Patagonia holiday, Argentina and Chile

Planet

Patagonia is not a country but an immense region spread between Argentina and Chile. In Argentina, Patagonia is divided into four provinces (Río Negro, Santa Cruz, Chubut, and Tierra del Fuego), each with amazing landscapes and wildlife to be preserved. Some of our initiative to promote responsible travel in Patagonia has to do with the choice of transportation. Distances in Argentina are long so avoiding flights is not always a suitable option. However, when possible, our trips privileged land or boat transportation to reduce flights’ carbon emissions.

How does this trip help to protect the environment?

*Distances between Argentina and Chilean Patagonia are huge. However, we chose to design this trip to reduce carbon emissions in the area by including an amazing lake crossing experience from Argentina to Chile. Be sure, we have made no compliance at all! This is a spectacular day trip where you sail lakes, cross the Andean Mountain Range by bus and stop by a little village on the way.

* During the Andes Lake Crossing, you will visit Pehullá in Chile, recognized as the most sustainable destination in Chile. The village generates its clean energy and has been promoting tourism in the Chilean Patagonia Lake region for 100 years.

* In El Chaltén, Argentina, all our local operators feature a zero-tolerance practice against single-used plastic during tours and transportation.

* Wildlife conservation is also important in our trips. We want to enjoy responsible fauna sightseeing and thus we work with protected areas and specialized staff like Estancia Harberton in Ushuaia. The Estancia was funded by the pioneer Thomas Bridges who grow among native Yamana children. The estancia was declared a National Historical Monument. Near Haberton, you can visit a penguin rookery settled on Martillo Island. In this place lives more than 10.000 Magellan penguins. Papua and King penguins can occasionally be seen too.

People

On this trip, you will also spend some days in the big concrete jungle better known as Buenos Aires. This amazing capital has a cultural, bohemian, and vibrant day and nightlife. But far from the bright lights of regular tourism activities, we choose to promote off-the-beaten-path experiences to immerse in the community and learn about real local problems. Our goal is to help communities to develop cultural, ecological, or economic projects to become self-sustainable.


How does this trip help to develop local economies?

* During your free days in Buenos Aires, we encourage travelers to visit Maciel Island near La Boca neighborhood. While most travelers visit La Boca and the more touristy places like Caminito to see tango dancers in the street, we promote Isla Maciel, a communitarian tourism project. It was created by the neighbors to share the history and culture of the neighborhood.

* We always recommend travelers’ visiting Buenos Aires go shop in the many craft markets of Buenos Aires instead of big shop chains. Craftmakers’ are a big and well-organized community in the city and many of these fairs are locally famous. Plaza Serrano, San Telmo, and Recoleta craft markets are the most popular. But the Mataderos craft fair, less explored by international tourists, is to be recommended.

* Going back to Patagonia, in your free day in Bariloche we recommend travelers go on a trip to visit a Mapuche (native Patagonians) community and share breakfast with them just before going rafting in Manso River. This means an economic income going directly to the natives and cultural exchange for both sides.