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THE CLIMATE
Argentina has exceptional natural beauty and is comprised of a diverse territory of mountains, plateaus and plains each with its own climatic variations. There are several climatic and landscape regions. Esquel Outfitters operates its fly fishing guide service in the Patagonia, a place that we believe provides the best trout fishing in the world
1. NORTHWEST:
It stands out for its tropical climate, its colorful mountains, the Puna high plateau, the gorges, the valleys and the characteristic settlement patterns that make up the history of this land.
2. GRAN CHACO:
Primarily forestal area with forests of subtropical climate, swampy lands and ponds.
3. MESOPOTAMIA:
In the northern part the subtropical climate prevails whereas, in the south the climatic conditions are more temperate.. It is rich in flora and fauna. Its territory consists of slopes, ponds and swampy lands cut through by important rivers
4. CUYO:
With its mountainous characteristics (The Aconcagua lies here), it has an arid temperate climate. However, man, through artificial irrigation, has turned it into an ideal land for the viticulture and viniculture.
5. CENTRAL SIERRAS:
The central sierras of Córdoba and San Luis offer a quite benign dry temperate climate. They posses numerous rivers and artificial water mirrors.
6. HUMID PAMPA:
The Pampa with its temperate climate possesses the most productive lands of the country (and one of the best ones in the world) for agriculture and cattle breeding. Its plain landscape is broken by the Tandil and Ventania Sierras. The East is characterized by the vast populated beaches of the Atlantic coast.
7. PATAGONIA:
The Patagonia is the largest region with the coldest climate (especially in the southern part). The west consists mainly of a mountainous landscape peppered with spectacular woods, lakes and glaciers. The center offers sterile plateaus and the east vast beaches with spectacular and unique colonies of marine animals. The southern extreme of this region makes up the southernmost point of the world.
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THE CUISINE
Typical Argentine food is asado (barbecue meat cooked over live coals); empanadas (a sort of turnover meat pie or pastry that comes with a variety of other stuffings); trout; tamales (a dish made of corn meal, chicken or meat wrapped in corn husks); humita (a dish made of grated corn, sweet peppers and tomatoes wrapped in the green leaves of corn); and locro (a dish made of meat, potato, pumpkin, corn and sweet pepper). However, and due to the migrating current that populated the country, there exists a quite varied international cuisine: Spanish, Italian, French, German, Scandinavian, Greek, English, Swedish, Hungarian, Dutch, Chilean, Mexican, Basque, Jewish, Russian, Ukranian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Arabian.
The country's characteristic drink is mate. The quality of its wines and meats is world renowned and the new Argentine cuisine has reached an international level.
Traditional Argentina foods include:
ALFAJOR
Alfajor is a traditional candy in some South American countries, most notably in Argentina and Chile. Its most basic form consists of two round biscuits joined together with a sweet jam, generally dulce de leche (milk jam). Another popular feature of the alfajor, although not always present, is a coating of black or white chocolate, thus many alfajors are sold in "black" or "white" flavors.
DULCE DE LECHE
Dulce de leche ("milk jam" or "caramel spread"), also known as manjar blanco in some countries, is a traditional candy in Patagonia Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Perú, Uruguay and other parts of South America. Its most basic recipe mixes boiled milk and sugar, although other ingredients may be included to achieve special properties. Dulce de leche can be prepared by buying sweetened condensed milk and cooking it for several hours until it caramelizes. It is used to flavor candies or other sweet foods, such as cakes, biscuits or ice cream, as well as flan. It is also popular spread on toast.
EMPANADAS
In Argentina, (and South America generally), an empanada is essentially a stuffed pastry. The filling usually consists primarily of beef, but may also contain cheese, ham and cheese, or spinach; fruit filling is used to create a dessert empanada. Chilean empanadas also use a wheat-flour based dough, but the filling is slightly different and often contains more onion. Chilean's consider the Argentine filling seco, or dry.
LOCRO
Locro is a hearty stew popular in Argentina. Recipes vary and some date back to Spanish colonial times. Typical ingredients include white corn (hominy), beef brisket, onion, tomato, beef sausage, squash (or pumpkin) and potatoes. A red hot sauce made from red peppers and paprika is served on the side.
YERBA MATE
The national beverages of Argentina are a tea-like drink called yerba mate. Introduced to the world by the Guarani Indians of South America, mate contains ingredients that help keep its drinkers healthy and energetic. More than a drink, Yerba Mate has become a cultural phenomenon throughout South America and is the perfect fly fishing beverage.
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THE COUNTRYSIDE
CHOLILA:
In a quiet and spectacular valley three hours south of Bariloche, cattle roam the open lush grasslands and gauchos trot along fence lines with their hand in the air in a friendly greeting. Cholila is a cowboy and a fly fishing dreamland bordered by dry scrub brush to the east, the snow capped Andes Mountains and the Cordillera to the west and the lush forests of the Alerces National Park to the south. This is the Cholila Valley, where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid found refuge in the early 1900's.
While trout fishing in the area we stay in the Hosteria El Trebol, owned by Marcos Jaeger. It is one of the most charming lodges we frequent. El Trebol was founded by German farmers (Marcos' family) years ago who escaped Germany in order to freely practice Christianity. After working all over Argentina, they settled in the Patagonia Cholila Valley to farm and live quietly. You will see various fruit trees in which they make their jellies, jams, and juices. All foods served including cheese, creams and honey are grown and made by the hands at El Trebol. A tour around the grounds will give you an idea of a hard working and simple lifestyle that has not changed for one hundred years.
BARILOCHE:
San Carlos de Bariloche Argentina is located in the western area of the Province of Río Negro, in the heart of the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Lying on the southern shore of the lake after which the park is named, Bariloche is the perfect juxtaposition between city and nature and is the heart of Argentine Patagonia.
1,640 kilometers from Buenos Aires, this tourist city has a strong hotel and restaurant infrastructure that was first developed over eight decades ago. Bariloche welcomes visitors from all over the world who enjoy its Patagonia landscapes, tourist services and the facilities of one of the main ski resorts in the country: Mount Catedral.
Bariloche is a year-round outdoor paradise. Summer adventures include fly fishing for trout, rafting, hiking, mountain biking and horse back riding adventures. In the winter, skiing is a local pastime that is gaining popularity with skiers the world over. Likewise, lake excursions across the Nahuel Huapi provide access to spots that are unique in the world, such as the myrtle forest on Victoria Island.
ESQUEL:
If every place on earth offers a sense of discovery, Esquel is a perfect example of around-the-corner surprises and experiences. Esquel is the capital of Los Alerces National Park in the province of Chubut. The city lies on the banks of Arroyo Esquel and beneath La Zeta, 21, La Cruz Mountains and Nahuel Pan, which form a natural amphitheatre of high forested peaks and an unparalleled outdoor fly fishing playground.
Some 31,000 people live here entwined with a solid cultural movement. Every year inhabitants of Esquel organize the "Fiesta Provincial del Teatro". There are also other groups, like the Choir of the University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco, the Welsh choir of Capilla Seion, as well as different artists who perform in the Auditorio Municipal.
The majestic landscape of milenary larch forests, endless mountain trails, rivers and lakes invite different outdoor activities. Tranquility and beauty are unique. The four seasons have different characteristics: snow and skiing in winter, an explosion of colors and flowers in spring, and in fall, leaves turning from yellow to red make it an ideal destination for Patagonia photography. Whatever season you choose, your experience will be unforgettable.
Winters are cold, with snow and rain and summers are temperate with sunny days. To the west, the mountains produce microclimates due to the differences in altitude and the humid winds from the Pacific. As in the rest of Patagonia, winds are strong even in summer and spring and produce an effect of aridity due to evaporation. In Esquel Argentina you can enjoy a magical adventure on the famous narrow gauge train, known as La Trochita, which travels up to El Maitén.
EL BOLSON:
When traveling the roads in our territory, don't be surprised if new images of intense color and amazing shapes add to your trout filled imagination. This will likely occur as you cross Cañadón del Fogel on your way to El Bolsón Argentina -- a picturesque vibrating community crossed by a modern comfortable road.
Today, access roads are totally paved and run through enchanting places you will never forget. El Bolsón owes its name to its geographical isolation. The town lies at the foot of Cerro Piltriquitrón, on the banks of the Quemquemtreu River and is surrounded by the snow capped Andes Mountains. Old-growth forests, quaint towns and unpolluted lakes and rivers like Lago Puelo, El Hoyo, Epuyén, Cholila, El Manso and El Maitén are all connected to El Bolsón by their geography, history and ecology. This region is a part of what is known as "Comarca Andina".
This is a region rich in Patagonia history, cultural movements and production. Today its population is approximately 15,000 inhabitants and growing. In order to conserve natural and cultural areas, the region around El Bolson has developed a strong network of eco-tourism. In 1984, El Bolsón was declared Non-Nuclear Area in an attempt to keep its natural beauty free of radioactive contamination for future generations.
El Bolson is rich in agricultural activity. Hops, an ingredient for beer, fine fruits like strawberry, gooseberry, raspberry, cherry, sour cherry, boysenberry, elderberry, maqui, calafate, black currant and many others are all locally grown. Sheep and goat breeding is also important for the production of wool, cheese and yogurt. Trout breeding has become a very important activity for El Bolson. Other activities that support the economy include wool weaving, dry flowers, timber industry and tourism. From 17th to 20th February every year is the Fiesta Nacional del Lúpulo, a Hop Festival, with several local brewers serving their beers.
Craftsmen have developed high quality products and show their work at the Feria Regional every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in Plaza Pagano. This fair is one of the most important in South America with high quality products from 230 stands where you can peruse fly fishing, pottery, wool, leather, metal, dry flowers, jam, dry vegetables, fresh flowers, knives and candles.
BUENOS AIRES:
The corridor around Buenos Aries is one of the richest and most productive areas in Argentina. It is located in the immense Pampas Plains, interrupted only by the mountain range systems of Tandilia and Ventania. The area is rich in immigrating currents, thus it is culturally diverse. This is the land of the gauchos and traditions, but it is also a land of intense industrial and commercial activity.
Tourism in Buenos Aires revolves around its rich history, reflected in the French and Italian architecture, with numerous museums, theaters, cultural centers and shopping malls. The rural tourism invites activities typical of the countryside like hunting and fly fishing, with accommodations in ancient estancia quarters and the possibility to breathe the pure air of the plains while tasting the traditional barbecue: the asado.
Other interesting options include the nearby "mini-tourism" districts such as Mercedes, Pilar, San Isidro, Tigre and Luján, or a day out fishing in the lagoons of Buenos Aires. Adventure travel in Tandil and Sierra de la Ventana is gaining immense popularity for those looking to use Buenos Aries as "base camp" for the Patagonias many outdoor activities like trout fishing.
ALUMINE:
Alum miné –“glittering well”– was the name given by the mapuches, who lived in the area dominantly until 1880. Officially founded in 1915, it has a population of approximately 5,642 inhabitants, both in urban and rural areas, and its economy is based on ovine and bovine cattle, forest exploitation and tourist activities.
Of predominant native vegetation, with mountains carpeted with ñires, caña colihue, oak trees and monkey-puzzle trees or pehuenes, this place offers paths such as those leading to Ruca Choroi, Carri Lil, Lonco Luan, Villa Pehuenia, la Angostura, Moquehue, Ñorquinco, Quillén, Pulmarí, Lake Hui Hui and Cañadón Malaco, along which you can go by car, on foot or horseback.
The fast-flowing rivers, cascades and blue lakes are suitable for sport fishing of brown, rainbow, and brook trout, as well as perch. Navigable all year round, the waters and rapids of the Aluminé River, make it a major fishing destination within Patagonia.
Loyal to its roots, Aluminé is also the site chosen to celebrate the Monkey-puzzle Provincial Day, which summons local and national artists representative of popular culture during the first fortnight of March.
For its template and humid Andean weather, summers are fresh, with minimum temperatures of 40 degrees F and maximum temperatures ranging from 72 – 95 degrees.
SAN MARTIN:
Located on the shores of Lake Lacar, and inside Lanin National Park, San Martin de los Andes is a paradise of peace and quietness, immersed in an environment of rivers, waterfalls, mounts and magical forests.
Originally a military settlement, today this typical mountain village dazzles visitors with its particular buildings, raised in wood and stone, which provide its characteristic warmth and charm.
In the winter, activities revolve around the Chapelco winter resort, one of the most attractive in Patagonia, located a few kilometers from the city center. Of international renown, it has 29 runs of various levels of difficulty, a complete service infrastructure and the best assistance for lovers of snow sports.
San Martín de los Andes also offers the possibility of practicing fly-fishing and high hunting and it is the starting point for a large variety of land and lake tours, to enjoy unforgettable experiences in close contact with nature, any time of the year.
Among the many exciting excursions, which range from beholding unique landscapes during pleasant strolls to the adrenaline generated by adventure travel, the Seven Lakes circuit, Villa la Angostura, the Lanín Volcano, Lake Meliquina and Filo Hua Hum, Lakes Currhué and the Lahuen Co hot springs and Lakes Paimún and Huechulafquen are worth mentioning.
In order to access San Martín de los Andes, you can choose to come by land, along Route 234, or by air, to the local airport.
JUNIN DE LOS ANDES:
Junín de los Andes is a village in the province of Neuquén, Argentina. It has 10,592 inhabitants as of the 2001 census [INDEC], and is the head town of the Huiliches Department. It is located in the south of the province, by the Chimehuin River, on National Route 234, about 35 km north of San Martín de los Andes and 17 km from the Chapelco Airport, which services the area.
Junín de los Andes is a small agricultural and cattle breeding community typical of the cordillera. It is a famous fishing resort where anglers from all over the world spend some magic moments while waiting for trout to be caught. Even the street names are etched into trout shaped signs.
If you are fond of sports, you will enjoy the limitless recreation around the village, where winding creeks and rivers flow amid mountains and narrow valleys.
TIERRA DEL FUEGO:
Tierra del Fuego is a place of extremes: the world's southernmost national park accessible from the world's southernmost city (Ushuaia). Tierra del Fuego is Argentina's only coastal national park, and water is a prime attraction: fishing, kayaking, maritime wildlife, stunning fjords, transcendent seascapes. The parks 240 square miles are completely contained in the Argentine portion of Tierra del Fuego island, but the eastern edge of the park is the Chilean border, and with the right papers, it's possible to cross over into Chile by either land or water.
Many have compared this island to the Alaskan panhandle. It shares the same relative latitude: 550 Some of the same industries: oil, fishing, with similarly high wage rates. And the same frontier spirit of independance and diligence.
Tierra del Fuego is surrounded on three sides by two oceans. The winds blow this way from the Pacific, and that way from the Atlantic, constantly bringing clouds and rain storms.
The coastal wildlife is rich and diverse, with many sea birds, and seals and walruses. On the interior, North American beavers, Arctic reindeer, and European rabbits, all introduced by white settlers as cash crops, have distorted the rivers and streams and devastated the local flora. And local sheep farmers, convinced that the native duck and geese, and their natural predators, native foxes, were too much competition for their flocks, have also done much damage to the local fauna.
Trout fishermen will have a blast along the many interior streams and lakes. Expert kayakers who have done their bureaucratic legwork can explore the storm-prone, but dramatic waters of Lago Fagnano, bounded by high fjords and glaciers.
Wildlife watchers and beachcombers will find lots to fascinate them along the coast.
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