Flatter than the Great Plains, stretching west from the banks of the muddy River Plate, the seemingly endless Pampas were the birthplace of the gaucho, who tamed the Spaniards' feral horses and then rode herd on the cattle that had proliferated on some of the world's richest pastures. The village of San Antonio de Areco is Argentina's symbolic gaucho capital, countless guest ranches dot the countryside, and the nearby city of Luján is one the country's major devotional destinations.
The Pampas provinces of Buenos Aires and La Pampa, though, are far more diverse than that would suggest: the political capital of La Plata is a major educational center that's also a performing arts magnet, the seaside resort of Mar del Plata has long been a cultural and literary bellwether, and the low mountain ranges of Tandilia and Ventania make ideal getaways from the crowded federal capital. The myriad channels of the River Plate, in the suburb of Tigre barely 30 minutes from the presidential palace, offer endless opportunities for exploration by canoe or kayak. In the arid west, Lihué Calel National Park is one of the gateways to Patagonia and its abundant wildlife, including guanacos and pumas.
Flatter than the Great Plains, stretching west from the banks of the muddy River Plate, the seemingly endless Pampas were the birthplace of the gaucho, who tamed the Spaniards' feral horses and then rode herd on the cattle that had proliferated on some of the world's richest pastures. The village of San Antonio de Areco is Argentina's symbolic gaucho capital, countless guest ranches dot the countryside, and the nearby city of Luján is one the country's major devotional destinations.
The Pampas provinces of Buenos Aires and La Pampa, though, are far more diverse than that would suggest: the political capital of La Plata is a major educational center that's also a performing arts magnet, the seaside resort of Mar del Plata has long been a cultural and literary bellwether, and the low mountain ranges of Tandilia and Ventania make ideal getaways from the crowded federal capital. The myriad channels of the River Plate, in the suburb of Tigre barely 30 minutes from the presidential palace, offer endless opportunities for exploration by canoe or kayak. In the arid west, Lihué Calel National Park is one of the gateways to Patagonia and its abundant wildlife, including guanacos and pumas.
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Wayne Bernhardson is the author of Moon Handbooks to Argentina, Buenos Aires (including coastal Uruguay), Chile (including Easter Island), and Patagonia (including the Falkland Islands).
Interests
| Architecture |
| Art |
| Culture |
| Festivals |
| Fine Dining |
| History |
| Holy/Sacred |
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| Kids' Museums |
| Monuments |
| Museums |
| National Park |
| Nature |
| Performing Arts |
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Activities
| Bird Watching |
| Hike/Backpack |
| Horseback Ride |
| Mtn. Biking |
| Rock Climbing |
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