Chasing Mother Nature in Argentina and Chile: From Iguazú Falls to Glaciers and the Atacama Desert
Hi everyone. It’s Shannon, and I just returned from a 19-day trip to Argentina and Chile! I know you are saying, I didn’t think you handled Argentina and Chile…well, it’s true; I can work your next trip to South America.
What struck me the most about both countries was the sheer diversity of landscapes proving just how powerful mother nature can be.
Iguazu Falls, Argentina, and Brazil. These falls sit on the Brazilian and Argentinian border. It is worth visiting both sides. This is the most extensive waterfall system in the world, with almost 275 individual waterfalls. This waterfall is taller than Niagara Falls and twice as wide. On the Brazilian side, you can feel the intensity of the falls as you see the full curtains from that side. You can even walk out on a platform to peer down into the spray. You can do a helicopter flip on the Brazilian side, which I highly recommend. On the Argentinian side, a long series of catwalks allow you to walk above the Falls and go in the morning when no one is around; it is so peaceful. The grand finale is standing over Devil’s Throat!
Calafate/Patagonia and Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina. So, of course, no trip to Argentina and Chile is complete with a stop in the Patagonia area. Our stop at the Perito Moreno Glacier was amazing. This is the 3rd largest icefield in the world (after Greenland and Antarctica). ). It is also the last relic of the most significant glacial expansions that occurred over one million years ago; the ice is almost 18,000 years old. The glacier is one of the closest to land which makes it a very popular destination. We saw it by boat and by foot. You can hike on top of it as well. Previously, it would create an ice dam every five years or so and then an ice rupture. However, due to global warming, the glacier has receded substantially, and the ice daming phenomenon has become unpredictable. You can see ruptures daily. However, they are pretty small in comparison to the sheer size of the whole glacier.
Patagonian side of Chile. I did visit and tried to go to Torres Del Paine. However, due to wind gusts around 90-100 KMS PER HOUR, they closed the park. Again, the sheer power of mother nature is astounding.
Atacama Desert, Chile. The driest non-polar place on earth and for me, probably the most spectacular. The range of landscapes in this area is insanely good. From the Andes Mountains to volcanoes to salt flats, this place feels like what I would imagine landing on Mars would feel like. The diversity of geology in this one spot makes it one of the most researched areas in the world. It has the largest natural supply of Sodium Nitrate. Scientists say that the soil is most similar to Mars. And you would think that given this environment, you wouldn’t see wildlife, which is NOT true. We saw Vicuno, Llama, and 3 different species of Flamingos, including the Chilean, Andean and the rarest James Flamingos that ONLY live in the high desert in South America.
Traveling in both countries is fairly easy, however, you might want to brush up on some Spanish as some of these more remote areas don’t have a lot of English.
Give me a call if you want to chat further about South America. Cheers!