Page 309 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

OutdOO r A c tivities A nd speci A lized h O lid A ys  307

Spas and Luxury In the Air
Holidays
The wide blue skies in Argentina
Famous for its spa, the can be explored by balloon,
Park Hyatt in Mendoza helicopter, glider, or paraglider.
uses wine-based oils These activities are ideal even
for mas sages. Llao Llao for beginners. Bariloche and
Hotel and Resort near Córdoba are established centers
Bariloche also offers for all airborne activities, and it
health treatments. is possible to arrange gentle
In Buenos Aires, many balloon flights across the
hotels such as Faena rolling Pampas. Opera tors such
Hotel & Universe (see as Lan & Kramer (see p277) in
p278) have spas offering Buenos Aires plan all kinds of
a range of treat ments. flights for learners and more
The revamped Cielo experienced pilots.
Spa at the downtown
Four Seasons is a Tango
favorite with porteños.
Argentina’s largest spa The tourist industry has
town is Termas de attracted dozens of tango
Río Hondo (see p192), operators, from cowboys to
which is said to have expert historians, who can
“healing” waters. enrich a trip through the lesser
known barrios in the capital,
Hikers at Parque Provincial Aconcagua where tango was born and
Skiing and
Winter Sports evolved. Tango-themed hotels
offers a wide range of 4WD such as Lina’s Tango Guest
tours across the roads of The winter sports season starts House and Mansión Dandi
Traslasierra, while fans of in early July and lasts until early Royal (see p278), as well as
quad biking can also try October. Luxury ski resorts major service providers such
Kumbre in Tandil. Another include Las Leñas (see p223) in as Kallpatour, can organize
Argentina-based specialist to Mendoza province, Villa Cerro tango shows and lessons to
contact is Canal Fun and Catedral near Bariloche, and be combined with sight seeing
Nature in Ushuaia. Chapelco Ski Resort near San trips in Buenos Aires.
Martín de los Andes. Mana ged
by local Mapuches is Batea
Walking and Climbing Mahuida near Villa Pehuenia in Wine and Food
With several beautiful sierras Neuquén. An operator that can Many vineyards now have
and challenging sum mits, arrange ski trips is Ripio in the organized tours and tasting
Argentina is a walkers’ and capital. Glacier tours are sessions (see pp214–15). Those
climbers’ heaven. The Chaltén available through local in the Mendoza region with an
and Fitz Roy area, Córdoba operators such as Calafate international reputation include
province, and the sierras of Mountain Park in Calafate and Salentein (see p282), Club Tapiz,
Tandil and de la Ventana offer Camino Abierto in Patagonia. and Cavas Wine Lodge (see
all levels of chal lenges. Huilén For ice climbing, Compañia de p281). The Grapevine in
Viajes y Turismo in Villa Guias de la Patagonia in Mendoza is good for tours led
La Angostura offers a wide Ushuaia is recommended. by knowl edge able, locally based
range of ser vices for walkers, experts. Other regions are less
riders, climbers, and rafters in deve loped, but Terra Riojana is
the lake region. Mendoza has opening doors to fascina ting
long attracted serious rock cellars in San Juan and La Rioja.
climbers and experienced Arblaster & Clarke, based in the
walkers and Andes Vertical, UK, are highly respected. They
offering hiking expeditions plan detailed tours to explore
and guided climbing in the bodegas and their exclusive
Andes and Patagonia, offers a vintages, and can combine tours
package tour for climbers who with trips to Chile and Uruguay.
want to ascend Aconcagua. Food trails have just started to
Centro Andino Buenos Aires, become popu lar. Buenos Aires-
a team that plans mountain- based Alejandro Frango
eering trips, has branches in organizes meals out for
the capital and in major individuals and small groups,
climbing centers such as Men- Paraglider at Cerro Otto in during which local food
doza, Bariloche, and El Chaltén. Bariloche, Patagonia delicacies are explained.

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