National parks of argentina useful information for your trip. National parks of Argentina useful information for travel Other reserves and parks of Argentina

1. Los Glaciares National Park

"Los Glaciares" means "glaciers" in Spanish, and that's about it. This is a huge national park, the main tourist attractions of which are glaciers. Unlike most of their counterparts in the rest of the world, the glaciers of Los Glaciares are among the easiest to visit, as they descend from the mountains to the shores of the lakes. Thus, anyone can see them, even those with disabilities. The main thing is that you have enough money to get to one of the southernmost parts of Patagonia.

What to do in Los Glaciares National Park?

Go to the Perito Moreno glacier - the most popular, picturesque and closest to the mainland. In addition, there is excellent infrastructure in the vicinity of the glacier. Anyone can walk along the paths and observation platforms around the glacier. Also, when sailing on a catamaran, you can find yourself in close proximity to a 60-meter wall of ice. People with average physical fitness should go on a 3-4 hour trek along the glacier itself.
See the Uppsala glacier - the largest glacier in South America, the size of 3 Buenos Aires (!!!).
Go to the Spegazzini Glacier - a wall of ice that reaches 135 meters in height (more than twice as high as Perito Moreno or 30 meters higher than St. Isaac's Cathedral!). Technical climbing, trekking, walks along lakes are possible.
Visit the Argentine trekking paradise around Mount Fitz Roy.
Among the adventure activities in Los Glaciares National Park, bicycle rides, kayaking, rafting on lakes and rivers, tours on off-road vehicles, and ATVs are available.

How to get to Los Glaciares National Park?

The base city for visiting the national park is El Calafate. You can fly here from several major cities in Argentina. Tours to some glaciers and Mount Fitz Roy operate from the tourist village of El Chaltén, which is 2-3 hours away by car or bus from El Calafate.

When to visit Los Glaciares National Park?

The ideal months to travel to the glaciers are from November to March, although it is also possible to come from September to May. Despite the huge number of glaciers, low sub-zero temperatures are not often found here. Even directly on the glaciers in good weather you can get pretty sweaty.

2. Iguazu National Park (Parque Nacional Iguazu)

What to do in Iguazu National Park?

Admire the waterfalls. For ease of viewing, there are many observation platforms, equipped paths, and developed park infrastructure.
Take a shower under the waterfalls while taking an extreme boat tour.
Ride a train through the jungle, which will take you to the most powerful of the 200 waterfalls, the Devil's Throat.
Go on a short walk along the Macuco road and take a dip under one of the waterfalls.
Take a helicopter tour and experience the power and beauty of the waterfalls from a bird's eye view.
See the local fauna: here you can find coatis, iguanas, many butterflies and birds (more than 400 species!).
Visit the bird park on the Brazilian side.
Swim in the river with crocodiles.

How to get to Iguazu National Park?

The ideal base point from which to explore all the attractions of the parks is the city of Puerto Iguazu. There is a good selection of accommodation and restaurants, and the local airport receives many flights from Buenos Aires and some other cities in Argentina.

When to visit Iguazu National Park?

You can visit Iguazu National Park all year round. In winter it is relatively warm and there are significantly fewer tourists, and in summer it can be very hot (above +30°C). Traditionally, the rainiest month is November, although no one has canceled the increasingly frequent natural anomalies. Rain has its pros and cons. Of course, few people want to walk in cloudy weather. On the other hand, the river is especially full these days, which means you can see the waterfalls “on” at full capacity. In addition, even in the rainiest months, clear days are not uncommon.

3. Provincial Reserve La Payunia (Reserva provincial La Payunia)

In Argentina, in addition to national parks, nature reserves and provincial parks (i.e. regional-level parks) are also organized. Among them there are unique places that could easily qualify for country-level attractions. The Payunia Nature Reserve is the most striking example. It is still rarely talked about, but the place itself is undoubtedly worthy of a visit. This region of Argentina is the second largest in the world after Kamchatka in terms of the number of volcanoes. There are more than 800 of them here!

What to do in the Pajunia Nature Reserve?

It is not difficult to guess that the main sight here is the volcanoes and the unique landscapes created as a result of the eruptions. These views are absolutely surreal! In some places of the reserve there are black fields where nothing but black ash is visible to the horizon.
During an excursion, go down into the huge crater of one of the volcanoes.
View places of Argentine oil production.
Photograph guanacos, armadillos and Patagonian hares.
Go on an off-road tour. They also offer minibus rides, which are not for the faint of heart!

How to get to the Pajunia Nature Reserve?

The base town for visiting the reserve is Malargüe. People usually get here from Mendoza, located 350 km to the north (buses). The place is quite remote, but from Malargüe you can also go to explore the mountain valleys and the most famous ski resort in South America, Las Leñas. So a trip for a couple of days will be quite justified.

When to visit the Pajunia Nature Reserve?

The best time to visit the reserve is the Argentine summer and off-season, i.e. from November to April.

4. Nahuel Huapi National Park

Nahuel Huapi National Park is the main holiday destination for most Argentines. Unless, of course, you take into account a beach holiday. The park occupies a large part of the Argentine lake district - a place where the combination of mountains and lakes creates absolutely fabulous pictures. According to many travelers, and even more so Argentines, these places are not only as beautiful as the Swiss Alps, but even surpass them in beauty.

Nahuel Huapi is one of the most developed and well-maintained national parks in Argentina. The large city of San Carlos de Bariloche is located on its territory. A description of the activities that you can do here will take more than one hour. So we'll try to be selectively brief.

What to do in Nahuel Huapi National Park?

First of all, admire the classic views. This is extremely easy to do: both in the park and in the city of San Carlos de Bariloche there are numerous observation platforms. The main postcard view of the park can be found on the mountain Cerro Campanario.
Tracking. In the park you will find many routes lasting from an hour or less to 5-6 days. They are suitable for people with any physical fitness: there are both regular walks and professional climbs. They all have one thing in common – beautiful landscapes.
Drive along the Road of 7 Lakes, included in the list of the most scenic roads in the world. This can be done either in a rented car or as part of an excursion. As a rule, a full circle along the road takes from 300 to 400 km. In fact, this route also covers part of the Lanin National Park.
Tours of the lakes will not only give you a new perspective on Nahuel Huapi Park, but will also allow you to visit the islands and see the hidden gems of the lake district in the form of waterfalls and a forest of arrayanas (unusual myrtle trees).
Sports activities in Nahuel Huapi are simply off the charts: kayaking, kitesurfing, scuba diving, sport fishing, paragliding, horseback riding, rafting, mountain biking, canopy (rape abseiling) and much more.

How to get to Nahuel Huapi National Park?

The city of San Carlos de Bariloche is located in the middle of the Nahuel Huapi National Park and is easily accessible by plane from many of Argentina's major cities. Most of the park's attractions can be reached by car.

When to visit Nahuel Huapi National Park?

The best time to visit the national park is from November to March. During the cold season, lovers of ski holidays and other winter sports come here.

5. Lanin National Park

Lanín National Park borders Nahuel Huapi Park and is also an important part of Argentina's lake district. In many ways, it repeats its southern counterpart, both in landscapes and in activities. Going to Lanin is worth a quieter and more measured life. Its central town of San Martin de Los Andes is a much quieter place than San Carlos de Bariloche, but not without its charm. San Martin really wants to be like European mountain towns, although it mainly resembles them only with rather high prices :)

What to do in Lanin National Park?

Again, the beautiful lakes framed by mountains act as a magnet here. There are many viewing platforms around San Martin with unforgettable views.
Lanin is the name of a volcano located exactly on the border of Argentina and Chile. Its almost perfect cone rises 3,700 meters above the park and is considered the main local decoration. You can make a technical climb to the volcano, which usually takes 1.5-2 days.
Go on excursions around the lakes.
The choice of sports activities is also large: trekking, horseback riding, kayaking, rowing, canopy, golf, many types of winter sports, etc.
The park has a large number of campsites to suit every taste and budget.

How to get to Lanin National Park?

20 km from San Martin de Los Andes there is a small airport called Chapelco, where you can fly from Buenos Aires. Another option is to travel from San Carlos de Bariloche by car or bus.

When to visit Lanin National Park?

The ideal time to visit the park is from November to March. In winter, people come here mainly for mountain sports.

6. Tierra del Fuego National Park

There are plenty of national parks with mountains and lakes in Argentina. But in the very south of Patagonia, nature becomes more and more harsh, which fascinates travelers who come here. There is nothing further south from here except a few islands and Antarctica.

6. Tierra del Fuego National Park. Photo by Petr Meissner.

What to do in Tierra del Fuego National Park?

Go trekking. The park has over 40 km of well-marked hiking trails. There are several organized campsites.
Take a ride on the world's southernmost train, which goes right through the national park.
From the city of Ushuaia, which is located near the entrance to the national park, you can take a lot of interesting excursions: sea trips with a visit to penguins and fur seals, helicopter rides (here they are some of the best in the world!), if there is snow, husky sled rides and etc.

How to get to Tierra del Fuego National Park?

Due to the remoteness of the region, people mainly fly to Ushuaia by plane from many cities in Argentina, as well as from Chile.

When to visit Tierra del Fuego National Park?

If winter adventures are not interesting to you, then it is better to come to the national park from November to March. It's almost never hot here. In summer the temperature usually does not exceed 10-15°C. Winters are rarely harsh: at this time the normal air temperature is from 0 to -5°C.

7. Los Cardones National Park

It’s hard to imagine that people are willing to travel hundreds of kilometers for cacti. However, this is exactly what is happening in Los Cardones National Park in northwestern Argentina. There are so many cacti here that entire valleys are occupied by them. The height of many of them is more than 15 meters! Well, where else can you go to the cactus forest? 🙂

What to do in Los Cardones National Park?

Admire cacti among the vast expanses of desert mountains. The spectacle is especially impressive when the cacti are in bloom.
Stop by the cute colonial town, or rather even the village, Kachi.
Tour the wineries near the town of Cafayate.

How to get to Los Cardones National Park?

Most travelers enter the park through the city of Salta, where there is an airport with good connections to other regions of the country. You can also get to Salta by bus, which will generally take many hours.

When to visit Los Cardones National Park?

The park can be visited all year round; daytime temperatures here are above zero. There may be cold nights in winter.

8. Talampaya National Park and Ischigualasto Provincial Park (Parque Nacional Talampaya y Parque provincial Ischigualasto)

Despite their different levels of national importance, the national and provincial parks can be called twins. By local standards, they are located close to each other and attract travelers with the same thing - unearthly landscapes. Local residents even nicknamed Ischigualasto the “Moon Valley,” although it would be more correct to call this place a Martian valley. The fact is that the rocks here are of a brownish-red hue, which turns fiery red at dawn and sunset. And then the brain begins to go crazy, completely not recognizing the visible picture as what we are used to seeing on planet Earth.

These deserted and almost dead places were a real cradle of nature more than 2 million years ago. The territory was covered with dense vegetation, the fossilized remains of which can still be found, and among all this plant diversity dinosaurs ran and flew, the skeletons of which are often found by paleontologists.

What to do in Talampaya and Ischigualasto parks?

In Talampaya Park, the main attraction is a canyon with reddish cliffs up to 150 meters high.
Both parks contain surreal rock formations, the result of centuries of soil erosion. They look like man-made monuments and this makes them even more impressive (for example, a submarine, a mushroom, a tray, a sphinx, etc.).
On the list of the main attractions of Ischigualasto, the leader is the field with “bowling balls” - a rock that has acquired an almost perfect ball shape over time.
All of the above can be seen during trekking, car excursions, and cycling.

09. Rock formation "Mushroom" in Ischigualasto Park. Photo by Pedro Reyna.

How to get to Talampaya and Ischigualasto parks?

Both parks are quite remote from civilization. You can get to them from two cities where there are good bus connections and airports: San Juan (closer to Ischigualasto), and La Rioja (closer to Talampaya). Getting to the parks by public transport is problematic. So you need to take a car or an excursion from nearby cities.

When to visit Talampaya and Ischigualasto parks?

The best time to visit is from September to December and from March to May. In most parks you cannot move around on your own and you need to buy one of the tours offered upon entering their territory (transport, walking tours, bicycles).

Argentina occupies the southeastern part of the South American mainland and a number of nearby islands. It borders in the west with Chile, in the north with Bolivia and Paraguay, in the northeast with Brazil and Uruguay. In the east it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Argentina is located in three climatic zones: tropical, subtropical and temperate. Summer in the south of the country is cold: the average temperature of even the warmest month, here it is January, is +15°C. The "Pole of Heat" in Argentina is the tropical region of the Gran Chaco in the north. In summer, the air there warms up to +30 - +40°C, and in winter average temperatures reach +17 - +20°C.

Flora and fauna of Argentina

In the north of the country there are subtropical forests in which there are trees of valuable species: the evergreen coniferous araucaria and the lapacho tree, from the bark of which a very healthy tea drink is prepared, known even to the Incas.

In the southern parts of the country, shrubby vegetation predominates. Vast wetlands are covered with reeds, reeds, and water lilies, while higher and drier areas are occupied by meadows with rich grass cover. In some places there are sparse forests of acacias, mimosa, ostrich trees, and palm groves along the river banks.

One of the plants is the national flower of Argentina. This is Erythrina, or Coral tree. Some species of this plant are used for landscaping park areas and streets.

The country's fauna is somewhat less diverse than that of other Latin American countries, but most of it consists of species found nowhere else on the continent or in the world.

These include the Pampas deer, Pampas cat, and Magellanic dog. In the north-west of the country, on the territory of the high-mountainous volcanic plateau of Puna, the relict spectacled bear is found.

In the vast expanses of Pampa there are pumas, and in some places you can still find wild chinchillas, most of which were exterminated for their fur. The reservoirs are home to otters and nutria, as well as a large number of waterfowl. In subtropical forests there are various species of hummingbirds, including rare ones.

Architectural and cultural monuments

The cultural and architectural landscape of Argnetina is varied and somewhat heterogeneous. Buenos Aires is not just the capital of the country - it is a city that combines the architectural heritage of the times of the Spanish conquistadors and the creations of modern architects. The cultural landscape of Buenos Aires is in line to be included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Casa Rosada (Spanish: La Casa Rosada, The Pink House).

This building in the central square of Plaza de Mayo houses the main official working residence of the President of Argentina. The characteristic pink color of the walls of Casa Rosada turned the presidential residence into one of the most memorable buildings of Buenos Aires, into one of its architectural symbols - it is included in the list of National Monuments of Argentina.

The history of this building is interesting. In 1594, a fort was erected on the site of this building according to the design of the Spanish conquistador Juan de Garay. The building was thoroughly rebuilt in 1713 and existed until 1857, when it was almost completely destroyed. Only a small outbuilding survived, from which a building began to grow in 1862, which still stands today.

The unusual color of the walls, according to existing legend, was supposed to symbolize the reconciliation of the country's two main political parties - the Unitarians and the Federalists. The colors of these parties were, respectively, white and red.

The version, of course, is beautiful in its own way, but the Argentines also tell another version, much more prosaic: the pink color of the building’s walls is due to cow’s blood, which was added to the paint for greater durability.

Pedestrian bridge Puente de la Mujer (Women's Bridge, Women's Bridge, Spanish Puente de la Mujer). The bridge was opened recently - on December 20, 2001, but this did not prevent it from immediately becoming one of the attractions of the Argentine capital. The author of the project, Spaniard Santiago Calatrava, says that the silhouette of the bridge symbolizes a couple dancing tango.

The bridge is located in the Puerto Madero area - a modern business district built on the site of old docks and piers. All the streets in this quarter bear women's names, which is why the bridge was called the Woman's Bridge.

The river in this place is navigable, but the bridge is not opened or even raised: its central section rotates 90°, allowing the ship to pass.

Reserves and national parks

Argentina is home to several large nature reserves and national parks, which are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Cueva de las Manos (Spanish: Cueva de las Manos, Cave of Hands). Located in the south of Argentina, in the valley of the Pinturas River. On the walls of the cave are painted wall paintings of animals and negative images of human hands, the earliest of which date back to 9 thousand BC.

According to the results of archaeological excavations, the cave was inhabited for a long time: the ancestors of the Indians of Patagonia lived in it. The latest drawings date back to the first millennium AD. The paints used to make the drawings are of mineral origin. Bone tubes were found in the cave, with the help of which the drawings were made.

In addition to numerous hands, the walls of the cave also depict scenes of hunting guanacos, rhea ostriches, cats and other animals. The drawings show the use of bolas, a traditional throwing weapon of the Indians of South America.

Inca Bridge (Spanish: Puente del Inca) and geothermal springs. The so-called Inca Bridge is an object of natural origin, a natural bridge over the Mendoza River. The width of the bridge is 28 meters, length - 48, and thickness - 8 meters. The height of the arch is 27 meters.

Scientists believe that the bridge could have been formed as a result of a sequence of avalanches and rockfalls: avalanche ice and snow formed the first layer above the river, on which lay the second - from stones, dust and rock debris. The first layer melted, and the second, caking and soaking in the mineralized water of nearby geothermal springs, gradually formed the arch of a natural bridge.

Near the bridge, in the village of the same name, there are five geothermal springs. Venus, Mars, Saturn, Mercury and Champagne. The waters of the springs are rich in sodium chloride, alkali metals, arsenic-containing minerals, soda, various kinds of carbonates and sulfates. The water temperature varies from 33 °C to 38 °C in different sources.

Iguazu Falls (Spanish: Cataratas del Iguazu, port: Cataratas do Iguaçu). The complex is 2.7 km wide and includes approximately 270 individual waterfalls. The height of the water fall reaches 82 meters, but at most waterfalls it is a little more than 60 meters.

The largest waterfall - "Devil's Throat" (Spanish: Garganta del Diablo) is a U-shaped cliff 150 meters wide and 700 meters long. This waterfall, in addition to everything, marks the border between Brazil and Argentina.

Iguazu Falls is one of the most visited tourist destinations in South America. Every year there are 1.5-2 million visitors. Observation platforms are equipped especially for tourists. In the vicinity of the waterfall there are hiking and driving routes, including those passing at the very foot of the waterfalls.

According to one of the local legends, waterfalls on the river appeared for the following reason: an Indian youth kidnapped his beloved and sailed with her on a boat down the Iguazu River. The gods opposed this and decided to stop the lovers.

They opened a gorge in front of them, into which the waters of the once calm river fell. Once in the whirlpool, the girl turned into one of the stones that lie at the foot of the waterfall. The young man became one of the trees that surround the river and waterfall, and now he forever looks at his beloved.

Fans of active recreation can go to ski resorts in the foothills of the Andes. For those who prefer to observe underwater worlds, there is the opportunity to go diving in Patagonia: in the Beagle Channel you can see a sunken ship lying on the bottom, and near the island of Tierra del Fuego you can find huge spider crabs and dolphins. Divers from all over the world come to Puerto Madryn to appreciate the beauty of the local waters.

Parks of Argentina: national parks, reserves, protected areas of Argentina, natural parks.

Any UNESCO

the most unesco

Iguazu Falls

Province of Misiones, Ruta 101 Km 142, 3370 Puerto Iguazu, Las Cataratas del Iguazu

Iguazu National Park is located just 18 km from the city of Puerto Iguazu and 7 km from the airport. Its main attraction is the famous waterfall of the same name, a real wonder of the world. It is located on the border of Brazil and Argentina, close to the border with Paraguay.

Millions of tourists from all over the world every year travel across countries, seas, continents and oceans to get acquainted with the main attraction of Argentina - its nature. And there really is something to see here. The country stretches over a long distance from north to south, thanks to which it accommodates a variety of relief forms on its territory. The northern and eastern regions are characterized by flat plateaus, while the western and southern parts are mainly dominated by hills. The flora of Argentina is also diverse; semi-deserts, tropical and subtropical forests often coexist here. The country's fauna is also rich due to its size; there are many endemic and endangered species, for example, pampas deer, vicuñas, chinchillas, Magellanic dogs, tuco-tucos, and Chuck peccaries. The small songbird, the red-backed ovenbird, has become one of the national symbols of Argentina.

Features of Argentina's reserves

To date, the country has created 33 national parks, four natural monuments, as well as many protected areas of regional importance. The landscapes, flora and fauna of Argentina have long outgrown the boundaries of national pride and have become a world heritage; it is no coincidence that seven natural sites of the country are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The abundance of areas with untouched nature is explained by the harsh climate, inaccessibility of many areas and the relatively low population density of the country.

Popular National Parks

It is difficult to say which of the Argentine reserves is the most important; they are all beautiful in their own way and are proud of their unique natural monuments. The main advantage of Los Glaciares National Park is its glaciers, the most famous of which is the giant Perito Moreno. It slides at a constant rate of 1.5 m per day, periodically separating pieces the size of a 20-story building with a thunderous crack.

American rhea ostriches, Andean condors, Patagonian hares, guanacos, pumas and rare gray foxes have taken root in the park.

In the dried-up bed of the Talampaya River, scientists are studying dinosaur fossils, and the remains of ancient settlements are preserved in Puerta del Canyon.

The oldest reserve in Argentina, Nahuel Huapi, stretches from the southeastern territories of the province of Neuquén to the northeast of the province of Rio Negro. Its main features are the extinct volcano Tronador, 3.5 km high, covered with glaciers, and the mountain lake of the same name, Nahuel Huapi. Another reserve in the province of Neuquén, the Lanin National Park, is famous for its forests of rare tree species: nothofagus oblique and alpine, and Chilean araucaria. In addition, on its territory there is a huge Lanin volcano, glacial lakes Lakar, Uekulafken, Alumine and many rivers.

You can see giant cacti in Los Cardones Park. Here, at an altitude of 3 to 5 km above sea level, there are entire cactus fields.

Cacti of a special type of cardon in the form of branching pillars reach there a respectable 300 years of age and three meters in height.

Other reserves and parks in Argentina

Chaco National Park is located in the central part of the South American continent, in the east of the Gran Chaco plain, and the Valdes Peninsula Nature Reserve in the northeast of Chubut province is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The peculiar, arid Ibera National Park in the province of Corrientes ranks second in area among all wetlands in Latin America.

The natural parks of Ischigualasto and Talampaya are famous for their archaeological excavations, preserved relict flora and fauna, and otherworldly mountain landscapes.

Tango is not the only cultural heritage of Argentina.

The peculiar mixture of traditions of different peoples - from the Incas to the Welsh - who lived on this land in different periods of history is such that you can only get some clear impression about it yourself by seeing Buenos Aires with your own eyes, walking along its streets and throwing a coin into the fountain in Plaza del Congreso.

The city is amazing, the architecture is unlike anything else in the world, the Puente de la Mujerno pedestrian bridge alone is worth it!

But still, this is not why travelers go to Argentina. Home and unique The attraction of this country is its natural reserves.

Ischigualasto National Park in the province of San Juan (or, in other words, the Valley of the Moon), occupies an area of 603 sq. km and reveals a completely Martian landscape.

Geologically, Ischigualasto is an old river bed that was formed many millions of years ago. During this time, wind and precipitation amazingly transformed the relief.

In certain lighting conditions, a comparison with the lunar surface seems quite justified. A particularly strange place is the Skittles Ball Area (Cancha de bochas).

Stone balls up to half a meter in diameter form themselves in the ground and are pushed to the surface by an unknown force. Their composition is the same as that of the surrounding soil.

This phenomenon is natural, but inexplicable. There is a version that something in the bowels of the earth begins to become overgrown with rock and over time crystallizes, like pearls. But scientists cannot answer more precisely what the mechanism is. Mystic.

IN Ischigualasto Park is a haven for archaeologists: Ancient rock paintings have been discovered here, and traces of the Incas have been found.

This now deserted area was once inhabited by proto-Indian tribes. Dinosaurs lived here even earlier. Their bones are perfectly preserved as fossils.

Some of the species found here are unique and not found anywhere else. Recreated prehistoric reptiles can be seen in the local paleontology museum.

The park is included in the UNESCO World Heritage catalog, and traveling here without a guide is prohibited in case you steal a stone ball.

Talampaya National Park

Ischigualasto is adjacent to another park - Talampaya. This is a valley with an amazing landscape among red-brown sandstone rocks.

As a result of erosion, unusual figures were formed from them, as if created by someone’s inflamed imagination (which would not be surprising - this is where peyote grows).

The most infernal ones are located in the Ciudad Perdida area.

In addition, in Talampaya you can see fossils of various fossil animals: dinosaurs and giant tortoises.

Talampaya Canyon, which is up to 140 m deep and 80 m wide, no less interesting to the inquisitive mind than rock forms and ancient fossils.

In addition, traces of Neolithic settlements have been preserved here, in particular the famous petroglyphs in Puerta del Canyon.

Nahuel Huapi National Park

Nahuel Huapi National Park is the oldest (founded in 1934) and the largest in Argentina.

Nahuel Huapi is a lake in northern Patagonia, but the park also includes other lakes:

Gutierrez.
Traful.
Mascardi.
Correntoso.
The extinct volcano Cerro Tronador (height 3491 m).

The depth of Lake Nahuel Huapi is 464 m, and the shape surprises with its sleeves, similar to Scandinavian fjords. There are islands on the lake, some of which have even become famous in history.

Jesuit monks settled in Argentina in 1670 and brought the word of God to this region. They founded a Christian mission on the island of Huemul.

However, in 1718, after a massacre carried out by Indians who were converting to the true faith, they were forced to flee home.

Repeatedly this region was discovered by Francisco Moreno in 1876. during his Patagonian expedition.

The local Indians have a legend about the spirit of the lake, which was almost confirmed in 1922, when several eyewitnesses noticed a huge creature with a long neck on the water surface - Nauelito(based on the name of the lake).

Experts were urgently called from the capital, but no traces of the unknown animal were found.

However in the 60s 20th century photographs of Nauelito appeared(skeptics, of course, recognized them as fakes).

This does not bother people who want to believe in a miracle - enthusiasts regularly appear claiming to have seen a creature similar to a dinosaur. This is only beneficial for the tourism business.

Right here, on Lake Nahuel Huapi, in 1948, Argentine President Juan Perron created a secret laboratory.

The invited German physicist Ronald Richter promised the head of state a controlled thermonuclear fusion reaction and after some time even reported on the result.

However, an independent examination convicted the physicist of falsifying the results. The laboratory on the island of Uemul was destroyed, and the physicist was fired in disgrace.

The picturesque ruins are now shown to tourists who come to the lake for kayaking.

Small steamboats also sail on the lake - walks on them are a must for those who want to see all the beauty from the water.

One of them, the Modesta Victoria, carried young Ernesto Che Guevara on board in 1952. The navigation veteran is still functioning.

Fitzroy National Park

Those for whom the only thing better than mountains are mountains should visit Fitzroy National Park in Patagonia.

Fitzroy Peak (3375 m) is considered one of the most difficult to climb in the world: some areas are sheer granite cliffs.

Climbers first conquered this peak only in 1952 (Lionel Terrey and Guido Magnon).

Francisco Moreno, during the Patagonian expedition in 1877, “discovered” this peak and gave it the name of the captain of the British brig “Beagle” Robert Fitzroy.

The Indians called the mountain differently - Cerro Chalten, which means “smoky mountain”; the impression of eternal smoke is created by the clouds that almost always surround the peak.

It's not just intrepid climbers who visit Fitzroy.

Travel agencies organize walking tours in the foothills for 2–4 days for everyone who would like to personally appreciate the beauty of the mountain landscape, and not from other people’s photographs.

You can get to Fitzroy from the village of El Chaltén, and to El Chaltén it takes 4–5 hours by bus from the airport of El Calafate.

However, agencies warn in advance that during the season there may be a shortage of air tickets from Buenos Aires to El Calafate.

Lake Traful

For lovers of scuba diving in the Argentine province of Neuquen there is Lake Traful.

The lake gives rise to the river of the same name, which flows into Nahuel Huapi.

The view from the 100-meter cliff is a must-have photo that those who have already been here boast about.

Divers talk about the amazing underwater world, where trees grow from the bottom, and in this magical forest, schools of unprecedented fish swim.

Punta Tombo

But what little fish! In Argentina you can meet penguins. Not visiting Punta Tombo, the habitat of these amazing creatures, is like flying to the ends of the world in vain.

Punta Tombo is just rocks, but it is here that every year (from September to April) the largest colony of Magellanic penguins with their babies gathers - up to a million individuals.

Penguins are not shy and are very curious. When tourists study penguins, they in turn study tourists.

Special bridges have been laid for people so as not to accidentally harm the “indigenous population”.

Magellanic penguins were on the verge of extinction in the last century, but gradually the demographic situation leveled off. Now there are approximately 1.8 million pairs.

Interestingly, Magellanic penguins are monogamous, and coming to see them is very symbolic for a honeymoon.

In any case, this is more correct than releasing winged rats into the sky at a marriage ceremony.

You can get here by plane to the city of Puerto Madryn (and another 180 km to Punta Tombo) or by another plane to the town of Welsh settlers Trelew (this is no closer - 110 km to the place).

In Trelew you can buy handmade items made from sheep's wool in memory of Argentina.

Experienced travelers know that in the Southern Hemisphere the opposite is true - when we have winter, they have summer. But even if you are not a member of a geographical society, when planning a trip, take these features into account.

Endurance will be required not only by a long flight, changing time zones, acclimatization, but also by the fact that in mountainous areas there is thin air.

Stock up not only on sunscreen, but also on some pills if your heart requires it.

Admire the penguins at Punta Tombo Argentina

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Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world, but its entire population is concentrated mainly in cities, and therefore has vast and almost uninhabited areas. Although this is one of the countries that supply pulses in the world, only 30% of its territory is converted into arable land, the rest of the territory has completely diverse landscapes: deserts and semi-deserts, jungles and forests, where nature is a complete mistress. From the highest point in the Americas (Mount Aconcagua - 6,962 meters above sea level) to the lowest point in the country (Salina Grande on the Valdez Peninsula - 48 meters below sea level), from the tropical to subarctic climate of Tierra del Fuego, there is a great diversity of natural diversity.

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