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Valle Perdido Patagonia Estate Winery Neuquen Province, Argentina Planet Wine Sports and Activities

ABOUT THE VALLE PERDIDO PATAGONIA ESTATE WINERY SPORTS & ACTIVITIES - in their own words:

ACTIVITIES

BIRDWATCHING
It is a new activity offered in the region. Equipped with binoculars and the species identification guide, you will be able to learn about the behaviors of the most important species found in the rivers of this region, in particular the Neuquen River, located in front of Valle Perdido Wine Resort. You will discover the different rivers of the area, and you will have different options to go drift boating in the Neuquén River, departing from Balneario Villa Manzano until arriving at Dique Ballester; or another option of the Neuquén River would involve the trip from the Dique Compensador in San Patricio del Chañar to the Dique Ballester; or the option to sail in the Limay and Negro Rivers, with the Confluencia trip, departing from Balneario Río Grande in Neuquén until arriving at Isla Jordán in Cipolletti.

Approximate time is part day and up to 6 persons per boat. Every day, prior reservation required. Sailing involves an all-inclusive service, and lunch by the river prepared by the Executive Chef of Valle Perdido Wine Resort.

PALEONTOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES
Los Barreales, 45 km (Dinosaurs Museum)
The Dino Project, 45 km away from Valle Perdido Wine Resort, is the only excavation in South America developed for educational purposes and which is sponsored by the Universidad Nacional del Comahue. The paleontologic field Lago Barreales is located in the Center-East area in the province of Neuquén, in the Loma de la Lata area, within the boundaries of the Mapuche Paynemil community, on the north coast of the artificial lake giving its name to this center. It is found in a natural environment, which is virtually unchanged, with heavenly landscapes. There, you may see the Sauropodus, carnivorous or Theropod dinosaurs represented by partial skeletons, bones of dinosaurs and hundreds of teeth as well as small and mid-sized Ornithopods dinosaurs discovered in this area.

Approximate time is 4 hours and up to 6 persons per tour. Every day, prior reservation required.

El Chocón, 80 km (Dinosaurs Museum + Museo de dinosaurios + dam+ lake)
In Mapuche language, Chocón means "man blue with cold or all soaked with water". In 1997, the "Valley of Dinosaurs" was declared a "national historic site" and it is located 80 away from Valle Perdido Wine Resort. Villa El Chocón offers year-round activities. Persons interested in paleontology may begin by visiting the Museo Municipal. There, they will find the Giganotosaurus Carolinii, the most important discovery of the region. It is the biggest carnivorous Theropod dinosaur of the world discovered to date and its replica is at the New York Museum of Natural History. The place offers tours by land and by sea to places of paleontologic discoveries, petrified forests, ignitas (dinosaurs’ footprints), large mountain valleys with important geological structures, the Hydroelectric Power Station, in addition to walks by the shore of the Limay River. Fishing, swimming, windsurfing, sailing, camping, walks in astonishing landscapes and journeys back in time are other activities offered.

Approximate time is 8 hours and up to 6 persons per tour. Every day, prior reservation required.

ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
Valle Perdido Wine Resort offers activities specially designed for children, including visits to vineyards and slopes, mountain bike and recreational activities at the in/out heated pool. It also has a playroom with a pool, DVDs, play station and a complete collection of books for children and teenagers.

COOKING LESSONS
Together with the Executive Chef of Valle Perdido Wine Resort you will distinguish the different smell of spices, the beauty of the stylish cuisine, shapes and words that embellish any dish, the sound of pots, Argentine and Patagonia cuisine in its natural environment, an unforgettable experience. Our Executive Chef will teach you how to prepare the most representative cuisine specialties of our restaurant, to be paired with Valle Perdido wines.

Lessons last approximately 3 hours with at least 4 and up to 6 persons per lesson. Prior reserve required. Dates subject to change.

AGROTOURISM
The Alto Valle of the Negro and Neuquén is also characterized by its production of fruits as apples, pears, peaches nectarines and horticolous products. At Valle Perdido Wine Resort you may arrange to visit farms producing the best apples and pears of the world and you may witness their production process. In addition, you may participate in the harvest of berries or organic vegetables and the preparation of jellies and preserves, as well as cheeses or cold cuts.

Approximate time is part day and up to 6 persons per tour. Every day, prior reservation required and subject to weather conditions.

NEUQUEN CITY TOUR
Neuquén, 45 km way from Valle Perdido Wine Resort, has an important business center, as well as shopping centers, cinemas and a stunning and modern casino. The city also has craft shops and, on weekends, a craft fair, as well as well-known chocolate, jellies and cold meat shops. For arts lovers, Neuquen offers the only provincial branch of the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. The 2,200 sqm. building is located in the center of the city of Neuquen, 40 km away from Valle Perdido Wine Resort. The permanent collection covers European artworks, from Renaissance up to XIX century, as well as Argentine works of art, from the XIX century to date. It is the first time, in more than one century of history of the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, with venue in Buenos Aires, that such an important portion of its collection is assigned to another museum. The Museum is open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.. Visits last for approximately 2 hours.

Valle Perdido Wine Resort offers its guests a transfer to Neuquen city every day. Prior reservation required.

SPORTS
These activities supplement our Planet Wine and will make your stay at Valle Perdido Wine Resort an unforgettable experience. Some of them are described below

FLY FISHING AND TROLLING

Neuquén River
Fishing sailing is targeted at those who love nature and fly fishing or trolling (catch and release). The tour includes Neuquén River and, farer from Valle Perdido Wine Resort, the Negro River. At the Neuquén River, the tour departs from Añelo, then goes through Boca Toma, the Dique Compensador in San Patricio del Chañar, until arriving at Balneario de Villa Manzano. The tour at the Negro River departs from Ing. Huergo, then goes through Villa Regina until arriving at Puente del Valle Azul. The most commonly found specie is the Rainbow Fish. Sailing boats include guides and have room for two persons each.

Approximate time is part day or full day. Every day, prior reservation required. Sailing involves an all-inclusive service, and lunch by the river prepared by the Executive Chef of Valle Perdido Wine Resort.

Limay Medio River
At a place two hours away from Valle Perdido Wine Resort, you may spend the whole day fly fishing in one of the best Patagonia rivers: Limay Medio river. The Limay River is 430 km long and extends from the Nahuel Huapi lake to its connection with the Neuquén River where the Negro River is born. It rises at 790 msl. with a drop of approximately 500 msl.. Its tributary is the Traful river and the Collón Cura river. Trouts most commonly found are Rainbow and Brown trouts, among others, some with a weight exceeding 4 kg., specially brown trouts going up the Limay river from the Embalse Ramos Mexía, between March and May. In the river, there are plenty of Patagonia fishes as Boca Chica and Pejerreyes Patagónicos. The latter stand out because of their size, as some of them may weigh one kilo.

Approximate time is full day. Every day, prior reservation required. Sailing involves an all-inclusive service, and lunch by the river prepared by the Executive Chef of Valle Perdido Wine Resort

SPORT FISHING
The Pellegrini Lake, 45 km away from Valle Perdido Wine Resort, is a coastal place comprising the reservoir of the Neuquén River. Its green and calm waters are an invitation to spend the whole day sunbathing or playing all water sports, from windsurfing and rowing, to sailing and motorboat rides. Silversmelt (pejerrey) fishing is a highly recommended activity. At Pellegrini Lake, you may find flamingos, swans, ducks, macás and other birds. There, in the peninsula formed by this lake, there is a village which mainly operates in summer time, with visitors from all around the region.

Approximate time is part day or full day. Every day, prior reservation required. Sailing involves an all-inclusive service, and lunch by the river prepared by the Executive Chef of Valle Perdido Wine Resort.

MOUNTAIN BIKING
Sportsmen who love mountain bike may ride in roads with different degrees of difficulty through the hill embracing Valle Perdido Wine Resort and its vineyards. A longer and exciting route for mountain biking comprises the Wine Route, along wineries and vineyards of the region by the Patagonia slopes (see Wine Trial Patagonia).

Approximate time is part day or full day. Every day, prior reservation required.

TREKKING
With Valle Perdido Wine Resort as a departure point, you may trek by the Neuquén River, the Patagonia hills embracing it or its vineyards. Furthermore, a longer trekking may include the Wine Route of San Patricio del Chañar, visiting the most important wineries and vineyards of the region (see WineTrail Patagonia). If you have enough time, you should not miss trekking through Los Barreales and discovering the archeological treasuries of the region, surrounded by lakes and dams (see Dinosaurs Museum and paleontological activities).

Approximate time is part day or full day. Every day, with guide, prior reservation required.