Quebrada del Condorito National Park

Quebrada del Condorito National Park is located on the eastern side of Pampa de Achala. The park’s highlights are its landscape and geomorphological value: the high pampas covered by pastures, the rocky sierra without vegetation, and the deep gorges. Within the park we find the gigantic and spectacular crevice 800 m. deep and with a 1,500 m distance between the edges, vertical walls impossible to climb, and the Condoritos river running through its bottom. This territory is the easternmost natural habitat of the Condor, the coated eagle, and the peregrin falcon. These huge birds inhabit and nest in this zone, specially in the gorge.

The Gaucho - Hello Argentine

For many people, gaucho means orphan since they come from two civilizations (the European and the Indian). Possibly the first gauchos were people who broke their ties with the past and chose the loneliness of the great Pampa, where there was water and grass for the cows introduced by the European colonists to graze. Only an hour away from Buenos Aires, visitors will be able to learn about the typical tasks in the Argentinean countryside, the life of the gaucho and his incredible skill with the "boleadoras" (three stones tied together with a rope which, when thrown, tangle with the legs of the cows and prevent them from escaping), the knife, the lasso, and the use of the correct techniques for salting the best meat in the world.
Dressed with baggy knee-length trousers, a sombrero or beret, a handkerchief round the neck, spurs, and a sharp knife hanging from his belt (which is changed for a silver-coin belt for festivities), the Gaucho skilfully rides through the endless prairies. In the evening, by the light of a campfire and with a delicious roast , the Gauchos like singing their songs.

Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba

Jesuit block includes the Compañía´s church, the Capilla Doméstica (local chapel), the Priests’ Residence, the Rectorado (former Colegio Máximo of the Compañía de Jesús), as well as its administrative offices, the university council, the Salón de Grados, the Biblioteca Mayor (main library), and the Colegio Monserrat.The Jesuit settled in Córdoba in 1599, in the area granted by the Cabildo (Old Town Hall), where there was a little hermitage since 1589 which was not big enough to house the clergy, students, and the faithful. For that reason, in 1606 the construction of the new buildings began, historic buildings that are now part of the Manzana Jesuítica or Jesuit Block. Later on, other buildings were erected: Colegio Máximo (1610), the University (1622), Real Colegio Convictorio de Nuestra Señora de Monserrat (founded in 1687 but relocated in today's site in 1782 when the Compañía was expelled) and the Novitiate (in 1710). The church and the Capilla Doméstica were built between 1644 and 1671.
The Jesuit Estancias (ranches) in the Province of Córdoba, which are still in good conditions thanks to a well-preserved and carefully-executed architecture, are a unique example of the productive organization of the Jesuit fathers in Argentina.Although history shows that these ranches were acquired by the Jesuit Order for economic reasons, namely to finance the order’s schools and colleges, they “also participated in a missionary purpose, and thus became centres of religious dissemination”.The Jesuit Estancias in Jesús María, Caroya, Santa Catalina, La Candelaria and Alta Gracia can be visited within a 250-Km-long circuit through picturesque mountain roads.These 17th century rural establishments within the Manzana Jesuítica – all of them national historic monuments – were declared World Cultural Heritage in year 2000.

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Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley)

If you spend the night in San Agustín del Valle Fértil in the Province of San Juan, you can visit Ischigualasto Provincial Park, also known as Valle de la Luna, where there was a lake millions of years ago, and today, plant, dinosaur and other animal fossils can be found.

Chaco - Lodging

Estancias (ranches). There are farming and livestock ranches close to the Iberá Marshlands and the Chaqueña plains where you can be lodged and from which you may go for a walk, ride on horseback, or travel in a canoe. Hotels and bungalows for fishing lovers.

These are located in fishing grounds on the Alto Paraná river banks. At the Falls. The Sheraton International Iguazú Hotel, near the big falls, is ideal for visiting the National Park and watching the nocturnal spectacle of the falls.

Thermal spas in Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña, La Paz, María Grande, Chajarí, Federación, Concordia, Colón, Villa Elisa and Gualeguaychú.

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Excursions, leisure and "mate" - Litoral

Travellers can gaze upon fields of citrus, cotton, and mate, take thermal baths in Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña, La Paz, María Grande, Chajarí, Federación, Concordia, Colón, San José and Villa Elisa, gamble in the casinos of Puerto Iguazú, Posadas, Corrientes, La Paz, Paraná, Federación, Concordia, Colón, Concepción del Uruguay and Gualeguaychú, or simply admire the Iguazú Falls, a unique spectacle in the world.
The country of the mate. Argentina is the leading country in the consumption of mate, an infusion made with the so-called yerba mate herb grown in Corrientes and Misiones. Once dry and processed, the leaves are put into a gourd called mate – which may also be made of other materials - and hot water is poured over it. The infusion is sipped through a metal straw - bombilla - which generally has a silver mouthpiece. In Misiones and the north of Corrientes, mate is drunk cold with aromatic herbs and is known as "tereré". When a whole group is drinking this infusion, it is called "mate corrido" or "rueda de mate". There is also prepared mate in individual bags. Don’t leave without tasting it.
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Iguazu - Sport Fishing

An extensive network of rivers and lakes is the salient feature of this region. Large rivers such as the Iguazú, Uruguay, Bermejo, and Paraná, provide a diverse habitat rich in food and shelter for a large variety of plant and animal species. Visitors can fish for dorados, which reach an unusual size, and species such as the skinny tiger characin, freshwater mullet, and hoplias, in a setting of great natural beauty that complements a high-quality and unforgettable fishing experience.

Fishing for a wide variety of species in the Upper Paraná river can be a most rewarding experience. The areas off the towns of Ituzaingó, Itá Ibaté, Itatí, Isla del Cerrito, Paso de la Patria, Corrientes, Empedrado, Bella Vista, Goya, Reconquista, Esquina and La Paz are internationally renowned fishing grounds for large dorados. All fishing methods are practiced, and fly-fishing has become increasingly popular.

The ideal fishing season is March to September. In July, the Dorado National Fishing Contest is held in Formosa, in August, the National Dorado Fair takes place in Paso de la Patria, and in September, the Dorado International Fishing Tournament in Isla del Cerrito.

Iguazú National Park

Within the Iguazú National Park, located 18 Km. away from Puerto Iguazú and declared World Natural Heritage by the UNESCO in 1981, are the famous waterfalls. The river flowing waters fall from a height of 70 meters, through 275 falls, and over a 2.7 Km.-long area. The border with Brazil goes through the Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat), where many cascades produce sprays of water and colorful rainbows.
The National Park protects the subtropical vegetation surrounding the falls with over 2,000 plant species - gigantic trees, ferns, lianas, orchids, - 400 bird species - parrots, hummingbirds, toucans - jaguars and yacarés (caimans).

North Lodging

Northern-like accommodations.

In Jujuy, the Finca Los Lapachos, where sugar cane is grown (19 Km away from El Carmen) and Hostal Villar del Ala (Tilcara). In Salta, El Bordo de las Lanzas (Siancas Valley), Arnaga, El Manantial, Los Los and San Antonio (Lerma Valley), Ampascachi (Dique Cabra Corral), Casa del Molino (Cachi), Hostal de Molinos, a colonial house (Molinos), and Finca La Industria (Cafayate). In Tucumán, Parador Quilmes (Quilmes Ruins), El Mirador and Las Carreras (Tafí del Valle), and Villa Nougués (25 Km away from San Miguel de Tucumán) for golf lovers.

Valles Calchaquíes

Catamarca - Tucumán

This immense extension of land including the provinces of Catamarca, Tucumán, and Salta offers a marvelous landscape, winding roads, and coloured hillsides. In each of the small villages lying in the valleys, our ancestors seem to have left their traces engraved on the rocks.

Santa María, “Capital of the Calchaquíes Valleys”, was one of the main settlements of the millenary Yocavile Indian tribe, and many remains of this culture can be found today in this picturesque town.

Tucumán’s strikingly beautiful jungle is part of the valleys’ amazing landscape. Rivers, waterfalls, and rapids run through Tafi del Valle, located at 1,976 meters above sea level. This region was inhabited thousands of years ago, and its valleys are rich in archaeological remains. El Mollar, a summertime villa, is lined with lush, green valleys. Amaicha del Valle, surrounded by bright reddish hills, is typically known for its religious ceremonies.

In Cafayate, San Carlos, Angastaco, Molinos y Cachi, Spanish traditions and customs are still kept, specially in relation to art, architecture, as well as religious imagery.

Leaving Cafayate, surrounded by vineyards where the famous Torrontés white wine is produced, the highway leads to Quebrada de las Conchas. Not only the Valles Calchaquíes, but also Los Cardones National Park may be visited. The term “cardón” means giant cactus, and natives skilfully used this plant to build their houses.

Quebrada de Humahuaca

Jujuy

Departing from San Salvador de Jujuy, we reach this natural road leading to the altiplano (high plateau). Vividly coloured landscapes frame a group of villages with adobe houses, historical chapels and Pre-Hispanic ruins, where time seems to stand still.

One of the most beautiful villages is Purmamarca, an indigenous village lying against the Cerro de los Siete Colores (Seven-colour Mount) which strata illustrates various geological ages. Further on, there is an area of mountains with bright-coloured stripes, known as La Paleta del Pintor (The Artist's Pallet), in Maimará. One of the most outstanding attractions in this ravine is the Pucará de Tilcara, a fortified town built by the Omaguaca natives in pre-Columbian times. A monolith marks the Tropic of Capricorn, where each June 21st at midday the sun casts an exactly perpendicular shadow, and the celebration of the aborigines’ new year begins (Inti Raymi - Sun Festival).

Humahuaca was founded by the Spanish by the end of the XVI century. Its church and Carnival Museum exhibit some of the region’s customs. Approximately 12 Km away, the mysterious ruins of what used to be terraces for growing Coctaca can be seen.Quebrada de Humahuaca was declared World Cultural Landscape by the UNESCO in July 2nd 2003.

Argentine Fishing

This past calendar year I explored several destinations for fishing dorado, and I have found the right fit to include in my fishing programs. Now is an ideal time to get in on a new adventure while it is just becoming discovered. The lodge and location that I have found for fishing this fun freshwater fish is the Pira Lodge in the Province of Corrientes in Northern Argentina situated within the huge natural preserve of the Ibera Marsh.
Dorados are exceptionally powerful swimmers. They typically range in size from 5 to 10 pounds, and 15 pounders plus are not uncommon. The dorado has the hunting habits of a trout as they will hold in water with structure such as sunken logs and undercut banks, and in the confluence of currents formed by islands. They are voracious eaters and they feed primarily on a mullet- like fish called sabalo ranging from two inches to two pounds. They will happily smack a fly and once hooked they become airborne with head shaking jumps showing beautiful gold scales that glitter in the sun, thus giving them their name. They will eat big streamers, and are known to also take big surface flies like bombers and poppers when the conditions are right. They are great acrobats and lots of fun to fight, as they are full of surprises.
Dorados are also know in Argentina as the “River Tiger” because of their strong jaws and sharp teeth, and for the challenging fight they put up once hooked. While the dorado has long been admired in the southern portion of South America, it is almost completely unknown in the rest of the world. The largest species, Salminus maxillosus, is found mainly in Argentina, Bolivia, Southern Brazil and Uruguay and Paraguay. The scientific name is appropriate: Salminus, meaning salmon like, and Maxillosus, describing the fish’s powerful jaws. Outside of South America, the dorado suffers an identity crisis. While the common name is similar, the dorado is a freshwater game fish and not to be confused with the saltwater dolphin fish called dorado in many Spanish-speaking countries.
this is one of the best fishing sites in Argentina. The FishingThe fishing from Pira is accessed by the use of Hells Bay flats skiffs that allow your guide to pick you up at the private dock of the lodge. A typical day is like most great fishing destinations in Argentina with a morning departure, return for a delicious lunch, a siesta, and then back to fish for the evening with return to the comfort of the lodge, and a fine dinner to end your day.
Fishing is done with 7, 8, or 9 weight rods. A rod of this size makes casting the traditionally large Dorado flies easier, or for turning a big fish out of a weed-bank. A quality reel is important with a good drag. Dorado are know for their explosive runs. Dorado are fished using floating and sinking line and very large streamers that we can have custom tied for you in Buenos Aires. An equipment list will be sent upon making a reservation. Pira is strictly a catch and release fishery. Guides are equipped with Boga grips and will assist guests in weighing and releasing fish.

Antarctica

Only few years ago very limited number of tourists visited Antarctica. Seventh continent was restricted to scientist and serious expeditions. Now it is more open, but still not accessible by hitchhiking or on scheduled flight. Practically the only way for the globetrotter who wants to get there and to see most interesting places is to embark the ship. Few adventurers were lucky enough to sail to Antarctica aboard Chilean supplying ship. It is probably the last expensive way, but ships are rare, capacity is limited and it is difficult to plan such trip from distant Europe or USA. Searching for possibilities to visit Antarctica I found-out my best offer for organize expedition in the internet… The small port of Ushuaia on Tierra del Fuego acts as the gateway to Antarctica... They say it is southernmost town on our globe...

Favourite spots: Most tourist expeditions to Antarctica are heading from Argentinean or Chilean ports to Antarctic Peninsula - area which has relatively good ice conditions during Antarctic summer. Because the short distance it allows also to shorten the number of „days at sea” at the beginning and at the end of journey.

The Calilegua National Park

The Calilegua National Park was created in order to protect a representative sample of “Las Yungas”. This area has the biggest biodiversity of Argentina.


GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE AREA

The PN Calilegua (Calilegua Nacional Park) is located at the south-east of the province of Jujuy, at the Ledesma department, over the east slant of the Calilegua hills.
It was created in 1979 to save a representative place of Las Yungas –one of the environment with more biodiversity of Argentina –, and to protect the source of the rivers of this hill. With a surface of 295 m2, it comprises the largest National Park of the argentinian north-west and belongs to the eco-regions selva of Las Yungas or selvas of the north-west and puna argentinian mountain.
The Calilegua Nacional Park was created to preserve a representative sector of Las Yungas, which comprises one of the largest environments of bio-diversity in Argentina.
For mountain lovers, this National Park gives the opportunity to get up to the peaks Ammarillo and Hermoso by feet. In addition, through a sailing of several days, visitors could go from this region to the Quebrada de Humahuaca.


CULTURAL RESOURCES

This area was occupied a long time ago by native groups. Their settlements were located in the lower knoll near to the farming grasslands. The places and the arqueological pieces found in the park, like pottery pieces and polished stone hacks, keeps relationship with the communities that inhabited in the yungas region. From the 15th century on, this territory was occupied by the inkas, who built facilities where several aspects of the social, politic and economic organization of the empire were melted and where the symboly, ritual, astronomic and politic meaning was present and made close part of all the inkaic comovision.
Currently, all this region is inhabited by koya communities, inheritors of those societies from the past, essential partners to keep the yungas corridor through the entire argentinian north-west.


NATURAL RESOURCES

Landscapes. Flora and Fauna. This Park has a broken surface with deep cannons carved by streams and rivers with big slopes, and mountain coros with peaks up to 9090 feet. Hermoso, Amarillo and Morro Alto peaks, as well as hills of Socavón, overhang due their magnitude.Several streams and rivers descend from the hills and debouch in the San Lorenzo and Ledesma rivers in the south zone, or in the Las Piedras river in the north. All this water courses finally debouch in the San Francisco river, which flow to the north-east until it confluence with the Bermejo river.Most of the PN Calilegua (Calilegua National Park) is covered by the Las Yungas typical herbage. This herbaje, due to its hard access, it is almost not being altered by human action.The forest of transition is scarce and it has in its lower parts some element from the chaco, while in mountain forrest, it reachs until 5455ft. Over this one, the montano forrest is found with alder and pines of hill and finally high pasturelands.In the montana forest yaguaretés, tapirs and river wolves subsist. Bats (like the dark small fruiterer one) can be found between the leaf of the trees. In addition, the big snout bat could be also found in the zone, feeding from the nectar while pollinizes the flowers, and so being an important agent of the maintenance of some forest plants.The red acutí and the tuco-tuco yungueño rodents can be found.In the high pasturelands inhabits the taruca or huemul from the north. This a grey deer (smaller than his andine-patagonic relative). It can be found in the limit of the eternal snow, although it prefers the valleys richer in vegetation, in more secure zones.The avifauna is build approximately by 400 species. The big toucan, the turkey of monte alisera, the real jote, the giant batará, the burgo and several species of hummingbirds and woodpeckers. In the Calilegua hills the marsupial frog of Jujuy, now seen in other similar places.

ACCESS

The Park can be accessed by the Nacional Road N° 34, which passes at the bottom of the Calilegua hills. By this road, the visitor can continue to San Salvador de Jujuy, 62mi from the Park. To the north, the National Road N° 34 goes to San Ramón de la Nueva Orán, at 95mi from the Park. Between the Libertador San Martín and Calilegua cities, the Statal Road N° 83 goes to the west. This cornice road traverse the Park, and allows the visitor to travel up to the 5454ft, getting into a wonderfull zone of landscape beauty.In Calilegua City, there is a bus that leaves San Martin Station at eight o´clock (AM), and arrives at the National park at t o´clock (PM).

Perito Moreno National Park

GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE AREA

Perito Moreno (Perito Moreno National Park) was created in 1937in order to protect the large richness of the region: “lengas” forests, two lake's systems, a patagonic steppe section, fossils and a varied fauna.The Park covers a 115.000 hectares surface in the northwest side of Santa Cruz. It has a mountain chain cuts by valleys, which many of them are 900 metres over the sea level.Belongs to forests, patagonic steppes and Altos Andes eco-regions. The last characterizes by a hills and slopes chain on top of Puna's plains. The weather is cold, with permanents snows. The rains of the eco-region vary between 100 and 200 mm. The land is skinny and has an incipient evolution. The vegetation is composed by short bushes and creeping or “en cojin” species.

CULTURAL RESOURCES

The protected area was inhabit, 9.000 years ago, by groups of hunters and collectors. The occupation of the place was periodic and alternated between the steppe and the forest because that was part of a planning resource's using.One of the most important animals of the region was the guanaco. It was appreciate because of its meat, leather, bones, tendons and veins.The original groups used to live in caves. Later opened sky awnings replaced them, but specific activities like prepared and dyeing leather were done rocky eaves. Theses places were also used for hunting and for work the rocks. In accordance with archaeological registers the protected area of this Park was abandoned in the 18 th century, probably because of the climate's inclemency of a “short ice age” registered by important studies developed in 1750.PN Perito Moreno (Perito Moreno National Park) has a high scientific and cultural value, thanks to the phaleontological rests and biological elements that preserves. This Park has many evidence of this region's past, which began 9.700 years ago, and are the testimony that tehuelches ancestors left about their life, habits and beliefs.

NATURAL RESOURCES
Landscape, flora and fauna

The landscape was surrounded by many hills and mountains arranged from east to west and north to south that constitutes a great natural amphitheatre.The Park has three delimited sectors: the steppe, represented by dense “coironales” and examples of “mata torcida”, a transition zone with vegetation composed by “ñire” and “lenga”, and the forest, constituted by “lengas” that localized mostly in seaside zones of Nansen and Azara Lakes.The Park has an interesting fauna reserve. There are a lot of guanacos that move in groups. That largest predator is the puma and red and grey wolf. There are also the “choique”, “ñandu petiso”, “pilquin” or “chinchillon anaranjado”, a Santa Cruz restricted specie different from the rest of the “pilquines” of the Patagonia and the “esquivo huemul” that finds there a safety refuge. The local stag has a strong brown body; males have small bifurcate horns that are one metre height. In winter “huemules” descend from high slopes, finding refuges in forests and meals from the valleys.Many small little lakes, feed by thaw water, constituted the habitat were aquatic birds stay, like flamingos, “hualas”, “cisne cuello negro”, “patos vapor” and great concentrations of “cauquenes”. “Condor andino”, “aguila mora” and “ñacurutu” –a big owl that makes its nests in the Park- integrated the local “avifauna” that lives in the Park.Unlike many patagonic lakes, in Perito Moreno National Park waters there aren't exotics fishes, so there is only native “ictiofauna”.

The “Taruca”

GENERAL INFORMACION OF THE NATURAL MONUMENT

The “Taruca” or “Venado Andino” ( Hippocamelus antisensis ), inhabitant of “prepuneñas” steppes and high pastures, only can be found in the top of hills, between 1.800 and 3.500 metres height.Pastures, bushes and impressive rocky “faldeos” and “escarpados” from Jujuy, Salta, Tucuman, Catamarca and La Rioja mountains compose its habitat. Also lives in Chile, Bolivia and Peru, where it is called “Aymara Taruca”, although is locally known as stag.The “taruca” or “huemul del norte” lives in pastures of the high floors of the hills, in groups of fifteen. They very unsociable and escapes at the first danger sign. Its aspect and size are similar to the “huemul”. It has an eye-catching horns and a black spot on its face that differences the male from the female.A few time ago groups of forty animals travel freedom around their vast and large habitat. Nowadays only a few of them survive alone and altered in reduce territories. The environment became dangerous and hostile. Nobody knows how many stags still exists, but in many places where they used to live disappeared. Nowadays their situation is critic and their hunt is prohibited in the whole country.

HABITAT
Pasture, the habitat where the taruca lives, is distributed in “isles” along the mountains. The corridors that used to connect them disappeared because of human action. These natural barriers created in “taruca's” habitat gives their populations an insular appearance. The isolation and small populations are very important points to pay attention on for the future survival of the specimen in Argentina, because small population lost virility.

The “yaguarete”

GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE NATURAL MONUMENT

Originally the specie was distributed from the southwest of EE.UU to Negro River riversides in Argentina. Nowadays only it can be found in Argentina, in the middle of Misiones, north and east of Salta, east of Jujuy, northeast of Santiago del Estero, northeast of Chaco and northeast of Formosa. The yaguarete is the biggest feline of America. Can be 70 /130 kilograms weight and 80 cms. Height. Its aspect is similar to the African leopard, although this is thinner, has longer tail and doesn't have dark spots on its pelage. The yaguarete's pelage allowed it hide inside the vegetation to get close to its preys. It eats little rodents, stags, cattle and “tapires”. As the Asiatic tiger, it frequents watercourses to protect against the sun and insects, and to capture fishes, turtles and alligators. It is a solitary animal with night habits and doesn't be afraid of humans. Nowadays the yaguarete habitat is the “salteña and jujeñas nobuselvas”, and many sectors of the occidental “chaqueño” district and “misionera” rainforest, and frequents different kinds of ambient: dense forests, “tacuarales”, “picadas”, routes and places particularly close to the water. At Iguazu National Park there is an animal each 55 km2.


IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION

The yaguarete declination is fast. In the half of the 19 th century used to live near “bonaerenses” little lakes, it can be seeing in the Colorado riverside and also used the “Delta del Parana” as a refuge. There many reasons of its migration to the north: the persecution that suffered many years ago because people though that it was a danger for cattle and human being. Otherwise, its skin is a value prize. Nowadays the biggest problem was the alteration of the natural environmental where the yaguarete used to live, because of the farming and energetic exploitation.

Colonia Benitez Educative Reserve

GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE AREA

The protected area has a seven hectares surface and is located in Chaco province. The Colonia Benitez Educative Reserve protects a sample of the Chaco Oriental scrubland. It was created as a Natural Strict Reserve in 1990 and turn into Educative Reserve in 2002. RE Colonia Benitez (Colonia Benitez Educative Reserve) has two sectors: the Clausura Schulz and the Quebrachal . The Clausura Schulz has a seven hectares surface and it is located in the lot number 24. The Quebrachal has one hectare surface and it is located in the lot number 36. Both of them are into the INTA Experimental Station.
The region hed been protected by Augusto Schulz, who made a list with all the protected area's species. This work is very popular in Chaco province. The Colonia Benitez City was declared botanical capital of Chaco province and Augusto Schulz was prize-winning with the “honoris causa” title. The protected area belongs to the “ Esteros, Cañadas y Selvas de Ribera” region. The climate is wet, and there are scant winter rains. During the warmer month, the media temperature is 22ºC, and the region annual media temperature is 18ºC.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Physiognomic unitsThere are the following physiognomic units: Bank jungle: it has a three hectares surface, and it has forest adenoids. Strong scrubland: it has a two hectares surface. There are “quebrachos”, prickly shrubs, and flooded land. Swamp: it has a two hectares surface. It is adjacent to the bank jungle. Its main specie is the “ ciperácea” . Flora The most important trees of the region are the “espina corona”, the “Francisco Alvarez”, the “lapacho”, and the “ombú”. The forest is cover by big “chaguares”. The red orchids are predominant.
Fauna In the native forest there are a lot of wild birds, such as the “picaflor”, the “boyero ala amarilla”, and the toucan. The toucan inhabits the Educative Reserve in little groups.

CONSERVATION GOALS

Nowadays, RE Colonia Benitez (Colonia Benitez Educative Reserve) is based on the following conservation goals:s- To protect a representative sample of the bank ecosystems with a high scientific interest. - To restore and protect a little sector of the “quebracho colorado chaqueño” scrubland. -To offer a natural space for the argentinian northwest environmental education. -To transmit the protected areas values.
WALKS AND SERVICES The public access to the educative reserve is restricted. Scientific studies and school visits are allowed (if you have the Administración de Parques Nacionales permission) . It is recommended to ask for more information at the Chaco National Park.

Campo de los Alisos National Park

GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE AREA
The National Park is located in the Chicligasta Department, in the Tucumán province. It has a 10.000 hectares surface. The PN Campo de los Alisos (Campo de los Alisos National Park) was created in order to protect a representative sample of the “montanos” jungle and forest. And belongs to the “montanos” jungle and forest eco-region. The eco-region rains oscillate between the 100 and 200 milimitres.
The Aconquija mountain rain is the southern extension of the “Calchaquíes” summits. It is the first west mountainous step of the “chacopampeana” plain. The Campo de Los Alisos National Park is located on the “Nevados del Aconquija” eastern slope. Its peaks limits with Catamarca Province, between the “Las Pavas” river –in the north- and the “Jaya” river –in the south-. Its most important height is in the “La Bolsa” hill.


CULTURAL RESOURCES
Between the 4.400 and 5000 m of height, the PN Campo de los Alisos (Campo de los Alisos National Park) conserves the ruins called “ Ruinas de la Ciudacita” or “Pueblo Viejo” and “Santuarios de Altura”. They are archeaeological sites, very important to the study of the inca culture in the argentinian northeast. The site has two building sectors united by a cobbled way. Both of them have different stone structures, such as circular and rectangular precincts, with yards and squares. The “Cuidadacita” represents an important sample of the incas settlement, in the south border of the empire. It is interpreted as a big installation where converged different aspects of the empire: social, cultural and politics aspects. Nowadays, this ruins are not open to visits.

ACCESS
From San Miguel de Tucumán city, you have to drive 80 km along the Route Nº 38 to Concepción city. There you have to go toAlpachiri town, in the west side. From there you have to go –by a land way- to “La Jaya” spot, which is adyacent to the National Park.

PASEOS Y SERVICIOS
Because of its recient creation, the Park doesn't have the appropiate services for visitors. It is recommended to ask for information at the Nastional Park Maintenance. Once you arrive to the protected area, please ask foresters where camping is allowed.

CONTACTS
Los Alisos National Park 2.044, 24 de septiembre(4146) Tucumán, Argentina Telephone number: (038) 65-416368 E-mail address: losa lisos@apn.gov.ar
Administración de Parques Nacionales690, Santa Fe St.(1059) Buenos Aires,Argentina Telephone numbers: (011) 4311-6633/0303 E-mail address: informes@apn.gov.ar

Bosques Petrificados Natural Monument

GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE AREA

Due the need of protecting petrified forests, the Bosques Petrificados Natural Monument was created in 1954. It is located in the northeast of Santa Cruz province, in the Puerto Deseado Department. The nearest village is Jaramillo. From Jaramillo to the Natural Monument there is a 135 km distance. Nowadays, the MN Bosques Petrificados (Bosques Petrificados Natural Monumen)t has a 13.700 hectares surface. The National Parks Administration acquired two adjacent farms, and is negotiating to include them in the protected area. Bosques Petrificados Natural Monument belongs to the patagonic steppe eco-region. Its climate is cold and dry, with winter rains lower than 400 millimeters and strong west winds. The summers are dry. There are permanent frosts.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Landscapes. Flora and fauna.150 millions of years ago, the protected area´s climate was very wet. There were dense forests with big trees. Some important species were the “ pehuenes” or “araucarias”. In the cretacic period beginning, the volcanic eruptions –that coincided with the mountain chain raising- buried a big part of the patagonic territory, with ashes and lava. A lot of these forests were petrified. They conform the MN Bosques Petrificados (Bosques Petrificados Natural Monument). The Los Andes mountain chain raising had generated drastic changes in the ambient. The patagonic climate changed in a radical way. Since that moment, the humidity –transported by the pacific winds- is condensed in the cold heights, and generate rains that allows the develop of the present patagonic forests. Later, the territory erosion generated an arid zone and made possible the discovery of the petrified forests. The “Madre e Hija” mountain is a good example of the old volcanic activity. This mountain is an extinct volcano. FloraThe present nature of the protected area offers different and interesting attractions to the visitors. The sparse vegetation is amazing, due the plants capacity to survive in an arid zone. Different vegetables adopt compact and semicircular forms. The “ cojines” are a good example of these vegetables. In the protected area there are many shrubs like the following: “molles”, “duraznillos”, “algarrobos” and “calafates”. The “calafates” have edible fruits. Fauna The fauna is abundant, due the permanent foresters vigilance. The fauna of the protected area have adopted no evasive behaviours. You can see the different animals in the “ araucarias petrificadas” path surrounding area. There, you can see little pack of zools, composed by the male and its females and its breedings. Also, you can see gray foxes, “ Chingolos”, “agachonas”, and “comesebos”. In the access way there ara some attraction s to the visitors. There, you can see the “piche patagónico” and the “choique” or “ñandú petiso”. This specie is a big bird, its plumaje is gray with white. The males are polygamous and build the nests, the incubate the eggs and look after the breedings. It is recommended to transit in a low speed to see the abundant fauna of the protected area.

CULTURAL RESOURCES

In prehistoric periods, the protected are was inhabited by hunter and collecting populations. In the MN Bosques Petrificados (Bosques Petrificados Natural Monument) there are some evidences of this: different settlements as “picaderos" or workshops to the raw material extraction. The araucarias´ fossil wood was used to create stone instruments. For populations´ economy the microambient diversity offered some available resources in accessible spaces with short trips. There were water the whole year (little oasis), firewood, good visibility, animals to hunt (the “guanaco” and the “choique” or “ñandú petiso”), and a great stones availability to the device sculpt.
ACCESS The Bosques Petrificados Natural Monument access is located in the National Route number 3, between the villages Caleta Olivia (in the north) and Puerto San Julián (in the south). In the kilometer number 2.074 appear the route number 49, that arrives to the natural Monument foresters area. There is the Visitors room and a path to visit the protected area.

WALKS AND SERVICES

In the MN Bosques Petrificados (Bosques Petrificados Natural Monument) camping is not allowed. You can stay in a private camping, which is located 20 km far from the access way. It is important to know that there is a pedestrian path, which cross de protected area. There, you can see the petrified araucarias. The path´s access is free. The timetable hours are 9:00 to 19:00 (between October-March) and 10:00 to 17:00 (between April-September).

The Calilegua National Park

The Calilegua National Park was created in order to protect a representative sample of “Las Yungas”. This area has the biggest biodiversity of Argentina.


GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE AREA

The PN Calilegua (Calilegua Nacional Park) is located at the south-east of the province of Jujuy, at the Ledesma department, over the east slant of the Calilegua hills.
It was created in 1979 to save a representative place of Las Yungas –one of the environment with more biodiversity of Argentina –, and to protect the source of the rivers of this hill. With a surface of 295 m2, it comprises the largest National Park of the argentinian north-west and belongs to the eco-regions selva of Las Yungas or selvas of the north-west and puna argentinian mountain.

CULTURAL RESOURCES

This area was occupied a long time ago by native groups. Their settlements were located in the lower knoll near to the farming grasslands. The places and the arqueological pieces found in the park, like pottery pieces and polished stone hacks, keeps relationship with the communities that inhabited in the yungas region. From the 15th century on, this territory was occupied by the inkas, who built facilities where several aspects of the social, politic and economic organization of the empire were melted and where the symboly, ritual, astronomic and politic meaning was present and made close part of all the inkaic comovision.
Currently, all this region is inhabited by koya communities, inheritors of those societies from the past, essential partners to keep the yungas corridor through the entire argentinian north-west.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Landscapes. Flora and Fauna. This Park has a broken surface with deep cannons carved by streams and rivers with big slopes, and mountain coros with peaks up to 9090 feet. Hermoso, Amarillo and Morro Alto peaks, as well as hills of Socavón, overhang due their magnitude.Several streams and rivers descend from the hills and debouch in the San Lorenzo and Ledesma rivers in the south zone, or in the Las Piedras river in the north. All this water courses finally debouch in the San Francisco river, which flow to the north-east until it confluence with the Bermejo river.Most of the PN Calilegua (Calilegua National Park) is covered by the Las Yungas typical herbage. This herbaje, due to its hard access, it is almost not being altered by human action.The forest of transition is scarce and it has in its lower parts some element from the chaco, while in mountain forrest, it reachs until 5455ft. Over this one, the montano forrest is found with alder and pines of hill and finally high pasturelands.In the montana forest yaguaretés, tapirs and river wolves subsist. Bats (like the dark small fruiterer one) can be found between the leaf of the trees. In addition, the big snout bat could be also found in the zone, feeding from the nectar while pollinizes the flowers, and so being an important agent of the maintenance of some forest plants.The red acutí and the tuco-tuco yungueño rodents can be found.In the high pasturelands inhabits the taruca or huemul from the north. This a grey deer (smaller than his andine-patagonic relative). It can be found in the limit of the eternal snow, although it prefers the valleys richer in vegetation, in more secure zones.The avifauna is build approximately by 400 species. The big toucan, the turkey of monte alisera, the real jote, the giant batará, the burgo and several species of hummingbirds and woodpeckers. In the Calilegua hills the marsupial frog of Jujuy, now seen in other similar places.


ACCESS

The Park can be accessed by the Nacional Road N° 34, which passes at the bottom of the Calilegua hills. By this road, the visitor can continue to San Salvador de Jujuy, 62mi from the Park. To the north, the National Road N° 34 goes to San Ramón de la Nueva Orán, at 95mi from the Park. Between the Libertador San Martín and Calilegua cities, the Statal Road N° 83 goes to the west. This cornice road traverse the Park, and allows the visitor to travel up to the 5454ft, getting into a wonderfull zone of landscape beauty.In Calilegua City, there is a bus that leaves San Martin Station at eight o´clock (AM), and arrives at the National park at t o´clock (PM).

Copo National Park

GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE AREA

Copo National Park is located in the northwest of Santiago del Estero province, in the Copo Department. It has a 114.250 hectares surface. In 1998, by the law number 6.450, the place was declared Provincial Park. In 1998 started the transfer to the national heritage. The initiative was included in the GEF projects. The Copo National Park belongs to the “dry –chaco” eco-region . The climate is warm, with absolute temperatures for the continent. The rains change between 500 and 700 millimetres

NATURAL RESOURCES

Fauna PN Copo (Copo National Park) is one of the argentinian places where coexists different critically endangered species, such as the “yaguareté”, the “ oso hormiguero grande”, the “tatú carreta”, and the “chancho quimilero”. The most important bird is the “ talkative parrot”. This specie finds in the protected area a safe refuge.
Flora The protected area has an important forests sector. This place has not suffered a devastating exploitation. The most characteristic tree is the “ quebracho colorado santiagueño”. It is the main specie of the “chaqueña” eco-region. The “quebracho” has strong wood and tannin. Due this properties this specie suffered a devastating exploitation in other argentinian places. During a century, “La Forestal” –a wood company- was the main causal of the quebracho Colorado´s decline.Protecting the "quebracho colorado" is a central priority for the Administración de Parques Nacionales. The quebracho´s devastating exploitation and the cattle action made an important improverishment of the wild forests, and stopped its natural regeneration. The changes are really big: in the beginning of the 20 th century the 80% of the Santiago del Estero province was covered by scrublands; nowadays only the 20% of the province has quebracho scrublands.

WALKS AND SERVICES

This National Park has no services for the visitors. It is recommended to ask for information to the forester. There is a zone where is allowed to camp.

Chaco

GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE AREA

Chaco National Park has a 15.000 hectares surface. It is located in the Chaco province and was created in 1954 in order to protect a sample of the oriental Chaco.The protected area conserves the “quebracho colorado chaqueño” forests. These forests were located in the north of Santa Fe and Chaco occidental half, and had penetrated in the northeast of Corrientes province. The “quebracho” is a tree that has strong wood and tannin. Due this properties this specie suffered a devastating exploitation. For a whole century, “La Forestal” –a wood company- was the main causal of the "quebracho colorado"´s decline. Protecting the "quebracho colorado" forests is a central priority for the Administración de Parques Nacionales.PN Chaco (Chaco National Park) belongs to the “chaco húmedo” eco-region, which is a zone where predominates depressed environments. The climate is warm, and there are summer rains (they oscillate between the 750 y 1.300 millimetres).

WALKS AND SERVICES

In the National Park there is a big camping zone, with bathrooms, tables, burners, drinkable water and electric light. From the camping zone leave different paths that make possible to visit the region.In the “Panza de Cabra” small lake you can enjoy a wild camping, without bathrooms. It has two grills and two tables with seats.To discover the junge´s flora and fauna you can visit different paths. In the main path, which you can cover by car, you can see the “quebracho colorado chaqueño” scrubland. Then there are two pedestrian crossing:Path to the Carpincho and Yacaré small lakes: throughout a 3 km way you can arrive to the small lakes viewpoints. There, you can see a diversity of birds. ”De flora” path: this path has a 1,5 km distance. It starts in the camping suburbs.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Landscapes. Flora and fauna.in the protected area there are different environments: the scrubland, the “ sabana con palma blanca”, the swamps, and small lakes.The scrubland is conformed by different trees, such as the “quebracho colorado chaqueño”, the “espina corona”, the “guayacán”, the “lapacho”, the “algarrobo”, the “guayaibí” and the “quebracho blanco”.The forest inferior stratum is covered by “chaguares”. This vegetable has strong thorns in their leaves, due this property the protected area access is very difficult.This environment gives refuge to some big predators, such as the puma, the “moro cat”, the “ eirá”, the “chancho moro”, the “guazuncho” –a little deer-, the “carayá”, the “aguará guazú”, the “curiyú” and the “cocoé”.In particular after rains you can see in the different paths big mammals´ footprints.In PN Chaco (Chaco National Park) lives the “coralina punteada”, a snake with eye-catching colors.In the camping zone you can see “urracas paraguayas” and “moradas”, the “ipacaá”, and the “carpintero lomo blanco”. At night there are owls and “ atajacaminos”. In small lakes lives the “Panza de Cabra”, the “Yacaré”, and the “Carpincho”. There is a rich fauna composed by “biguáes”, the “burrito enano”, the “pollona negra”, the “gallito de agua”, the “chajá”, and some “garzas” such as the “hocó Colorado”. During the summer, the aquatic environments collect a diversity of frogs.In the scrubland adjacent zones inhabits the chaqueña aquatic turtle. The “caraguatás” or “ananás silvestres” are a good refuge to this specie, which eats little vertebrates and insects.In the protected area there are more than 340 species of birds.

Franca Whale Austral

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Southern Right Whale is a marine mammal, it has a 15 meters length. The females are bigger than the males. It has a mouth with “cornea beards”. With the “cornea beards” the right whale filters the water, retaining the little organism that it eats. Southern Right whales are skimmers, filter feeders that swim slowly with their mouth open, constantly eating. On occasion, they are also bottom feeders, eating benthic prey from the mud on the ocean floor.
The fine baleen hairs can filter out very tiny prey including copepods, steropods, euphasiids and mysids (tiny crustaceans).The Southern Right Whales are baleen whales with bow-shaped lower jaw and a head that is up to one-quarter of the body length. The head is hairier than most whales; up to 300 hairs are found on the tip of the lower jaw and 100 are on the upper jaw. There are also callosities (a series of horny growths) behind the blowhole, on the chin, above the eyes, on the lower lip, and on the rostrum (the beak-like upper jaw).Nowadays, this specie has more than 1.800 different individuals, which have inhabited the Peninsula de Valdés.
Every year, in the autumn ending, arrives to the Pensinsula de Valdés (San José gulf and Nuevo gulf) a big community of Southern Right Whales. In this period, that community is looking for not much deep water to give birth to the litters . Between October and December, the right whale gives up the “litter zone”, and moves to its feeding summer areas. This areas are located in deep ocean waters. The main food of the right whale is the “krill”.

NATURAL HISTORY

In April, between 450 and 600 right whales arrive to the Nuevo gulf and San José gulf, in the Peninsula de Valdés. The right whales stay there during the winter and the spring. This place is one of the reproduction areas, due its quite waters.
The right whale gestation period is about 12 months and the calf is born tail first (this is normal for cetaceans) and near the surface. The newborn instinctively swims to the surface within 10 seconds for its first breath; it is helped by its mother, using her flippers. Within 30 minutes of its birth the baby whale can swim. The newborn calf is about 16-19 feet (4.8-6 m) long. Twins are rare; there is usually one calf. The baby is nurtured with its mother's milk and is weaned in about 1 year when the calf is roughly 28 feet long. Between July and October are born 200 whales.

CONSEVATION

Due its low swimming and the fact that the Southern Right Whale floats when it dies, the right whale is one of the species that suffered the most important commercial pressure between the 17 th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Right whales were named by whalers who considered them the "right" whales to hunt, since they were rich in blubber, they were easy to catch (they are relatively slow swimmers) and they floated after being killed.The Southern Right whales are vulnerable. They are being killed for their blubber. Man has been killing whales from the beginning of history. The Eskimos were one of the first people to hunt whales. By 1788 the British, French and American ships were hunting the Southern Right whales off the South African coast. Between 1790 and 1825 12000 Southern Right whales were estimated to have been killed.N owadays, the right whale is protected by different legislations. This specie is protected by the International Whaling Committee -that bans its hunting-, and the International Threatened Flora and Fauna Species Convention –that bans any commercial action with the right whale-.
The Bonn Convention includes this specie in its appendix about migratory threatened species, and the International Conservation of Nature Union includes the right whale in its Red Book. In Argentine Republic, the right whale has absolute protection since 1984, when the specie was declared Natural Monument by the law number 23.094. This law is open to the provinces adhesion. The Chubut province has signed different local legislations to protect the right whale.