EXPERIENCES

Departure from a downtown office in Ushuaia (very close to the port), towards the glacial valleys near the city. A few kilometers from Ushuaia, the Tierra Mayor Valley and the primitive forest begin to open up to welcome us for a walk to reach one of the gems in Tierra del Fuego. We begin a walk through the primitive forest, which for at least 7000 years made life possible for the first inhabitants in these latitudes. Leaving the forest, surrounded by mountains, we find ourselves in a dreamlike landscape: an imposing valley surrounded by snow-capped peaks. The glacial water of the Esmeralda River encounters the engineering feats of the beavers, which found some sort of a paradise here: Surrounded by plenty of food, and despite of the absence of predators, they still apply themselves to their favorite entertainment: the construction of dams. Then we start the ascent towards the Esmeralda lagoon (due to the peat -spongy mass of wet organic material- we suggest the use of rubber boots or perhaps bring spare shoes). The walk to Emerald Lagoon does not present much of a challenge to exercise-loving travelers: with the appropriate clothing, this walk is quite easy and very panoramic. After crossing the valley, we leave behind the lenga forest and begin a sustained ascent along a slightly steep slope. Emerald Lagoon is located at the foot of the Ojo de Albino glacier, between Cerro Bonete and Cordón Toribio in an area of wonderful chromatic amplitude. This is one of the most impressive landscapes in this region! The way back becomes shorter, in a little steep descent, with new panoramic views. We reach the refuge to enjoy dinner (with drinks included, before returning Ushuaia. Attractives: Tierra Mayor Valley, Emerald Lagoon.

Magic in the land of Malbec; let's experience floral aromas, violets, red fruit, and fresh spices. Guided by expert guides, we will visit the wineries where the best Argentine wines are born: • Benegas Winery is located in Luján de Cuyo, in a building from 1901 that was constructed by the governor of Mendoza, Agustín Álvarez. Federico Benegas Lynch bought this winery in 1999 and it took him five years to restore it, preserving its original design with adobe walls and cement vats, while incorporating new temperature control technology. • On the southern bank of the Mendoza River, you'll find Matervini Winery, which was founded in 2008. Starting with the same grape variety, the grapes from different terroirs produce wines with absolutely different characteristics. It's a journey from traditional soils to unexplored ones, from younger to older, and non-alluvial soils. Matervini is the search for the unknown, the new in the old. • The pairing of Malbec and Argentine gastronomy comes to life at Finca Decero Winery. This is the result of the extraordinary vision of its owner, Swiss entrepreneur Mr. Thomas Schmidheiny, who discovered the unparalleled potential of the Agrelo region in Mendoza to create a unique and sophisticated winery surrounded by its own vineyards, which he named Remolinos. (On Tuesdays, this winery is closed to tourism and is replaced by another one.)

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.