May 2015 - Travel Marinade

In Argentina

Argentina: a Destination to Visit Before You Die

May 28, 2015 No Comments

In the southern region of South America lies Argentina, a country that prides itself with the gift of nature’s beauty. Argentina boasts of a chock-full of must-visit and adventure-filled attractions. With so many places to visit and so many things to do, here is a round-up of the best places for the most exciting journey you’ll ever take.

Explore its Beauty
Take time to visit the world’s largest waterfall, Cataratas del Iguazú. Stretching between the borders of Argentina and Brazil, this waterfall promises a jaw-dropping, visceral experience either lit up by the sun at day or the moon at night.

Go on an Adventure
Embark on a 24-kilometer-long journey at the Loma del Pliegue Tumbado trail located at El Chaltén. In a place renowned as Argentina’s trekking capital, tourists can look forward to the best panorama in the area, including breathtaking views of the Fitz Roy, Lago Viedma, and Laguna Toro that will be enjoyed to the fullest on a clear day.

Drive Down Memory Lane
Explore Argentina’s history, culture, and national character as you drive down Ruta Nacional 40 (RN 40) usually referred to as “La Ruta Cuarenta.” It offers an epic journey that will give you a keen sense of what it’s like to live as an Argentinean native.

March with Penguins
Península Valdés is home to the world’s largest penguin colony. It’s stretched three kilometers long and covered with sand and gravel. Penguins breed and build their nests under bushes or in small burrows every year between September and March. Be sure to time your trip between these months.

Run with Tamed Horses
At Estancia Los Potreros, tourists can be thrilled in equestrian adventures on the back of exceptionally bred horses. Guests can expect to go riding for stretches of about four to six hours. At the end of the day, guests go back to the estancia for a taste of life with the locals. Guests get to eat local meals, share in the chores, and play traditional gaucho games. Among the most popular among these games is La Corrida de Sortija.

Tango the Night Away
Channel your inner Latin-American at Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Be sure to check out a milonga (Tango dance party) while touring the city that gave birth to one of the world’s most sophisticated dances, the Tango.

Pulsating with breathtaking sceneries, abundant wildlife jungles, rich history, and vibrant culture, it is no wonder that Argentina is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Are you talking about destinations to see before you die? Argentina should rank near, if not on top of your list.

In Argentina

Know Before You Go to Buenos Aires

May 28, 2015 No Comments

Buenos Aires is one of the most interesting cities in the world. It is cheaper than most tourist destinations and it has a rich culture. If you love tango and Latin American culture, this city is the best place to experience them. But there are a few basic things you should know before you go to Buenos Aires.

From the Airport

Buenos Aires has two major airports — the Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) which is located at the heart of the city and the Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) which is located 22 kilometers outside the city.

If you’re coming from Ezeiza, it’s best to take the HI travel shuttle service which costs around $11. This service has many drop-off points within the city proper of Buenos Aires. To ensure that your trip is hassle-free, it is best to reserve a shuttle space online (www.hostelshuttle.com.ar).

You can also try the personal car service called Service Star Car, but this one’s a bit expensive, since it uses top-notch cars such as the Lincoln Town Car, Citroen C4, and Citroen C6 Sedan. If you’re coming from the Aeroparque airport, you’ll have to pay $92. If you’re from Ezeia, you’ll have to pay $132.

There are a lot of scammers in Buenos Aires so it is best to avoid taxis. You can instead try the minibus SRI service which costs around $21. The bus schedule is from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday and a bus leaves every 15 minutes.

SIM Cards

There are three major telecommunication carriers in Argentina — Movistar, Claro, and Personal. You can get a SIM card of any of these telco networks at the airport for around $30.

Storage Lockers

The AEP has a luggage service that charges $18 every 12 hours. EZE unfortunately doesn’t have an on-site luggage storage facility.

Money Exchange

The currency in Buenos Aires is the Argentine Peso. You can do currency exchange in Banco de Nation located in both EZE and AEP.

Getting Around Buenos Aires

The Subte or the Buenos Aires metro is the cheapest way to get around the city. The flat fare is only 1.10 pesos or 8 cents (in US dollars). If you want to get around the city more easily, it’s best to take the taxi. A taxi ride around the city can cost around $3 to $10 depending on the destination.

You can take the bus as well. There are about 140 bus lines that operate around the city 24 hours a day. If you love walking, you can travel by foot, too, as Buenos Aires is a pedestrian-friendly city. You can also rent a car or a bicycle.

Culture

Argentina is located in Latin America but it has a strong Italian and Spanish cultural influence. Argentines are mostly of European descent. This separates them from other Latin Americans. The city is filled with European-style architecture.

Argentinians have strong family values and Roman Catholicism is the official state religion. Argentines are blunt, frank, and direct but they can also be diplomatic and tactful. It is important to maintain eye contact when talking to locals as this indicates interest.

Spots for Adventure Seekers and Foodies

If you love food, you should join the numerous food tours around Buenos Aires. Fuudis allows you to book mobile dinner tours in assorted Buenos Aires nabes (neighborhoods). The dinner tour will take you to three restaurants — one for appetizer, another one for the entree, and the last one for dessert. If you like to try something different, you can walk around the bohemian San Telmo quarter. You can also go to Palermo to find the best Buenos Aires staples such as gelato, chorizo sandwich, and empanadas.

Buenos Aires is fascinating and incredibly cheap. It definitely deserves a spot in your travel bucket list.

In Featured

An Adventure Guide to Argentina

May 27, 2015 No Comments

In the southern region of South America lies Argentina, a country that prides itself with the gift of nature’s beauty. Argentina boasts of a chock-full of must-visit and adventure-filled attractions. With so many places to visit and so many things to do, here is a round-up of the best places for the most exciting journey you’ll ever take.

VISIT ONE OF THE GREAT WONDERS OF THE WORLD

Take time to visit the world’s largest waterfall, Cataratas del Iguazú. Stretching between the borders of Argentina and Brazil, this waterfall promises a jaw-dropping, visceral experience either lit up by the sun at day or the moon at night.

ADVENTURE TREK

Embark on a 24-kilometer-long journey at the Lomo del Pliegue Tumbado trail located at El Chaltén. In this place that’s touted as Argentina’s trekking capital, tourists can look forward to the best panorama in the area, including breathtaking views of the Fitz Roy, Lago Viedma, and Laguna Toro that can be enjoyed to the fullest on a clear day.

DRIVE DOWN MEMORY LANE

Explore Argentina’s history, culture, and national character as you drive down Ruta Nacional 40 (RN 40) usually referred to as “La Ruta Cuarenta.” It offers an epic journey that will give you a keen sense of what it’s like to live as an Argentinean native.

MARCH WITH PENGUINS

Península Valdés is home to the world’s largest penguin colony. It stretches three kilometers long and is covered with sand and gravel. Penguins breed and build their nests under bushes or in small burrows every year between September and March. Be sure to time your trip between these months.

RUN WITH TAMED HORSES

At Estancia Los Potreros, tourists can be thrilled in equestrian adventures on the back of exceptionally bred horses. Guests can expect to go riding for stretches of about four to six hours. At the end of the day, guests go back to the estancia for a taste of life with the locals. Guests get to eat local meals, share in the chores, and play traditional gaucho games. Among the most popular among these games is La Corrida de Sortija.

TANGO THE NIGHT AWAY

Channel your inner Latin-American at Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Be sure to check out a milonga (Tango dance party) while touring the city that gave birth to one of the world’s most sophisticated dances, the Tango.

Pulsating with breathtaking sceneries, wildlife abundant jungles, rich history, and vibrant culture, it is no wonder that Argentina is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Talking about destinations to see before you die? Argentina should rank near, if not on top of your list.