Deep blue colors and magic forests
In the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén, 25 km from San Carlos de Bariloche, excursions depart from Puerto Blest, sail across the Nahuel Huapi Lake and take you to Victoria Island where the spectacular views of the Anchorena Bay and the settings surrounding the Llao Llao Hotel fascinate visitors. Hikes up to Port Gross lead to Del Toro beach, sailing the Blest part of the Nahuel Huapi Lake to contemplate the Centinela Island, and reaching the Cántaros Lake enclosed by the Valdivian forest, you will discover the most amazing views of Patagonia.
The deep green waters of Mascardi Lake, also in Río Negro, take you to the Ventisquero Negro glacier where you can hike through the woods to visit the Saltillo de las Nalcas waterfall. The international crossing of the Andinos Lakes is another option that combines sailing and land travel until reaching Puerto Montt in Chile. As you sail through the Río Negro, one of the biggest rivers in Argentina, you may choose among excursions in Curru Leuvu II catamaran, motorboats or other vessels that set out from the motor boats docks in the city of Viedma.
A collection of lakes to sail on
The Patagonian lakes display their full magnificence in the province of Neuquén. The Lacar lake, at the foot of the picturesque city of San Martín de los Andes, amazes visitors with the crystal clarity of its waters and offer a variety of trips in modern vessels that sail its coasts to discover islands, woods, waterfalls and landscapes of unique beauty. A few kilometers away and near Junín de los Andes, the Huechulafquen Lake offers boat trips where the imposing Lanin volcano guides you through the trip like a lighthouse. Further south, also in Neuquén, from the Mansa bay in Villa la Angostura, sailing through the Nahuel Huapi Lake bordering the cliffs and the Quetrihué coast you will reach the Arrayanes woods [ Arrayan: Luma apiculata or Myrceugenella apiculat, a type of myrtle ], with soft, cinammon colored bark and specimens over 25 meters high and 300 years old. Surrounded by the enchantment of the Moquehue and Aluminé lakes in the foothills of the Andes, tempting trips combine the beauty of the landscapes and the practice of water sports.
Sailing among giants
In the province of Santa Cruz, 80 kilometers from El Calafate and inside Los Glaciares National Park is the Perito Moreno Glacier. Different boats that cross the waters of the Argentino Lake--the water surface with the largest area in the country--sail across the Canal de los Témpanos [Channel of the Ice Floes] to meet the impressive glacier. This giant made of ice offers one the most extraordinary natural shows in the region. However, combination of ice and beauty does not end with the Perito Moreno. Sailing the north branch of the lake affords you a view of the majestic giants of ice and a stunning landscape of the foothills in the Estancia Cristina [Cristina ranch].
From the Bahía Túnel Port, in El Chaltén, boats sail to the Viedma Glacier. This trip gives a view of the Fitz Roy and Huemul Mountains, and once you pass Cabo de Hornos [Cape Horn] you come to an astonishing range of blues that color the Viedma glacier. The Capri, Torre and De las Tres lagoons or the Desierto Lake take visitors near the amazing and fascinating landscapes of ice and granite that make up the Fitz Roy and Torre mountains.
The Atlantic coastline of the Santa Cruz province affords very interesting options to watch wild-life and splendid rock formations from the vessels that sail from Puerto San Julian or Puerto Deseado t hrough waters once plied by explorers and corsairs
A sea full of life and lakes surrounded by ancient larch forests
From Puerto Madryn or Puerto Pirámides in the Península Valdez – a place proclaimed as a “World Heritage” by UNESCO- different vessels set sail for diving excursions or to take you to the fun shows offered by dolphins, Commerson's dolphins, sea lions and the gigantic and stunning Southern Right Whale that comes to these seas between June and December and leaves visitors speechless.
Chubut, furthermore, offers sailing in its foothills lakes and the floating down its long rivers. In Los Alerces National Park you can sail Lake Futalaufquen and through the Arrayanes River, that features dreamlike surroundings with specimens of arrayanes [Chilean myrtle: Luma apilucata ] along its banks. Sailing the waters of the Lago Puelo National Park you approach the Chilean border while viewing its flora in maximum splendor and enjoying one of the favorite habitats of the huemul, the native deer, that lives in these Patagonian forests.
By ship to the end of the world
Ushuaia is the destination of large cruise ships that put into port from all different parts of the world. Once there, modern and comfortable vessels depart to the dreamy destinations at the end of the world. Various excursions that may travel for a few hours or a few days up the Beagle channel, afford a magnificent view of the southernmost city in the world and a landscape filled with sea birds and wildlife--sea lions and colonies of imperial, red-leg, rock, and black oyster-gathering shags. There are many ways to reach the Isla de los Pájaros [Birds Island], the Isla de los Lobos [Wolves Island], the Eclaireurs lighthouse and the Bridges islands. Some of the longest trips take you to the penguin colony on the Martillo Island and the traditional Estancia Harberton [Harberton ranch].
Sea lovers may take an expedition to the Isla de los Estados [Island of the States] and to the mythical Cabo de Hornos [Cape Horn] at the eastern point of Tierra del Fuego. Another attraction in Ushuaia is the tour to Bahia Lapataia, sailing from Puerto Arias inside the Tierra del Fuego National Park and visiting various bays and islands.
To the Antarctica. The port of Ushuaia is also the point of departure for cruises that head to the inhospitable surroundings of the Antarctic continent. Between November and March, after some days at sea, you arrive to the Antarctica, a destination as extreme as it is majestic and unsettling. |
