When I arrived in the city of Esquel I had nothing exactly planned, but I knew that the options for walks would not be long in coming. In my opinion, it always ends up being best to ask the locals for recommendations, because they know more than any internet forum. Luckily, the owners of the hostel where I worked this autumn were very knowledgeable about the city, so they recommended a visit to La Zeta Lagoon as my first trip. I had the option of taking a taxi, but as it was close by, I thought it would be more fun to walk there .

From where the flat where I lived with my roommates was located, it was about 6 km to the lagoon. This distance may sound like a lot, but it is fun if you go with someone else. That day I was able to organise with guests from the hostel to go together to the lagoon, so the journey to the lagoon was not so tiring. The path was very easy, all on the vehicle path, so it was impossible to get lost .

The La Zeta Lagoon area is a nature reserve with a few trails around it. Unless there is usually a special event, we were told that this area is always quiet and that was the case when we were there. The day we were there was beautiful: the weather was inviting to be outside so we spread out our day to do everything we wanted to do. This included a little rest on the shores of the lagoon, but also stretching our legs a bit more to complete some of the trails in the area .

The shore of the lagoon seemed to me a good place to rest and spend the afternoon. These waters did not look very deep, but it is said that some people still go there to cool off in the summer. You might think that in the south of Argentina it is always cold, but in places like Esquel, the summers are very hot and the winters are snowy. This autumn we had an in-between climate, with just the right temperature to be outside enjoying the day without suffering from either extreme .

The postcard of Esquel from the Laguna La Zeta is one of the most beautiful you can have of this place. I recommend visiting this place around sunset, when the sun starts to go down and form a mirror on the water. The combination of mountains and lagoon with some green around is beautiful, creating a unique landscape all day long. I quite enjoyed visiting this place, it was so peaceful and quiet that it didn't even seem to be that close to the city .

Of course, if we had taken a taxi the journey would only have taken about 20 minutes, but I think walking also had its magic. The part I like the most about volunteering in different hostels in my country is the social part, like that day when we had the opportunity to share an extra moment with the guests. Visiting Laguna La Zeta for the first time was great, and I liked it so much that I took the trouble to go a few more times to spend my free afternoons. A place as beautiful and peaceful as this deserves to be visited several times, and that's exactly what I did ❤️.

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Northern San Juan is a paradise for adventure sports lovers — especially rafting on the Jáchal River and windsurfing at Cuesta del Viento Dam. Here’s a focused guide with details and visuals:

Rafting on the Jáchal River

• Experience: Strong rapids and turquoise waters make it one of Argentina’s best rafting spots.

• Difficulty: Medium to high, ideal for thrill‑seekers.

• Best season: October to March, when water levels are optimal.

• Extra: Combine rafting with fishing or camping along the riverbanks.

Windsurfing at Cuesta del Viento Dam

• Experience: Famous worldwide for consistent strong winds, perfect for windsurfing and kitesurfing.

• Difficulty: Suitable for both beginners (with lessons) and experts.

• Best season: Year‑round, but summer offers warmer water.

• Extra: The dam’s desert‑mountain backdrop creates stunning scenery while you sail.

️ Adventure Base: San José de Jáchal

• Role: The main town to organize excursions.

• Activities nearby: Trekking in Huaco Valley, horseback riding, and cultural tours.

• Atmosphere: A mix of colonial heritage and modern adventure tourism.

The Malvinas Islands (Falklands) host a unique ecosystem shaped by their cold, windy climate and isolation. The fauna is dominated by marine mammals and seabirds, while the flora consists mainly of grasses, shrubs, and peat bog vegetation, with no native trees.

Flora of the Malvinas Islands

• Grasslands and Shrubs: The islands are largely covered by tussac grass (Festuca flabellata), which can grow up to 2 meters tall and provides shelter for birds and sea lions.

• Peat Bogs: Extensive peatlands support mosses and small herbaceous plants.

• Heathlands: Areas with dwarf shrubs and hardy plants adapted to poor soils and strong winds.

• Endemic Plants: Species such as Malvinas Daisy (Perezia recurvata) and Malvinas Violet (Viola maculata) are unique to the islands.

• Absence of Native Trees: No native arboreal vegetation exists today, though fossil records show ancient cypress and araucaria forests.

Fauna of the Malvinas Islands

Marine Mammals

• Seals and Sea Lions: Southern sea lions, elephant seals, and fur seals are common along the coasts.

• Cetaceans: Orcas, dolphins, and several whale species migrate through surrounding waters.

Birds

• Penguins: Five species breed here: King, Gentoo, Rockhopper, Macaroni, and Magellanic penguins.

• Seabirds: Albatrosses, petrels, cormorants, and skuas thrive in the nutrient-rich waters.

• Land Birds: The Falkland steamer duck (flightless), upland goose, and the endemic Cobb’s wren are notable.

Invertebrates

• Endemic Beetles: Several species of ground beetles and weevils are unique to the islands, such as Malvinius compressiventris.

Conservation Notes

• Fragile Ecosystem: The harsh climate limits biodiversity, making species highly specialized and vulnerable.

• Threats: Introduced species (rats, cats) have impacted native bird populations.

• Protection Efforts: Conservation programs focus on seabird colonies and restoring tussac grass habitats.

Quick Comparison Table

Category
Key Species/Features
Notes

Flora
Tussac grass, peat bog mosses, endemic daisies
No native trees; vegetation adapted to wind/cold

Marine Mammals
Sea lions, elephant seals, dolphins, whales
Coastal and migratory presence

Birds
Penguins (5 species), albatrosses, Cobb’s wren
Major global seabird colonies

Invertebrates
Endemic beetles, weevils
High endemism despite low diversity

In short: the Malvinas Islands are a haven for seabirds and marine mammals, with vegetation dominated by tussac grass and peat bogs. Their isolation has fostered unique endemic species, but conservation is crucial to protect this fragile ecosystem.

Before going on a trip to the province of San Juan, I only had one trip in mind that I had to do and that was to go visit the famous "Valley of the Moon". Once I was there I discovered that the correct name of this place is Parque Ischigualasto and that there were many more surprises there than just the few photos that were shown on the internet. Discovering all these beautiful landscapes with my own eyes was one of the best things I did this year, and after all the surprises I saw along the way, I was finally in front of the typical postcard of this place ❤️.

My hostel co-worker and I traveled almost four hours to get from the city center to the park. This trip was a little tiring, but we still knew it was worth it when we were finally there. This place, made up of more than 60 thousand hectares of clay terrain, houses the most beautiful landscapes of this province. What I liked the most is that these were unique for me since I had never seen anything like this in any other province ❤️.

In total, the visit to this park took us about 4 hours. In it we traveled more than 40 km of road aboard a public bus provided by the park itself. On the walk we stopped to see five places of interest, such as the Painted Valley, the Bocce Field, the Dr William Sill Site Museum and the El Submarino geoforomas. Each one of them had its special touch, and at the end of the path it was time to discover the famous mushroom ❤️.

This geoform is the typical postcard of this park, and is even the logo of the park itself. I think its popularity is due to the fact that it is the one closest to the large reddish wall in the background, which serves as the natural boundary between the provinces of La Rioja and San Juan. The colors of both materials create a great contrast and its popularity is well deserved ❤️.

The funniest anecdote from this day is that it took me quite a while to get the ticket to visit this place. Due to failures in the ticket sales system, I had to go to the bus station four times until I finally got my seat. This walk was scheduled for a Sunday, and on Saturday night, at the last minute, my partner decided to go with me. His idea was to approach the bus at departure time to ask if they would sell him a ticket at that moment, and he was so lucky that they did. It didn't cost him anything to get a place, and then he laughed at me and my whole ordeal .

I quite liked having my friend's company that day. There we took the opportunity to talk about my desire to travel alone for a long time and about all the times I imagined myself in front of that figure, achieving my fiancé. The truth is that this trip encouraged me to travel alone more often, because after all, friends are made along the way ❤️.

This was the last stop of our walk and to return to the park gate, we did so alongside the large orange wall that we were seeing during the afternoon. This large wall, about 30 meters high, extended the entire length of the park and contrasted very well with all the pale landscapes we had been seeing ❤️.

From the bus in which we were traveling we were lucky enough to come across some guanacos in their natural habitat. In addition to these cute animals, you can also see small foxes, condors, small rodents and even pumas in this park. This place is really sprawling, so I imagine thousands of families live around here .

This walk ended with a short stop at the dinosaur museum at the entrance, where some of the specimens found here were on display. This entire place is oriented towards these prehistoric animals, since to this day studies are carried out on the findings that were found here. The truth is that it is highly recommended to visit this place, because you will definitely learn something new ❤️.

Visiting Ischigualasto Provincial Park was something very beautiful and memorable for my partner and me. Even though the four-hour return trip left us more than tired (we arrived at the hostel straight to sleep), going there was worth it. While I was in that place I thought about how lucky I am to be able to achieve what I set out to do, and to delight my eyes with the landscapes I want to see. I hope that you also liked it as much as I did and that if you ever visit Argentina, don't hesitate to take a getaway to San Juan ❤️.

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