Patagonia – America’s wild South
Argentina is situated in South America and is bordered by Paraguay and Bolivia in the North, Brazil and Uruguay in the Northeast and Chile in the West and South. For many centuries Argentina has been a purely agricultural country which constituted together with Uruguay and Paraguay the “Viceroyalty Río de la Plata” till the 19th century.
Until today Argentina is shaped by its huge droves which consist of around 50 million cattle as well as its millions of sheep. Argentina’s beef is renowned around the world. Annual production of cereals and oilseeds exceeds 70 million tons which turns Argentina into one of the main exporters. Argentina is also one of the leading producers of wines. One of the country’s largest sheep grazing regions, which is also one of the largest regions for growing fruit and vegetables, is found in the South in Patagonia.
However, with its gorgeous landscapes, cosmopolitan cities and its lively culture Argentina also made its mark as a tourist destination. It stretches almost 3500 km from Bolivia to the Southern tip of the continent, it is approximately eight times the size of Germany and encompasses a wide range of geography and climates.
Nature-lovers can traverse the Patagonian steppe, climb South America’s highest peak, walk among thousands of penguins and gaze at one of the world’s most amazing waterfalls. City lovers will adore fabulous Buenos Aires with its historical buildings, artistic and cultural neighbourhoods and funky shopping areas.
Our expeditions take you into the Argentinian part of Patagonia. Patagonia is one of the least populated places on earth. Large parts of the country are covered by thorny bushes and steppe-like plains and are inhabited by millions of sheep. Animals such as Darwin ostriches, guanacos, Maras (pampa rabbits), skunks and foxes are some of the most characteristic mammals of the typical fertile Patagonian plains, the Pampas.
A special highlight is the beautiful scenery along the vast Atlantic coastline. We visit a 1000 km long part of the coastline between the Península Valdés and the river Río Deseado. This is a true paradise for wildlife and nature enthusiasts. Signature marine fauna include Southern right whales, Magellanic penguins, orcas, Southern sea lions, elephant seals and various species of sea birds. The Península Valdés is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site for its importance as a nature reserve.
Time difference:
Central European Time (CET) -4 hours
Language:
The official language is Spanish, English and Italian are spoken sporadically.
Flight time:
The flight time from Frankfurt am Main to Buenos Aires takes approximately 14 hours.
Best travel time:
October and November are the best months for whale watching, which is also the start of the summer. The Orca season begins early March and ends in mid-April.
Climate:
Because of the size of the country and the vast differences in altitude (up to 7000 meters) Argentina has a multifaceted climate. It reaches from sub-tropical temperatures in the North to sub-zero temperatures in the uttermost South which is most comfortable to travel to between November and March. In the central region there is usually a predominantly moderate climate. However, in the summer months (December to February) it is very hot and humid while the winters are quite cold. At our traveling route temperatures vary between 7 °C at night and up to 20 °C during daytime. On the water which has about 12 °C, it is considerably cooler which is why warm and waterproof clothes is recommended.
Entry regulations:
Please read up on currently valid entry regulations to Argentina as well as on general travel, security and medical instructions at your responsible Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
United Kingdom: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina
Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required.You may need to provide proof of onward travel in the form of a return ticket.
United States of America: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/argentina.html
A valid passport is required for U.S. citizens to enter Argentina. U.S. citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to 90 days for tourism or business. Argentine law requires that, prior to arrival in Argentina at any entry point, U.S. citizen tourist and business travelers pay a 160 USD reciprocity fee by credit card online at the Provincia Pagos website.
Vaccinations:
No compulsory vaccinations are required when entering Argentina.
Currency:
Argentinian Peso. Argentina is currently in a financial crisis with a huge inflation which is why the exchange rates change daily. As of May 2015: 1 Euro = 9,85 Peso; 1 US-Dollar = 8,98 Peso.
British Embassy:
Dr Luis Agote 2412
1425 Buenos Aires
Phone: +54 11 4808-2200
Fax: +54 11 4808-2274
E-Mail: askinformation.baires@fco.gov.uk
Internet: https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-buenos-aires
US-American Embassy:
Avenida Colombia 4300
C1425GMN Buenos Aires
Phone: +54 11 5777 4533
Fax: 54 11 5777 4240
E-Mail: BuenosAires-ACS@state.gov
Internet: http://argentina.usembassy.gov/index.html
Recommendation:
Participants should be in good physical condition. Even though long and tiring hikes are not planned, we will spend the majority of the time outdoors in various conditions and situations.
Arrival:
From Europa with different airlines such as KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, Iberia or LAN to Buenos Aires. From the United States with various airlines such as American Airways, United, Delta or LAN to Buenos Aires. From there you continue to Trelew with Aerolíneas Argentinas. In Buenos Aires an airport change is necessary. You can receive current information on demand as well as after your booking.