Travel Lightbulb

Argentina is the most visited country in South America, and one I'm desperate to travel to! Last year nearly seven million tourists visited Argentina and to further its appeal; the country is increasing flight connectivity, and turning its sights to promoting eco-tourism. There is so much to discover in Argentina. While it's well known for its gastronomy and huge passion for both football and tango, it also boasts 46 national protected areas - four of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.  Now the tourism authorities are hoping to promote another side of the country - including the hillsides of Cordoba; glamping in Patagonia, and glacier trekking in El Chalten. I've looked into both areas, and I think they sound amazing. It just goes to show Argentina has something to offer everyone....including some wonderful vineyards that I will discover....one day! 

I have found a beautiful lodge in Argentina that is not only a great place to stay, but the activities on offer are second to none. El Pedral Lodge is located at the end of Punta Ninfas, which is about 100km from the airport of Trelew (in Argentine Patagonia). Although you'd think this area was all about exploration, you can actually do incredible things just a few metres away from the main house. When you check into the Lodge, you're informed of the scheduled activities during your stay, and you don't have to go far to do them. In fact, you can whale watching from the shore! El Pedral beach is more than 9km long and 900m wide. Depending on the time of year (August and September are the best months), you can whale watch right from the beach - because the coastline is so deep, they're able to swim really close to the shore. If you want to enjoy the scenery, you can take a trip by truck, or bike towards the high cliffs which dominate Punta Ninfas. The lighthouse...

Argentina is a country that's very much on my list of places to visit, and when I stumbled upon the magical place I'm featuring today (in the first of two posts on lodges), it climbed even higher up my bucket list! Aguas Arriba Lodge is 37km from Chalten (the trekking capital of Argentina), and overlooks Desierto Lake. It's under the distant gaze of Mount Fitz Roy, with majestic views of the Vespignani glacier. You can only get to the lodge by boat (or a three hour trek if you're fit enough!), ensuring total seclusion and a serene experience.  The seven rooms are extremely comfortable, and have picture postcard views . In fact many guests leave their curtains open so they wake up to the sun rising over Mount Fitz Roy. There are lots of hiking trails around the lodge and each evening before dinner, you all get together to plan the activities for the following day- such as treks, fly fishing or boat trips. The great thing is, because you're already in a...