Family Trip Expert

Argentinian Patagonia in a Family Group

Claudine Blanco, Director of the agencies Travelling with Children and Travelling with Teenagers, presents us with a fun way to travel

By Claudine Blanco

When I created “Viajar com Crianças agency,” I didn’t think about organizing group trips. I thought that the profile of traveling families seeking more exclusive services and exotic destinations wouldn’t be interested in this type of proposal. I was surprised!

Children want to play with other children, adults want to be able to sit down for a leisurely dinner, enjoy a good wine, and chat while watching their children happy and enjoying every moment together. Parents who usually travel alone have come to rely on a support network during trips, and I have the privilege of witnessing all of this firsthand and personally meeting some of the families who embark with us, participating in incredible journeys around the world.

We’ve traveled in groups to Africa, the Galapagos, the Amazon, the Pantanal, the Lençóis Maranhenses, the Chapada Diamantina, and the Argentine Patagonia, amazing places to visit with family. For those who are not yet familiar with our work, we have the support of an educational team that develops playful activities so that children can engage better in the trip and learn more about the history of the place and all the socio-environmental issues involved in the destination. Thus, in a playful and enjoyable way, the journey becomes seeds of knowledge that will be cherished in their hearts and memories.

New friendships are formed, not only among children, as many parents find common ground and discover many affinities. Suddenly, starting from just one family, we become one big family and continue to witness the development and growth of each child in the most diverse age groups.

Today I’m here to tell you about our latest adventure in the Argentine Patagonia.

Land of glaciers, lakes with dazzling colors, penguins, guanacos, and foxes. We had incredible days exploring the cities of Ushuaia and El Calafate by boat, in 4×4 vehicles, and even by train while listening to the legends and stories of the place, told by our educator who accompanied the small group.

Our goal is not teaching, but rather exploring the culture and the destination, experiencing each moment in a way that children can absorb it according to their age groups.

Here in the land of ice, we learned how these glaciers formed, the adventures of the first explorers who arrived here, the culture of indigenous peoples, and the geographical importance of this place.

As we traverse the lakes and landscapes, we understand the force of the wind, of nature, the importance of adapting to the current conditions.

Visiting the colonies of penguins that migrate here in the summer to breed, we see the strength of love and care that the adorable families of these little clumsy and amusing chicks experience before they leave their nests to explore other seas.

Unfortunately, we also see that some actions and interventions by humans in nature and local culture have brought negative impacts.

Observing the accelerated melting of some glaciers due to global warming, the introduction of species like beavers that destroy forests, and practically the extermination of the culture of the indigenous Patagonian peoples who lived here before the arrival of explorer ships bringing their beliefs and diseases, make us rethink our habits and choices.

In a delicate manner suitable for children, our educator navigates with families through local stories, and in the end, we discover that with much joy and creativity, we learn most from the children. Respect, empathy, inclusion, and solidarity are experienced with every dive into the pool, and this time we were even surprised with choreography and music in a kind of Argentine funk rhythm from the “Beaver’s Ballad” created by them: Tchu tchã, tchu, tchã…

Here we learn that just as each snowflake is unique, each family is also unique, and each journey is unique.

So, when I’m asked if I ever get tired of returning to the same places with these groups, my answer comes with a big smile, with a warm and grateful heart for being able to live this incredible life doing what I love most: showing the world to families and awakening a new generation of children who are more conscious and passionate about the planet.

Do you want to travel with us and become part of our family? Check out our upcoming departures.

Our columnist Claudine Blanco is the founder of the travel agencies Viajar com Crianças and Viajar com Adolescentes, founder of Family Trip Magazine, and mother of Pedro and Marina. She writes the travel expert column for the platform, sharing her knowledge, passions, and purposes regarding family travel.

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The travel agencies Viajar com Crianças ou Viajar com Adolescentes are specialized and offer group trips accompanied by an educator, making the journey even more interesting. Trips that bring families closer together.