San Martín de los Andes and the Seven Lakes Day Trip from Bariloche
Venture along the Road of the Seven Lakes from Bariloche to San Martín de los Andes, a charming mountain town situated between Andean peaks on the picturesque shores of glacial Lácar Lake. Your scenic coach trip takes you past vivid landscapes of natural beauty, including Nahuel Huapi Lake and the stunning seven, with commentary from your guide along the way. Enjoy a brief stop in Villa La Angostura plus three hours of free time to explore lovely San Martín!
Start your journey north to San Martín de los Andes from San Carlos de Bariloche upon hotel pickup by your guide. Relax aboard the comfortable coach, driving along the scenic southern shore of Nahuel Huapi Lake and crossing the Limay Bridge over the Limay River. En route, your guide will offer commentary on the natural and historical features of the region.Bordering the Huemul arm of the lake's northern shore, pass Las Flores and Puerto Manzano with a brief stopover in the mountain town of Villa La Angostura. Here, stretch your legs and breathe in the fresh mountain air before continuing on the provincial route. (You can purchase snacks at several stops along the way, or bring your own food to eat.)Following the picturesque Road of the Seven Lakes, take in the spectacular sights of lakes Espejo, Correntoso, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner and Machonico before arriving at the shores of Lácar Lake (Lago Lácar), where the charming town of San Martín de los Andes is nestled between high mountain peaks.You’ll have about three hours to spend at your leisure in San Martín, including time to purchase lunch at one of the plentiful restaurants (own expense). Stroll through downtown streets teeming with arts and crafts shops and gear-rental stores that specialize in a range of outdoor activities – from hiking, biking, boating and skiing to hunting and fishing. As you walk around, admire the lovely character of San Martín and the Swiss Alpine architectural style of its wood cabins and quaint shops.On your return trip, the road goes through Cordoba Pass (Paso Cordoba) at an elevation of 3,940 feet (1,200 meters) and features a typical Patagonian landscape. See the confluence of the Traful and Limay rivers, the Valle Encantado (Enchanted Valley) and the Anfiteatro (a natural amphitheater) before arrival back in Bariloche around 5pm.
Today we are to see the Seven Lakes district for an all day private excursion with an English-speaking guide. Dirk Gerhards, a private guide of tourism and a native German, living now in Bariloche, picked us up at the hotel at about 8:45 am for a 10-hour big circle of the lake district and state park.
This is an beautiful circuit that takes you through grand beauty and many microclimates. It starts with arid, glacial plains morraine to a cold rainforest, all within a short distance.
Venture along the Road of the Seven Lakes from Bariloche to San Martín de los Andes, a charming mountain town situated between Andean peaks on the picturesque shores of glacial Lácar Lake. Your scenic coach trip takes you past vivid landscapes of natural beauty, including Nahuel Huapi Lake and the stunning seven, with commentary from your guide along the way. Enjoy a brief stop in Villa La Angostura plus three hours of free time to explore lovely San Martín!
Start your journey north to San Martín de los Andes from San Carlos de Bariloche upon hotel pickup by your guide. Relax aboard the comfortable coach, driving along the scenic southern shore of Nahuel Huapi Lake and crossing the Limay Bridge over the Limay River. En route, your guide will offer commentary on the natural and historical features of the region.Bordering the Huemul arm of the lake's northern shore, pass Las Flores and Puerto Manzano with a brief stopover in the mountain town of Villa La Angostura. Here, stretch your legs and breathe in the fresh mountain air before continuing on the provincial route. (You can purchase snacks at several stops along the way, or bring your own food to eat.)Following the picturesque Road of the Seven Lakes, take in the spectacular sights of lakes Espejo, Correntoso, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner and Machonico before arriving at the shores of Lácar Lake (Lago Lácar), where the charming town of San Martín de los Andes is nestled between high mountain peaks.You’ll have about three hours to spend at your leisure in San Martín, including time to purchase lunch at one of the plentiful restaurants (own expense). Stroll through downtown streets teeming with arts and crafts shops and gear-rental stores that specialize in a range of outdoor activities – from hiking, biking, boating and skiing to hunting and fishing. As you walk around, admire the lovely character of San Martín and the Swiss Alpine architectural style of its wood cabins and quaint shops.On your return trip, the road goes through Cordoba Pass (Paso Cordoba) at an elevation of 3,940 feet (1,200 meters) and features a typical Patagonian landscape. See the confluence of the Traful and Limay rivers, the Valle Encantado (Enchanted Valley) and the Anfiteatro (a natural amphitheater) before arrival back in Bariloche around 5pm.
Today we are to see the Seven Lakes district for an all day private excursion with an English-speaking guide. Dirk Gerhards, a private guide of tourism and a native German, living now in Bariloche, picked us up at the hotel at about 8:45 am for a 10-hour big circle of the lake district and state park.
This is an beautiful circuit that takes you through grand beauty and many microclimates. It starts with arid, glacial plains morraine to a cold rainforest, all within a short distance.
The starting point is Bariloche, but it can also be Villa La Angostura. To leave Bariloche you have to take National Route 237 and after 15 km you cross the bridge over the Limay River, the border between the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén.
The Limay River is the border of Patagonia to the north.
Arriving at Rincón Chico you start to board the Limay River until Rincón Grande and the Anfiteatro, a place of a spectacular natural formation. All along this river you can see crystal clear water and great trout fishing areas.
Following Limay River, Route 237 crosses beautiful places until it gets Valle Encantado (58 km from Bariloche approximately). There you can see strange rocks shapes which have received designations as El Dedo de Dios (finger of God), Centinela (Sentinel), Tren Expreso (Express Train), etc. You have to use your imagination. :)
The Limay River is the border of Patagonia to the north.
Arriving at Rincón Chico you start to board the Limay River until Rincón Grande and the Anfiteatro, a place of a spectacular natural formation. All along this river you can see crystal clear water and great trout fishing areas.
Following Limay River, Route 237 crosses beautiful places until it gets Valle Encantado (58 km from Bariloche approximately). There you can see strange rocks shapes which have received designations as El Dedo de Dios (finger of God), Centinela (Sentinel), Tren Expreso (Express Train), etc. You have to use your imagination. :)
Natural Amphitheater caused by an eddy current in the river in times past.
Some kilometers from the valley you get to Confluencia, which was named for being there the place of junction of the Limay and Traful rivers, that is now missing because of the formation of a new dam lake Alicura.
Before crossing the bridge you have to turn left on Route Provintial 65, on the south bank of Traful river. The landscape is initially the same strange rock formations of the Valle Encantado, but Cuyín Manzano at only 5 km, justifies a deviation of only 500 meters to the left to see the encasing the river slopes.
The picturesque bridge over the Minero River is one of the attractions found in the 25 km you travel to reach lake Traful.
Before crossing the bridge you have to turn left on Route Provintial 65, on the south bank of Traful river. The landscape is initially the same strange rock formations of the Valle Encantado, but Cuyín Manzano at only 5 km, justifies a deviation of only 500 meters to the left to see the encasing the river slopes.
The picturesque bridge over the Minero River is one of the attractions found in the 25 km you travel to reach lake Traful.
Crossing a forest, the route borders the lake, and rises up to the viewpoint of Traful, that from about 70 feet high, you can fully enjoy the majestic beauty of the blue lake of the same name. It is very windy at that viewpoint.
Along the way, we crossed the river to a steep canyon where Condor nests can be seen high on the cliffs. We only saw one Condor flying but it was interesting to see where the babies are raised. Condors are much like people in that the mate for life, live about 80 years and raise their children jointly. The are the largest flying birds in the Western hemisphere.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condor
Condor nesting areas. The white spots are the guano of the condors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condor
Condor nesting areas. The white spots are the guano of the condors.
Later, the charming Villa Traful offers great possibilities for ta vacation spot. So far you have traveled 35 km, and continuing, you arrive at the Arrayán Port, a sandy beach on the western edge of the lake.
Then the road goes through the forest that is increasingly moist and dense, leaving the lake to join in the spot El Portezuelo, at 27 km from Villa Traful. This is the highest point of the circuit at 930 meters.
Then the road goes through the forest that is increasingly moist and dense, leaving the lake to join in the spot El Portezuelo, at 27 km from Villa Traful. This is the highest point of the circuit at 930 meters.
The trip was advertised as going to San Martin de los Andes and exploring the town. However, this never happened because our guide turned left at Route 65 and Route 234. If he had turned right, it would have taken about 1.5 hours to get to San Martin de los Andes and 1.5 hours back. In a way, I am not too disappointed that we didn’t go there but again, there was a difference in what was stated in our travel documents and what we received. Our itinery listed by GPVN (Grupo Vision Tours) only listed visits to Traful Village and Agostura Village). I am not certain if we got ripped off or not, but I will email Enchanting Travels to see if there was a cost difference because we didn’t receive what was advertised.
In Villa de Agostura, we also saw distinctive trees called Monkey Puzzle trees. The trees have sexes and the female trees have “balls” on the ends of their branches while the male has small yellow or brown tips at the branch ends.
In Villa de Agostura, we also saw distinctive trees called Monkey Puzzle trees. The trees have sexes and the female trees have “balls” on the ends of their branches while the male has small yellow or brown tips at the branch ends.
Araucaria araucana (Monkey Puzzle Tree) is a conifer of the genus Araucaria, which have 2 native species in South America and 13 more in New Caledonia, New Guinea and Australia.
Araucaria is endemic of Argentina (Neuquén province) and Chile (regions of Bío-Bío, La Araucanía y Los Lagos), and inhabits valleys and hillsides of the northern Andean-Patagonian forests, forming pure or mixed forests with Nothofagus species.
Its long cylindrical branches are arranged themselves in verticils and fall heavily covered with coriaceous sharp deep green colored leaves. The end of the cones, which are the reproductive structures, stand out, and the female ones (solitary balls) differentiate from the male ones (elongated groups).
Their seeds, called “piñones”, have a high carbohydrate content, tasting like chestnuts and may be eaten after boiling or toasting.
It is a dioecious species: female and male cones are found, most usually, in different trees.
It is an important species for the Mapuche people, specially for the Pehuenche ethnic group, as its seeds were a very important component of their diet. They also used the seeds to ferment Chicha, an alcoholic beverage.
Taking the National Route 234, also denominated "seven lakes route", you come to the Lake Espejo (Mirror Lake) for a photo opportunity. Unfortunately for us, the weather was overcast and the mirror was not easily seen. Still it was beautiful. Following 234, you come to a junction where the road will take you into Chile if you turn right.
We turn left and go to a quaint village called Villa La Angostura. In Spanish, this neans narrowness and in fact you can cross this narrow area on foot to walk from the shore of one lake to the other. The beaches are covered with volcanic pumace from an erruption of the Calbuco Volcano in 2015 and 2016. This covered the lakes with floating pumice that was deposited on the shores and land, killing many plants.
https://argentina-travel-blog.sayhueque.com/calbuco-volcano/
http://www.newsweek.com/photos-living-under-volcanic-ash-chile-and-argentina-324432
To finish with this circuit, you have to take left onto Villa La Angostura, at 11 km of distance. This take you back along beautiful beaches. We stopped at one to try some mate with our guide after walking a short distance through a Myrtle Tree grove. The myrtles belong to the Myrtaceae family, which need to live very close to the water in order to develop fully. This geographical spot, of course, offers this vital element for the species. The bark of the myrtles is cold and easily peeled. Fortunately, nature takes charge of dressing them up again and again. Their flowers are delightful, very similar to orange blooms.
Araucaria is endemic of Argentina (Neuquén province) and Chile (regions of Bío-Bío, La Araucanía y Los Lagos), and inhabits valleys and hillsides of the northern Andean-Patagonian forests, forming pure or mixed forests with Nothofagus species.
Its long cylindrical branches are arranged themselves in verticils and fall heavily covered with coriaceous sharp deep green colored leaves. The end of the cones, which are the reproductive structures, stand out, and the female ones (solitary balls) differentiate from the male ones (elongated groups).
Their seeds, called “piñones”, have a high carbohydrate content, tasting like chestnuts and may be eaten after boiling or toasting.
It is a dioecious species: female and male cones are found, most usually, in different trees.
It is an important species for the Mapuche people, specially for the Pehuenche ethnic group, as its seeds were a very important component of their diet. They also used the seeds to ferment Chicha, an alcoholic beverage.
Taking the National Route 234, also denominated "seven lakes route", you come to the Lake Espejo (Mirror Lake) for a photo opportunity. Unfortunately for us, the weather was overcast and the mirror was not easily seen. Still it was beautiful. Following 234, you come to a junction where the road will take you into Chile if you turn right.
We turn left and go to a quaint village called Villa La Angostura. In Spanish, this neans narrowness and in fact you can cross this narrow area on foot to walk from the shore of one lake to the other. The beaches are covered with volcanic pumace from an erruption of the Calbuco Volcano in 2015 and 2016. This covered the lakes with floating pumice that was deposited on the shores and land, killing many plants.
https://argentina-travel-blog.sayhueque.com/calbuco-volcano/
http://www.newsweek.com/photos-living-under-volcanic-ash-chile-and-argentina-324432
To finish with this circuit, you have to take left onto Villa La Angostura, at 11 km of distance. This take you back along beautiful beaches. We stopped at one to try some mate with our guide after walking a short distance through a Myrtle Tree grove. The myrtles belong to the Myrtaceae family, which need to live very close to the water in order to develop fully. This geographical spot, of course, offers this vital element for the species. The bark of the myrtles is cold and easily peeled. Fortunately, nature takes charge of dressing them up again and again. Their flowers are delightful, very similar to orange blooms.
We were then driven back to our hotel in Bariloche.
Tomorrow is a free day to explore the town of Bariloche.
Tomorrow is a free day to explore the town of Bariloche.