(English -front page- text summery about patagoniasailing.com )
Welcome
aboard, If you have a passion for sailing and adventure, join us to sail in a
spectacular natural environment and one of the last natural frontiers of the
world, the "Nahuel Huapi" lake, at the Argentine Patagonia. Within a
massive protected National Park, the lake offers unpolluted waters, amazing
islands, harbors and coasts surrounded by mountains, teeming with wildlife and
natural beauty. Our personal service and exclusive programs has been designed to
give you the chance to feel all the magic of sailing in this wild place. If you
don't have any sailing experience, we have specially designed introduction
trips. We will enjoy playing together this sport, We will make it simple, safe
and fun !!
OPINIONS
AND COMMENTS OF PEOPLE WHO SAILED WITH US
Copy
from our logbook (guestbook / Bitacora)
"Thank
you very much for a beautiful day of sailing and conversation. We very much
enjoyed the day on the water admiring the Patagonia Scenery". “He is an
avid sailor and a good adventure travel planner. He moves around this lakes and
valleys with the same ease as you do in your own neighborhood making your trip
something very special" "Thanks for your hospitality, friendship and
fun. Thanks to God for this beautiful place ! We’ll be back""When I
met Ernesto, I found a very well informed professional, an open and easy going
character, a person who loves his work , this incredible region of the world and
a resourceful and positive travel
companion. Unforgettable three sailing days " "Well what can I say? What a day!! Today has
definitely been the best day I
have spent so for in Patagonia. My four fellow Sailors are fantastic company and
so were our lunch companions at Piedras Blancas. Ernesto is a great captain and
a wonderful host. the lake is beautiful , and our lunch under the trees was
fantastic. We end the day sailing off into
the sunset. What more could
anyone ask.
It
was perfect. Thank you Ernesto." "We have enjoyed our sail experience with you on the
most beautiful
Nahuel Huapi.
It
is like a a dream of perfect sailing" "This has been a
magnificent trip. Who could believe
that we would be sailing among
beautiful mountains on a pristine day with
fabulous winds. Not only did we sail, we sailed the boat while the
Captain (Ernesto) gave small bits
of advice on catching the wind and trimming the sail. We also learned more about
the lake, the islands, the fauna and Argentina with the great knowledge of our
captain" "What a great trip! Beautifull water and we only touch ground
once!. We will be back. Many thanks""I enjoyed the beauty of unspoiled
nature, the clarity of the sky and
water and the lapping sound of the lake against the boat. Your congenial
personality enhanced the trip but it was special to share the experience con mi
amore". "Thanks you very much for a beautiful day of sailing and
conversation. We very much enjoyed the day on the water admiring the Patagonia
scenery". "Our trip to Bahia Chabol was very beautiful. Ann set a fast
peace time at 8 knots!. A new record for Bahia Manzano. Our driver Ernest
provided the charm and good looks. We have a great time! ". A wonderful
sailing and beautiful afternoon, best always, "Thanks you for taking us
sailing on the lake. It was a very relaxing and fun time.
Maybe
some day you can come to sail with us in SF"."Thanks for the sailing
lessons". "Thanks for a fantastic experience!. Such a perfect day for
some fun on the lake. "Thank you for the excellent sailing on this
beautiful afternoon.
We
love seeing the mountains, the cliffs, the beautiful bays. Yours,"
"Great sailing trip. Had lots of fun and saw many beautiful sights on the
lake. It was also good to learn a few tips on sailing. Will definitely do
sailing with you again when I return to Villa La Angostura". "This was
a lot of fun to come and see Villa La Angostura. A little bit of sailing and a
lot of sunshine, beautiful scenery and interesting conversation. We learned a
lot and had a fabulors time with you. Thank you very much" "Thank you
very much for an enjoyable evening. The conversation was entertaining and the
sailing good fun" "Great wind (Force 5 or so). Great fun. Great host.
I´d do it again in a second". B,P, Lake George, USA "Thank you. Great
end to our trip to the area. Sailing to the Arrayanes was a peaceful evening to
relax an the last few week. Good luck on your future adventure". M., USA.
"Many thanks for allowing me my first sailing experience. After several
weeks of hectic work it was a pleasure to spend time on your boat". K., UK
"This was such a nice trip. The guide was great, the colors were great, the
views were awesome. Thank you for this experience. The 5 young girls that aren't
80-90". D.,J., J., J., H.,
USA.
For
most of us, a 21' ft. sailing boat represents the real essence of sailing. It's
how we learned the basics and how we sharpen our skills. And its still the most
responsive (and in many ways, the most fun) kind of sailing. "Because the
Patagonian strong winds change their direction very often, we need to make fast
and easy movement. Therefore we prefer middle sizes sailboats, ideal to enjoy
fast sailing trips with both, experienced and no experienced crew". Our
fleet for one/two/three days sailing trips includes the sailboat -GARUFA- The
GARUFA it's a "Limbo21", a famous Andrew Stewart 21ft. design. Its
fast, stable and safe, designed for competition, it delivers exhilarating
performance, yet will
comfortably accommodate up to six people. Sophisticated and
easy to sail.
A
terrific boat for both exploring and performance sailing. It equipment include:
8
p. Eurovinil LIFERAFT(2003), VHF, GPS (global satellite position),
sonar,
an Envirude outboard, mylar, kevlar and dacron sails, etc. The -GARUFA- its just
the beginning of big scale of adventure and fun !!
THE
PATAGONIA
Few
regions in the world can match Patagonia's character...
Antarctica,
forgotten corners of Himalayas, some places in Alaska,...
Africa
retains some of its mystical aura... but Patagonia remains in a class of its
own. This magical land offers travelers a chance to
see the world as it was thousands of years ago. From the Andes on the west,
across the dessert-like central steppe to the explosive encounter with the South
Atlantic, Patagonia inhabit land is as big as many countries in Europe.
Magnificent glaciers, ancient forests, a rich and unspoiled wildlife,
uncontaminated blue lakes and rivers, full of wild trout, and breathtaking
scenery. All these without the invading of mass tourism.
THE
NAHUEL HUAPI LAKE
In
the north west area of the Patagonia, the Nahuel Huapi National
Park is the land of beautiful lakes, mountains and woods.
This
region hosted the 1999 EcoChallenge - DiscoveryChannel competition.
In
this spectacular natioal park you will find it most famous and it biggest lake,
THE NAHUEL HUAPI.
The
lake constitute the heart of the National Park and has for a long time been
well-know for the beauty of it untouched mountain environment, plenty harbors,
islands and beaches, most of them only accesible by boat. Sport enthusiasts and
sailing adventure lovers, will find here a perfect setting for a unique
experience.
So...
sail away from it safe harbors and catch the winds in your sail !!!
Come
with us to sail and explore this magical place.
From
December till April we will depart from -
Villa La Angostura - village, Patagonia Argentina, to enjoy sailing and
discovering some of the lake secrets.
VILLA
LA ANGOSTURA
It
is a Mountain Village foundated in 1932.
It
is locate at the NW of the Patagonia Argentina. It is well-know for it modern
hotels (with spectacular views to mountains and lakes), great restaurants,
outdoors sport activities, night life and the hospitality of it people.
Patagonia
Sailing was born in 2002.
It
has been the first LEGAL sailboat charter firm in Argentina. We set the standar
of the sector. We are 100% dedicated to make sailing charter trips in Argentina
Because
we are a small Firm, we depend on mouth to mouth referral, so there is no place
for improvisation or less than ideal services.
"What
we offer is a high quality experience, with personal service, at a reasonable
price".
We
have been approved by the Argentinean Minstry of Transportation to make our
saling trips according with diferent international regulations about:
.
International Standard of Training
.
International Security Boat Equipment and Maintaining
Some
of our INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS:
-
STCW 95 Approved:
Certificate
under the Provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training
Certification and Watch Keeping for seafarers, 1978, as amended in 1995 / OMI
.
“Elementary First Aid”.
.
“Personal Survival Techniques”.
.
“Crow management, Passenger Safety”.
.
“Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities”.
.
“Personnel Training in Fire Prevention and Fighting”.
-
"Professional Merchant Patron Boat".
-
"Professional Merchant Mariner, Special Area"
-
"Patron for Sport Sailing / Motor Boat"
-
"Timonel for Sport Sailing / Motor Boat"
-
Prefectura Naval Arg.: Exp.H.21021/CB/2002
-
Nahuel Huapi National Park:Exp.870/2002 - Res.68/2002 - Res.473/2005 -
Res.0934/21Dic.2006
THE
ITINERARIES
We
will take you and a small group, to sail in an spectacular natural environment
and to be part of a sailing experience full of adventure and love for this wild
place. A maximum number of 4-5 travelers gives us the chance to work as a team
yet keeping the necessary freedom of movement (a must in order to enjoy this
sport safely). Our itineraries are adapted according with your
experience, preference and the weather conditions: half
/ All Day Trips are both good options for
most
of the people. We can organize sailing trips to different
destinations
at the lake: . Las Balsas, Cumelen & Manzano Harbors,
.
The Arrayanes Wood,
.
Piedras Blancas (white stone), Victoria Island,
.
etc.
At
the afternoon we will sail back to a Port at Villa La Angostura city, so you can
spend the night at your hotel there. Don't forget to bring your binoculars!.
- Sailing
experience it is not required - We will sail all around Victoria Island. An
amazing experiences feeling all the Patagonia.
We
only take a maximum number of up to 3 travelers / sailors.
More
than 1 year of sailing experience is required- If you choose to travel with us,
we know we will receive a customer and later,
we
will say goodbye to a new friend –
HALF-DAY
SAILING TRIP Sailing trips from 2 to 6 hours throw different places of the
Quetrihue peninsula. No experience is required You will have the posiblitiy of
sailing in Kraf bay (Las Balsas bay) Bustillo
bay (Cumelen bay) Manzano bay Visit
the ARRAYANES WOOD A maximum number of 4-5 sailors gives us the chance to work
as a team yet keeping the necessary freedom of movement
(a
must in order to enjoy this sport safely).
I.
ONE-day Sailing Trip - "Piedras Blancas", on VICTORIA ISLAND, (9-10 hs):
A
maximum number of 4 travelers gives us the chance to work as a team yet keeping
the necessary freedom of movement (a must in order to enjoy this sport safely).
No experience is required. We will
sail toward the SE; through the “Quetrihue Peninsula” and “Bustillo”,
“Kraft” and “Manzano” bays. After crossing
“La Guardias” islands we will continues our navigation towards one of
the most inhospitable places of the lake. We will sail down alongside the east
cost of “Victoria Island”. Victoria Island is a peak covered by woods, some
20 kilometres in length, in the middle of the lake. It has been part of the
national park since 1935. Red and fallow deer’s teem the island and are
frequently spotted along it coast from the sailboat).
Piedras
Blancas (white stone) it's a natural port at Victoria Island. It installation
include a pier, a camping area, toilets, etc. We will stay there for 2 hours,
having lunch (an Argentinean traditional barbecue) allowing enjoying the
landscape and short walks. Then we will begin our return sailing trip to Villa
La Angostura. If passengers prefer, we can also visit the Arrayanes wood, in
south of quetrihue peninsula (Arrayanes National Park).
II.
TWO-days Sailing Trip - "NORTH BAYS of the NAHUEL HUAPI":
A
maximum number of 3 travelers gives us the chance to work as a team yet keeping
the necessary freedom of movement (a must in order to enjoy this sport safely).
No experience is required. We will
sail toward the SE; thought the east coast of “Quetrihue Peninsula” and “Bustillo”,
“Kraft” and “Manzano” bays. After crossing
“La Guardias” Islands we will continues our navigation towards one of
the most inhospitable places of the lake. We will sail toward the west coast of
“Quetrihue Peninsula” and visit the cost of the Intangible Area of the
Nahuel Huapi National Park and “Brazo Machete”, “Brazo Tristeza” and
“Brazo Ultima Esperanza” bays, at the north of the lake.
We will stay in one of this 3 bays,having lunch, enjoying the landscape
and short walks. In the afternoon
we will sail to a port at the north of Villa La Angostura town so you can spend
the night at your hotel there. A taxi will transfer Sailors from this port to their hotel. During the second day, we will sail though
the rest of the bays at the north region of the lake. Then we will sail back to
Villa La Angostura If passengers prefer, we can also visit the Arrayanes wood,
in south of quetrihue peninsula (Arrayanes National Park).
If
passengers prefer, we can also visit the Arrayanes wood, in south of quetrihue
peninsula (Arrayanes National Park). First day: You will aboard the sailboat at
-La Mansa- port at Villa La Angostura city. We will sail toward the SE; through
the “Quetrihue Peninsula” and “Bustillo”, “Kraft” and “Manzano”
bays. After crossing “La Guardias”
islands, we will continues our navigation towards one of the most inhospitable
places of the lake. We will sail down alongside the west cost of “Victoria
Island”.
With good weather conditions, 6 hours sailing would be enough
to reach the first safe port: ”Puerto Anchorena”. This stop will allow us to
make many short walks (ex. visit a cave paintings) and enjoy beautiful
landscapes. It installation include a pier, a restaurant, toilets, etc. During
the second day, we will sail toward the south along the cost of Victoria
Island to meet “Piedras Blancas” port. We will first visit some natural
ports, small islands and discover different landscape surrounded by mountains,
untouched forest and unpolluted waters. We will spend the night at “Piedras
Blancas” port.
On
the third day, we will begin our return trip, arriving to Villa La Angostura
port at the afternoon.
Snacks,
lunch and diners with no alcoholic drinks are included during the entire trip.
Passengers
can spend the two nights on board (they should bring or rent a sleeping bag) or
they can make reservations and spend the nights at the “Hostería Isla
Victoria” (**** hotel). Victoria Island is a peak covered by woods, some 20
kilometers in length, in the middle of the lake. It has been part of the
national park since 1935. Red and fallow deers teem the island and are
frequently spotted along it coast from the sailboat).
WHEN
TO TRAVEL
Remember
that in the southern hemisphere seasons are the opposite to those in the
northern hemisphere. In general, the summer is the best time to visit Patagonia
and the Southern Andes because of the mild temperatures and long days.
HOW
LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO ARGENTINA
To
Buenos Aires on a non-stop flight:
From
Miami:
8 hours
From New York:
9 hours
From Los Angeles: 12
hours
HOW
DO I GET AROUND ARGENTINA ONCE I'M THERE
Argentina
is the eight largest country on earth, fourth largest in the Western Hemisphere
and second largest in South America. Travel from Buenos Aires to major points is
by air. From certain points within Argentina overland travel may be the only way
to get to the desired destination. There is a Visit Argentina Air pass available
- it requires staying on the same carrier for all flights, does not allow
back-tracking, has a maximum length of 30 days and must be purchased outside of
Argentina. Rates are dependent upon the number of flight coupons (one per
segment) and the time of the year. All flights must be confirmed - no open dates
or flights allowed. Once the Air Pass is issued, there are penalties for changes
and-or cancellations.
WHAT
OTHER COUNTRIES CAN I VISIT AT THE SAME TIME?
Argentina
is generally visited one of four ways:
A-
As a single destination: Going to Buenos Aires and then visiting other
destinations in Argentina
B-
As a part of an east coast, multin-country itinerary.
C-
As a part of a "southern cone" or Patagonia trip combined with Chile.
D-
As a stop-over on Around South America multi-country program.
Buenos
Aires and Iguazu Falls are definite, Villa La Angostura & Bariloche in
conjunction with the Lake District Crossing is often included.
PAYMENT
METHODS
Although
US Dollars are generally taken everywhere, foreign currencies can be exchanged
in banks and authorized bureaus
OPENING
HOURS
Banks
and Exchange Bureaus: Mondays to Fridays from 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.
Business
Offices: generally from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 2.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.
Stores:
in the big cities from 9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m., although in the outskirts and the
provinces they generally close at midday. Saturdays, from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
Cafés,
cake shops and pizzerias: open most of the time except between 2.00 and 6.00
a.m.
Restaurants:
lunch is served as from 12.30 p.m. and dinner as from 8.30 hours. Fast-food
menus are served in many restaurants at all times.
TIPS
10%
of the amount of the check is usually left in most service like cafeterias and
restaurants. Doormen, porters, and ushers in cinemas and theatres are also
generally tipped.
TELEPHONE
Pay
phones work with cards that may be purchased in kiosks and telephone
companies’ offices, or with legal tender coins. There are also stores with pay
phones (open 24 hours a day) where you can pay in cash.
Calling
to Argentina from abroad, dial the country code (54) and then the area code of
the place you want to call. For domestic calls, dial 0 before the area code. For
international calls, dial 00, the country code and city code.
Note
that tariffs are reduced from 10.00 p.m. to 8.00 a.m.
CLOTHING
Casual
clothing is the normal rule both, on the boat as well as in towns, even in some
of the better restaurants.
ABOUT
THE SAILING TRIP
SAILING
EXPERIENCE
No
experience is required for most of our sailing trip (see Itineraries). However
that dosent mean that our saling trip will be
easy. We will adapt each moment of our sailing trip according with your
feedback, in order to enjoy together playing this sport or just enjoing the
sailing experienced.
Just
come to relax and enjoy sailing in a fantastic place.
CLOTHING
Even
during the day it could be hot, afternoons and nights are usually cold on board.
CAMERA,
VIDEO EQUIPMENT AND OTHER ITEMS WHILE SAILING
Bring
twice the amount of film than you think you could possibly use. You'll really
kick yourself if you run out!. 400 ASA film allows you to shoot in the many
different light conditions, but the prints will be grainier if you enlarge the
pictures. If you are more into photography, you may want to use film in the
range of ASA 64 (slides) or ASA 100 (prints) for sunny days to ASA 200 for
overcast days. If you use a camera with interchangeable lenses, bring at least
one wide-angle lens (between 24mm and 50mm) and one telephoto. An 80-200mm zoom
is the most versatile. A 300mm lens can be very useful for wildlife, if you have
a steady hand.
Bring
CD's (if you have a favorite). Don't forget sunscreen!. Mosquitoes are not a
problem on board.
Today's
weather in Patagonia (Villa La Angostura town)
info@patagoniasailing.com.ar