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LATIN AMERICA PATAGONIA DESTINATIONS


voice in my head as I glimpse something quite extraordinary: a cluster of colossal, rugged ice chunks coloured bright white and aquamarine blue, floating on glacial water and jutting out in such bizarre shapes that they look like a Damien Hirst artwork. Fortunately we’re expecting


“I


the icebergs – and we’re not about to collide with them. Behind, snow-capped mountains peep out like dollops of whipped cream; beneath, the water is flat and pristine, like a sheet of shimmering cling film. It feels like Antarctica, and in


fact, I’m not too far away. I’m on a Latin Routes fam trip exploring the Argentine side of Patagonia – the sprawling, sparsely populated region at the southern


ceberg ahead!” shouts the Leo DiCaprio-loving


end of South America that takes up almost half of Argentina and a decent chunk of Chile. Mountains, volcanoes, glaciers and desert-like steppe plains fill the vast spaces of this unique land, making up an area that’s around one and a half times the size of the UK, with Welsh, German and anglophone settlements scattered around. Serious explorers and die-hard mountain climbers flock here in droves, but you needn’t limit its appeal. With the gateways of Bariloche and El Calafate both about two to three hours away by air from Buenos Aires, it’s relatively accessible. And with a handful of soft activities, it’s sellable too, offering just as much for walkers, horse riders and food lovers as it does for full-on, hardcore adventurers.


w BARILOCHE First up on our tour was San Carlos de Bariloche, a tourist- centric resort set in northern Patagonia’s lake district. Sandwiched between the snow-dusted mountains of the region and the shimmering waters of Lake Nahuel Huapi, this busy, slightly industrial town is a melting pot of Argentine and Alpine culture – heavily influenced by Swiss and German settlers who came in the early 1900s – with rows upon rows of chocolate shops flanking traditional artisanal markets. Its main draw, though, is the plethora of outdoor adventures available, with skiing in winter and hiking, abseiling, biking, kayaking and more in summer luring an outdoorsy crowd year-round.


8 February 2018 travelweekly.co.uk 65


TOP TIP The best time for hiking in Patagonia is October to March, while Bariloche’s ski season runs June to October


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