Cherry orchards
Picking in season.
Rodarte — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Rodarte — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Rodarte — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Claudio Elias — Public domain · Rodarte — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Rodarte — CC BY-SA 3.0
Los Antiguos is a small town in northwest Santa Cruz, on the south shore of the vast Lake Buenos Aires, which runs west into Chile, where it is called General Carrera. Despite the region's cold, it enjoys a mild climate thanks to its low position, sunny slope and the moderating winds from the Pacific, making it a farming oasis amid the steppe. It is known for growing cherries, strawberries, raspberries and apples, cherries above all, earning it the title «National Cherry Capital», with a cherry festival every January featuring rural horsemanship and concerts. Farms welcome visitors and fruit-picking in season, and the lake shines a startling blue beneath the mountains. Wandering is free; the best time is December to February, cherry season. Pair it with a trip to the Cueva de las Manos from nearby Perito Moreno.
Picking in season.
Beneath the peaks.
A mild climate.
South shore of Lake Buenos Aires, northwest Santa Cruz
December to February, with the cherry festival in January.