CLAY AND LIVING CULTURE IN THE NORTH

Learn about the secrets of artisanal pottery and get your hands dirty with the red-colored clay of this enchanting northern town.

Placed in the north-west and almost in the middle of Jujuy province, we find the colorful town of Purmamarca, embraced by the well-known Hill of the Seven Colors. In one of its many mud houses lives Maby, a local artisan that invites us to learn her pottery techniques.

Maby has been a clay artisan for many years and knows a lot about modeling and decoration with local pigments and materials. She is happy to share not only her craft knowledge but also her culture; believing that there is nothing more moving and rewarding than creating something with our own hands.

She warmly welcomes us to her home and workshop to teach us the whole artisanal pottery process, which -according to her- requires enthusiasm and patience.

First, we learn every step to prepare the material that we need to model with, from mud to clay. Then, Maby shows and helps us with the modeling technique to create a small original pottery piece by ourselves, such as bowls, plates, cups or decoration items. Once we’re done, she will take care of the final touches to dry and bake the piece for us.

You can take a piece of art that has been made by someone else and that is already finished. Yours will stay in Purmamarca until the whole process is complete and will be taken by another person that visits Maby some other time after you.

It is not a simple workshop, but the experience of sharing stories, knowledge and techniques of an art that has been alive from our cultural roots. In Maby’s own words: “you will take an indelible memory of my Purma; a space of living culture!”  

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Difficulty: intermediate. No previous experience required.
  • Duration: 2 hours.
  • Min. 2 pax required.
  • Indoor activity. No smoking allowed.
  • Includes materials, apron to protect your clothes, a piece made by someone else as a souvenir of this experience and a snack.
  • Recommendations: bring hands cream, comfortable clothes and shoes.

 

RAFTING ADVENTURE OVERLOOKING MT. FITZ ROY

A great rafting day is all you need to feel alive and full of energy. Experience El Chaltén and get up close to nature in the shadows of Mt. Fitz Roy while navigating hair-raising Class III rapids.

Live an adventure full of adrenaline and a different way to enjoy El Chaltén and its mountains view, rafting through the clear blue waters of the Río de las Vueltas.

This full day program starts picking you up from any hotel in El Calafate and arriving to El Chaltén village around 11 am. Here, you will have four hours free to walk around and get information about the different hikes and must-sees.

Then, we will meet again and go towards the operational base where expert guides will welcome and explain a bit about the rafting activity of the day. You will also be provided of all the required technical equipment: thermal and dry suits, helmet, life jacket and neoprene boots.

After making your way to the river’s shore, the guides will conduct a safety and technical briefing, and you will head out on some calm waters -ideal for practising your paddling techniques and learning how to manoeuvre running rapids. Be prepared to get wet and laugh a lot: the course is full of exhilarating twists and turns!

The first 4 km are on tranquil waters, ideal to familiarise yourself with the raft, the river and practice the necessary paddling techniques; but also to soak in the extraordinary views of Mt. Fitz Roy.

The next part is challenging as it becomes more turbulent and thrilling for an 8 km stretch of exciting Class III rapids that will be sure to test your new rafting skills.

The final stage is a gentle 2 km coast down the meandering river, perfect to catch your  breath and contemplate the breathtaking landscape once again.

After the adventure in the river, a lunch box is provided in the headquarters and the vehicle will be waiting for you to take you back to El Calafate, arriving around 8:30 pm.

Book this experience and take back home a unique perspective of this spectacular National Park and a memorable thrilling rafting adventure.

It is also possible to book this tour starting/ending in El Chaltén, with 2 daily departures (except Thursdays). This option does not include transfers and box lunch.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Difficulty: intermediate-moderate. No previous rafting experience required.
  • Fitness level: medium.
  • Duration: full day or half day starting in El Chaltén.
  • Duration of rafting tour: 2 hs.
  • Season: from November to March.
  • Operates every day except Thursdays.
  • Min. 3 pax required.
  • Max. capacity per raft: 8 pax.
  • Minimum age required: 18 years old. Minors must be accompanied by their parents or legal tutor.
  • Equipment included: waterproof dry suit, boots, life jackets, helmets.
  • Full day excursion includes transfer from and to El Calafate + 2 hs rafting + Lunch box (meat or vegetarian sandwich + fruit + beverage).

 

IBERÁ NATIONAL PARK WILDLIFE RESTORATION

Finally, the natural and cultural heritage of Iberá is protected for future generations in a tourist attraction of international level.

The Iberá Wetland is the second largest of South America, with an extension of 12.000 km2 that keeps great biodiversity and a rich cultural heritage.

After a long time, in December 2018, the National Congress in Argentina approved the creation of the Iberá National Park in Corrientes, aiming to expand and upgrade conservation protections for land within the Iberá Provincial Park. The result: a natural park of 712.800 hectares that hosts 4000 species of flora and fauna in its wetlands, pastures, spinal forests and small jungles.

This was one of the focuses of the Conservation Land Trust Argentina (CLT), created in 1992 by the late entrepreneur and ecologist Douglas Tompkins and his wife Kristine, for which the NGO donated the lands for.

The CLT is dedicated to the creation and/or expansion of national or provincial parks to ensure the perpetuity of their ecological and evolutionary processes with the strongest long-term protection guarantee possible. Also, it supports programs for the protection of wildlife, reintroduction of locally extinct species, land restoration and programs for local development, normally involved in ecotourism, sustainable farming and environmental education.

In the new national park there are ten reintroduction projects for local species already: the yaguareté, the deer of the pampas, the anteater, the tapir, the collared peccary, the great red macaw, the muitú, the giant otter, the aguará guazú and the chuña with red legs. According to CLT, it is “the largest project of reintroduction of locally extinct fauna of America, and the only one in Argentina of this magnitude”.

In 2007, the first release of anteaters was made, a species that had disappeared throughout the province. And in 2012, with the support of the provincial government and other foundations and companies, a breeding program for yaguaretés began on the island of San Alonso -for which the Yaguareté Reintroduction Center was created. In June 2018, the first two specimens were born after decades of absence of the species in the province.

The CLT offers the possibility of becoming a part of their projects of ecosystem restoration by discovering and experiencing the Iberá through any of the selected accommodations available: Rincón del Socorro Lodge, San Alonso Lodge, Iberá Lodge and Uguay Lodge.

Because of the unique character of each one, and the wide array of rates they offer, these options complement each other well and may also be combined during a single stay for a varied, colorful experience.

All the accommodation options offer not only very comfortable and warm lodging facilities surrounded by nature, but also meals and activities to discover the wetlands. Boat rides, horseback riding, guided hiking, kayaking…fauna sightings guaranteed!

One of the benefits of Iberá, is the possibility of visiting the wetlands for a few days. Three to four days of stay are enough to enjoy this natural environment and participate in the activities offered.

We invite you to visit this new attraction in Argentina, a unique place to be more in contact with nature than ever.

 

BUENOS AIRES ARTISTIC INTIMACY

We bring you a close encounter experience to enter into the porteña artistic life and discover the intimacy of a couple of trendy ateliers in Buenos Aires.

If you are a collector of experiences interested in art and curious about how the artistic mind works, this is the perfect one for you.

Argentina has always been an important beaux arts country with world famous artists like Marta Minujín, Xul Solar and Antonio Berni. In the recent years, art has gained even more relevance -specially in Buenos Aires- thanks to special events such as ArteBA and the Art Week every April, the refurbishment of classic museums and the development of new ones, and the growing interest of young people in street and urban art.

Specifically, the neighborhoods of Palermo, Villa Crespo and Chacarita, have become the center of Argentine contemporary art, pushed by the setup of several art galleries.

Walking through these lovely quarters with cobbled stoned passages, small low houses and green vegetation, we appreciate bright murals and vibrant street art made by fashionably controversial local street artists.

Around these blocks, we visit a two or three workshops of artists with different styles, to meet the people behind the talent. With a coffee cup or glass of wine in between, we get to chat and know these artists in their creative temples and learn all about their sources of inspiration, tools and techniques. We are able to see their work up close, feel its textures, and listen to the creators explain their point of views and concepts.

An enjoyable informal meeting with these art passionates gives us a chance to know them personally, have an idea of their creative processes and what they think and expect of the cultural and artistic scene in Argentina.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Duration: 3 hs
  • Regular excursion operates Wednesdays and Fridays at 2 pm.
  • Meeting point to be confirmed closer to the operation date.
  • Includes exclusive access to 2 or 3 artists’ ateliers plus a relaxed walk around the neighborhood, beverage and a snack.
  • Minimum age to participate 12 years. Toddlers up to 2 years old are invited along with their parents.
  • Private departures are available on request.