PERITO MORENO GLACIER
The
famed Perito Moreno Glacier is a drive of about 2 hours
from Lago Argentino over well maintained all weather roads
with a photographic, educational and wildlife stop here
and there along the way.
Perito Moreno Glacier has a frontage of more than 3 miles,
towering some 180 feet above the lake waters. Thunderous
booms are common as huge chunks break off and fall into
the lake. A series of "pasarellas" (boardwalks)
with strategically placed viewing points lets you explore
the area at your own pace.
There
is also a short distance, one hour motorlaunch excursion
along the southern face, providing difference views of the
ice walls. There is a snack bar with restrooms and a restaurant
nearby the at the "pasarellas". Most day tours
drop you at the "pasarellas" and allow you three
to four hours to explore at your own pace - barely enough
time to take the motorlaunch excursion and walk the pasarellas.
BARILOCHE
Where
Buenos Aires takes the cake as the hustle and bustle capital
of Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche (now known simply
as Bariloche) is the centre of outdoor activity, recreation
and nature-loving fun. Set amongst the beautiful lakes of
the south and Nahuel Huapi National Park, Bariloche is a
dream come true for any sport enthusiast or lover of beauty.
Sited as the 'gateway to the Andes' and the 'centre of Argentina's
Lake District' Bariloche is perhaps the best located city
in all of the country.
If you've ever been to any European ski resort you will
find Bariloche strikingly familiar. In recent years the
quest for sustainable tourism development has failed with
the over development of accommodation facilities and it
has become a bustling centre for the winter skiers and hikers
in the summer. If you don't mind the crowds you will find
endless activities to keep you sweatin' for weeks. Skiing
and hiking aside, Bariloche also offers optimum conditions
for superb fishing, cycling, horseback riding and white
water rafting.
SAN MARTIN DE LOS ANDES
It
is the second important centre of this part of the Andes
and the head of the Lanin National Park, which harbours
24 glacial lakes. With only 17,000 inhabitants, San Martin
is located on the shore of Lacar Lake. The town center and
the outskirts have the typical architecture of the high
mountains with flowers and gardens. It can be reached from
Bariloche or Villa La Angostura, along the Seven-Lake Road.
A spectacular view of the landscape may be enjoyed from
the Mirador Arrayan by the entrance of the city. The beautiful
landscape is dominated by Lanin Volcano (3,774m above sea
level), whose summit is covered by a thick layer of ice.
ANIMALS IN PUERTO MADRYN
At Punta Norte there are elephant seals (breeding season
late Sep/early Oct); at Caleta Valdes, 27 miles south of
Punta Norte, you can see Magellan penguins (Oct-Nov nesting),
sea lions (Dec-Jan breeding season) and elephant seals.
At
Punta Delgada the beach provides excellent viewing of elephant
seals and the austere but functional Hotel Faro Punta Delgada
provides an overnight spot allowing plenty of time for wildlife
viewing - nice bar as well... In addition, guanacos, rheas,
armadillos and other wildlife can be seen on the peninsula;
wildlife viewing is at its best during October-November.
The big attraction is the southern right whale (Eubalaena
australis), which frequent the shallow waters of Golfo Nuevo
and Golfo San Carlos between June and mid-December to breed
and bear their 
young;
Puerto Piramdes is the departure point for whale viewing
excursions. I really hope to go back one day to see the
whales and their calves - it must be an incredible sight.
Located to 107 km to the south of Trelew, Tombo Point Reserve
is one of the most beautiful examples of fauna in the world.
It is only comparable with the Galapagos. There is no other
colony of penguins of this magnitude that is so easy to
reach anywhere in the world. In season there can be close
to a million penguins there.
