Responsible tourism issues
Our Argentina Vacations
Argentina highlights vacation, tailor made
Enjoy memorable adventures in Patagonia and Iguazu Falls
Argentina tailor made vacation, Buenos Aires to Patagonia
10-days: Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, El Calafate & Glaciers
Tour of Patagonia, El Calafate & Torres del Paine
Patagonia's best - Torres del Paine and Perito Moreno Glacier.
Small group adventure vacation to Patagonia
Explore the spectacular wilderness and mountains of Patagonia
Chile and Argentina tour
Santiago, Lake District, Patagonia, Glaciers & Buenos Aires
Argentina highlights vacation, 9 days
Discover Buenos Aires and Patagonia's glaciers and whales
Patagonia tailor made tour, self guided
Self-guided vacation in stunning Patagonian mountains.
Cycling the Lake District of Chile and Argentina
Amazing cycling through Argentina and Chile
Patagonia luxury adventure vacation
Luxury hotels and adventure in Patagonia
Andean wine trail vacation in Argentina & Chile
Taste South America's best wines in scenic Andes Mountains
Argentina vacation, cities and national parks
Visit beautiful cities in Argentina and the Iguazu Falls.
Horse riding vacation in Argentina
Amazing horse riding in the peaceful mountains of Argentina
Paine and Fitz Roy trek, trekking vacation
Spectacular Andes scenery from glacial lakes to towering granite peaks
Bariloche kayaking vacation in Patagonia
Enjoy guided kayaking and hiking in Bariloche, Argentina.
Buenos Aires & Iguazu Falls vacation in Argentina
Adventures in Buenos Aires and the spectacular Iguazu Falls
La Paz to Buenos Aires overland truck tour
Overland from the Altiplano to Argentina's grasslands
Tailor made vacation in Argentina, best of Argentina
Enjoy Mendoza's wineries, Iguazu Falls and Patagonia glaciers
Highlights of Argentina, Buenos Aires & Southern Patagonia
Walk Patagonia's trails and explore Torres del Paine
Patagonia highlights vacation
Explore the wild, mountainous south of Argentina and Chile
Highlights of Argentina tailor made tour
Explore Argentina's glaciers, Patagonian mountains and Iguazu.
Northern Argentina vacation
Explore Argentina's final rugged frontier, the Puna Desert
Buenos Aires to Rio vacation
Discover Argentina and Brazil on this private tour
Lima to Rio tour by overland truck
An epic overland expedition across South America
Chile, Argentina & Brazil vacation, Santiago to Rio
Discover stunning scenery on this South American adventure
Trek in Patagonia vacation
Trekking vacation in Patagonia vacation
Honeymoon in Argentina
Outdoor adventures, wine tasting & sensual Argentine tango
Patagonia hiking vacation, glacier tour
El Calafate and Torres del Paine hiking and glacier tour
Buenos Aires to Rio small group vacation
Amazing discovery tour from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro
Argentina nature and culture vacation
Experience the natural wonders & wildlife of Argentina
Patagonian adventure vacation
Explore the highlights of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia
People & culture
This land is our land
With regard to land rights, the interests of native populations have often come into conflict with industry, particularly large-scale agriculture and mining. The UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples has criticised the lack of consultation with the communities over development projects and the exploitation of natural resources in territory they consider their own.
This has prompted direct action as the only way to be heard. In 2010, for example, Qom activists blocked the 86 National Route for four months in protest against the building of a National University on what they considered their ancestral lands. Police violently broke up the protest, resulting in at least two deaths. In 2008, a leader of the Pueblo Diaguita community in Tucumán province was shot dead while trying to prevent the removal of his people from their territory by a major landowner. And in 2012, several members of the Nogalito community in Tucumán were beaten and threatened with death by individuals seeking to take over their land.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) demanded Argentina stop such violence, while the country's Supreme Court also ordered the government and the National Institution of Indigenous Rights (INAI) to work together to map disputed territories and to guarantee the right to indigenous populations to proper consultations.
Both Argentina’s Constitution and international human rights law recognise the right of indigenous peoples to their ancestral lands. Further, in 2006, the National Congress passed a law that ordered the suspension of evictions of all indigenous peoples until the ancestral lands had been mapped through a survey. Despite this, mappings are not taking place and violent evictions continue. "The land is our life. From it we obtain the food and medicines we need. It provides us with the natural resources to make our houses, for our livelihoods. Without the land, we the indigenous people will lose our spiritual roots," says Félix Diaz. Indigenous voices must be heard.
Source: Amnesty International
What you can do
Take part in tourism which helps boost the welfare of indigenous population – and enriches your own vacation too. Stay in locally-owned accommodation, trek with native guides, shop in artisan markets and participate in traditional festivals and events.
Cleaning up after the dirty war
2012 saw the first sentence passed against a civilian for human rights abuses committed in the so-called 'Dirty War' of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when Argentina was under oppressive military rule. Former minister Jaime Smart and 22 former military officials were found guilty of involvement in the kidnapping, torture and murder of social activists at six illegal detention centers in Buenos Aires. Smart – Minister of Interior of the state of Buenos Aires between 1976 and 1979 – was sentenced to life in prison.“These convictions are yet another sign that Argentina is dealing with its tragic past and bringing truth and justice to society,” said Mariela Belski, Executive Director at Amnesty International Argentina. “The challenge that remains is that all those who were involved or participated in the killing, torture and disappearance or thousands of people during Argentina’s military rule, including civilians, are brought to justice.”
While Argentina continues to make significant progress prosecuting those involved in killings and torture during the country’s so-called “Dirty War” – spurred by the demands of children who lost their parents – there remain outstanding human rights concerns about proper freedom of expression (e.g. ceasing government prosecution of outspoken publications and protecting journalistic sources), allegations of continuing torture in custody and women’s rights.
Source: Amnesty International
Source: Human Rights Watch
Source: The Guardian
What you can do:
Get informed on human rights in Argentina and be open to listening to what locals have to say on the subject. Give financial support to campaigning organisations such as Amnesty International Human Rights Watch.
Wildlife & environment
The unkindest cut of all?
According to a report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Argentina has lost at least 70 million hectares of forest in the last century, with over 16 million hectares of tree cover decimated between 1980 and 2000 alone. Since 1914, two-thirds of Argentina's native forests have been destroyed. The Foundation for Sustainable Development estimates that if destruction continues unchecked, all of Argentina's native forests will be gone by the year 2024.
The clearing of forests to provide grazing for cattle has long been cited as a major cause of mass deforestation in Argentina, damaging swathes of the Espinal shrubland forest and the Chaco region. But vegetarians have nothing to feel smug about. Research by WWF also points major blame at soya cultivation, with deforestation due to expanding soybean cultivation posing a serious threat to environmental jewels such as the Yungas 'cloud forest' as well as, again, the Chaco region - one of the largest forest biomes in South America.
Argentina's desire to boost its economy in the face of financial crises is understandable at one level. But the setting of aggressive targets to further expand soybean production for export crazily puts short-term gain before long-term sustainability, not just for Argentina but for the whole planet.
What you can do:
Eat less beef - and soya products – from Argentina. Support organisations such as WWF that are campaigning to protect vulnerable environments from the impact of large-scale agriculture driven by exports that also add climate-harming food miles.
Water woe
Increasing industrial pollution and the demands of a growing population are threatening many areas of Argentina with a crisis in the supply of safe drinking water. Matters are made worse by broader economic woes that encourage companies to cut corners when it comes to cleaning up water before pumping it into rivers, while municipalities rarely have the resources they need to properly treat water. Many once important aquifers are now too polluted to use.Increased demand has also led to major problems. Buenos Aires has depleted the aquifers that once supplied the city, and now relies on the Rio de La Plata to supply its growing population's water needs. However, this river is shared with Uruguay – and is also suffering from increasing pollution, particularly from factories along the Paraná and Uruguay Rivers.
Mining is a major industry in Argentina – the country is the world's second-largest producer of boron, for example. But the boost mining gives to the nation's GDP has to be balanced with the environmental harm it causes in many areas – including to water supplies. Toxic mine dust often ends up covering precious glaciers, which are not only natural wonders for visitors to admire but also key suppliers of fresh water. This dust accelerates melting, contributing to global climate change. Mining operations also consume vast amounts of precious water, contaminating it in the process. And while humans can try to work out ways to clean drinking water – if there is any left - animals desperate to drink in the parched environment are often forced to drink contaminated water.
What you can do:
Don't waste water! And support environmental organisations such as Greenpeace which are leading campaigns against irresponsible mining.
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