Andean Patagonia Route

Bariloche. It is the main tourist destination in Patagonia. Located on the shores of the Nahuel Huapi Lake, Bariloche offers a wide range of services, accommodation and lake and land tours. Each season of the year provides a characteristic colourful landscape and different experiences. From this city, you can visit the south sector of the Nahuel Huapi National Park, or you can visit El Bolsón, Villa La Angostura and other nearby attractions.

San Martín de los Andes. A mountain city surrounded by forests. It has beaches, trails for hiking or biking, boat rides and many adventure activities. It is the starting point to visit the central and northern areas of the Lanín National Park, and to the south, the Route of the Seven Lakes.

Junín de los Andes. From this city, you can access the unique Lanín Volcano. Provincial Route 60 is a paved road surrounded by forests of monkey puzzle trees from where you will be able to see the northern side of the volcano. Likewise, Provincial Route 61 takes you close to the southern side, skirting the Huechulafquen and Paimún Lakes.

Villa La Angostura. 80 km to the north of Bariloche, in this mountain village protected by the Nahuel Huapi National Park, you will be able to watch birds and enjoy adventure experiences, such as horseback riding, biking, kayaking and trekking. Villa La Angostura is the doorway to the Los Arrayanes National Park and is the main southern city of the Route of the Seven Lakes.

El Bolsón. Between Esquel and Bariloche, the city of El Bolsón is a good destination to go for walks in the mountains through its network of portals and trails. El Bolsón invites you to visit Lago Puelo National Park, the Río Azul-Lago Escondido Protected Nature Area and the Epuyén Lake. If you keep travelling south, you will connect Esquel with the Los Alerces National Park.

Esquel. It is the city closest to the Los Alerces National Park, declared a World Heritage Site. Visit its green lakes and rivers, hike to the waterfall and the Alerzal Milenario, a sector of the Valdivian forest with larch trees of more than 2500 years old. To the south, between Esquel and Río Pico, you will find a paradise for trout sport fishing.

Villa Pehuenia and Caviahue. Villa Pehuenia is a mountain village to the north of Neuquén, surrounded by forests of monkey puzzle trees. You can use this village as a base to visit the Aluminé, Moquehue, Ñorquinco and Pulmarí Lakes. About 200 km to the north of Villa Pehuenia, you will find the village of Caviahue, where you can go hiking in its trails, walk in the mountains or just enjoy the Copahue hot springs.

How to get there and move around

To visit the north of the Andean Patagonia (Villa Pehuenia, Moquehue Lake and Caviahue-Copahue), it is best to start from the airport of the capital city of Neuquén. You can access the central area (from Bariloche to San Martín de los Andes) from two different airports: one in San Martín (Chapelco), and the other one in Bariloche. To visit the southern area (El Bolsón, Esquel, Los Alerces National Park, Trevelin), the best airport is the one in Esquel.

You can explore most of this region by car. The main route connecting several of the must-see attractions of the Andean Patagonia is the legendary Route 40, which is completely paved and in good condition. Some secondary routes and the accesses to the lakes and national parks are made of gravel, and it is recommended to check the roads condition in advance.

If you are not travelling by car, you can take tours to most of the attractions. You can visit some circuits by bike. There are also medium and long distance bus services connecting the most important cities and towns.

In winter, it is important to use snow chains and to always check the conditions of secondary routes.

Where to stay

There are several accommodation options in Caviahue, Villa Pehuenia, Moquehue, Aluminé, Junín de los Andes, San Martín de los Andes, Meliquina, Villa Traful, Villa La Angostura, Bariloche, El Bolsón, Lago Puelo, El Hoyo, Trevelin, Esquel, Corcovado and Río Mayo.

There are also several places to camp, as well as cottages, rural accommodation and farms.

When to go

All year round. If you wish to practise winter sports, go between June and September. If you wish to go trekking, biking or enjoy other activities in nature, go between October and April. If you wish to enjoy the beaches and practise some water sports, it is best to go from December to March.

More information: Link to CLIMOGRAPH AND NATURE'S CALENDAR.

Remember

Prevent wildfires: Campfires are prohibited inside all national parks; you can only build a campfire in camping areas with designated fireplaces. Remember to put them out with plenty of water. Make sure to fully extinguish your cigarette butts and dispose of them in a safe place.

Take your trash with you. Help keep the area clean and beautiful.

Given the current health context, it is recommended to find out beforehand what are the entry requirements of the province you are visiting. Some attractions may have capacity limits and require prior reservation.

The weather is changing, even in summer. Take a coat and a raincoat with you, and if you plan to be out in the wild, always take a change of clothes. If you are planning to go hiking, it is important to use proper hiking footwear.

You can hike most of the trails by yourself, but some others require professional guides, experience and technical equipment. Always read the signs, follow the instructions and notify the park ranger if trekking registration is required.

If you travel by car, respect speed limits and remember that if you are driving along mountain roads, there may be sharp curves and steep slopes.