Natural Beauty of Argentina

After traveling through Bolivia for the last couple months, I wasn't ready for the sticker shock that awaited me in Argentina. Argentina seems to be out of their financial crisis that saw the downfall of the peso in 2002. Prices for buses and hotels are about 50 to 100% higher than what the Lonely Planet book that is only 6months old states and the prices continue to surge. My budget of spending only $25/day is being blown out of the water.

Despite the exploding budget, I couldn't miss Argentina. Patagonia has been on my top 3 travel list for some time. Therefore, I started my Argentinian journey in the North, but fell ill with bronchitis/pneumonia. The hostel had to call the doctor to come straight to my hostel bed to treat me because I was bedridden for a few days and couldn't seem to get out. The doctor even had my antibiotics delivered directly to my bed. I like the Argentinian health care service. Since dorm life wasn't helping, I upgraded my accommodations to a hotel spa in the vineyards. I used up all my Starwood hotel points for one wonderful night of luxury. After a couple days lounging around the pool, being pampered and treated to a massage, I finally had the strength to enjoy Argentina.

Argentina is known for its natural beauty throughout the country. In the North, the landscape takes on a life of its own with the mountainside taking on familiar shapes with the iron, copper and sulfur in the sand adding an element of color. This particular region is referred to as the Quebrada de Cafayate.





I then headed south to Tafi del Valle, but unfortunately didn't wake up at the right hour to get off the bus and ended up 3 hrs south of where I was suppose to be. I then backtracked back up to Tafi, but somewhat regretted that. There's not a whole lot to do in Tafi, but enjoy the rolling green hills. So, I just chilled, watched the hills roll nowhere, and continued to recover from my illness.