Mountains, lakes and the hippy colony

Trip Start Jul 27, 2008
1
41
78
Trip End Mar 05, 2009


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow
Where I stayed
Hostel Patagonia
(El Bolson hotels)

Flag of Argentina  , Patagonia,
Wednesday, December 3, 2008

I have made my way slowly northwards and I am now in the area of lakes and towns with high peaks all around them. The scenery is magnificent and there are a lot of treks with refuges high up for people to spend the night. There is a trek to suit all types of people. Going from one region to another is an experience in itself as the terrain changes. I am really impressed by Argentina, it seems to have all types of scenery: forests, plains, beaches mountains, lakes. Hot, wet, dry, cold, snow.

In El Chalten was a peak Fitzroy which was almost vertical and it was not too long ago that it was conquered. It is still regarded as one of the toughest climbing tests. Few hours away is El Bolson. In the 1960īs hippies set up their own commune and now the people living there are descendants of those people. They look different from people in other parts of Argentine. From the moment I arrived here I felt that there was something different about the place. It declared itself a nuclear free zone although I donīt know what that means but they are very strong on organic stuff and one of the other specialties is that they make their own beer. Its unusual to see hops growing and I can say that the beer is not bad at all. Very strong!

Three times a week they hold a regional fair to which people from the surrounding areas bring their goods. Apart from arts and crafts they also sell homemade jams and cakes. There are people doing juggling acts and playing music.

The houses are chalet style and there are no high rise buildings. Its very very green here and there are wild lupins growing amongst the trees. The town is surrounded by snow capped mountains and the higher slopes are forested. The hostel I stayed at was on the edge of the town and I woke to the sound of birds singing each morning. Everyone in the place was affected by the Bolson spirit in the sense we just lazed around in hammocks chatting or reading books. No one was in a hurry to leave but in the end we all had to move on.

I donīt think that I will forget El Bolson in a hurry - its been a highlight because of its simplicity.

FOOTNOTE: I stayed at Refugio Patagonico tel 02944 483628  www.refugiopatagonico.com They speak English and have lots of information about what is going on in the town and aroundY      
Print this entry