Home Away From Home In Argentina’s Lake District: Global Test Photo Essay

Months of travel can wear on people, even as they enjoy the "other" of another country. We found the perfect combination of comforts from home and the diversity of a foreign culture in Bariloche, Argentina.

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Before you view these photos of Danny and I in the beautiful outdoors near Bariloche, Argentina, and get that dreamy look on your face, let me share with you a secret that took me several months to learn on my own. Traveling for long periods of time, especially in the wilderness of foreign lands, may be romanticized in literature such as Lonely Planet and National Geographic. One truth seems to be missing from these tales of exotic peoples, tasty foods, and gorgeous landscapes: no matter how much your surroundings change, the person you are inside generally remains the same.

So, if you’re like me, and you already have strong opinions and preferences about, well, pretty much everything, traveling can be frustrating. I have to constantly remind myself to keep an open mind. It was nice taking a break from that effort in Bariloche, Argentina. It was the first place I found that reminded me of all of my favorite things from home: a large variety of local fruits and vegetables, super friendly people and a strong outdoor community, sunny weather, and endless opportunities to play in the wilderness. We stayed twice as long as we had originally planned, and even started dreaming of returning in winter.

Danny and I spent more than two weeks sampling various wilderness opportunities while using a hostel in Bariloche as our base. We did four camping trips and pitched our tent in a variety of places such as on top of Mt. Tronador, next to an aquamarine glacier lake, in a crowded lawn with lots of vacationing Argentinian families, and stealthily in a bamboo forest. We found the perfect combination of comforts from home and the diversity of a foreign culture.

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Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

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Posts
Mar 29, 2011 at 11:12 am #1271340

Addie Bedford
BPL Member

@addiebedford
Locale: Montana

Companion forum thread to:

Home Away From Home In Argentina's Lake District: Global Test Photo Essay

Mar 29, 2011 at 6:04 pm #1716831

Ross Bleakney
BPL Member

@rossbleakney
Locale: Cascades

Fantastic! I love it. It is great to see pictures from an area that isn't as famous, but just as spectacular (in its own way) as some of the places near by. Thanks.

Mar 29, 2011 at 8:00 pm #1716913

Scott Truong
Spectator

@elf773
Locale: Vancouver, BC

Very cool. When were you guys there, before or after Patagonia? How did you get to or from Bariloche, bus or air?

Thanks for trip reports.

Mar 30, 2011 at 7:31 am #1717112

Gabe Joyes
Member

@gabe_joyes
Locale: Lander, WY

Great stuff again, thanks for sharing.

Mar 30, 2011 at 8:01 am #1717131

Philip
BPL Member

@philipd
Locale: Ontario, Canada

Wow…great pictures. Looks like another great trip Kristin and Danny. Thanks.

Mar 30, 2011 at 1:32 pm #1717326

Danny Milks
BPL Member

@dannymilks
Locale: SF Bay Area

Scott –

We went to Bariloche in January 2010, after we had already trekked in Tierra del Fuego, Torres del Paine, and Los Glaciares (Fitz Roy).

Bariloche is generally considered to be at the northern end of Patagonia. The weather in Bariloche was fantastic – sunny days, cool nights, dry air, and strong winds were rare.

We traveled to Bariloche by bus. It'along overnight trip from Mendoza or Buenos Aires.

Mar 31, 2011 at 5:03 am #1717655

Brendan Mulholland
BPL Member

@dools009
Locale: Pacific Northwest

thanks the photos guys. can't beat the view from Hostel 1004.

A HEADS UP FOR THOSE PLANNING TRIPS THROUGH ARG AND CHILE – wild camping anywhere in both Arg. and Chile is legal as long as you aren't directly in sight/in the way other people. I know that is very vague, but that comes straight from the mouthes of several police officers in both arg and chile. They basically said that if you are in the way and someone complains, it is possible that the police will ask you to leave. We frequently slept off the road in the woods, by a lake waiting for ferries, on beaches etc w/o a single problem over 2 years.

If you have spent much time down there you know that rules are much more flexibile (as well as exploitable by the police) in S. America. So take that with a grain of salt. Just b/c the police have stated that it is legal doesn't mean that you won't be hit up for money by enterprising policemen saying that you have broken the law (and if they say you did, you did) or asked to move from places that aren't in anyones direct view/way.

From Bariloche on South through both Chile and Argentina (basically all of what is considered Patagonia) the area is very safe, the people generally friendly and the popluation density almost 0. Its an ideal place to camp out.

cheers,
Brendan

Mar 31, 2011 at 5:06 am #1717656

Kattt
BPL Member

@kattt

What beatiful pictures! Some of them should make it in Henry Shires photogallery…
Thanks for sharing and showing us a bit of the world.

Apr 3, 2011 at 10:30 pm #1719633

Warren Greer
Spectator

@warrengreer
Locale: SoCal

Thanks for sharing again.
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