Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6
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El Chaltén:
I f y ou've ev er wanted to
relive the Wild West, you just might get
your chance here in El Chaltén. On the
verge of modernity , the ar ea is influ-
enced abo ve all b y the ev er-present
wind and by the beautiful granite spires
of Cerro Torre and Mt. F itzRoy, which
tower abo ve to wn. I t's a ramshackle
place, with few paved roads, lots of half-
built homes, and a remarkable selection
of good r estaurants. The vibe is for
adventurers and natur e lo vers who ar e
willing to sacrifice some comfor ts for
awe-inspiring nature and friendly locals.
See chapter 12.
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THE BEST OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
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Best P ark Walks:
The P alermo par k
system in B uenos Air es is one of the
world's most beautiful. Within the sys-
tem ar e numer ous par ks, such as the
Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden,
as well as museums such as the
Museo
de Ar te Latinoamericano de B uenos
Aires
(Malba) and the
Museo Nacional
de Bellas Artes.
See chapter 5.
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Getting Wet Beneath I guazú F alls:
Take an exhilarating boat ride beneath
the plummeting water falls. A number
of tour companies operate rafts that
speed to ward the falls, soaking their
awe-struck passengers along the way
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Raging D own the M endoza Riv er:
Mendoza offers the best white-water
rafting in Argentina. D uring the sum-
mer months, when the sno w melts in
the Andes and fills the M endoza River,
rafters take on Class IV and V rapids
here. Rafting is possible year-round, but
the river is colder and calmer in winter
months. See chapter 10.
•
Skiing Las Leñas:
One of S outh Am-
erica's top ski destinations, Las Leñas
boasts mor e slopes than any single
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resort in the Americas, with 40 miles of
runs, excellent snow, and typically small
crowds. Las Leñas also hosts an activ e
nightlife in winter. See chapter 10.
•
Skiing Cerr o C atedral:
With a huge
investment in ne w lifts, ne w dev elop-
ment at the base, and consecutiv e years
of heavy sno wfall, B ariloche's Catedral
is the best ski r esort in Argentina. The
après-ski scene includes chocolate
shops, live music, and happening slope-
side lounges. And the vie ws take in the
Andes and the beautiful N ahuel Huapi
Lake. See chapter 11.
•
Rafting the Río Manso:
There are two
sections to this gorgeous emerald riv er
south of B ariloche. The Inferior makes
for a gr eat family outing, with bir d-
watching and fun paddling. The Fron-
tera section takes y ou thr ough an
adrenaline-heavy set of 10 rapids toward
the border with Chile. Either way, it's a
trip thr ough a beautiful undisco vered
mountain valley. See chapter 11.
.
This is the best way to experience the
sound and fur y of Iguazú's magnificent
cataratas.
See chapter 7.
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Traveling Bey ond the F alls into the
Iguazú J ungle:
This is a place wher e
such birds as the gr eat dusky swift and
brilliant morpho butterflies spread color
through the thick for est canopy . You
can easily arrange an outing into the
forest once y ou arriv e in I guazú. S ee
chapter 7.
•
Paragliding in La Cumbre:
Jumping off
a 300m (984-ft.) cliff and flying with
condors is what attracts world-champion
paragliders to this laid-back valley in the
Córdoba sierra. See chapter 9.
•
Bird-watching in Ester os del I bera:
The flat marshlands of Corrientes prov-
ince ar e a natur e lo ver's paradise and
can be explor ed by boat or horseback.
See chapter 7.
