2008 saw several trips to the Far South. Above, a forest road in Southern Chile. In March.

Surf in Pichelemu, Chile. March.

Western Argentina highway – March.

Mexico – June.

El Popo Volcano – Mexico , June.

Pie de la Cuesta , Mexico – June.

Pie de la Cuesta , Mexico – June.

Jalapão, Tocantins,Brazil – August.

Jalapão, Tocantins,Brazil – August.

Rafting, Rio Novo ,Brazil – September.

Night forest fire,Jalapão, Tocantins,Brazil – September.

São Paulo,Brazil – September.

Andes crossing – Chile to Argentina – November.

Mendoza, Argentina – November.

Springtime – Mendoza, Argentina – November.

Cafayate, Argentina – November.

Salta, Argentina – November.

Buenos Aires, Argentina – November.

2009 plans include Asia and the Middle East.

After arriving in Buenos Aires yesterday afternoon, we went out to Club Pilará to watch some polo pickup matches, as the world’s top players prepared for the big matches in Palermo this Sunday.

Springtime – November – is the height of Polo Season here. Come January, many players move north to Palm Beach. Pilará is home to the Argentina Polo Association.

Aeroparque ( along with Santos Dumont in Rio de Janiero) is one of my favorite airports in the world. It is for flights from other parts of Argentina, as well as Uruguay. It is a graceful 1930’s style terminal on the banks of the Rio de La Plata.

Relaxing way to touch down.

The view from my hotel – Av.Liberatador. For all adventure activity in Argentina – VISIT THIS LINK.

Yesterday we drove 1480 kilometers from San Juan to Cafayate – a grueling trip through the cold,rainy desert. An Antarctic storm had blown up from the south, taking temperatures from near 100 down into the 40s. Now we are in Cafayate – a high altitude paradise in Northern Argentina.

Mother and Child.

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Yesterday we drove from Mendoza to San Juan, about 200 km North. The climate is much dryer – it only rains a couple of days a year here. Sometimes not for several years.

Andes snowmelt makes ideal growing conditions.

Not much time to post today. For Argentine Adventure Attractions CLICK HERE.

Yesterday we ventured into the wine country about 2 hours south of Mendoza.THe scenery was spectacular and the wine was excellent.

Destined for Christmas dinner tables in the USA.

In order to maintain composure during wine tasting , none must be swallowed.

A 2007 is poured to taste – one week before bottling.

Wine is not the only precious liquid produced in the Mendoza Region. In fact, oil is the number one revenue producer,especially with the high prices earlier this year.

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Yesterday morning’s flight from Santiago to Mendoza was only 45 minutes. A spectacular flight across the Andes, when the spring sunshine is just beginning to melt the deep snowpack – providing precious water for the rainless vineyards along the eastern side of the White Wall. Above you can see Cerro Aconcagua – over 22,000 feet high in thedistance.

Entering Argentina from Chile.

Mountains over 20,000 feet high.

Our route.

Mendoza Centro.

A late day glass at a vineyard.

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I am now in Mendoza , Argentina. Beautiful Spring Day, sun blazing out of the North , nice cool dry breezes. Off to some vineyards now. Great shots of the Andes to be posted later.

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On week from tomorrow night I will board a LAN flight down to Santiago, Chile. The next morning I will connect to fly across the Andes to Mendoza, arriving late Monday morning. Though Spring is well underway, the Andes will still be under a deep snowpack, so there should be some excellent photo opportunities. I will be traveling along the “White Wall” from Mendoza all the way up to the high desert city of Salta near the Bolivian border. Then back down toBuenos Aires for a couple of days before returning to Miami.

Adventure Travel in Latin America has just gotten 30 % cheaper in the last two weeks. Worldwide economic volatility has has caused flight to the US Dollar from many fearful investors in Latin America. As a result :

The Chilean Peso is now 622 to the Dollar. This compares to 390 earlier this year.

The Argentina Peso is pegged to the US Dollar, but has still slipped from 3 to 3.22 and probably will go lower.

The Mexican Peso was 10 to the Dollar a few weeks ago and is now 13.2 !

Most dramatically – the Brazilian Real was 1.5 to the dollar in August – and is now 2.2 – in effect – 50% more spending power for the US Dollar.

As a long dark and financially dreary winter takes hold in the North – now is the time to enjoy the incredible Nature, Sunshine and Adventure of Latin America. Book now on ArcticTropic Direct Booking.

At Finca La Anita wine is handcrafted the old fashioned way. The Bodega has an excellent ,limited selection of Malbecs.

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