In your position at Familia Zuccardi, what were your responsibilities?  

My position as an intern was in the wine production and wine tasting part of the bodega as it relates to tourism. I led wine tours for English speaking groups, which included welcoming them to the cava [cellar], and giving them a briefing about our different wines and the history of the bodega and the Zuccardi family.

The second part of the tour was doing a walk-through of the wine making areas to include the entire process, from the grape-picking, transportation of the grapes to the plant, the different fermentation tank rooms, to the aging room where the barricas [tanks] filled with wine are stored.

Lastly, at the wine tasting we offered three of the “varietales” wines: a white, usually Torrontes or Chardonnay; a red, usually Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon; and a late harvest, usually Chenin Dulce, all part of the Santa Julia label.

The beautiful cava at Familia Zuccardi.

What did you enjoy most about your work?

Hands down the work team at Zuccardi was the most enjoyable.  Everyone was exceptionally welcoming from the beginning. We [the interns] were even treated to a magnificent lunch at their 5-star restaurant, Casa del Visitante, hosted by Julia Zuccardi on our first day.

Before we could start to perform our duties we had to receive a training program with oenologist and sommeliers working in our area, and they were all very knowledgeable and thoroughly enjoyed their work, which made it easy for me to follow their steps and I felt challenged to do my best! It was very pleasant to walk around the different areas of the bodega and always find a friendly smile.

Explaining wines at Bodega Familia Zuccardi.

What can travelers expect on a Mendoza wine tour?

There are different ways to visit the many bodegas in the Mendoza region. For the adventurous spirits there are bike rentals available all over including the Maipu and Lujan areas, where you can follow a certain route and choose the bodegas to visit, such as the more traditional ones like Zuccardi, Rutini, Catena Zapata, Navarro Correas, Luigi Bosca, Lagarde, or boutique bodegas such as Vistandes.

There are also private tours for all budgets depending on the specific bodegas you’d like to visit and how many. These tours include transportation, wine tours, and wine tastings at the wineries of your choice. There are also bodegas that offer lunch as an option. For example, Zuccardi has their restaurant, Casa del Visitante, offering a traditional menu as well as a delicious gourmet 5-course meal.

What did you like most about Mendoza?

The wine culture that’s perceived in the region and how warm and welcoming everyone is everywhere you go. Their detail-oriented tours and fine cuisine make for a wonderful place to visit, and there’s a wide range of activities whether you’re a wine connoisseur (or amateur!) or an adventure junkie.

Sofia was quite impressed with Argentine hospitality.

Your favorite wine?

I was fortunate to be able to taste all of the wines from the 3 labels at the bodega as part of the day-to-day at Zuccardi, whether it was at work during sparkling time as a welcome treat for the tourists, the wine tastings, or even the wines brought to us at Casa Cinco, the house shared by international interns at Zuccardi.

My personal favorite has to be the iconic wine of Zuccardi, the famous Zuccardi Zeta, a blend of Tempranillo (34%) and Malbec (66%), aged 24 months in a first use French oak barrica, full bodied and with rich taste, exquisite taste; a perfect pairing for an Argentine parrilla [barbeque].

Sofia particularly loved the many possibilities for outdoor adventures in Mendoza. She adds this note:

There are other great activities to do while in Mendoza such as whitewater rafting in the Mendoza river, paragliding from the Andes, high mountain tours which include visiting the base of Aconcagua, and my personal favorite, sunset horseback riding lead by a gaucho which ends with an authentic Argentine parrilla [barbeque] – served, of course, with great wine.

Sofia says about Vendimia, ”Talk about a show! It was pretty spectacular and quite inexpensive – a must do if you're in town for it!”

Mendoza just celebrated Vendimia, the National Grape Harvest Festival which occurs annually during the first weekend in March. 

Start planning your fully customized Mendoza tour by contacting one of our expert travel advisors at Argentina For Less. The possibilities are endless, including excursions to Argentina’s north, Patagonia, or a hop across the Andes Mountains to continue your Argentina wine tour in Chile. 

Indeed, anyone who travels through the northwest of Argentina, as well as northeast Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador will note unifying elements in regards to people, culture, artifacts, and architecture. An Argentina trip that starts in Mendoza and continues north to Salta and Jujuy provides insight into this captivating regional history, set amid a visual feast of incredible landscapes.

Mendoza

Readily accessible by air from Buenos Aires, Lima, or Santiago de Chile, Mendoza is the perfect starting point for a northern Argentina tour. The city feels like a laidback version of the Argentine capital and it’s easy to forget that it is smack in the middle of a desert. Mendoza offers an easy transition to the more rugged landscape that lies beyond its well-irrigated, tree-lined downtown area.

Within Mendoza, the cultural offerings include wine tourism and excellent dining options.  For wine enthusiasts, the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia (National Grape Harvest Festival) occurs annually during the first weekend in March.  During the rest of the year, there are several hundred bodegas (wineries) that offer world-class wine tasting and culinary options.

Mendoza is the place to sample Argentina’s increasingly famous wines.

For the adventure traveler, the nearby Andes Mountain range will beckon, and there are abundant opportunities for mountaineering, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and other activities, all within driving distance. From the nearby foothill community of Blanca Encalada, you can enjoy a 2-hour hike to Cerro Negro, a 6,800 foot (2,072 meter) mountain.  Climbers can also try to tackle Cerro Aconcagua, 70 miles (112 km) from Mendoza, which, at 22,841 feet (6,962 meters), is the highest peak in the Americas. In the winter months, the nearby Las Leñas ski resort features excellent skiing options.

Salta

On the way to Salta, stop in La Rioja, a province host to Talampaya National Park, where you can find ancient petroglyphs dating from 10,000 BC, as well as stunning geological formations along the dry bed of what was once the Talampaya River.

Stunning geological formations are a highlight of a tour through northwestern Argentina.

Also within the park are the Cañon Arco Iris (Rainbow Canyon) and the Ciudad Perdida (Lost City). The amazing water- and wind-formed landscape can be appreciated on foot, horse, or bike.

The Dali-esque, Cañon Arco Iris, or Rainbow Canyon, named after the dazzling multicolored hues of its rock formations.

Further north is Salta, the 8^th largest city in Argentina and host to architectural treasures that bestow the city with an air of colonial charm.  Around the city’s main square, travelers can find the Cathedral, the Cabildo (or city hall), and the Museo de Arqueologia de Alta Montaña, which houses the impressively preserved remains of 3 Inca children thought to have been human sacrifices in ancient indigenous rituals. A city tour of Salta includes visits to churches, convents, and other colonial monuments in the surrounding plazas and pedestrian streets. For panoramic views of Salta, a cable car takes passengers to the top of Cerro San Bernardo, which rises 1,400 feet (430 meters) above the city.

Salta, Argentina’s 8th largest city, bears a strong Spanish colonial influence most evident in its architecture.

Salta also provides a jumping off point for more outdoor adventures and sightseeing. The Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds) is a popular 217km (135 mi) rail route that can also be traversed by car. Sights and stops along the way include Campo Quijano, Quebrada del Toro, the pre-Inca city of Santa Rosa de Tastil.

Jujuy

In juxtaposition to the heavy Spanish influence visible in Salta, Jujuy’s culture and population are more heavily Andean. Quechua and Aymara groups have a profound and visible presence and travelers that arrive during a carnival can appreciate this community’s rich and living cultural traditions. The nearby sites of Tilcara, Quebrada de Humahuaca, Paseo de los Colorados, and the Salinas Grandes (salt lakes) boast must-see landscapes as well as pre-Inca ruins dating back several thousand years.

Jujuy’s Salinas Grandes provide a surreal setting of vast flat spaces bordered by foothills and interrupted by active salt mines.

From Jujuy, travelers can launch into further exploration of the region by venturing into Chile, Bolivia, or Peru.  The region’s deep history and the remarkable vistas that it offers make it a worthy addition to any Argentina or South American travel package.

To the untrained eye, Mendoza may seem like an unlikely location for world-class wine production. The neighboring Andes throw a massive rain shadow across the valley, resulting in an average of only 200 millimeters of rainfall a year. But thanks to the indigenous Huarpe culture and their complex irrigation system, what was once a desert is now a bountiful agricultural oasis.

Mendoza Vineyard

The ancient system of rationing snowmelt water with channels and miniature flood-control gates, as well as the system of flood irrigation, are still widely used today. The high altitude and strong sun create the ideal climate for producing the coveted grapes that become full bodied wines. Viticulturists and wine connoisseurs travel to Mendoza not only to taste the wines, but also to learn about and participate in  the region’s rich history.

Colonization brought to Argentina the Catholic Church and its demands for Holy Communion ingredients, which of course include wine. So in the 1550s, priests began planting the Criolla Grande vine to ensure a local supply of naturally fermented communion wine. Today, Criolla Grande accounts for a third of Argentina’s grapes, though they are now primarily used to produce low to medium quality table wines for domestic consumption.

A later flood of Spanish and Italian immigrants in the 19th century brought with them the higher-quality Old World grapes. It is thanks to these drink-loving settlers that Argentina today boasts a large quantity of varied and distinguished wines, such as Malbecs, Bonardas, and Cabernet Sauvignons.

Presently, Mendoza has about 1,000 vineyards that produce over 80% of all Argentine wine.  Drink flows year-round in this high-altitude paradise, but one of the best times to take an Argentina wine tour is during the La Vendimia Festival—the wine and grape festival, which in Mendoza lasts from February through March.

Vendimia was first celebrated in the 17th century to commemorate the local wine harvest and made an official event in 1936. Now, the biggest show is saved for the first weekend of March when the city overflows with parades, street fairs, and the election of a Harvest Queen, La Reina de la Vendemia.

Liven up your Argentina vacation by attending some of Vendimia’s diverse harvest celebrations, making a special point to see the traditional blessing of the grapes by Mendoza’s Archbishop. However, if you plan to visit another time of the year, a great way to experience Argentina’s wine region is to take a Mendoza tour for a tasty mix of history, viniculture, and fun.

For more information on planning a Mendoza wine tour contact an Argentina For Less travel advisor.

Amazon, Brazil: The United Nations have declared 2011 the International Year of the Forest. Sounds like the perfect time to hug a tree. As global warming and deforestation continues, the chances to spot fascinating wildlife in the rainforest become smaller so hurry to the beautiful region before it is too late.

Iguazu Falls, Argentina: This force of nature is made up of 275 separate cascades which thunder over basalt rock down 250 feet. Be splashed by the powerful cascade’s mist at this unforgettable sight. Iguazu Falls are set on the border of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay so you can easily make it to at least three countries before the apocalypse.

Iguazu Falls

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador: As Charles Darwin did some 200 years ago, marvel at the creatures found nowhere else on earth. These rough and rocky isles are home to a wonderfully strange, abundant, and extraordinarily fearless wildlife.

Machu Picchu, Peru: Follow the path of the Incas into the Sacred Valley to the sun gate outside of Machu Picchu, or take the train through the cloud forests. In an almost impossible location high in the Andes, you can admire the mysterious and well preserved site. Machu Picchu survived the Spanish conquest, and it may not be a bad place to hide out in December 2012.

Machu Picchu

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia: The highest and largest salt lake in the world is at a dizzying altitude of 3,650 meters. Driving across it may be one of the most peculiar experiences around. If the bright blue skies contrasting with the white salt crust aren’t enough for you, visit the striking soda lakes. The red Laguna Colorada and the jade green Laguna Verde are located in a surreal desert landscape.

Easter Island, Chile: Nearly 2,500 miles west of Chile’s coast is one of the world’s most legendary sites. Easter Island is a nature and culture lover’s dream destination in the Pacific Ocean. Be amazed by the 20,000 archeological sites, rich culture of the Rapa Nui, volcanoes, marine wildlife, and white sand beaches.

Patagonia, Chile: In South America’s southern frontier, nature grows wild, barren, and beautiful. On this crowded planet it is strangely satisfying to encounter silence, large spaces, jagged peaks, and pristine waters. Get away from it all and enjoy the serenity of the spectacular infinite landscapes of Patagonia.

Torres del Paine in Patagonia

La Paz, Bolivia: Have your breath taken away by the highest capital city in the world. This city’s eccentric beauty sets it apart from other South American cities. Fly into the world’s highest commercial airport, golf at the highest golf course, and ski on the highest slope, just to say that you did.

Lake Titicaca, Peru: While you’re making your round of the “highest” destinations, be sure to hit up the highest navigable lake in the world. Shared by Peru and Bolivia, this shimmering blue lake is home to fascinating native communities living on floating reed islands in complete isolation from the rest of the world.

Buenos Aires, Argentina: The most attractive capital in South America, Buenos Aires is a bustling and cosmopolitan city with countless attractions and a unique atmosphere. Be transported in a whirl of thrills as you explore the buzzing capital of tango.

To start planning your Latin America travel adventure contact one of our expert travel advisors who can help customize your travel plans.

From August 13-31^st, the Dance World Championship and the Festival de Tango offer thrilling performances, exhibitions, classes, concerts, films, vintage radio shows, and just about everything else related to that sizzling and sensual dance, the tango – and many of the events are free.

Participating theaters include the 25 de Mayo, the Alvear, the De la Ribera, the Coliseo, the Luna Park, La Trastienda, the Recoleta Cultural Center, the Planetarium, and the Punto de Encuentro on Bartolome Mitre Street. Tickets are free and you can pick up one or two at the Casa de la Cultura on Avenida de Mayo.

Featured concerts and musicians include Rubén Blades and the Leopoldo Federico orchestra, set to play salsa on August 30 in Luna Park, plus Horacio Salgan and the Real Quintet.

Milongas, or ballrooms, all around the city will host couples eager to dance their way to the championship in the Tango Capital of the world. Between August 6-16, qualifying couples who make it through 10 rounds will make their way into the semifinals, to be held August 19-20. The winning round will be held on the 22 at Teatro del Colegio San Jose.

If you are planning a Buenos Aires tour after August, you are sure to find Porteñas and tango houses bustling with pairs of passionate dancers. The Esquina Carlos Gardel is an especially popular tango house located in the barrio of Abasto, where the famous singer Carlos Gardel spent much of his life. During a delicious Argentine dinner, you can watch tango dancers performing the dazzling dance.

Buenos Aires: Tigre Cycling and Kayaking Tour

Take a Buenos Aires tour with a difference, enjoying the “Paris of South America” by bike and kayak along the Tigre River Delta.

Just north of the thriving bustle of the Argentine capital lies the tranquil town of Tigre nestled on the banks of the Tigre River Delta. The summer home for Buenos Aires’s Porteñean elite in the 19^th century, Tigre retains its posh flair. Stately mansions decorate the delta, many of them only accessible by boat.

The tranquil waters of Tigre, near Buenos Aires. Photograph: Matthew Barker 2010

Take the train from the heart of Buenos Aires to its northern outskirts. From there you can cycle along the backroads and suburbs to the town of Tigre, just north of the capital. Along the peaceful and relaxing biking trail, you will pass the Tigre River’s lush islands and beautiful landscapes. When you reach the town of Tigre, you will hop in a kayak and take a guided tour past the mansions, palaces, and other landmarks.

This full day tour lasts about eight hours total. The guided tour includes all biking and kayaking equipment, train tickets and traveler’s insurance, plus lunch, snacks, and bottled water.

Iguazu Falls: Full Moon Waterfall Excursion

Enjoy a night-time Iguazu tour and enjoy the majestic falls by moonlight.

The thundering Iguazu Falls, Argentina

When the full moon is out, the Iguazu Falls – one of the world’s most impressive set of waterfalls – appears even more striking and powerful than ever. Some 270 waterfalls, a few over 250 feet tall, merge together to cascade down the Iguazu River’s deepest cataracts.  The national parks surrounding the falls, in both Argentina and Brazil, are quiet, and it seems as though you are alone with a mighty wall of water.

During this tour, which runs every evening of the full moon, you meet your guide at the park entrance to take a train ride to the Devil’s Throat, the most impressive face of the falls. At the Garganta do Diabo, or Devil’s Throat, water plunges over a 490 by 2300 feet U-shaped catarata, and observers can get close enough to be surrounded by 260° of water thundering with unimaginable power. In the moonlight, toast this remarkable force of nature with a refreshing caipirinha cocktail.

Mendoza: Cooking & Wine Tasting Class

For wine and cuisine fanatics, look no further than this Mendoza tour.

Mendoza’s gorgeous wineries and breathtaking landscapes are not to be missed, but if you want to experience Mendoza wine country in a unique way, take a Mendoza cooking and wine tasting class.

Begin your class by traveling from Mendoz to the Uco Valley, a high-altitude vineyard-rich region backed by the snowy Andes. Here the restaurant Bistro La Tupiña is situated in the midst of the Altus vineyards. This world-class restaurant serves delicious, simple Argentine meals – with some ingredients straight from the farm out back. The chef uses a tupiña, a cast iron kettle for which the restaurant is named, to marinate sausage, carmelized onions, potato wedges, and other appetizers in wines from the vineyard. A wine tasting expert will spill the secrets about the ins and outs of a good glass of wine, and a professional chef will teach you how to prepare – and pair – gourmet Argentine dishes with the best Argentine wines. Recipes may include goat in lemon sauce, barbeque lamb, along with dulce de leche and pastries.

El Calafate: Upsala Glacier Boat Cruise to Estancia Cristina

Cruise across glacial lakes on this Calafate tour to the most remote estancia in the region, perhaps in all of Patagonia.

The rugged landscape of Argentina’s Patagonia attracted rough gauchos who raised their cattle on vast stretches of land. Of all the estancias in Argentina, from the ranches on the eastern pampas near Buenos Aires, to those on the southern steppe, Estancia Cristina near El Calafate is perhaps the most remote.

Walls of ice and glacial lakes in Calafate, Patagonia. Photograph: Matthew Barker 2010

Estancia Cristina is only accessible by boat or by a several day trek. The trip is worth it though, as this 85,000 acre ranch is set on a meadow that glows green in the spring and summer, with the breathtaking Upsala Glacier as its backdrop. The ranch was founded in 1914 by an intrepid Englishman. Now it offers lodging, delicious homemade Patagonian cuisine, guided walks and horseback riding.

From El Calafate, the trekking town accessible by airport or by bus, you will head out on a boat cruise to reach Estancia Cristina. From Puerto Banderas on Lago Argentino, you will cruise north towards the Upsala Glacier. Enjoy the spectacular scenery as you weave along the glacial lake to the ranch. You will be greeted by a full lunch cooked in the traditional Patagonia style, and afterwards, you can roam the vast ranch, taking a horseback ride or hike to the Upsala Glacier lookout point. In the evening, tuck into bed in a rustic cabin on the ranch, or return along the lake to El Calafate.

Ushuaia: Tierra Mayor Dog Sled and Snowshoe Trek

Mush Patagonia Huskies on a dog sled and snowshoe Ushuaia tour.

Experience the thrill and chill of the rugged terrain near Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of Argentina, on a full day dog sled and snowshoe trek. From Ushuaia, the picturesque capital of Tierra del Fuego, travel to Tierra Mayor, a trailhead that leads through snowy hills to the breathtaking Tierra Mayor valley. At the trailhead, you will meet your guide, who will introduce you to your dog sled team and explain the art of mushing. Then you will get outfitted with your sled, and take off on a seven kilometer sledding adventure along old logging trails in the snowy forests of Tierra Mayor.

When you reach the woodcutter’s shelter, a small log cabin with a cozy fireplace, you can warm up with a cup of hot chocolate or “woodsmen’s coffee.” Then gear up for the next part of the adventure, a one and a half hour snowshoe trek through the snowy hills of Tierra Mayor. Gliding across snow a meter deep, you will arrive at the Alvear icefalls and enjoy terrific views of the Tierra Mayor valley. Return to the shelter, warm up with more hot chocolate, then strap on the snowshoes and descend down the logging trails to the Tierra Mayor trailhead.

The above excursions are just five of the many tours offered by Argentina For Less. Visit us online for many more Argentina travel ideas, or contact a travel advisor at travel@argentinaforless.com for more details.

Buenos Aires, the city that never sleeps

After breakfast in your Buenos Aires hotel you should head out to explore this huge city.

For a first time visitor, Buenos Aires can be overwhelming, as the city is packed with hundreds of excellent restaurants, dozens of museums, art galleries, and on-going exhibitions.

You should start by making your way to Plaza Mayo, which is where Casa Rosada and the Central Cathedral is located, and was the famous place where Eva Peron spoke to crowds before her death.

From Plaza Mayo you can head up Av. Diagonal Norte to Plaza de la Republic, which is graced by the grand Obelisk. Av. 9 de Julio, the largest avenue in the world, cuts through the heart of Buenos Aires.

By this time, you’re probably thinking about lunch. Nearly every street corner in Buenos Aires has a gourmet restaurant. If you walk up Av. Honduras towards Palermo Hollywood you will find plenty of terrific restaurants. Plaza Serrano, which is at Av. Serrano and Av. Honduras in Palermo, is a nice place to find somewhere to eat.

The trendy Palermo district is split in two by train tracks. The SoHo side is home to Buenos Aires’s young middle class. In Palermo Hollywood are Argentina’s movie and TV studios, as well as a number of smaller cafes and bars. Venturing over the train tracks is definitely recommended.

After lunch spend some time exploring the streets before you head off to the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (MALBA)? on Av. Pres. Figueroa Alcorta. The museum houses an interesting collection of modern as well as pre-Columbian art.

Nearby is the Museo Evita (Av. Lafinur 2988) which is dedicated to the life of Eva Peron, who was immortalized in the movie Evita and was played by Madonna. The film shows what Argentina achieved in the post-war period to tackle poverty, fight inequality, and improve education, as well as the horrible story about what happened to the body of Eva after her death.

A short walk up the street with take you to Plaza Italia which is next to the Buenos Aires Zoo, which is open till late, especially in the summer months. You can spend time meandering the expansive park.

If you are looking to spend the night like a typical porteño, going out late and dancing you should head to Av. Cornel Niceto Vega and Av. Humbolt. Vega Avenue is lined with chic clubs open all night long. Av. Humbolt has a number of restaurants, a cinema, and a British/style pub.

If you happen to wake early after a late night out in the city and it is a Sunday morning, you should make your way to the street market in San Telmo (Av. Defensa) where they sell a range of market goods, food, and what San Telmo is famous for, antiques.

The area of San Telmo is very artsy, with the main plaza in San Telmo having tango and dance shows put on by locals every week. The plaza is also a good place to find something to eat and a small bar to listen to some live jazz.

After exploring the streets around San Telmo, you should make your way over to the residential area of Recoleta.

Recoleta is home to the famous Recoleta Cemetery, the resting place of the Argentine high society. Some of the graves are more like monuments and it is worth having a look around.

From the cemetery you can walk to the nearby chapel and then down to the Recoleta Design Center which is more like a mall, selling the very latest in fashions from Argentina and the world.

There are some great lunch spots around here, just see what you can find. But for a quick lunch, you can pick up an Argentine empanada, a meat-filled sandwich available on nearly every street corner for only a few pesos.

You can then walk down to the Museo Nacional de Bella Artes (Av. Libertador), the museum of fine arts in Buenos Aires.

No trip to Buenos Aires would be complete without exploring the stuff that runs through the blood of every Argentine – a passion for soccer.

When the Boca Juniors play in La Bombadero stadium, the city stops and everyone’s attention centers on the game. The stadium, located in the district of La Boca, also has a museum that tells the history of the team and its famous Buenos Aires players.

You can then head down the waterfront in La Boca to see the colorful houses that line the streets. La Boca is a typical ‘working class’ area of Buenos Aires and was home to waves of early immigrants to the city, a very interesting place.

Some final places to make sure you visit if you somehow find the time is the new Puerto Madero development, the newest part of the city, which backs onto the banks of the river and the Buenos Aires ecological reserve.

Also you should visit the area around Retiro station, with the grand clock tower ‘Torre de los Ingleses’ which contrary to recent Argentine British relations, was donated by the British government to commemorate the Argentine May Independence revolution and the closeness between the two nations at the start of the 20^th century.

Buenos Aires is a huge city that even residents have not fully explored. 48 hours is not enough to see it all, but you can always try!

Bariloche, in northern Patagonia, is a Mecca for those heading for a Patagonia destination. The town is most famous as a ski resort due to its proximity to the ski slopes of Cerro Catedral.

Perched on the side of a huge lake and surrounded by snow-capped mountains, Bariloche seems more like a Swiss Alpine resort.

Golf and snow capped mountains in Bariloche

Its residents seem European too, as many of Argentina’s citizens are immigrants, and the capital, Buenos Aires, is often nicknamed the Paris of South America.

The local pubs have the feel of an Alpine bar, serving a variety of European and local beers.

Famous Fondue

Just like in many Alpine ski resorts, there is a range of fondue restaurants around Bariloche. You can gather around a pot of bubbling cheese and cook various meats and vegetables, perfect for warming up after a long day of hitting the slopes.

Chocolate & Bariloche

What many visitors to Bariloche are unaware of is that Bariloche is the chocolate capital of Argentina and possibly South America.

Even though the cocoa bean was first discovered in Mexico, it was the Europeans and then later Americans that perfected the process to make it into the chocolate that we know today.

It was also the Swiss and Germans that engineered the technique of mixing fresh milk with the bitter cocoa bean to make the sweet milk chocolate that we know of today.

This made Swiss chocolate some of the most famous and well-known chocolates in the early chocolate market development.

Bariloche, keeping in line with the Alpine feel, developed its own chocolate industry, using fresh sheep as well as cow milk to make the sweet chocolate.

As you walk down the main shopping street of Calle Mitre you are struck by the sweet smells and colorful stores that line the sides of the street.

Feel free to enter the shops and indulge your senses. Ask for some free samples!

Many of the stores feature displays that allow you to see how they hand-craft their luxury chocolates.

Many of the stores also have special chocolate features, such as giant chocolate rabbits during Easter.

Don’t forget to take some time between your Bariloche tours to visit the Bariloche Chocolate Museum!