It’s worth traveling to the end of the world to enjoy Palafito Cucao Hostel.

An architectural dream, this hostel is 300m away from the Parque Nacional Chiloé entrance. I enjoyed the hiking there.

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When you hear Argentinians speak, it sounds like Italian.

Immigrants from Italy have had a big influence on the culture.

In the outdoor sports mecca of Bariloche you are just as likely to hear ciao as adios, for example.

Some final photos.

Pretty much everyone likes this little mountain town. I spent a week in and around.

It’s not hard to see why the hippies started flocking to El Bolsón back in the ’70s. It’s a mellow little village for most of the year, nestled in between two mountain ranges. When summer comes, it packs out with Argentine tourists who drop big wads of cash and disappear quietly to whence they came. … 

What’s indisputable is that just out of town are some excellent, easily accessible hikes and mountain-bike rides that take in some of the country’s most gorgeous landscapes.

The town welcomes backpackers, who find themselves stuffing their bellies with natural and vegetarian foods, as well the excellent beer, sweets, jams and honey made from the local harvest.

Lonely Planet

There are plenty of important things El Bolsón should be working towards … but instead they have been banning nuclear weapons and building a pretty bridge to nowhere.

I spent a week hiking out of one of the best hostels in the country – La Casona de Odile.

Tranquil and green.

This is as far south as I’ll get on this trip. The summit of Piltriquitrón.

I did the 1800m ascent over 2 days.

This is the 42nd parallel. About as far south as the Oregon / California border is north.

Still. It’s March. You can feel summer ending in the Patagonian lake district.

Staying at La Casona de Odile Hostel, one of the best in the nation.

El Bolsón is where people flee when tired of crowded Bariloche. In fact, Bolsón is a miniature version with a Hippie vibe. I like it much better.

I arrived on one of their colourful market days.

I can walk from my hostel to some of the best hiking.

Rather than fly I opted for the scenic 8 hour bus ride . Booking through BusBud.com I was able to reserve one of the top front seats.

Bus service in Chile and Argentina is fantastic.

Unfortunately I fell asleep during some sections of the journey.

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From Mendoza I did the second half two more times as my local bus to Aconcagua took the same highway. Well worth doing if you get the chance.