Month: September 2022

This gauge steam railway, also known as the “Train to the End of the World,” is the world’s southernmost railway. Although it once provided a less happy service of connecting Ushuaia’s penal colony with nearby cities, today it offers a beautiful tourist ride into the Tierra del Fuego National Park.

The train departs from the End of the World station on new tracks (the originals can still be seen nearby), riding alongside a densely forested gorge and beautiful peaks all around. In the winter, everything is covered in snow; in the other seasons, the greens and reds that take over the valley throughout the season will be appreciated.

The train stops once so that passengers can take photos at a nearby waterfall before continuing on into the national park.

While onboard, first-class passengers will be able to sample some local specialties such as alfajores, biscuits filled with thick caramel, and empanadas, a fried or baked pastry filled with cheese or meat.…

During the Spanish colonial period in the 1600s, a number of Jesuit missions were established in the northern province of Misiones, near the border with Brazil. The mission once housed over 3,000 Indigenous people, but as the Jesuits left the country, the buildings fell into disrepair. The San Ignacio Mini mission ruins, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are the country’s largest and best-preserved mission ruins.

The original mission, built in red-brown stone in the Guaran Baroque style, was massive, with a monastery, a cabildo (administrative office), a cemetery, and several living spaces. The best-preserved part of the ruins is the mission’s church, which measures 74 metres long by 24 metres wide.

A small museum on-site tells the mission’s story, and there’s a scale model of the original San Ignacio Mini. Also other places are around to visit.…

Quebrada (Spanish for “broken”) is a term used in Argentina to describe deep ravines. In summer, the 155-kilometer-long Quebrada de Humahuaca in the country’s northwest is a perfect example of a beautiful ravine with a wild river running through it (the river dries up in winter).

This arid valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was once part of the Inca Empire and an important trade route. Today, most visitors come for the scenery, which is a mix of reds, pinks, and oranges that appear to be painted on the surrounding hills.

The tiny town of Iruya (population 1,000), not far from the quebrada, is also worth a visit. Built directly into the mountainside at an elevation of over 2,700 metres, it offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and fertile valleys. In town, the dirt streets, old houses, and colourful celebrations with Indigenous details provide excellent photo opportunities.…

These stunning salt flats (the third largest in the world) cover an area of over 4,700 square kilometres and span two provinces, sitting 180 metres above sea level. This is a remote and desolate area with deserted routes, walnut tree plantations, lagoons, red sandstone mountains, and the odd herd of adorable vicuas.

Because this is an active salt flats, you will most likely encounter workers if you arrive during the day. They’ll gladly show you around and explain how the salt is washed and scrapped if you speak Spanish. Otherwise, you can simply walk around and admire their beauty as far as the eye can see.

The majority of visitors begin their journey in the nearby town of Purmamarca, where just over 2,000 people make their living either working in the salt flats or selling handicrafts to tourists in the town market. Tours to the salt flats, as well as trips to the nearby Cerro de los Siete Colores, depart from here (The Hill of Seven Colors).

And of course, if you’re looking for a great place to stay while there, check out https://www.airbnb.com/. …