SIERRA DE LA VENTANA

Rising sharply more than 1,200 meters above sea level, the abrupt topography of the Sierra de la Ventana is a startling contrast to most of the pampas region—even more so than the lower, rounded Sierra de Tandil. Its rugged terrain has made the range, also known as Ventania, a pole for outdoor recreation, centered on its namesake village—a sort of hill station for weekenders from the port city of Bahía Blanca and interior provincial towns like Olavarría.

Even in peak season, Sierra de la Ventana seems a sleepy village, especially during the midday siesta, but the surrounding sierras offer opportunities for camping, hiking, climbing, cycling, horseback riding, and fishing. Cycling is particularly important here, as automobile traffic seems to move slower than elsewhere in the country, but there are also conventional tourist attractions like swimming pools, golf courses, and even a casino.

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Orientation
The village of Sierra de la Ventana is 550 kilometers southwest of Buenos Aires via RN 3 to Azul, RN 226 to Olavarría, and RP 76. It is 125 kilometers north of Bahía Blanca via RN 33 to Tornquist, and then RP 76.

Most services are on or near Avenida San Martín in the southerly sector of Villa Tivoli; Villa Arcadia, north of the Río Sauce Grande, is mostly residential.

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Information and Services
Next to the train station, the helpful Oficina de Turismo y Delegación Municipal (Avenida Roca 15, tel. 0291/491-5303, info@comarcaturistica.com.ar, www.comarcaturistica.com.ar) distributes maps and brochures, and will phone around to help locate accommodations. Hours are 8 a.m.–2 p.m. and 3–9 p.m. in summer, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. the rest of the year.

Banco de la Provincia (San Martín 260) now has an ATM.

Correo Argentino is at Avenida Roca 195; the postal code is 8168.

Locutorio Televentana (Avenida San Martín 291) has phone and fax services. For Internet, try the Novabar (Avenida San Martín 131), but connections are sluggish here.

Laverap (Güemes and San Martín) does laundry.

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Getting There and Around
There are daily bus connections to Buenos Aires, but train service is infrequent.

There is bus service to Retiro (Buenos Aires) daily except Saturday (US$13, eight hours), from the improvised bus terminal (Avenida San Martín and Güemes). Geotur Excursiones (Avenida San Martín 198, tel. 0291/491-5355) goes to Bahía Blanca, as does Expreso Cabildo, which leaves from the Video Club at Avenida Roca 100.

Rail services from Buenos Aires to Bahía Blanca pass through Sierra de la Ventana, stopping at the Ferrocarril UPCP station (Avenida Roca and Avenida San Martín, tel. 0291/491-5164). Southbound trains leave Constitución Tuesday and Thursday at 9:10 p.m., arriving here at 7 a.m.; northbound trains leave Sierra de la Ventana at 11 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, arriving at Constitución at 8:30 a.m.

Geotur Excursiones (Avenida San Martín 198, tel. 0291/491-5355) links Sierra de la Ventana with surrounding communities including Saldungaray, Villa Ventana, Cerro de la Ventana, and Tornquist. Schedules change with the season, but there are usually four buses daily in each direction, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.