TALAMPAYA NATIONAL PARK... A World heritage Landmark by UNESCO

TALAMPAYA NATIONAL PARK... A World heritage Landmark by UNESCO


Located some 217 km. from La Rioja city (capital of La Rioja province), Argentina, Talampaya National Park is the most visited tourist destination in La Rioja, that you can combine with a visit to neighboring Ischigualasto Provincal Park, in San Juan province.
Both Parks share a geological basin of around 5.000 km.

Talampaya is named after the Quechua "Dry riverbed of the Tala" (Tala is a tree), as it was running water from the Talampaya river that created its steep-walled sandstone canyons - 150 meters high some of them - during Permian and Triassic times...

There is also an archaeological record of caves and shelters (burial sites, habitations, etc.) as well as rock art: figures, zoomorph engravings and geometrical motifs that goes back to the years 120-1180 AD.

You can visit the remains at two sites: in la Puerta de Talampaya (entrance to Talampaya National Park) and Los Pizarrones (the blackboards).

Its mos distinctive fauna - around 250 millions years ago - were the Lagosuchus Talampayensis(dinosaur) and Palaeocheris Talampayensis(turtle).

Today, you'll find mainly a common type of grey fox, armadillos and vizcachas. Andean condors and falcons are also a frecuent sight in the area.

Please note that that Park access is by guided tour only, irrelevant if you choose to do it by foot, bicycle or a 4WD vehicle. The entrance fee is $12.00 (around U$S 3) and you can visit it all year round (preferable in the morning,to avoid the afternoon heat).
Córdoba

Córdoba



Córdoba is one of the most important economic centers in the country. It has with many contrasting features— it is both a cultural and tourist-like destination, a traditional and modern city, with an industrialized as well as a home-made production.


A hilly landscape and favorable weather conditions are distinctive in Córdoba, a place where natural sceneries are mixed with colonial monuments. Little towns, historical antiques and cave paintings are found in a pleasant valley landscape, high plains and gorges. 


Cordoba’s hills rise toward the northwestern Pampas plains. They are part of the “Sierras Pampeanas” mountain range, reaching 2,790 m high in the Champaqui hill. All these hills are particularly appealing because of their fertile valleys, deserts and salt mines. 


All along the way northward, you will find many 17th and 18th century chapels and farmhouses inherited from the Jesuits.
Perito Moreno Glacier

Perito Moreno Glacier



The Perito Moreno Glacier is a must-see in Argentina. Together with twelve other glaciers it is part of one of the largest sliding masses of ice and snow in Los Glaciares National Park. This glacier, having a front wall of 5 Km long, is 60 m high above Lake Argentino and it is in the middle of its way forward. At any time during the year, chunks of ice can constantly be seen collapse and shatter into multiple floes. It can be reached from El Calafate, 80 Km away, where a lake itinerary can also be taken to 50 Km long Upsala glacier; Onelli and Agassiz glaciers can be seen after a 1.5 Km walk through forests of low deciduous beeches and ñires starting at the Onelli Bay.


The Perito Moreno Glacier can be watched from footbridges right in front of it, or from trip boats that come close to its walls. Going inside the glacier is an unforgettable experience, as well as taking walks on it and into the moraine, exploring caverns, drains and ice
The Jesuit Block in the City of Córdoba

The Jesuit Block in the City of Córdoba



The Jesuit Block in the City of Córdoba includes the Church of the Compañía de Jesús, the Domestic Chapel, the Jesuits Residence and the Principal’s Office of the National University of Córdoba –former Compañía de Jesús High School— with its own administrative buildings, the Cloisters, the Conferring Room, the Library and the Monserrat National High School.


In 1599 the Jesuits settled in Córdoba, in the plot of land provided by the local City Hall, where there had been a small chapel since 1589 that soon became too small to accommodate priests, students and faithful locals. This is why the building work began in 1606, which later on would become the present Jesuit Block. Successively, more buildings were built for the High School (1610), the University (1622), the Royal School of Our Lady of Montserrat (which was founded in 1687 but set up in its present site in 1782, after the expulsion of the Compañía), and also the Novitiate (towards 1710). The Church and the Domestic Chapel were built from 1644 to 1671. The old chapel, one of the oldest ecclesiastical buildings preserved in Argentina, constitutes the Domestic Chapel Sacristy.


The Jesuit estancias (large cattle ranches) in Córdoba are a singular sample of the productive organization of the religious members of Compañía de Jesús in the country, and this is still shown in a carefully preserved architecture. Though history demonstrated that the farms were acquired for economic purposes in order to support schools and universities, the estancias were of course used “for missionary purposes, thus turning into religious centers.” 

Mendoza Province... A paradise for outdoor living, recreation and adventure

Mendoza Province... A paradise for outdoor living, recreation and adventure


The province of Mendoza is located in the central west of Argentina, by the Andes range (a geologically young system uplifted in the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods), and pretty close to Chile.
Its capital bears the same name and was founded in 1560 by Pedro del Castillo.

The region payed an important role in the war of independence against Spain. It was here that general Jose de San Martin recruited and trained the army that gave freedom to Chile and Peru as well.

Mendoza is synonimous of peace and welfare, excellents wines and the friendliest of people. A paradise for outdoor living, recreation and adventure.
Iguazu Falls Is One Of The Top Destinations In South America

Iguazu Falls Is One Of The Top Destinations In South America


The Iguazu Falls is one of the largest collections of waterfalls in the world. There are about 275 waterfalls spread across 2.7 kilometres of the Iguazu River. The Iguazu Falls are located on the border of Brazil and Argentina, and can be viewed from both sides. Taller than Niagara Falls, twice as wide with 275 cascades spread in a horsehoe shape over nearly two miles of the Iguazu River, Iguazú Falls are the result of a volcanic eruption which left yet another large crack in the earth.

On the Brazilian side, the easiest way to get to the falls is from the town of Foz do Iguaçu. The falls is about 20 km from the town centre of Foz, and can easily be accessible by public bus or taxi.

Crossing over the border to Argentina, the closest town you can base yourself is the town of Puerto Iguazu. The town is roughly 40km from the Argentinean side of the falls, and is accessible by public bus or taxi as well. The Argentinean side has 2/3 of the falls, and is where you will find the most spectacular views of the falls.

Best seen from the Brazilian side is the spectacular Devil’s Throat, garganta del diablo, where fourteen falls drop 350 feet with such force that there is always a 100 foot cloud of spray overhead. Watch for the rainbow!

The Argentinean side has the top view of The Devil’s Throat, and has several walks to view the rest of the waterfalls. The national park is enormous, and one can easily spend a couple of days taking in all the breathtaking walks and activities that are on offer. Getting from the entrance to The Devil’s Throat on its own would take nearly an hour, taking both the train and walking the 1 km of walkway towards the edge of the Devil’s Throat.

The park also offers a river cruise, where you can see the exotic wildlife native to the area, and a cruise is also available to get to San Martin Island, one of the islands at the basin of the falls where a few more walking trails can be explored. Taking a cruise back to the start instead of the train from the Devil’s Throat is a great idea. One can see the exotic and varied wildlife in along the Iguazu River and experience being on the big river that feeds the falls.

Iguazú Falls, called Foz do Iguaçu in Portuguese, and Cataratas del Iguazú in Spanish, lie on the Argentina – Brazil border and are a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. 
Patagonia

Patagonia



The Andean Mountain Range displays all its greatness in the Patagonian provinces. Thousand-year-old silent forests with native vegetation extend to the banks of the lagoons. On mountain tops, nature overflows in granite needles and icy fields brimming with glaciers in lakes of unique beauty. The paintings on the sides of the Cueva de las Manos (Cave of the Hands) have survived for about 10,000 years, and embody the oldest expression of the South American peoples.


Imposing mammals and sea birds go through some rough seasons on the Patagonian coasts where they spend part of their life cycle. Colonies of sea lions play and rest on small islands and sandbars. Southern elephant seals have their greatest continental station in the world on Península Valdés. Nuevo and San José gulfs, separated by Carlos Ameghino isthmus, bear witness to the arrival of the Southern Right Whale, which punctually gets there for giving birth and breeding. Creole hares, rheas and guanacos (a lowland relative of the upper-Andean llama) run through the plains, and in Punta Tombo the largest colony of Maguellanic penguins nests. The amazed look of the visitor beholds this cadence that has been repeating itself since time immemorial. 


Farther south, you should visit Tierra del Fuego and Ushuaia— the latter being the southern-most city in the world. They are both an open door to the immense solitude of mysterious Antarctica.
Litoral

Litoral


This is a region of large rivers, humid tropics, red earth, magnificent forest, a virgin forest full of huge trees and extraordinary flora and fauna. Great Waters – “Iguazú” in the Guaraní language – overflowing into one of the world’s wonders: the Iguazú Falls.

A scenery of exuberant beauty spreading along the Iguazú National Park, Saltos del Moconá (Moconá Falls), Río Pilcomayo National Park, El Palmar National Park, Esteros del Iberá (Iberá Swamps) or the Chaco plains.

Apotheosis of Nature, where the Jesuit ruins, declared World Heritage by the UNESCO, are a vivid testimony of the Society of Jesus’ fruitful work.
Cementerio de la Recoleta

Cementerio de la Recoleta



This is arguably Buenos Aires’ number-one attraction, and a must on every tourist’s list. You can wander for hours in this amazing city of the dead, where countless ‘streets’ are lined with impressive statues and marble sarcophagi. Peek into the crypts and check out the dusty coffins – most of which hold the remains of the city’s most elite sector of society – and try to decipher the history of its inhabitants. Past presidents, military heroes, influential politicians and the just plain rich and famous have made it past the gates here. Hunt down Evita’s grave, as all visitors try to do