Real Asset Investing in
the Lands of Asado and Malbec
Argentina and Uruguay
November 4-20, 2009
• Uruguay Beachfront & Old Town Montevideo • Andean Wine Tasting • Buenos Aires Antiques and Apartment Bargains • Mining, Timber and Vineyard Opportunities • Patagonia's Lake Vacation Properties • and Glorious Glaciers
Dear Fellow World Adventurer (and pleasure-seeker!),
 There is no greater pleasure than mixing breathtaking scenery, a glass of fine wine, and a profitable deal.
Join me in South America -- Argentina and Uruguay this fall -- and you’ll have ample opportunity for all three…
Your participation in this expedition could earn you a healthy profit for years to come …in real producing assets uncorrelated to the stock market, assets unlikely to lose value in even the worst market conditions.
16 wealth-minded individuals will earn inside access to the greatest profit-making opportunity of the Americas
"I'm off to Argentina myself at this very moment. I've had property there for years now.
"The current situation makes Argentina all the more appealing: An aggressive recovery saddled with higher inflation rates may create a windfall for foreign investors, especially those who invest in real assets like wine and hardwood. Worldwide demand for these products increases by the day."
Bill Bonner,
Agora Inc. Founder and Author, Empire of Debt
This exclusive expedition is open only to 16 wealth-minded individuals. Join us, and you'll explore some of the best opportunities in existence today for collecting real assets -- in the company of the executives in charge of these high income-earning operations.
But it's not all business. We'll have plenty of old-fashioned fun, too…
We'll take time off from our business schedule to explore the antiques market of San Telmo and enjoy first-class tango in Buenos Aires, visit the southern glaciers, savor top-notch wines in the company of Argentina's premier sommelier, explore Patagonian vistas, taste succulent steak asado straight from the grill, and relax on the beaches of a South American Monte Carlo…
 Even when I've led tours to Argentina and Uruguay strictly for pleasure -- whether for wine tasting, tango dancing, or cooking -- participants have managed to sneak off to invest in Buenos Aires apartments or beachfront properties…
In fact, that's what prompted me to put this unusual program together. It's the ideal way for you to enjoy the beauty and great pleasures these nations offer… and familiarize yourself, at the same time, with the extraordinary investment opportunities. (Plus it's a great excuse for a tax write-off, I might add.)
If you're serious about diversifying your portfolio with solid, long-term, high-return investments about as far away from Wall Street as you can get, you will be pleased with what you find here:
- Buenos Aires Apartment Boom: Properties in two neighborhoods here are appreciating at 15-25% per year. A third neighborhood -- our favorite -- has slowed down to a "mere" 10%. The advantage? Location and liquidity.
- Cash in on China's demand for lumber: Stumpage prices for timber in Argentina have tripled in the past five years in terms of US dollars. Hardwood grows nearly 65% faster here than in the U.S., and after harvesting, it re-sprouts on its own. Meanwhile, China's demand for wood grew 400% in five years -- it has trouble finding enough pulp to meet its toilet-paper needs alone. China now looks to Argentina not only to cover its floors but also to wipe its rear end, and there's a fortune to be made…
- Own a few acres of a premier New World vineyard: Argentina's vineyards are winning accolades around the world. Its wine exports to the U.S. are up more than 50% in the past five years, plus it's making inroads into European wine-snobbery. And now China has discovered this market as well and the wine market in China has grown by 36% just in the last year. Many of the best labels are just now appearing abroad. Here's your chance to get in at the ground floor in the best grape-growing terroir region in the country.
 Patagonia's vacation playground: When we first visited this development near Bariloche three years ago, you could buy a bungalow for $50,000 on a top-notch golf course (with polo club) beside a pristine lake, right at the foot of the snow-capped Andes. (Perfect for skiers!) Similar bungalows go today for $165,000 if you're lucky enough to find one. Don't worry -- there's still plenty of land available, and it's surprisingly inexpensive given the high-collar "zip code." - The newest development set in the vineyards: Plus we have added one of our favorite places to our tour this year -- Cafayate in the Salta province. Here we have discovered a new development that financial guru Doug Casey is putting together. This project sits within sight of the beautiful Andean foothills, amidst the vines of some of the area's most promising up-and-coming wineries.
- The South American Monte Carlo: Investors have loved Uruguay, the “Switzerland of the South,” for years now due to its liberal tax laws and conservative reporting. Montevideo is a medium-large, cosmopolitan city, with great infrastructure and fantastic beaches. It also boasts one of the loveliest "old cities" in South America. There you can purchase an 8,000-square-foot French-style or Colonial-style building for $350,000. Or if you'd rather have a smaller foothold, you can find a two-bedroom apartment in a colonial home for a reasonable $40,000. And on the shore at Punta del Este you'll find excellent weather, wonderful beaches, and a truly glamorous, Monte Carlo-like atmosphere. It's a beguiling (and good-value) place to consider as a vacation retreat for a few weeks or months a year!
We'll look at several other investment opportunities during our expedition, and I'll tell you about them shortly. But before we get into all that, a word on Argentina's economy:
Argentina's "brisk" recovery bodes well
for profit-seekers who gain a foothold now
 A recent Wall Street Journal article called Argentina's economic recovery "brisk."
And it's not just the media saying this. Big business is back. HSBC bank opened its doors here, and it credits Argentina as part of the reason for the company's 9.5% increase in net income for the first two quarters of 2005.
Intel has also announced plans to open a software-development operation, cashing in on a tech-savvy workforce while it's still cheap. Intel and HSBC are by no means alone…
Now's your best chance to hop on big business coattails for what could be the most profitable ride of your lifetime.
Unemployment in Argentina continues to shrink, from a high of 21.5% in May 2002 -- the peak of the financial crisis -- to 12.1% second-quarter 2005, down nearly a full point from the previous quarter.
And though the economy grew 10% over the past year, the Argentine peso is still weak, floating at an exchange rate just over 3 pesos to the dollar.
Add a potential 20-30% to your spoils
The time is ripe now… because Argentina will not stay so cheap for long:
"From a fundamental perspective, there are, in our view, good reasons to think that the peso should appreciate substantially in real terms..."
Credit Suisse-First Boston , Nov. 18, 2005
 The Central Bank is diversifying not only by increasing foreign reserves, but also by buying gold - historically a bad idea, but a very good one in today's market.
GDP growth is robust, and though imports have increased, there will be a trade surplus indefinitely from an export base that's growing more and more diversified.
What all that boils down to is this: Argentina today is 20-30% undervalued. So says Credit Suisse in a November 18, 2005 report. And though the exchange rate from dollars to pesos might not change much, inflation in prices will make up the difference.
Inflation should reach 12% by year's end. That's not great for working Argentines whose salaries aren't increasing at the same rate as of yet. But from where we're sitting?
It's a windfall of profit opportunity, especially if you already have holdings in Argentina. But if you don't, you soon could -- and local prices for your real assets in Argentina could rise an additional 20-30% from inflation alone until the peso catches up, increasing your returns by that much or more.
"Another nice thing is, timber is completely uncorrelated to the stock market. It makes sense... the trees have never heard of the Nasdaq bubble... and they don't know what a War on Terror is."
Steve Sjuggerud's True Wealth
The grill is hot. Stake your claim now.
There is no better time than now to take an insider's peek at Argentina. Growth has been steady since the 2002 crisis, and now it's really starting to heat up. Though the economy probably won't reach its pre-2002 levels anytime in the next few years (then again, it might…), once you take advantage of this narrow window, there's plenty of room for economic growth -- and personal gain -- before the "brisk recovery" levels off.
And Uruguay? Stable as ever. This country is so solid it needs no defense or explanation. It's a great buy and has been for some years, though it, too, is growing more expensive.
So here's my advice: Get in now. Join our expedition so you can see Argentina and Uruguay for yourself.
Joining us in Argentina: Karim Rahemtulla
We’ll have along with us on this journey Karim Rahemtulla, a nationally recognized stock expert CNBC has dubbed a "market maven.”
Karim is the founder and investment director of Mt. Vernon Research and founder of two options research services, The LEAPS Trader and The Income Trader: A Covered Call Strategy. He's also the former investment director of The Oxford Club.
Karim has traveled throughout the world in search of good-value buys. No doubt the group traveling at his elbow this fall will benefit from his wide experience and sound judgment.
A truly exclusive journey open to diversifying investors
Our private charter plane seats only 16 passengers, so this is a truly exclusive adventure. We've contracted this aircraft to keep from backtracking multiple times to Buenos Aires, Argentina's one and only hub, while traversing Argentina and Uruguay …
Old Towne Montevideo and the beaches of Punta del Este… to Buenos Aires … to the red rock mountains in Salta… to the Patagonia Lakes District… to the Mendoza wine region… to Uruguay and beaches… then return to Buenos Aires to the glaciers, and home…
Of course, if you want to stay, there's no one stopping you!
This allows you to see much more in less time than you possibly could by flying traditional airline routes in these two countries.
Not only that, but you probably wouldn't be able to make -- on your own and in a short period of time -- the kinds of business connections that I will introduce to you personally: the culmination of over a decade of "due diligence" on my part in the region…
…and my "independent research" has included investing in my own Argentine property. So you see, I put my money where my mouth is when I say Argentina offers perhaps the best investments in the hemisphere… especially for savvy investors who want to diversify their portfolios with profit-earners far from Wall Street.
Here's the full picture of exactly what we'll be doing on our exclusive expedition…
Cosmopolitan delights in the heartland of Tango
While in Buenos Aires we will be staying at the fashionable Loi Suites in the heart of the city's most cosmopolitan area, Recoleta.
Of course here we will enjoy a wonderful lunch at a traditional steak house, home to what has been dubbed the “best steak in the world.”
 We'll take you around to give you a bit of an introduction to this vibrant city, which has a sophisticated, genteel Latin flair… but is on a cosmopolitan par with New York or Paris.
Large boulevards, expansive parks and plazas, tall trees… it's a walking city with an aristocratic European feel. Here people use all the community green space. Stroll through a park, and you'll see people reading, picnicking, talking… and even dancing the tango.
We will enjoy market day in San Telmo (in its early days, this residential neighborhood was a favorite of Argentina's elite. Today, San Telmo is rather bohemian, dotted with antique shops and cafes. On market day, the flea market spills onto the cobblestone streets and the Plaza Dorrego. Bargains -- and tango dancers -- abound.
The Compelling Argument for
Argentinean Real Estate
By Doug Casey of Casey Research
Since we expect interest rates to rise, investing in real estate just at the peak of a long mania in the U.S. , or most of the rest of the world, is a bad idea. It would be a sure, sad ticket to buying high and selling low. Nonetheless, land in Argentina is currently an exception that allows you to reverse the losing formula.
In May 2005 I gave a comprehensive overview of real estate in Argentina and made the case for buying land there. Yet I suspect that not 1 in 1000 of my subscribers actually followed that advice. Too bad, because even though Argentina real estate is still remarkably cheap by global standards, it was a lot cheaper a year ago.
So what’s the short version of why Argentine land makes a good investment today?
Oversold and Underappreciated. Thanks to classic government meddling in the economy, the country’s financial system collapsed in 2000/2001. Almost overnight, Buenos Aires went from one of the most expensive capital cities in the world to one of the cheapest. While the economy is well on the way to recovery, it is still dirt cheap—especially out in the hinterland, where stunning properties (as well as excellent food and fine wines) are selling at bargain basement prices. So, first and foremost, buying real estate in Argentina today is a bet that the macro-economics of the country will continue to improve, driving the prices of all things—especially well-positioned real estate—much higher.
Commodity-based economy. At one point in the early 1900s, Argentina was the world’s 6th largest economy, giving rise to a now outdated expression, “Rich as an Argentine.” Wealth rested then, and will rest again, on commodities. The country combines near ideal growing conditions for all manner of crops and livestock, with large and mostly still untapped quantities of minerals. As a result, the country is currently running both a large balance of trade surplus and a large government surplus.
Lifestyle. Thanks to the large influx of Europeans over the previous two centuries, Argentina is now one of the most European countries in the world. That translates into classic architecture and a largely sophisticated and homogenous populace. Simply put, there’s simply less cultural friction, reducing the Forever War to what you choose to watch on CNN. This reality is not lost on wealthy Europeans, who are flocking to the place and who will help drive up the prices of your real estate down there. I think it’s of critical importance to have a comfortable crib outside your home country. And if you’re ever going to do it, now’s the time.
The risk? The place cyclically goes through financial crises, and the bureaucracy could be stifling if you were actually to try to do business there, but neither of those realities should be particularly troublesome, provided you buy right with money you can afford to tie up for awhile, and provided you have a good lawyer.
Also, while Argentina has a good track record of respecting private property rights when it comes to land, that is not the case when it comes to the banking system, so you have to keep anything more than minimal cash somewhere else.
Action You Can Take. The first step in speculating wisely in international real estate is to hop on a plane. Spend time looking around and if you like what you see, get a well-recommended lawyer to handle the transaction.
My friends and I are actually working with a local developer on one of the many pieces of property that we have purchased over the last couple of years, this one in the quaint wine-growing town of Cafayate in Salta province.
It’s where I plan to hang my hat while living in Argentina for three to six months a year.
Editor's Note: On this tour we will visit the project that Doug is developing in Cafayate. I'll tell you more about it, below.
Let's get down to business…
We will also have a half-day investment meeting. You'll meet the Rosberg family: Andrés is perhaps South America's best known wine expert; Martín is in the tourism industry, and Steve is an economist and president of Ushay Forestry and Los Arbolitos Vineyard projects.
You'll also meet with an investment banker plus representatives from Reynolds Properties, who will show you real estate in Buenos Aires and along every other stop on our voyage. (You are free, of course, to work with whomever you choose, though I will simply say that over the years we have found the Reynolds to be helpful, accommodating, and reliable folks who speak perfect English.) You'll hear from the experts …
…the best tax structures to protect your investments… real estate bargains across the region… forestry developments… vineyard trusts… and many other benefits of Argentina's upward swing and Uruguay's stability.
Plus I've invited Will Bonner to speak to our small group. Will's blog, Discovering Buenos Aires, is a lively account of his life as a relatively new expatriate (and entrepreneur) in "The Paris of South America." He'll share with us insights about everything from the cost of dinner to the investment climate…
Your afternoon is free for you to enjoy -- relax, join a Tango class, explore Buenos Aires on your own, or get down to business by scouting out deals. This evening we will regroup for dinner at one of our favorite dining spots.
Urban masterpieces at one-tenth the price tag
We've integrated a "free day" for you in Buenos Aires -- time for you to make real estate appointments or simply relax and explore on your own. Here’s a quick overview of the neighborhoods we'd recommend you see…
Recoleta has long been our favorite Buenos Aires neighborhood. The boulevards, plazas, parks, and colonial charm make it a very desirable location.
Appreciation has slowed down from well over 25% to about 10% a year. But there are two other factors to consider -- one, you can’t beat the location… and two, property here is always in high demand, so you’re not likely to have any problems selling at some point in the future.
Plus, Recoleta comes at one-tenth the price tag of comparable neighborhoods in New York or Paris.
Your best bet for appreciation is either San Telmo or Barracas. Both San Telmo and Barracas share borders with more expensive neighborhoods, always a boon to real-estate investing.
San Telmo is a bohemian neighborhood with cafes and antique shops on every block. Demand for property in San Telmo is up -- it’s a cheaper alternative to Recoleta, and people are buying old “character” buildings and renovating them into modern apartments.
Prices are a good $65 per square foot cheaper in San Telmo than in Recoleta, and real estate is appreciating here at a swift 15%.
The runner-up is Barracas, which is several steps behind San Telmo in terms of rejuvenation, but cheaper. Appreciation here is also at 15% today, and properties cost $10 per square foot less than in San Telmo.
Here are a few examples of Buenos Aires properties on the market today (all prices in U.S. dollars), the sort of thing you could see for yourself on our journey:
- Centro Tucuman 900 luxury rental, $117,000: Tucuman 900 has been extensively restored to its original graceful beauty and historical European character. Each residence has been completely remodeled to today’s modern standards and furnished by designer Gianni Berelli. This particular unit has a loft with open floor plan, kitchen, large bathroom, high ceilings with crown moldings, windows of grand proportions, hardwood floors, inside patio, heat and a/c. Amenities include a 24-hour doorman, a private restaurant/dining room for owners and guests, grand atrium/lobby, and large rooftop patio overlooking the Buenos Aires skyline. These apartments are currently contracted with onsite apartment/hotel and there is a guaranteed payment of income each quarter and a share of the overall profits each year. Each owner has 3 weeks of use per year and the remainder of the year the property will be in the rental pool. This could provide you a wonderful home when visiting Buenos Aires -- and a unique investment opportunity.
 French-style Barrio Norte, $145,000: This one-bedroom apartment located in a French Building on Marcelo T. de Alvear was built at the beginning of the 20th century. It was totally remodeled this year and has living and dining room with lots of light, an entrance hall, powder room, bathroom, kitchen, and laundry. - Historic Barracas loft, $64,000: Lofts in this recently renovated historic building are listed at $64,000-$159,500 and include security, private parking, access to a heated pool, gym, spa, and private green space. These lofts would make a great entrée for investors willing to wait a few years for significant appreciation.
After our full day in the city, we'll go to Piazzolla Tango in the historic Guermes Gallery. We'll sit down for a fine meal… then the lights will dim, the curtains will part, and Tango dancers will move to center stage, enthralling you in the classic rhythms of Argentina's soul.
Tourism and mineral wealth in Patagonia’s St. Moritz
A trip to Argentina wouldn’t be complete without a visit to San Carlos de Bariloche. Bariloche is to Argentina what St. Moritz is to Switzerland. From June through September, this upscale ski resort is the place to see and be seen, but we prefer the off-season when visitors come to hike, fish, sail, ride horses, swim, and sun. Bariloche was founded in 1895 by German-Swiss settlers and still retains an Alpine flavor... chalet-style buildings with flower-filled window boxes... chocolate factories and fondue restaurants.
Tourism here is booming, especially from North Americans and Europeans who come here to ski during the northern hemisphere’s summer. But other South Americans are also taking advantage of this resort destination, especially Chileans coming from just across the mountains.
 Here we will be checking into one of most well-known hotels in all of Argentina, the Llao Llao Hotel & Resort. It affords spectacular views of the Nahuel Huapi National Park, an extraordinary setting of crystal blue lakes, snow-capped mountains, and unexplored forests.
During our two days in this northern area of Patagonia, you’ll have the opportunity to look at some investment opportunities near the Llao Llao, and in one of our other favorite developments -- Arelauquen.
Arelauquen, is a five-star development just 15-minutes outside of the city of Bariloche. It is built on the grounds of world-class golf and polo community and also includes a boutique hotel as well as a marina and five restaurants.
If you've ever wanted a mountain or lake home in one of the world's most popular resort communities, now is your chance.
Here are some samples of what you can expect to find in this area:
- A breathtaking lot facing the 15th hole at Arelauquen: Here in this upscale development, this lot of 1,228 square meters lists for $196,480. It boasts a jaw-dropping view of the ski resort, called Ventanas, and Habsburgo Peak. Positioned at the end of a cul-de-sac, it's nearly flat, which makes it ideal for building on.
- Mountain dream home in the Arelauquen Golf and Country Club. You'd pay millions in Aspen or Jackson Hole for a property like this one. Yet here this two-story, cypress, 330-square-meter home on a large, 2,809-square-meter lot lists for just $700,000 (or $750,000 furnished). It comes with a great view of the Catedral ski resort, and, of course, you gain access to this development's First Class amenities -- the 18-hole golf course, polo facilities, clubhouse with 25-meter pool, small boat marina… and it's 15-minutes from one of the largest ski resorts in South America and 25-minutes from an international airport.
- Lakeside living… five minutes from Llao Llao Resort with a view of Isla Victoria. It's rare that homes along the lakes here come on offer -- families pass them down through the generations. But right now there's one for sale on the shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake for just $350,000. Here the gardens are mature and genteel, with huge cypress, holly, and pine trees. Set on a private cul-de-sac, this property includes a 120-square-meter home (not brand new, but in good condition and with a new roof in 2007). There's a separate garage as well as a studio apartment. Here you're just 20 minutes to downtown Bariloche and the ski resort. Would make an excellent investment opportunity.
And, tourism isn’t the only industry you’ll want to look into in Bariloche. This part of Patagonia is mineral-rich and has large tracts of standing timber as well.
“Investing in Argentina at this time would be a medium to long-term investment. It would be easy for investors to turn away from Argentina. Easy, but mistaken. This region of the Andes has immense natural resources -- especially minerals and oil -- and growing markets for energy, communications, and consumer goods.”
From Q&A with Jim Collins,
President of Alpine Associates Ltd.,
firsttracksonline.com
A Napa Valley for pennies on the dollar
We will also spend two nights in Mendoza, Argentina’s wine capital. We'll check into the lovely, old-world Park Hyatt, with its beautifully restored 19th-century Spanish colonial façade, top-flight service, and rich mahogany woodwork. This is the top hotel in the area with wonderful restaurants, including a delightful patio café. It also has a luxurious spa where you can spend an entire afternoon being pampered for the cost of just one treatment in the U.S.
Here you'll have time to relax… stroll the splendor of the Plaza de la Independencia, on which the hotel sits… and enjoy the city.
On our first night in this city of wine, we've arranged for a culinary experience unlike any other. You’ll dine at Francis Mallman's “1884,” which the British newspapers The Times and The Daily Telegraph call the seventh-best restaurant in the world.
The Argentine way is to grill on wood rather than charcoal, and Mallman is brilliant at it. This will be a spectacular dinner with wine equal to the menu.
The question quickly becomes, which wine to drink? We recommend: When in Mendoza, drink Malbec.
 According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, Argentina’s exports of wine have increased over 50% in the last few years to the U.S. market alone, and Malbec is leading the way.
Malbec is a French grape, and the French used it for blended wines, adding color and tannins. Not here. Malbec is king, and now even the French are proudly displaying the name on their bottles, following Argentina’s profitable lead.
Of course we will take a full day to see what all the buzz is about.
We will explore the Valle de Uco area, where you'll find a large stretch of vineyards belonging to the major Argentine and foreign wineries. The Uco, at the foot of the Andes, is blessed with a climate that encourages high-quality wines.
We will have the opportunity to visit this area with Steve and Andres Rosberg. Here we will not only get a chance to see their project -- Los Arbolitos -- but we will visit some of the most famous wineries in Argentina, including Michele Rolland’s Clos de Siete. (The vineyards of Clos de Siete neighbor Los Arbolitos).
Traveling to Valle de Uco with Andres (President of the Argentine Sommelier association) is a special treat, since all of the top winemakers in the region know him personally and always extend a warm welcome to all of his guests.
My visit to the Valle de Uco last fall confirmed that it is rapidly becoming Argentina's Napa Valley -- in every sense. There are vintners from Europe and the U.S. producing top wines, international tourism has taken off, there are a number of lovely lodges, spas, and restaurants to delight in -- and several real estate projects that can allow you a foothold here.
In addition, I was struck on my recent visit to China that Argentine Malbec had been discovered by the Chinese -- it was on the wine list in almost every one of the fine restaurants I ate in. With China now buying Malbec, the need for grapes in this most fertile valley is surely poised to increase substantially over the years to come. On our program, we'll show you how you can position yourself to take advantage of that great potential growth.
On this trip, will have the opportunity to invest in shares of one of the most up-and-coming wine valleys in the world -- for a small fraction of what it would cost you to do so in Napa Valley (if you could even find shares of a vineyard in Napa).
"Thanks to the large influx of Europeans over the previous two centuries, Argentina is now one of the most European countries in the world. That translates into classic architecture and a largely sophisticated and homogenous populace.
"Simply put, there’s simply less cultural friction, reducing the Forever War to what you choose to watch on CNN. This reality is not lost on wealthy Europeans, who are flocking to the place and who will help drive up the prices of your real estate down there. I think it’s of critical importance to have a comfortable crib outside your home."
— Doug Casey
To Argentina's Northwest for Family Vineyards in Salta…
and Real Estate for the Discerning Investor
Most travelers don’t get up to the wine valleys of Cafayate (in the Salta province in northwestern Argentina). But we will take the opportunity to seek out even more investment opportunities -- and enjoy some glorious wines, as well.
This area is famous for its lovely colonial architecture… and for its extraordinary wines. The soil is profoundly fertile here, and the wines being produced in this region are some of the nation's very best.
We'll overnight at the brand new Cafayate Wine Resort. This hotel sits right in the middle of a vineyard. This evening we will enjoy a special wine from this area -- Torrontes (my personal favorite) and dinner.
Over the next couple of days, we'll visit wineries and then stop as well at a premier development. Bill Bonner, President of Agora Inc. and founder of The Daily Reckoning and his long-time associate, Doug Casey, are part of a group helping to guide the development of a world-class community in this area, one of Argentina's best-kept secrets. Cafayate is a valley flush with vineyards and blessed with idyllic, Spring-like weather year-round.
While we're there, we'll lunch at the house of a local dignitary, sample many of the region's fine wines, and tour Bill and Doug's project, Estancia de Cafayate, too.
It's situated within casual strolling distance of the main plaza of Cafayate and provides spectacular mountain views, acres of vineyards, and abundantly flowing water. Horses, llamas, and sheep graze throughout the property, giving it a truly special feel. And the plans here call for particularly high-end amenities including pools, stables, and an 18-hole golf course.
Cafayate: Where the World's Top
Winemaker is Practicing His Craft
"You would expect Cafayate to be an extremely hot place, especially as it is nowhere near any major body of water. In fact, Cafayate is about as far from the equator (on the South side) as Cuba is (on the North side). But, because of its altitude and the almost total lack of humidity (thanks to the Andes mountains), Cafayate is remarkably temperate during the day and frequently quite cool at night.
"These features, along with massive amounts of water from artesian wells, make Cafayate truly exceptional. There are blue skies here more than 300 days of the year and the weather is essentially always the same -- warm during the day cool at night. Add this climate together with dry, rocky, mineral-rich soil, and you see why Cafayate is one of the best places in the entire world to grow highly concentrated grapes for winemaking.
"Although Mendoza (a few hundred miles to the South) is better known as Argentina 's "wine country," the world's elite winemakers have focused their recent efforts on Cafayate.
"Michael Rolland, who is indisputably the world's top winemaker, has been working in the Cafayate vineyards of the Etchart family. The wine he made there, from their San Pedro de Yacochuya vineyard, is one of the most sought after bottles in the world.
"Rolland makes wine at the top estates in Bordeaux and Napa , where his bottles sell for hundreds of dollars apiece -- or even thousands of dollars apiece. But it's fair to say that he's fallen in love with Argentina: 'If there is anywhere a place that encompasses the perfect match of climate, soil, costs, human resources, and above all, freedom for creativity and minimal bureaucracy to hinder the genuine development of a new and exceptional viticulture, that place is undoubtedly Argentina.'
"If you're interested in wine, rent or buy the movie Mondovino, which takes a critical look at the impact Rolland has had on the global wine industry and follows him to Cafayate.”
-- Porter Stansberry, Editor,
Porter Stansberry's Investment Advisory
From the town of Cafayate we will travel by motor coach to the city of Salta through the red rock mountains. This is one of the most scenic drives in Argentina. Salta City is really more of a town than a city. The scale is welcoming, and we'll overnight in a historic boutique hotel.
This is the heart of the country’s mining district, so here in Salta we will get a chance to meet with one of the mining companies over dinner.
Waterfront living with a timbered twist
In the province of Misiones is where you will find the forestry projects in Argentina. One that we like is La Negra forestry project, one of the most exciting investment opportunities in South America.
On this trip we won’t have time to visit the project personally. However, Steve Rosberg will give you the full run-down on this opportunity while in Buenos Aires. Suffice it to say it offers a tax-efficient way to grow wealth outside the stock market, provides a smart means of diversification for your portfolio, gives you an opportunity to enjoy your investment for recreation, and even offers the possibility of permanent Argentinean residency…
When you buy lakeside property here, you gain not only land on which you could build your dream home or a vacation retreat to enjoy a few weeks or months a year, but also included is forestry land. And that's a good thing.
You see, the hardwood from Argentina is much sought-after, and the price for wood standing in the field has tripled here, in U.S.-dollar terms, over the last five years. And with timber shortages in Brazil and China, this trend shows no signs of slowing.
"I invested in the La Negra Project because It seemed like such a good deal compared to anything that I could invest in in the United States. The way I look at it, I'm buying 80 acres worth of real estate... in a great location on a 900-square-mile lake. The 2-hectare lot on the lake... is just icing on the cake. When I compare that real estate to the condo I sold in the United States to fund it makes it even clearer. My condo was worth 2.8 units or 224 acres at La Negra. It is just a 1,100-square-foot unit in a resort, that come with all kinds of ownership fees. I'll take La Negra deals when ever I can find them."
Bob Ohlwiler,
Participant in Opportunity Travel's Argentina Trip, 2005
Your lakefront property here at La Negra is only 30 miles away from Posadas, a modern city of 400,000 people with plenty of amenities. A smaller, historic 300-year-old town is only 10 miles away. The lake offers plenty of leisure activities, so you have quite a luxury lifestyle to look forward to.
Spectacular Glaciers
This trip we have also decided to venture down to the small town of Calafate, so see the wonders of the glaciers. We will spend two nights here in a lovely lodge, and do some trekking on the glaciers as well. (If you choose not to join us for these two nights at the end of our journey, we'll miss you… but just let us know when you reserve your spot, and we'll make arrangements for you to opt out of this glacier excursion.)
Uruguay – Montevideo and Punta del Este –
a Beautiful South American City and a
High-End Beachside Resort
Plus Banking Secrecy, too…
Before we wend our way through Argentina and uncover its many offerings -- both for enjoyment and investment -- we'll spend a few days poking around Uruguay. I encourage you to join us. It would be a real pity to come this far and miss this astonishingly beautiful (and opportunity-rich) nation.
Although a small country, Uruguay is diverse and offers a wide variety of possibilities -- for business, pleasure, living, and retiring.
Two areas in particular stand out: Montevideo (the Capital city), and Punta del Este (the Monte Carlo of South America) along with its surrounding small towns, including the quaint Colonial del Sacramento, right on the sea.
Explore Real Estate in Old World Montevideo and Chic Punta del Este
In Montevideo, we'll stay at the new deluxe Radisson Montevideo Victoria Plaza Hotel. Stylish and warm, the hotel houses large and comfortable guest rooms with classic French-style furnishings and panoramic city and river views.
On the 25th floor is the Arcadia restaurant, which Frommers cites as "the city's most elegant dining room."
Montevideo is smaller than Buenos Aires, but it has a surprising cultural diversity and is a picturesque blend of colonial Spanish, Italian, and Art Deco styles.
In fact, many wealthy Argentines come here to relax during the summer break and bask on the white sandy beaches of nearby Punta del Este.
Montevideo is a medium-large cosmopolitan city, with great infrastructure, and a fantastic use of its beaches. It also boasts one of the best old cities in South America, with the best investment opportunities at this point. You can purchase a whole 8000-square-foot French style or Colonial style building for $350,000. Or if you prefer a smaller property, $50,000 will get you a two-bedroom apartment in a colonial house.
Punta del Este has a Mediterranean feel. Thousands of holidaymakers from South America’s upper classes descend upon Punta del Este during the two months of high season, January and February. On our journey there, we'll show you how you can join them… or simply position yourself to profit from that upper-crust trend.
Learn How You Can Take Advantage of Uruguay as a Banking Haven
Something else I should mention about Uruguay as well: It's a banking haven you shouldn't overlook. Strict banking-secrecy laws have been in effect since 1982, and there's no history of deposit expropriation, freezing, or forcing exchange.
It's easy to open an account here, where there are no special requirements for foreign nationals or non-residents.
Plus this is a relatively easy place to gain residency and citizenship as well. (Yes, you can be a dual citizen of the US and Uruguay.) You need only a clean police record, a birth certificate, a certificate certifying your health, and proof you can support yourself (just $500 a month will do it). And after four years of residency (which needn't be full-time), you're eligible for citizenship.
We'll explore all of this -- and more -- in March. To reserve your place, simply click below now or call Opportunity Travel at (800) 926-6575.
The price? In truth, it should cost much more…
By now you may be wondering what this adventure costs. The truth is, I’m not charging nearly as much as I should, especially considering the exclusivity of the trip…
…private chartered flights… 5-star hotels… meals in some of the world’s best restaurants… wine tasting in the premiere vineyards of the New World …
 …and first-name introductions to my business contacts… not to mention investment opportunities that could make you very wealthy indeed…
No, the price isn’t very high for what you’ll get out of it: The price for the entire tour is $8,997 per person based on double occupancy, with a $1,947 single supplement if you’re traveling alone (though we can often provide a roommate, if you should desire one)…
Let me remind you, only 16 people total will be able to join this adventure, and we have more than 100 people on our "inquiries" list, waiting for this detailed tour brochure. Point is: I expect it to fill up very quickly as it has in the past. So I encourage you to call me today to reserve your place.
Tango… antiquing… … wine tasting… dinners by candlelight (from a mountaintop no less)… Andes sightseeing… pristine forests and glacial lakes…
…bargain Buenos Aires apartments… lakefront forestry development… your very own vineyard… Patagonian vacation homes…
It simply doesn’t get any better than this. A luxury travel experience is yours for the taking -- a travel experience that could ensure a luxury lifestyle for the rest of your days.
Please make sure to click below or call me today to reserve your place. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this expedition sells out completely within a handful of days.
Join me for our real-asset investing adventure. I look forward to seeing you there and encourage you to reserve your place now!
Sincerely,
 P.S.You may not be aware of it, but your IRA or 401(k) can invest in much more that just mutual funds, stocks, and bonds.
In fact, many of the investments you'll learn about on this expedition can qualify, including foreign real estate, for instance.
And that's not all -- so can bullion, certain gold coins, loan notes, corporate paper, options, trusts, LLCs, and corporations.
This offers you a way to diversify your portfolio today with real assets uncorrelated to Wall Street's shifting moods… assets that could provide tax-deferred income in many cases.
When you sign on for our expedition, we'll send you more information about the qualifying investments you'll learn about.
This can be a strategically important way for you to both diversify your holdings as well as grow and protect your wealth, tax-deferred.
P.P.S. For more details and to talk to me or one of my Opportunity Travel staff today about this upcoming program, please don't hesitate to call: 1-800-926-6575 or 1-561-243-6276 or to email: info@opportunity-travel.com. |
