The Pampas- Visit The Pampas - Argentina

The Pampas Plains are amongst the richest areas in Argentina. They have the magic of wide-open spaces with an unlimited horizon, and they are the land of the gauchos, traditional Argentine country men. The estancias (ranches) in the Argentine Pampas are remarkable because of their varied architecture. They were built in widely differing styles such as colonial Hispanic-American, English Tudor, and classic French. Many of them have been transformed into tourist accommodations. Towards the Northwest of these plains are the Sierras of Córdoba. The highest peak, Mount Champaquí, towers some 2,790 meters above its surroundings. Its fertile valleys contrast with deserts and salt pans, a particularly appealing landscape. Towards the North, scattered chapels and “estancias” begin to appear. These constructions date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, and many of them are a Jesuit legacy. Does the term Pampa refer to the Indian tribe which used to live in these never-ending prairies, or did men make use of the name which identified the land? Opinions are divided between the two hypotheses, and there are others who state that Pampa means "flat land" in the Quéchua language. And thus, visitors will see the flat and level Pampas for hours or even days while looking at vast cultivated areas and sleepy towns which still preserve 19th century brick mansions. It is difficult to plan routes in the boundless Pampas. Therefore, in the first place, an imaginary route through the region’s history and landscape is suggested, to be then followed by more concrete proposals.

The Gaucho 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. The "Estancias" A visit to an estancia (ranch) or this town is a must if you want to get to know the Pampean environment. San Antonio de Areco is an important farming and livestock center which still preserves its stone-paved streets, mansions, and buildings from the 19th century, such as the pulpería "La Blanqueada" (Argentine small country store) in Parque Criollo, and the Gaucho Museum "Ricardo Güiraldes". Sierras of Córdoba Córdoba is the second most important city in the country and starting point for several routes to the Sierras of Córdoba - dotted with solitary colonial settlements -, and to tourist towns like Villa Carlos Paz, Cosquín, La Falda, La Cumbre, Capilla del Monte, Alta Gracia, Villa General Belgrano, La Cumbrecita, Santa Rosa de Calamuchita and Mina Clavero Mar del Plata The city of Mar del Plata, in the province of Buenos Aires, was founded more than a century ago. It is the most popular beach resort in Argentina and receives more than 3 million tourists every year. Pinamar Rugged scenery, sand dunes and forests are some of the ingredients that make this privileged seaside resort, only 400 km from Buenos Aires, into a mirage.