Esquel–A Relaxed Pueblo in Patagonia

Esquel is a relaxed Patagonian town, a refreshing change from the sometimes tourist-inundated bustle of Bariloche. Founded by adventurous Welsh immigrants who arrived in 1865, the little 28,000-person pueblo has a reputation as being dull, although tourism is a vital source of income. Scientists may be familiar with the name Esquel because of the Esquel [...]

The Old Patagonian Express Today

The Old Patagonian Express is advertised as ‘a journey through the landscape and time.’ The train ride serves principally as a tourist attraction and for most this will entail a trip meandering from Esquel through the hills to the village of Nahuel Pan 22km away. The train is stationary for fifteen minutes before departure, allowing [...]

Rolling through the Andes: The Old Patagonian Express

On the outskirts of Esquel, a tranquil town in the heart of Patagonia’s Chabut province, the quiet is broken at regular intervals by the piercing whistle and familiar chugging of ‘La Trochita,’ as the Old Patagonian Express is affectionately called to by locals. La Trochita, which translates as ‘narrow gauge,’ is steam-powered locomotive that appears [...]