/countries/show/argentina/1.rss en-us The majestic Mount Aconcagua stands tall at around 22,840 feet and is situated in Western Argentina, near the Chilean border, right in the heart of South America. Mountaineers from all over the globe travel to Argentina to climb Mount Aconcagua, the highest mountain on the South American continent. The appeal of an Aconcagua expedition is that it is arguably the easiest of the Seven Summits to climb. Some have even called it the "Everyman's Everest". However, if you’re looking for an enjoyable experience while climbing Aconcagua, then there are a few things that you should know. To start off, there are a variety of climbing routes, some of Aconcagua climbing routes have been subdivided to create new separate trails, and each route has its own dangers and difficulties. The two most travelled routes are the “Normal route” and the Polish Traverse. The “Normal route,” which takes you along the northwest ridge, is the most accessible and recommended for more inexperienced climbers. However, that does not mean that it is easy. In this, as in all mountain climbing experiences, it is important to respect the mountain if you want to avoid any unnecessary troubles. Even with a beginner climb, altitude sickness can be problematic. Some travellers prefer the second route, the Aconcagua Polish Traverse, so named because it was a trio of climbers from Poland that opened this route for the first time. Some climbers prefer this route because it has some entertainment and adventures. You should approach this trail with caution because on this route you must be ready to face challenges. If you’re not certain that you can climb this trail and are looking for an easier one, you can still reach the Normal route while on the Polish Traverse because it passes through the Normal route. Other Aconcagua expeditions cover the Aconcagua Polish Glacier route which is located on the northern side. This is the most difficult, and the most dangerous route, and only a few climbers dare to think about it. The Ibanez-Marmillod route, named after the two climbers who opened it up, and the Argentinean route, named after the Argentinean climbers who first climbed it, are other routes, and each offer their own difficulties and attractions. Mountaineers come from all over the globe to climb this mountain, but only experienced climbers attempt these last routes. Before you can start to climb Aconcagua, you have to get there, and that journey alone can take you a few days as you hike through a series of altitude camps, continually getting higher on the mountain slope. For example, the journey to the Normal route will start from the park rangers’ station at the base of Mount Aconcagua at Horcones, and will take the climbers to Camp Confluencia for an overnight stay. The main purpose of this is to allow the body to adapt both mentally and physically to the changing environment ahead. After staying at Camp Confluencia for several days, the next destination would be Plaza de Mulas camp, located at around 14,450 feet, where you will fix your tent to have some rest. You will have all the amenities of life, such as delicious food of your choice, hot showers, Internet connection, electricity, and other facilities. Camp Canada is another altitude camp located 2,000 feet above the previous camp. The stay is for one night, after which, travellers will move to camp Berlin and begin the climb to the summit. It goes without saying that the higher you climb, the more demanding your Andes Aconcagua expedition will be, and as with all mountain climbs, the reward only comes at the end. However, once you have successfully conquered the lofty heights of Mount Aconcagua, you will be able to look out over a 360-degree view of Argentinean mountain ranges that is one of the most stunning sights in the world. Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:22:12 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/climb-aconcagua http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/climb-aconcagua The outdoor gallery of Caminito Street, Buenos Aires is an area reminiscent of the Italian city of Genoa, from which much of the population emigrated, with its brightly painted buildings. The La Boca barrio (neighbourhood) in which Caminito Street is nestled, emits a certain European air, as the people of Caminito have transformed it by brightening the housing projects and surrounding area with vivid colors, splashes of pastel, and other artworks all their own. The Caminito Street outdoor gallery is owned by the residents who created it and continue to develop the 100-meter-long street, named in homage to the popular 1926 tango song of Penalosa and Filiberto. Gentle colors of red, yellow and green wrap the buildings around Caminito Street, and the Tango is openly danced. Cafes are stirred and casually sipped in local bistros, and a pleasant scene of a stream that flowed here not long ago is painted along the street almost to the point of cliché. The Caminito museum is a favorite spot among locals and tourists alike, as people come from all over to enjoy the bright atmosphere of the open-air museum tucked into the La Boca barrio. Caminito Street really is a subtle rebellion against what was once a drab rail yard of a neighbourhood that is sometimes credited with developing the famous national dance in the neighbourhood clubs and brothels. In the 1950's with the rail line closed, neighbours Arturo Carrega and Benito Quinquela Martin wanted to revitalize their neighbourhood that was lost in the depths of a landfill. By the 1960’s they had the walls lining the abandoned street painted and a small stage erected. This later went on to be a theater house in the 1970’s as the street grew and developed as an outdoor work of art. But it was in 1959 that Caminito Street was officially inaugurated as an open sky museum, with the help of several other contributing artists. Newly restored, vibrant and beautiful, the outdoor gallery of Caminito Street, at the crossroads of Garibaldi and Olavarría Streets, has left the days of yesterday to the past as the future looks so much brighter. Occasional national economic woes sometimes cause problems, but generally keep the exchange rates low and the area a popular destination for tourists. And because of that, Caminito Street is busy with the Portenos, what people of the port city of Buenos Aires are sometimes called, and tourists that flock to its streets to experience the art, dance and culture it is best known for. Fri, 21 May 2010 16:20:18 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/caminito-buenos-aires http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/caminito-buenos-aires Upset over the rule of Spain from afar, on May 25, 1810 the citizens of Buenos Aires, Argentina deposed the Viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros in the Revolucion de Mayo and took control of the government for themselves. On Libertad Street, 98 years later to the day, a symbol of the people’s independence opened with what is said to be a very memorable performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida. And now, 102 years from when it first opened, and 200 years since the May Revolution, the Teatro Colon - the famous Argentine opera house - is set to reopen after nearly four years of renovation. The classical style of opera, translated as “work” or “labor” in Italian, is enjoyed throughout the world and in many different languages. It’s traditionally considered a European pleasure due to its derivation, but in Buenos Aires Teatro Colon has transcended such boundaries and limitations; a horseshoe-shaped theater, which seats approximately 2,500 people with standing room for another 1,000. It is regarded as one of the best acoustic buildings in existence. Prior to the opening of the theater, performances were given in several halls throughout the city, including in the first Teatro Colon and Teatro Opera. In 1889 the cornerstone was laid with plans to change all that, but problems quickly arose as the deaths of several people involved, including architect Francesco Tamburini and his friend Vittorio Meano, caused construction to be delayed. Nearly 20 years later though, and under the direction of Belgian architect Julio Dormal, the Teatro Colon opened in the heart of the city. Since then, great composers and performers like Igor Stravinsky, Richard Strauss, and Luciano Pavarotti have played to packed houses. Other great artists and musicians of national fame have also entertained in the auditorium. Ballet’s Boris Baryshnikov even once danced on the 20 meter square stage. But, the final performance before renovation in the popular theater came in November, 2006. Singer Mercedes Sosa closed the doors of the Teatro Colon for a refurbishment project that has taken twice as long as initially planned. Recent economic issues had caused the beautiful French-influenced décor and frescoes, which were done by artist Raul Soldi and added well after the opening, to be neglected. But the current remodeling is intended to fix all that and bring the Argentine Teatro Colon back to the glory it knew 100 years after the revolution. Soon it will once again be a proud reminder to the Argentine people, as well as all of its visitors, of their independence and what they did to earn it from Spain. Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:07:48 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/teatro-colon http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/teatro-colon The Tango has many forms, from various national styles to ballroom and street styles. But no matter where it’s performed, the Tango is a very beautiful and sensual dance. The legs kick, the hips twist, hands slide over skin, it is an intimate experience shared between partners as they glide across the dance floor. And to Tango in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that floor can sometimes be a street where crowds will gather in voyeuristic marvel at the lithe rhythmic movements of a dance couple. Argentina is where Tango was developed, in the lower class districts and brothels of the 19th Century; the neighborhoods being predominantly Spanish and Italian in origin, like the La Boca area around Caminito Street. This is why Tango, and the music associated with it, is sometimes referred to as the dance and music of the immigrants. Today, Tango is enjoyed throughout Buenos Aires as an ingrained part of the culture, and which is now a worldwide representative of Argentina. Thanks mostly to its influences, Tango wasn’t always seen as a respectable dance until the Parisians adopted it in the early part of the 20th Century. Dancers travelled abroad to Europe, and the craze quickly spread. But it wasn’t until after World War I ended that it caught on to the high society of Paris, and moved on to other countries like Finland, Germany and the United States, cementing itself as an international affair. The Tango is now popular the world over as a genre of music, but particularly as a style of dance. James Bond performed it in Never Say Never Again; Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis in True Lies; and the “Cell Block Tango” in the 2003 Academy Award winning Chicago was an eye opener. But at its heart, Tango truly remains Argentine, as portrayed by Madonna and Antonio Banderas in the hit film Evita. While Tango has changed and been given competition rules and regionalized in various countries, it is a dance that remains with the Argentine people. It is not uncommon to see performances in the streets of South America’s second largest city. It is a wonderful experience unique to this metropolis, and most traditionally in the San Telmo and Abasto neighborhoods; but also found almost anywhere. Due to the downward economic effects on society, as well as issues with politics, Tango has experienced its ups and downs. It even declined in popularity for a time thanks to a surge of interest in Rock and Roll. But Tango lives on, and is even being recognized by UNESCO as a part of the world’s “intangible cultural heritage,” and as a world heritage of humanity. Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:33:41 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/tango-buenos-aires http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/tango-buenos-aires Owing to long-term climatic shifts, every glacier on the planet is in regression except for one: Argentina's Perito Moreno. The Perito Moreno glacier, located in southern Patagonia a stone's throw from the Chilean border, continues to surge forward even as the earth’s remaining ice caps melt away. Thousands of travelers flock to Argentina each year to soak in the panoramic view of Perito Moreno's jagged blue-ice surface, which spreads for miles and stretches toward the horizon like an ocean of motionless water. Rising 20 stories above the lake, Perito Moreno's total depth averages more than 550 feet. At its deepest point the glacier is nearly half a mile high. All of that ice advances at a speed of six and a half feet per day, which makes things exciting for spectators around the outer wall. More impressive than the size of Perito Moreno are the sounds it emits while it flexes, groans and advances into the Lago Argentino. The outer edge ruptures every few minutes, sending slivers of ice the size of skyscrapers tumbling noisily into the water. The sheer force of the ice grinding and collapsing delights tourists along the opposite walkway. All these tourists find their lodging in Calafate, the port to glacier national park. Calafate is the definitive capital of Patagonian tourism. Adventurers from all over the globe congregate in Calafate during the Argentine summer to explore the region's world-famed glaciers, pristine lakes and the awe-inspiring peaks. From December to February the sun illuminates the night sky until midnight, so there’s plenty of time to see all the area has to offer, including camping, sightseeing and trekking activities unequaled anywhere else in South America. So get out of the winter doldrums of the north and get down to Patagonia, where the sun shines for 20 hours a day and the landscape is boundless. Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:31:12 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/perito-moreno http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/perito-moreno The lush enchanting scenery of Iguazu Falls evokes a sense of amazement that most would think only possible in fairy tales or adventure stories. Fittingly enough, ancient legend has it that Iguazu Falls was created by an enraged God who wished to marry a local woman. The woman instead fled with her lover down the river in hopes of avoiding this fate and during their escape the God split the river, damning the lovers to an eternity of falling. In reality Iguazu Falls was the product of a volcanic eruption that left a large crack in the earths surface, approximately 1.5 miles long and has over 275 falls which cascade from it. The largest and most well known of all the falls is la Garganta del Diablo, also known as Devil's Throat, and has been featured in many films such as Moonraker (1979) James Bond, Miami Vice (2006) and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) to name a few. The thunderous roar of Iguazu Falls can be heard up to 5 miles away and rightfully so as over 450,000 gallons of water crash over the falls each second. Nestled among some of the most lush rain forests in South America with a plethora of trails and sight seeing options, Iguazu Falls is a must if in the area of Argentina or Belize. Sun, 25 May 2008 17:48:44 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/iguazu-falls http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/iguazu-falls