Argentina Travel: Bariloche's main city square

Here is an official statement released today (Dec. 12, 2011) from airline Aerolineas Argentinas regarding flights, closure and alternative travel:

The Bariloche airport was originally scheduled to reopen later this month but will now open in late February 2012. Bariloche passengers are being protected on flights to/from Esquel (EQS) and/or Neuquen (NQN). Ground transportation between Bariloche and these two cities will be provided. The travel time between Bariloche and Esquel is approximately 3 hours. Travel time between Bariloche and Neuquen is approximately 6 hours.* When passengers disembark in Esquel and Neuquen there will be a bus that will take them to Bariloche. When in Bariloche they should check with AR locally to find out about the transportation to Esquel and Neuquen.
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Our flights to/from San Martin de los Andes (CPC) were scheduled to restart on January 01, 2012. Now the first flight between Buenos Aires and San Martin de los Andes is scheduled for March 04, 2012.
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Also, El Calafate-Esquel-El Calafate flights have been changed to El Calafate-Neuquen-El Calafate flights.

For questions regarding refunds or exchanges, please contact your flight booking agent or Aerolineas Aregentinas directly.

Additional updates are available on Aeorlinas Argentinas’ website.

*Travel by bus between Bariloche and Neuquen can potentially take up to 9 hours.

If you have any questions on if or how this closure will affect your Argentina travels, please give us a call at 1-800-344-6118.

Emperor Penguin - photo by Laurie Allread

Again we were reminded of the old Russian saying “the best way though ice is around ice.” The day was spent weaving in and out of ice through the patches of sea ice. Cape Washington was no longer in reach due to the ice conditions but we did make it to a wonderful emperor penguin rookery on Franklin Island. The lighting was beautiful on the huge tabular iceberg that made the perfect backdrop for any Antarctica postcard with the stars being the Emperor Penguins.

(This is Laurie’s fourth visit to Antarctica. She is blogging her way through this epic month-long Antarctica cruise; the Kapitan Khlebnikov’s Ross Sea Centennial Voyage. Tune in for daily updates from the field. Pictures from Laurie’s past Antarctica travels are found on her website.)

Travelers looking for bargains should look towards Latin America. Like our Guatemala Classico trip 6-days for $795

Cotopaxi Trekking Ecuador
7-days for $950
Hike in the shadows of the Cotopaxi Volcano and follow the ancient roads of the Incas during our 5 day/4 night trekking trip. Experience the hacienda culture of the Andean highlands and explore Inca sites during an active trekking circuit near the Cotopaxi National Park and in the Condor Biosphere. Includes two nights in Quito before and after the trek.

Bolivia’s Jesuit Missions
5-days at $770
Thought to be “forgotten” for more than two centuries, the region of Bolivia’s restored Jesuit Missions is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site for its cultural accomplishments and history. Includes San Javier, Concepcion, San Ignacio, San Miguel, San Rafael, and Santa Ana.

Awesome Argentina
8-days for $1525
Travel through the southern reaches of Argentina, taking in the highlights of Patagonia. Includes Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Beagle Channel, Gable Island, Tierra del Fuego, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, El Calafate and hiking on Perito Moreno Glacier.

Guatemala Classico
6-days for $795
A great introduction to Guatemala, this trip visits the celebrated market of Chichicastenango and explores the inviting colonial city of Antigua. Spend the next couple nights along the beautiful shores of volcano-fringed Lake Atitlan.

For more Latin America bargains, take a look at our ongoing and special discounts available and upcoming trips.

Electric storm in the midst of Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano eruption in Chile. Photo by Daniel Basualto/EPA

UPDATE June 9, 2011: Flights on LAN and Aerolineas Argentinas are experiences ongoing delays and cancellations. For the most recent statement released from LAN Airlines, click here. For the most recent statement released from Aerolineas Argentinas click here. American Airlines just released the following statement:

More changes are, of course, in store as ash moves throughout the atmosphere and the eruption subsides.

Ashes from the eruption of Chile’s Puyehue Volcano over the weekend have put a hold on flights into Argentina’s Patagonia region. The eruptions of the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcanic complex — a ridge just west of the Chilean-Argentine border — started on Saturday. Winds quickly took the massive ash cloud east, covering places like Argentina’s popular Bariloche region, in dust. As a safety measure, airlines, LAN and Aerolineas Argentinas, have temporarily suspended flights from Buenos Aires to Patagonia. At this time, Chile’s in-country flights have not been disrupted as strong westerly winds continue to push ash over Argentina. While cancellations are subject to change, current details are as follows:

Aerolineas Argentinas
Cancelled until June 12th: All flights between Buenos Aires and Bariloche, Chapelco and Esquel
Cancelled until June 7th: All flights between Buenos Aires and Trelew, Neuquen, Viedma, Rio Gallegos, El Calafate, Ushuaia, Rio Grande and Comodoro Rivadavia

LAN Argentina
Cancelled until June 8th: All flights to Bariloche, Neuquen, Bahia, Blanca, Comodoro Rivadavia and Rio Gallegos.

Chile has over 3,000 volcanoes; 500 of which are considered active — 60 eruptions have occurred in the last 450 years. Puyehue Volcano last major eruption was in 1960. If you have any questions on how the eruption might affect your Argentina, Chile or Patagonia travel, please contact Adventure Life.

Adventure Life Giveaway - Win 2 Free Flights to South America

Enter our free flights giveaway NOW!

Having personally flown LAN airlines a handful of times, I am continually impressed with their services both on and off board. The giveaway closes April 17, 2011.

One of Easter Islands' famous Moai: LAN airlines offers new ways of traveling to Easter Island from Lima, Peru

UPDATE 10/28/10: As of Oct 28 (interestingly enough one day after I posted this article) LAN announced flights from Lima to Iguazu will now go through Foz do Iguazu International Airport (IGU, Brazil) replacing the original published operation from LIM-IGR in Argentina. Still totally doable — but now many travelers (including US travelers) will be required to purchase a visa for Brazil.

LAN airlines recently announced new direct flights from Lima, Peru to Iguazu, Argentina — and direct flights from Lima, Peru to Easter Island, Chile. So what’s the big deal? Well, prior to these offerings, travelers had to fly – and overnight in – the capital cities of Buenos Aires or Santiago, and then purchase additional flights to Iguazu or Easter Island … all of which added excess days and costs to the itinerary. The new direct flights not only make travel easier, but save time and money; travelers’ two most coveted commodities.

Offerings include both round trip Lima-Iguazu-Lima and Lima-Easter Island-Lima; or one-way options. Flights schedules are somewhat limited, specifically for the round-trip Lima-Easter Island-Lima (and quite honestly can get a little pricey). But there are plenty of one-way flights available typically starting around $270.

These new international flights are a direct result from the combined requests of Adventure Life, our travelers, and other companies in the travel industry who share our mission to make great travel effortless. Very cool LAN.

Need help putting it all together? Contact us.

Stay at the Mansion Dandi Royal during your time in Buenos Aires and get immersed in the tango culture.  The Tango Festival is a public event that brings portenos (term for citizens of Buenos Aires) and international tango enthusiasts together  (term for citizens of Buenos Aires) for two weeks of celebration, concerts, tango shows, and lessons between Aug 13-31, 2010. Contact us for more details, and if you can’t make it next month, this is an annual event that we plan on celebrating each year.

Tango Festival in Buenos Aires - Image from Kallpa Tours

Trekking in Argentina's Fitz Roy Range

Sunset at EcoCamp in Torres del Paine

Missoula, in Montana’s Rockies — where I rest my head at the end of the day — is at about 3200 ft above sea level. When I hiked the Inca Trail, two of my travel companions came from the Florida coast; you just don’t get any closer to sea level than that. While we were definitely mindful of the high elevation, and certainly huffed and puffed our way along the trail and through its 9,000-14,000 foot passes, altitude sickness was not a problem for any of the trekkers in our group. But this is not always the case. Don’t worry, if the altitude makes you wary, there are great options out there.

If you’re looking for fantastic Andes trekking, but in a lower elevation, look towards Patagonia. The circuits are remote and captivating, and the landscape is legendary. Both the popular Fitz Roy Range in Argentina and the “W” Circuit in Torres del Paine are excellent options for low elevation, multi-day treks.

For the Fitz Roy Trek, the highest elevation on the most popular route is near De los Tres Lagoon – at about 1200m (3900 ft). This 4-day Patagonia tour through glaciated landscape averages 7 to 9 hours of hiking a day, cover anywhere between 11 to 15 miles each day. This hike also includes a trek across the Torre Glacier.

On the W circuit in Chile’s Torres del Paine, your highest elevation will be in French Valley at 1100m (3608ft). If you like, this portion of the trek can be replaced with another trail for a less taxing hike. The W circuit for the most part avoids the difficult and taxing routes except for the last section to the Torres. The W circuit is one of the most accommodation, fitting the needs of hikers who want to trek all day, or those looking for a more relaxed pace.

A few more notes on high elevation trekking:
The good news is that the majority of those who experience altitude sickness find it relatively mild and limiting — NOT debilitating. And symptoms usually decline as altitude acclimatization occurs. All in all, don’t be afraid, be smart. Coming prepared, and recognizing the signs are the best ways to combat altitude sickness. Here are some tips on avoiding altitude sickness.

Argentina views like this make the reciprocity fee well worth it!

This fee only applies to citizens of the United States, Canada, and Australia. Each travelers has to pay the following amount:

United States: $131
Canada: $70
Australia: $100

This can be paid in U.S. Dollars, Argentine Pesos, travelers checks, or credit card. The payment of this fee is NOT for a visa, as travelers from the United States, Canada, and Australia do not need a visa if on vacation. You can see more information by going to the Argentine Ministry of Interior’s site.

For additional requirements for travel to Argentina visit the US Department of State’s website.