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In January, my cousin and I took an easy 4 hour hike to the Frey mountain shelter. It was a beautiful day, the horseflies kept to themselves for the most part, and we were rewarded with stunning views of lake Gutierrez, condors circling gracefully, effortlessly high above, the many peaks of Cerro Catedral, and, at the top, the majestic spires surronding scenic lake Toncek. We hiked this in an afternoon, but you can spend the night at the shelter and take side trips from there. For more... Read Full Story

This memorable drive links San Martin de Los Andes, the nearby Chapelco ski resort, and Bariloche. It  passes through rugged landscapes, fantastic rock formations and the unbelievably clear waters of the Traful.     The music on this video is by guitarist Cacho Tirao, and is titled "Ya Esta Hecha La Rosa". The map below shows our drive in yellow.   The dirt road is rough, rutty, at times narrow and hilly. It has a few scary hairpin curves and is not well... Read Full Story

There's a spectacular view of mountains, rock formations and the beautiful Rio Limay on Ruta 237 not far from Bariloche.  My video skills do not do it justice, but you get a glimpse of the incredible beauty of the Valle Encantado. Read Full Story

The province of Corrientes in northeastern Argentina features an astonishing natural wonder – South America’s second largest wetland, 65 times the size of Buenos Aires.     With exotic wildlife such as the capybara, marsh deer, howler monkeys, alligators, and fresh water otters, as well as 350 species of birds, this nature reserve is making the list of travelers in the know. The remote, small town of Colonia Carlos Pellegrini is the starting off point for this adventure. A... Read Full Story

My new Twitter pals at Buenos Aires Life know a thing or two about what’s going on in the city and where to dine.  Here’s what’s at the top of their list: Read Full Story

Chances are you will have a positive dining experience in any restaurant you visit in Buenos Aires.  But if your priority is to go to the best restaurants the city has to offer, let me point you to some authoritative sources:  Arguably the most respected restaurant guide is Vidal Buzzi (in Spanish).  Their top ranked restaurants include: Read Full Story

When you visit another country, it helps to have some historical perspective to understand the culture a bit better. In the case of Argentina, if you only know that it's a Spanish-speaking country in the Western Hemisphere, you would normally make assumptions about the country based on whatever knowledge you have about other Latin American countries. But you would quickly find, upon visiting, that some of your assumptions would be wrong. Here's a brief look at the history of Argentina, that... Read Full Story

Argentina health officials are taking steps to contain a dengue epidemic, with 5000 cases and 4 fatalities to date.   Some unofficial reports state that the number of cases may be as high as 11,000.    What is dengue fever? The CDC (Center for Disease Control) states that dengue fever is caused by a virus spread by mosquitoes, and not by human contact.   Dengue symptoms can include fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain and rash.   The disease is usually mild... Read Full Story

Although the name of Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires (Good Airs) would imply that it belongs on Travel + Leisure's top 10 list, Patagonia deserves the honor.  Visitors confirm that the air is clear and feels purer as you breathe it in.  And at night the lack of smog and light pollution brings out every little star.  Read Full Story

There are 5 major shopping malls in Buenos Aires, concentrated in the Recoleta/Palermo area (see map below).   You will see recognizable stores and brands (Calvin Klein, Christian Dior, Nike, The Gap) but most of the stores feature Argentinean brands and designs.   There is much overlap in stores from one mall to another, so it’s not likely that you’ll get value from visiting all of them.   If there’s a particular store you are looking for, visit the websites I’ve included.   They have... Read Full Story