Patagonia Expat

[Patagone]

Hi all, I have been lurking during the 3 years I have been living in wonderful and interesting Argentina. Married to an Argentine woman, 1 kid and one more on the way.

Though I rarely visit BsAs, this forum is the best source of useful info and less useful but interesting opinions.

I run my own business, which currently can be done using Internet only, so I am location independent. I chose the Lake district as I need nature and outdoor close to me, anybody else here living in that area?

Cheers.

 

[RichardP]

I don't live down there, but I'd sure like to being a nature boy myself. Welcome!

 

[germano]

Lived on the Chilean side in the lakes region but have moved northeast to Mendoza for more sun and less rain. Did the border run to Bariloche a few times when I lived down there. Nice town.

 

[French jurist]

Hi,

After living +10 years in the Bs As province, my goal is now to live in another province and open 1 or 2 businesses there (my main business= like you, Internet needed, that's all).
Rio Negro tops my list (El Bolson maybe), then Cordoba & Mendoza.

Where exactly do you live?

 

[Patagone]

Thanks, all. I live in San Martin de Los Andes.
More quiet than Bariloche, but that's why I love it. It's safer and easier to get on a mountainbike, if you cycle in any direction for more than 2 minutes, you are either in a forest (going uphill) or in the lake.

I love the Chilean side as well, just cycled the TransAndes Challenge in January, the forests and trails are incredible. It's a lot wetter though and I like the compactness of San Martin and the people here. Few foreigners, but a lot of great people that fled Bs As for a more quiet and active life.

There is always room for smart businesses here, but it must be tourism-related, and you should get your income in the 2 high seasons (X-mas-Feb + Jul-Aug). Now 100% of hotel beds are occupied, in a few weeks it will be quiet again.

Cheers

 

[germano]

What is the internet situation like down there in San Martin de Los Andes? I too work remotely via internet and can't get a fast connection in the small town I live in ...

 

[argsteve]

I love San Martin de Los Andes...... what a great place to live....... sounds like the perfect life.....or close to it!!

 

[Patagone]

What is the internet situation like down there in San Martin de Los Andes? I too work remotely via internet and can't get a fast connection in the small town I live in ...

The 3G dongle I used the first year was a disaster, but now I have a fixed line with ADSL which works fine. Not super fast (2mbps), but enough for video skype and regular work. It is a small cooperative (COTESMA), so monopoly as well and with high prices (see https://www.cotesma.com.ar/banda-ancha). Looking at it I just noticed they also offer 4 & 6mbs now so that's better. The upload speeds are much less, so backing up photos in the cloud takes a while.

They have been digging in new cables along the 7 Lakes road the past few months, so there is is talk of upcoming fiber, but nothing available yet.

 

[jez]

I've been living in Argentina for about 10 years; the last 7 of those in Bariloche.

I'm here for the love of the mountains (and maintain a trekking website in my spare time: TrekBariloche.com & https://www.facebook.com/trekbariloche). I used to do loads of trekking but hung up my boots in favour or running shoes...now I just run the trekking trails. I snowboard in the winter and when I'm not in the mountains can usually be found at home dabbling in web design.

 

[RichardP]

Patagone,

Stop by and say hi to my friends Laura y Guillermo who have a new rotiseria in town called "Arrayanes." They are both porteños and have twin toddlers.

San Martin is my favorite place in the south. Thinking about moving there myself if I can figure out a way to make a living.