Sunrise in Patagonia

One of the few things that I do not like about traveling is when you have to wake early in the morning to be ready for an early morning pick up to go to some far away famous tourist spot. This happened again when I went to see the Fitz Roy Range. Bus pick up was at 6am so I had to wake up by 5am.

But this was one trip where I was happy that the trip started that early. It enabled me to witness the glorious sunrise of Patagonia. The sky was truly blue, and clear and cloudless, and there slowly rising in strong orange was the sun. Unbelievably awesome and I cherished the quiet way that I saw the sight as the other passengers in the van opted to take a nap. Patogonia sunrise is a true wonder of nature!

Fitz Roy Range: Rugged Beauty

Ruggedly beautiful are the shark tooth summits of Fitz Roy Range. To get a good view of the summits you have to go to quiet town of El Chalten. I was based in El Calafate from where there are buses that can bring you to El Chalten on a 3 hour journey.

There are numerous trails to go around the Parque National Los Glaciares and information is available at the park's office at the entrance to the town of El Chalten, I opted for the shortest and easiest ( about 1 hour walk) which gave me a panoramic view of the Fitz Roy Range and the surroundings of El Chalten.

Perito Moreno: Holiday on Ice

Glaciar Perito Moreno is undoubtedly the crown jewel among the many tourist attractions of Argentina. It stands tall at 60m high and 5 km wide with a length of 30km. I consider myself privileged to have had the opportunity to stand face to face with this colossal ice field. This glaciar is both a visual and auditory experience as you will be enthralled with the sculpted ice formations with hues of blue and the sight and sound of melted ice collapsing into the water!

To get a more up close and personal experience with Glaciar Perito Moreno, there are boats that cruise close to the glaciar around Lago Argentina. Nevertheless, the scenery from the viewing decks of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares is still truly spectacular and is an experience not to be missed!

Ruta de los Siete Lagos to San Martin de los Andes

Since Bariloche is known for its lake I opted to take a Ruta de los Siete Lagos that brings you to the pleasant town of San Martin de los Andes. This route is scenic because of the pretty lakes and mountains that you see along the way. However, it is by no means awesome.

I should have perhaps followed the recommendations of the front desk at the place where I was staying to do instead the Monte Tronador which will take you to the black glacier with spectacular sights along the way.

Just the same it was a pleasant enough trip with just that feeling that you could have done something else for the day...

Circuito Chico: A View from the Top

Easily the most popular tour from the town of Bariloche is the half day Circuito Chico tour. This takes you to the Cerro Campanario which provides stunning views of the Lake Nahuel Huapi. To get to the viewpoint, you have to take a ski lift.

From there, the tour will bring you to another viewpoint providing a closer but still panoramic view of the lake and the famous Hotel Llao Llao on the lake.

Along the mountain side route you will see a lot of Swiss style vacation houses and resorts.

Bariloche Bewitches!

It is easy to understand why Bariloche is a favorite vacation place, be it summer or winter. Landscape of seemingly endless mountains, trees, and lakes is awesome!

In winter the mountains becomes a top spot for skiers and snowboarders. And in summer the climate remains cool, ideal for mountain climbing and the lakes are fertile for fishing and water sports.

The town of Bariloche prides itself with its tasteful urban style with alpine architecture as its main theme. It is known also for its chocolates which are definitely one of the world's best!

Bustling Mendoza

Mendoza is a bustling city but retains a small town vibe. It is a blend of the old and the new, with a running tram car, cobblestone streets, sidewalk cafes and beautiful parks. It is also famous for its wine. I stayed here for only a night as a rest stop to leisurely enjoy the comforts of a quaint city.