of these grey-green rocks were eroded into strange formations, which today are known as “Alladin’s Lamp”, “the Parrot “, “the Mushroom”, and “the Painted Valley”. The meteorological alterations continued. By the conclusion of the Triassic Period, this rift valley was a windswept desert inhabited by even larger, more advanced reptiles, than those which had previously lived there. Los Colorados Formation, the imposing red cliffs of the ‘Moon Valley’, extending into Talmpaya, La Rioja province, is the culmination of this last period. Finally much later, perhaps some ninety million years ago, the movements geologically known as ‘orogenesis andina’, or mountain formation, actually began. These movements in turn, produced balancing movements, fractures, folds, landslides, and the ascension and descension of ancient crystal blocks, forming the hills that today surround the region and the most recent layers of sediments. Since the large reptiles had already disappeared in the Holocene era, some 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, the valley was populated by pumas, guanacos, Creole hares, and a new type of animal--the birds. Descendants of the dinosaurs-the most spectacular birds of this valley are the condors and the South American ostrich. On the contrary, of the ‘true reptiles’, only the small lizards and some poisonous snakes (the coral and yarara) remain. Man arrived here only a few million years ago and decorated the zone with his rock-paintings or petroglyphs and scattered his arrowheads in the area. Bear in mind that the first scientists only appeared in the valley in the second half of the last century whereas, approximately one decade ago, the recording of the last mutation of fauna coincided with the arrival of the first tourists, who came to see this mysterious ‘Valley of the Moon’ The existing infrastructure consists of nothing more than a small house for the park rangers and an onsite museum. Travelers may, and it is strongly suggested they bring their own provisions, beverages, sunblock, etc. or whatever they feel necessary.. The tour around the park (40 km). Visitors are accompanied by a park ranger in their own vehicle, in a caravan with other cars, taking about four hours. Travelers can find lodgings in the charming village of San Agustin of Valle´ Fertil, or Pataquia, and Villa Union

Ischigualasto Provincial Park: Valle de la Luna Situated 80 kilometers away from San Agustín del Valle Fértil through Nº 151 Provincial Route and 300 kilometers away from San Juan Capital City, Valle de La Luna Provincial Park is a clay formation with a great variety of colors and shapes, slopes with many layers of minerals and sediments that let you clearly see the evolution of Earth.

Nobody would have thought that a huge lake surrounded by thick vegetation where a great variety of species grew and where the breeding of many animals flourished, would currently be a great desert with little rains, strong winds and high temperatures.

Fortunately, not everything has disappeared- an ancestor's footsteps appear step by step. Vestiges of vegetal and animal life spring from the ground letting you know and learn more about the origin of life on this planet. Also known as Ischigualasto, meaning “Place where the Moon alights”in Quechua language, the park is a place where the world is summarized. You will have the sensation of attending the best Geography lesson you have ever done even when you do not hear a word or read any booklet or specialized book.

As you go around the area, you will observe how the combination of the erosion caused by water and wind carves different shapes day after day where man has naturally looked for a special meaning by means of comparing them to those previously known. All through the tour, as you ride along the path, you will find formations such as “El gusano”, La Esfinge”, “El Submarino”, “El Hongo”, and the fallen “Lámpara de Aladino”. You will learn that the constant work of erosion on the clay layers leave vertebrate fosile rests as well as flora from the Secondary Era, turning it into one of the most important paleontologic beds of the world. In fact, it has been proclaimed Natural Heritage to Humanity by UNESCO as well as Talampaya National park in La Rioja.

The well known dinosaurs, a wide variety of reptiles and also petrified trees are discovered undamaged since there has been an important element to preserve them. The formation of “Valle de la Luna” was due to the fact that abundant rains flooded the plains making up a great amount of mud which buried animals and plants and, thus, protecting them from the rotting caused by the air of the atmosphere.

Among the typical stops of the tour , you will visit “Valle Pintado”, “Paisaje luna” and “La Cancha de Bochas”, the last being spheres perfectly polished on the same material of the ground which are settled on a very flat surface. The phenomenon of their formation is not clearly explained, it seems that different particles of sediments have come together by means of molecular attraction generating these bowls.

Useful Information: - You can do this tour on your own vehicle. - A guide is included to explain in detail each site of interest in the circuit. - You must take a coat for the evening. - You had better not visit the Park in Summer since it is rains season and the road is not passable. In addition, there are high temperatures due to the strong sun

The Iguazu Waterfall is a true wonder of nature and is heralded as the most beautiful waterfall in the world by many visitors. The waterfall is located right at the border of the countries of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay about an hour and a half flight from Buenos Aires.

The waterfall itself is physically located in Argentina, but it is very common to also visit the Brazilian side as well. On the Argentinean side of the waterfall you can walk right around the falling water, take a boat tour to the mouth of the waterfall, and explore the National Park next to the waterfall. On the other hand, the Brazilian side offers beautiful panoramic views and displays the full splendor of the wonder of the world.

Garganta del Diablo
The Devil's Throat is the site of the biggest waterfall and the greatest sight Iguazu Falls has to offer. You can see a great amount of water gushing over 230 feet from above the waterfall or from many different angles in the surrounding area. There are even helicopter tours that let you see the amazing spectacle from above for a fairly reasonable rate.

Touring Circuits

The Circuito Superior (Upper Circuit) is a half-mile loop along a protected catwalk that is surrounded by spectacular views of the "Devil's Throat" and the magnificent waterfalls of Iguazu. Visitors approach the falls at a close (but not too close) distance, for an unparalleled experience of a natural wonder.

The Circuito Inferior (Lower Circuit) provides a longer trail (3,000 feet) to view the Dos Hermanos, Bossetti, Ramirez, Chico and finally San Martin waterfalls, as they all plummet into the Rio Iguazu (Iguazu River) below. Gaze upon an endless stretch of falling water and its white foam as it explodes into the river.

Other InformationAlthough Iguazu is best known for their waterfalls, the surrounding jungle is well worth including in your explorations. A plethora of animals and birds make their home in the lush vegetation around the Iguazu National Park. There are also a number of other highlights in this region such as The San Ignacio Jesuit Mission Ruins, The Itaipu Dam, and the Yacutinga Lodge Wild Preservatory.

The Iguazu Waterfalls are located near the little town of Puerto Iguazu with a wide selection of lodgings. You can also see what kind of weather to plan for on the Iguazu Falls Weather page.

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