TRAVELLIVE MAGAZINE Travellive 03-2016 | Page 93

TRANQUILITY AT THE END OF THE WORLD NOTE ü TIME: November to March or April is the best time to travel to Patagonia. ü ITINERARY: You can fly from either Hanoi or HCMC to Argentina with Vietnam Airlines, United Airlines, Bangkok Airways, or Thai Airways. There are no direct routes from Vietnam to Chile. You can fly to Santiago, Chile with Qantas Airline from Sydney (Australia) . In Chile, Navimag (www.navimag.com) is the most popular company for operating ferries from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales, Chile, near Torres del Paine. ü CURRENCY: 1USD ~ 14.79 peso (Argentina) ~ 708.79 Peso (Chile) ü NOTES: ü Patagonia is the most expensive place in Argentina. In big cities, a high-class hotel room costs about USD180 for a couple. In provinces, you can stay at a good hotel for USD90/room/couple and USD20-50 for extra services. Known as “the end of the world”, Patagonia is 1,000km away from the South Pole. Interestingly, this land is shared between two countries, Chile and Argentina. There are so many marvelous things to experience on your journey, such as enjoying lunch in the Anes along a massive stone mountain or relaxing by the icebergs on Perito Moreno - a gem of Glacier National Park. It’s also a little known fact that Patagonia is one of the best places on earth for whale watching. Moreover, when you reach “the end of the world”, don’t forget to visit Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, or stop by the marble cave on the chrystal cl ear Carrera Lake on the border of Chile and Argentina. Another location, Torres del Paine National Park with its strange scenery has been described as a gate leading into another world. You can walk, sail, ride horses, and go camping to explore all the diverse beauty that Torres del Paine has to offer. Interested in Patagonia cuisine? You can visit Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina to taste traditional dishes such as pasta, grilled lamb, and corn cakes. TRAVELLIVE 93