Top Five South American Outdoor Activities

Being an outdoor enthusiast currently living in South America, I felt it would be useful to share a few insights and opinions as to the best outdoor activities available in this expansive continent.  With an abundance of open countryside, awe-inspiring landscapes, dry deserts, towering mountains, raging rivers, and windy beaches, this land has a bit of everything to offer the ardent outdoorsman.

The following list of five adventurous pastimes (grouped in pairs of associated activities) are comprised of:

1) Surfing/Kite boarding/Windsurfing

2) Hunting/Fishing

3) Skiing/Snowboarding

4) Trekking/Hiking/Climbing and

5) Kayaking/Rafting.

The options, listed in no particular order, were created as a combination of my experience while travelling in these countries as well as references from friends and contacts that are more knowledgeable on the subject at hand.  I, of course welcome any input, feedback, suggestions, and differing opinions of any readers as the goal is to help guide travelers venturing to this area of the Southern Hemisphere with ambitions for open-air adventure.

1)     Surfing/Kite boarding/Windsurfing – With an abundance of coastline along the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, numerous South American countries have the great combination of sun, sand, and most importantly, waves and wind to make any surf, kite board, or windsurfing aficionado feel in heaven.  Even if you are a beginner, preferring to tackle smaller waves rather than testing fate in aggressive waters (I still fall in the first category), plenty of options are available for you to choose from as well as instructional camps that can help you polish your technique.

Take for instance Nexus Surf, a first class establishment located in Florianopolis Brasil.  Here Hans Keeling’s team will not only put you on the best beaches and waves this breathtaking island has to offer, but will also assist you in savoring all the cultural experiences available.   As the largest country in South America, Brasil has other popular destination such as Maresias, Ubatuba, Rio de Janeiro, Saquarema and not to be left out, Fernando de Noronha.   In addition, countries such as Colombia (Nuqui) Chile, Peru and Argentina (Mar del Plata – primarily windsurfing) have loads of options, all of which offer entertaining yet diverse cultural experiences as an added bonus.

2)     Hunting/Fishing – With vast amounts of open land and much of the population concentrated in its urban areas, South America contains a diverse and plentiful animal population and thus has become one of the top destinations for hunting and fishing fanatics.   Visitors from all over the world flock to this side of the Southern Hemisphere to experience some of the most virgin fields and streams that remain on the planet; virtually all leaving gratified by not only the quality of the hunting or fishing, but also the level of excellence provided by the lodge/outfitter.  Argentina, with its diverse countryside has become the primary destination for outdoor adventurers wanting to go after a variety of game.

Dove hunting has gained immense popularity as hunters can shoot until their shoulders go numb due to the enormous quantity of the species that plague the farmers of the pampa region.  Lodges such as Los Chanares located in the Cordoba province provide an unforgettable experience combining five star accommodations with unsurpassable hunting.  Duck and partridge hunting are also a crowd favorite, with many estancias in the Buenos Aires and Corrientes provinces offering estancias that have access to land where both species can be hunted in the same day. If interested in looking into options, Argentina Outfitters has an extensive knowledge of the region and can organize a customized itinerary that meets your specific desires for wingshooting as well as expeditions to take a trophy red stag, puma, or wild boar.

In regards to fishing, visitors have the opportunity to fly south to the Patagonia region to try their luck at landing a large trout or head north to pursue the ever elusive Dorado (kind of like a smallmouth bass on steroids) which has become the new trend and will keep fishermen of all shapes and sizes immensely entertained.  The areas of Bariloche and San Martin de los Andes have a vast array of rivers fed by gigantic lakes, all of which house monster browns and rainbows that would challenge even the most avid anglers.

Further south in Tierra del Fuego, adventurers will battle the biting wind and cold just for the chance to hook a trophy sea-run trout….and it is more than worth it.  If fishing is your cup of tea, you can also speak to Argentina Outfitters about setting up a customized trip.  However, it would also be worth checking out the variety of lodges operated by Nervous Waters (who also operates a lodge in Chile), quite possibly the most professional operation in the region.  Also worth mentioning are Far Out Fishing and for some local flavor, Banana Martinez who is one of the most respected guides in the Bariloche area.

In general, Argentina is considered to be the top location for hunting and fishing in South America, however there are many great options to be considered in countries such as Chile, Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, and Venezuela (though do watch out for Mr. Hugo Chavez) where great trips can be put together.

3)     Skiing/Snowboarding – While it is clear that the Andes do not boast the same quality of ski slopes one would find in Vail, St Moritz, Whistler, or any other of the classic skiing destinations of the Rockies or Alps, if visited at the right time this mountain chain and its many ski complexes can provide quite an enjoyable experience.  Skiing and snowboarding, while not as accessible for the general populace as in the western world, is quite popular and many of the mountains are surprisingly up to date in terms of lifts, equipment and gear.   Also, given its position in the southern hemisphere, it is one of the few options in the world that can be skied in the months of June through October and for that reason many international ski teams as well as true snow fans spend a significant amount of time engaging in their passion in the powder of Chile and Argentina.

The most famous destinations in Chile are Valle Nevado conveniently located a few hours from the capital city of Santiago and Portillo which is a charming resort area nestled in a picturesque valley close to the border with Argentina (roughly 6-8 hours from Santiago by car or bus).  In Argentina, the classic mountains are Cerro Catedral in Bariloche, Chapelco in San Martin de los Andes, and Las Lenas located outside the popular wine city of Mendoza.  For those looking for even more options, additional skiable snow is found at Volcan Villarrica (Pucon Chile – watch out for flowing lava), Cerro Castor (Ushaia, Argentina – end of the world) and a few others in the same regions mentioned above.

4)     Trekking/Hiking/Climbing – There is more than just skiing to be done in the Andes and many a daring mountaineer has ventured to the region to conquer various peaks that typify this long, skinny mountain chain.   The largest peak in the Americas, Aconcagua rises 6962 meters over sea level and is located in the Argentine province of Mendoza.  Technically speaking this mountain is not overly difficult when approaching from the northern slope, yet the effects of the altitude can complicate things if climbers are not accustomed to these adverse conditions or did not bring supplemental oxygen.

Groups such as Aconcagua Expeditions can help you get to the top if your aim is to tackle the highest peak.  However, if you are looking for a more challenging climb technically speaking, check out Torres del Paine National Park in the southernmost region of Chile.  The national park itself is great for camping, trekking and hiking, but the difficulty of a true climb is quickly noticed when the rugged “towers