Torres del Paine National Park at the southern tip of Chile is filled with rushing rivers, cascading waterfalls, multi-colored lagoons, massive glaciers, deep blue lakes, and sky-piercing mountain peaks. Wild Patagonia is a true spectacle of nature, best experienced in person.

Bleak cold is the main feature of southern Patagonia during most of the year. At these extreme latitudes, icy conditions prevail. So much so that town officials in Punta Arenas (host to the largest regional airport with connections to Santiago) installed ropes and chains along the sidewalks to help pedestrians haul themselves forward in the face of lashing winds and rain.

Summer is different. From December to February, the austral days become long (up to 18 hours of daylight) and temperatures become friendlier, although the chance of sudden foul weather persists. During this time, travelers flock like migrating birds to Patagonia’s far southern reaches, hoping to have weather on their side as they explore vistas of unparalleled beauty.

From Punta Arenas it is 3 hours over land to Puerto Natales, the town that provides entrance to Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve since 1978. The reserve takes its name from the Cordillera del Paine, a clustering of mountain peaks located on 2,400 square kilometers of territory that sidles up to the border with Argentina.

The name of Torres del Paine National Park refers to three tower-like granite monoliths, one of the most visited attractions within the park.

An extensive and well-marked trail network connects the park’s valleys, glaciers, lakes, and rivers. Options for Torres Del Paine tours range from day-long outings with a return to a comfortable hotel in Puerto Natales to multi-day treks such as the famous ”W” Circuit with overnight stays at campsites and basic lodges in the national park. (For an idea of what to expect on a day tour, read about LAFL travel advisor Silvana’s trip to Torres del Paine.)

Whatever your travel style, Torres del Paine guarantees a feast for the eyes. Cameras can only begin to capture the magnificence of cerulean lakes, the panoramas of wide valleys speckled with flowers, the quiet force and mass of ancient glaciers, and the fine shading of sediments that settled into hard rock many eons ago, and that were then thrust into the air by earth’s tectonic movements and sculpted by glacial action into gorgeous forms that look like spires, needles, blades of swords, and tusks. This is scenery that fuels the imagination, a landscape that appeals to aesthetes and adventurers alike and that inspires both to plan a vacation in Chile.

For lovers of fauna, Torres del Paine does not disappoint. Guanacos, a cousin of the llama, happily roam on open grasslands, enjoying such protection that they’re almost indifferent to approaching humans. The rare ñandú (rhea) makes its home here and the elusive condor is known to make an appearance. Other bird species include hawks, harriers, owls, flamingos, swans, ibises, and woodpeckers. With such a display of nature at its finest, Torres del Paine earns its place as one of Chile and South America’s natural wonders.

Wildlife in Torres del Paine National Park.

Latin America For Less provides fully customized vacation packages to the most stunning destinations in Chile and across South America. Contact us to start planning your dream vacation.

Anabel Mota

Anabel has been exploring the length and width of South America since 2010. Ditching preconceptions, settling into the local pace, and embracing the unexpected are the tenets of her philosophy of travel – and life.

www.latinamericaforless.com

In the spirit of culinary adventure of the liquid variety, for the month of March, the LAFL travel blog will feature the national drinks of various Latin American countries. From hot drinks to cold drinks to all forms of alcoholic concoctions, we will be covering the drinks you’re likely to find on a Latin American vacation, the types of drink you’ll run into whether you’re at a high-end restaurant, a street-corner cafe, or the hippest nightclub in town.

We begin in Argentina, where Malbec, Fernet, and yerba mate are regarded as proud national emblems.

Argentina Tours:

Glaciers, Iguazu & Tango Tours

Buenos Aires, El Calafate, Iguazu
9 Days / from $2089

Best of Patagonia

El Calafate, El Chalten, Puerto Natales, Torres Del Paine
10 Days / from $2479

See All Argentina Tours

In a country that boasts a love affair with red meat, it is entirely fitting that wine is, by presidential decree, Argentina’s “bebida nacional” (national drink). On an international scale, Argentine wines have rocketed to prominence because of their high quality and great value. Wherever you go in Argentina, wine is the companion par excellence to any meal whether you travel to Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Salta, or the furthest reaches of Patagonia.

Enjoy Argentina’s official “national drink” on a wine tour to Mendoza or Salta.

Malbec is the superstar of Argentine wines. Fruity and balanced, with a velvety texture, this dark red wine is known for being very accessible. For tours of vineyards and wineries in Argentina, Mendoza is the place to go. While the city of Mendoza is a great base for dining, nightlife, and sightseeing, the surrounding communities of Chacras de Coria, Luján de Cuyo, and the Uco Valley will appeal to travelers seeking a quieter, more romantic getaway.

The tranquil boutique wine atmosphere is even more pronounced in Argentina’s north. The region around Salta and the Calchaqui Valleys is recognized for the production of Torrontés. Aromatic and citrusy, this smooth, full bodied white wine is also making a splash on the international scene. You can buy Torrontés abroad, but there’s nothing quite like traveling to the high altitude vineyards of Cafayate or Cachi to sample the local vintage.

Fernet, a Powerful Liqueur

Fernet has its origins in Italy, where it was first brewed as a tonic for “gas pains,” fatigue, and other maladies. In the post-WWII period, Italian immigrants brought the pungent, dark-hued elixir with them to Buenos Aires, where many years later, their descendants began mixing it with cola to create one of the most enduringly popular cocktails in Argentina. Behind Italy, Argentina is the largest consumer of Fernet.

The aromatic liqueur Fernet, mixed with cola and served over ice, is one of Argentina’s most popular refreshments.

The bitter and somewhat pungent liqueur is a blend of 40 herbs, spices, barks, roots, and fungi. Saffron is the most overpowering among these ingredients and accounts for the distinctive bitterness of Fernet, often perceived as an exceedingly minty, mouthwash flavor.

Today, Argentines drink Fernet in a shot glass, on the rocks, or mixed with coffee, espresso, soda, mineral water, or soft drinks. Some Argentines continue to consume Fernet for its medicinal qualities, specifically as a cure for excesses of food and drink (this without irony).

Fernet is enjoying a boon of popularity in the U.S., where the revival of vintage cocktails has made it the darling of mixologists in bars across the nation, earning profiles in magazines such as The Atlantic.

A mate kit: gourd, small stand, bombilla (metal straw), and a thermos of boiled hot water.

Yerba Mate

With just as much enthusiasm, Argentina drinks yerba mate. Usually prepared in a small, dried out gourd and sipped through a metal straw, the base of this hot brew is the ground leaf of the Ilex paraguariensis tree, a species of holly. Once brewed, yerba mate has a smoky, bitter, and woody flavor. The drink is sometimes sweetened with sugar or honey. Flavored varieties (peach, orange, etc) are also produced.

Since the time of the gauchos, the drinking of mate (pronounced mah-tay) has been deeply entwined with Argentine national identity and today is a widespread social custom. In parks, plazas, and other public places, it’s common to see groups of friends gathered round a thermos of hot water and a small gourd which is passed from person to person. (The same is true in Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southernmost Brazil, where the incidence of mate drinking rivals that of Argentina.)

The travel experts at Latin America For Less can help you organize a vacation to Buenos Aires and other top Argentina destinations, where you can sample the best of this captivating country.

Anabel Mota

Anabel has been exploring the length and width of South America since 2010. Ditching preconceptions, settling into the local pace, and embracing the unexpected are the tenets of her philosophy of travel – and life.

www.latinamericaforless.com