Front Elevation: Untapped Utopia
Modestly priced acreage is leading world investors into the Patagonian wilds.
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ShareJuly 1, 2005
“Unlike most big properties that people are buying in the western U.S., you; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
can actually
cash-flow your
operation in Patagonia,” says
Mirr. “You can run a few hundred
head of cattle, plus some sheep, along
with forestry and the
recreational
aspects. And the wages are
low. The
standard wage for a gaucho is about
$200 a month, maybe a bit
more for a ranch manager, and that buys a lot of
work.” (Click image to
enlarge)
There is a distinct difference between the Chilean and Argentine versions of Patagonia. In Chile, where the climate is more like that of the Pacific Northwest, the terrain tends to be greener and more heavily forested. The parcels are smaller and, with more snow falling on the western slopes of the Andes, the skiing is better. Still, most North American investors gravitate to Argentina, where the drier landscape is more reminiscent of the American West. The most popular regions are the Lake District in northern Patagonia, which is within an hour or so of the resort cities of Bariloche and San Martin de los Andes, and the region around Esquel, in the province of Chubut, an area settled by immigrants from Wales in the 19th century. Patagonia’s cities often surprise first-time visitors with their amenities and sophistication. “Bariloche is best described as Jackson Hole meets Lake Tahoe surrounded by the Swiss Alps,” says Mirr. “As for San Martin de los Andes, well, it’s got a Jack Nicklaus golf course, so that speaks for itself.”
Fuller Western Real Estate/Austral Realty
Ken Mirr, 303.312.4271;
Jeff Wells, 303.888.9785; www.fullerwestern.com
