EXPERIENCES

Every land has its own secrets but not everyone is chosen to know them: a lighthouse in a lonely cape, a mysterious sunken ship for 40 years and a distinguished antique “estancia” are some of the icons that reveal the unknown stories of Tierra del Fuego. Very early in the morning departure from Ushuaia following National Route 3 and crossing The Andes through the Garibaldi Pass. We stop by the little town of Tolhuin, heart of the island, to visit La Unión Bakery. This is a traditional meeting point for both, locals and visitors, and it is part of the charm of this village. By midday we come to the Provincial Route “A”, where we took a gravel road heading toward the Atlantic Ocean and the San Pablo Cape. At this point, we hiked up to an isolated mountain with an abandoned lighthouse at the end. Climbing to the top of this beacon we will appreciate “Desdemona”, an abandoned ship for almost 40 years ago which invites us to sail through time. It happened on a cold winter morning in1983 when this enormous craft ran aground on the shores of the Argentine Sea. After exploring this mysterious giant, we visit Estancia Rolito. This lovely ranch, that keeps the spirit of a family business based on sheep farming tradition, is the first ranch to open its gates to rural tourism.

Characterized by a nostalgic, old-world beauty, the city that is referred to as the “Paris of the South” boasts marvelous architectural jewels. We shall explore the elegant Recoleta and Retiro quarters with treed sidewalks, turn-of-the-century palaces and handsome apartment buildings. We shall visit the masterpieces that surround the sprawling Plaza San Martín, a Beaux Arts Palace built as residence for the Anchorena family; an imposing mansion inspired by the Louvre Palace, and a ground-breaking Art Deco skyscraper, a landmark that was at the time of construction, 1936, the highest concrete building in the world. The Museum of Decorative Arts decorated in eclectic style including neo-Classical; Circulo Militar, designed in Paris and built in Buenos Aires for the Paz family; the French Embassy and the Brazilian Embassy; San Martin palace —today the Foreign Affairs Ministry— among other beautiful buildings.

The route of this beautiful circuit includes the full range of landscapes that can be enjoyed in this privileged region. The first stop would be in Villa la Angostura where we will have time to get to know the center and its main street. We continue taking the "7 Lakes Route" towards San Martín on a wooded road that crosses rivers and streams, while bordering several lakes such as Nahuel Huapi, Correntoso, Espejo, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner and Machónico. Bordering Lake Lacar, we arrive at San Martín de los Andes to have lunch and get to know the city, its main street and the lake's coast. The return is by paved route that passes through Junín de Los Andes, La Rinconada, Collon Cura and joins National Route N40, with a rural and steppe landscape, crossed by beautiful Andean rivers that flow towards the Limay. Thus we arrive at Traful Confluence, where the rocky figures of the "Enchanted Valley" and the surprising formation of "El Amphitheater" are added to this magical landscape. Bordering the river to its source in Lake Nahuel Huapi, we return to Bariloche.