Holiday season in Argentina falls in the heart of summertime. The days are long and leisurely. Here in Patagonia, the sun is setting after 9:30pm, and we’re outside almost all of almost every day. Christmas will involve grilled meat and fish on the parrilla, some Malbec rosé and a good long swim in the lake.

Up and down the country right now, our guests are hiking on glaciers, tasting boutique Malbec, paddling on alpine lakes and catching rainbow trout in some of the world’s finest fly-fishing rivers. Sounds like paradise, don’t you think?

From our home in Patagonia to you, our friends, fellow travellers and colleagues, we send warm holiday greetings and wish you a 2010 full of adventure and discovery!

Argentina Top to Bottom, And Chile Too! To say we know our territory well would be an understatement. From Jujuy in the North to Cape Horn in the south, we’ve traveled up and down Argentina numerous times, and spent much of the past few months on the road in Chile combing, guiding, evaluating and exploring. That means we can help you with an extension just about anywhere you want to go. So don’t be shy to ask us to extend your trip a few days on the other side of the Andes; from Torres del Paine to Atacama, there’s a lot to see and do in Chile.

Laguna de los Tres or Laguna Torre: The two classic day hikes that lead right out of your cozy mountain inn in El Chaltén each take you to jaw-droppingly beautiful spots. One is a pristine alpine lake nestled beneath the granite monolith of Mt. FitzRoy. On a warm summer day, you can even go for a dip in Laguna de los Tres. The other trail leads to an ancient glacier and a turquoise silty-lake at the base of Cerro Torre’s granite spires. Which is your favourite? See a photo of both here.

Harvest season in Mendoza: Most of the hullabaloo of Vendimia, the annual Grape Harvest Festival, takes place the 2nd week of March. But the real grape picking is stretched from late February through April. Visiting the land of Malbec during these months promises ripe fruit, colourful vineyards and a sense of excitement and celebration. It’s a chance to really get your fingers into the wine, and it’s not too late to plan a few days in wine country in 2010! We are also offering 40% of regular prices for May 2010. Contact us for more details.

Heavenly Hot Springs: Chile has the majority of the natural thermal hot springs of the southern Andes. But a new thermal spa has just opened north of Bariloche that is tucked deep in the forest and next to a conical snow-capped volcano. A few days here may be the ultimate get-away. Contact us for more details.

BLOG: Keep up to date on our life in Patagonia at Christie’s blog, www.patagonialiving.com

WHERE IS PATAGONIA? The sometimes difficult-to-define region known as Patagonia is usually considered to begin at the 40th Parallel South at the bottom cone of South America. Patagonia is as much an idea as it is an officially designated region. On the Argentine side of the Andes Mountains, Patagonia is the land south of the Rio Colorado. See a map here!
The Patagonia Travel Company, a specialty travel agency operated by writer Christie Pashby and guide Max Schoffel, opens the door to an unspoiled world at the end of the Earth. With a lifetime of experience exploring the villages, hiking the trails, sampling the tastes and making friends throughout the rustic wilderness of Argentina's south, the Patagonia Travel Company Ltd. offers first-class, customized itineraries and expedition planning. Our trips are always personalized and tailor-made to our guests’ wide-ranging interests. Join us!