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The rugged Sierra de la Ventana mountain range, 550km southwest of Buenos Aires, is the principal attraction of southern Buenos Aires Province. Running from northeast to southwest for some 100km, the sierra's craggy spine forms an unlikely backdrop to the serene pampa and provides the best opportunities in the province for walking and climbing. The range is named after one of its highest points, the Cerro de la Ventana , a 1134-metre peak pierced by a small "window" or ventana; it's located within the Parque Provincial Ernesto Tornquist , which is bisected by the RP76, the main highway through the sierras. There are plenty of options for accommodation in the area: as well as a base camp within the park, there are three villages within striking distance of the range, with the town of Sierra de la Ventana offering the best options as well as the region's only tourist office. It lies around 30km southeast of the park entrance, along RP72, which branches off RP76. Villa Ventana is a quiet wooded village lying at the southern end of the park, just 5km from the park entrance; though it has little tourist infrastructure there's a good campsite and some cabanas . Finally, Tornquist , 25km west of the park, is primarily an agricultural town but offers a couple of hotels. A daily bus service runs to Sierra de la Ventana from Buenos Aires, passing through Azul, but if you are making your way down the coast, the easiest way to reach the range is via the port city of Bahia Blanca , 687km southwest of the capital. Bahia Blanca is the most important city in the south of the province but of only limited appeal to the tourist. It is however a major transport hub, with numerous planes and buses to major towns in Patagonia and has one of Argentina's best museums, the outstanding Museo del Puerto, whose vibrant display of local history makes this otherwise unexceptional city well worth a detour. Back along the coast, the lively resort town of Monte Hermoso is the region's principal balneario, whilst nearby, but smaller, Pehuen-Co offers a more tranquil atmosphere, amidst dunes and pine forests.
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