Argentine Patagonia

During my semester in Argentina, I had the opportunity to visit two different parts of Argentina's Patagonia region, which it shares with its neighbor Chile.

I visited San Carlos de Bariloche in the province of Río Negro in April and Ushuaia in the province of Tierra del Fuego in May. It was incredible to be immersed in these landscapes during autumn because I could see them changing from day to day as the weather got colder.

The Best Views in Bariloche: Cerro Campanario and Cerro Llao Llao

A panoramic view of a large lake surrounded by lush green mountains under a dramatic cloudy sky, with sunlight reflecting on the water.

In San Carlos de Bariloche (called Bariloche for short), there is a chairlift that you can ride up to the top of Cerro Campanario, a mountain just outside of town with amazing lake views from the summit. When I was there, it was very windy and cold, but I stayed at the top for a long time because it was almost impossible to walk away from the views of the mountains and lakes.

I also hiked up a mountain a little farther away from the center of town called Cerro Llao Llao. It offered more amazing views and a fun challenge.

A scenic aerial view of a mountain lake surrounded by dense forests under a cloudy sky.

In Town and on the Road in Bariloche: Ruta de Siete Lagos

On one of the days in Bariloche, I rented a car with some friends to drive the famous "Ruta de Siete Lagos" or "Route of Seven Lakes" along Argentina's iconic Highway 40, which runs from the far south to the north of the country.

A blue road sign covered in stickers, marking the end of the scenic "Ruta de los Siete Lagos" (Route of the Seven Lakes) on National Route 40 in Patagonia, Argentina, under a partly cloudy sky with mountains and green hills in the background.

A panoramic view of a large blue lake surrounded by dense green forests and snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky.

A vibrant sunset scene over a lake and snow-capped mountains, framed by golden-lit evergreen trees and autumn foliage.

We started early in the morning to see the sunrise over Bariloche and drove all the way to San Martín de Los Andes, the town at the end of the scenic route. We pulled over many times to see different lake views.

Ushuaia

Ushuaia is the capital of the Tierra del Fuego province, and it sits right along the Beagle Channel, making it an amazing place for hiking and wildlife viewing.

One day in Ushuaia, I rented a kayak and paddled down the Beagle Channel to reach an island with penguins! It was an amazing (and really freezing) experience.

A yellow kayak on calm water under a cloudy sky with distant land.

One of the most memorable experiences from my time in Ushuaia was watching the sunrise (around 10 a.m.!) each morning over the water.

A young woman with brown hair smiles at the camera, wearing a gray puffer jacket, with her hair blowing in the wind. She stands on a rocky cliff overlooking dramatic green cliffs under a cloudy sky.