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Site-Seeing in Patagonia
The Travel Troubleshooter · January 29, 2001

Q: I'm interested in going on a wildlife safari in Patagonia. Although I've found some websites that show itineraries, I was hoping there were more choices before I make a final choice. Can you help?

-- Vicki Cottrell

A: Sure. But first, let me remind you of the political instability in Argentina at the moment. As I write this column, the country is mired in a deep economic crisis and is about to inaugurate its fifth president in less than two weeks. If you go to Patagonia, be sure to check the U.S. State Department's Travel Warnings & Consular Information Sheets or the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Travel Reports. Both offer helpful guides to Argentina that are constantly updated.

To be sure, Patagonia is far removed from the turmoil in Buenos Aires, and once you're at your final destination, you shouldn't have any trouble. But the political situation could affect your travel, so make sure your check the reports, buy trip cancellation insurance (always a good idea on an expensive vacation like a safari), and take sensible safety precautions such as steering clear of riots.

One of my favorite Patagonia websites is the one developed by PBS in conjunction with Reader's Digest as part of its "The Living Edens" series. Patagonia: Life at the End of the Earth is a simple yet informative companion to the television series that covers everything you need to know about Patagonia, including its natural attractions and history. It even offers a clever trivia game about the region. It's enough to whet even this jaded traveler's appetite for a Patagonia adventure.

Another place worth a click is GORP's Patagonia page, which covers much of the ground that the PBS site does, but also includes links to recommended travel guidebooks and other online resources. And, of course, it tries to sell you a South American vacation while you're there, and why shouldn't it? It is, after all, a commercial website that has to pay its bills. But I think GORP could have done better with Patagonia, and I would hope that with all of its editorial resources, it might someday expand its pages dedicated to this destination.

If you're thinking of exploring the Chilean side of Patagonia (I should note that there are some who believe Patagonia ends at the Chilean border) then try the Chilean Patagonia site, which links to websites of hotels, car rental companies, and tour operators in the area. I was also impressed with its selection of special-interest sites, from agrotourism to sailing.

Finally, a warning about where not to visit. Doing a keyword search for "Patagonia" on your favorite search engine will probably land you at the website for Patagonia, the somewhat self-absorbed clothing manufacturer. Unless you're looking to get outfitted for your safari, that page will be of little use. Also, you might take a wrong turn and end up at the City of Patagonia site. (Hint: The Patagonia you're looking for is not in Southern Arizona.)

If you're looking for someone who really knows Patagonia, you might try turning off your computer and finding a good travel agent. How can you tell if your agent really knows an area? I'd recommend looking for a CTC designation issued by the Institute of Certified Travel Agents. There's a Destination Specialist certification for Latin America that your agent can earn. It means your travel counselor knows the difference between Patagonia, the clothing designer, and Patagonia, the place.

Christopher Elliott is a travel commentator based in Key Largo, Fla. All e-mailed questions may be edited, condensed or republished at the site's discretion. ChrisCrossings appears weekly on this site.