Argentina

The Argentine Lake District

Argentine Lake District
Villa la Angostura
San Martin de los Andes
San Martin de los Andes

Why visit the Argentine Lake District

While Patagonia’s glaciers often steal the headlines, Argentina’s Lake District is where many of our favourite journeys unfold. Stretching from Villa La Angostura to San Martín de los Andes, this is a landscape of sapphire lakes, ancient coihue forests and snow-capped volcanoes, best explored at an unhurried pace.

It’s a region that rewards curiosity. Spend the morning fly fishing on a pristine river, take a private boat across a glacial lake to a hidden hiking trail or ride with local gauchos through forested valleys. Stay in characterful lodges overlooking the water, enjoy long lunches showcasing Patagonian lamb, trout and local wines, then end the day beside an open fire as the mountains glow in the evening light.

For those looking to venture further, there are many ways to combine the Chilean and Argentine sides of the Andes at this point. With lakes and volcanoes to line the way, every crossing point is quite simply spectacular.

The Lake District is also one of Argentina’s finest year-round destinations, combining beautifully with Mendoza, Buenos Aires or southern Patagonia. Elegant, understated and wonderfully varied, it offers a slower, more immersive side of the country that many visitors overlook.

San Martin de los Andes

Highlights of the Argentine Lake District

  • Stay in remarkable lodges: From elegant lakeside retreats to secluded Relais & Châteaux properties hidden among ancient forests, the Lake District is home to some of Argentina’s most characterful places to stay.
  • The Seven Lakes Route: Travel one of South America’s most beautiful scenic roads, weaving through national parks, emerald forests and sparkling lakes with opportunities to stop for walks, picnics and spectacular viewpoints.
  • Adventure at your own pace: Hike to hidden waterfalls, kayak across mirror-like lakes, horse ride with local gauchos or spend a day fly fishing on pristine rivers renowned for their wild trout.
  • A landscape shaped by volcanoes: Snow-capped peaks, ancient forests and glacial lakes create one of Patagonia’s most varied landscapes, where every bend in the road reveals another unforgettable panorama.
  • Exceptional food and wine: Feast on Patagonian lamb, smoked trout, wild mushrooms and artisan chocolate, accompanied by craft beers and cool-climate wines produced in northern Patagonia.
  • A different side of Patagonia: While the south is defined by glaciers and open steppe, the Lake District offers a greener, gentler Patagonia, where boutique lodges, beautiful scenery and unhurried exploration take centre stage.
Real outlaws

After fleeing the United States, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid spent several years living in Argentine Patagonia. They even ran a ranch near Cholila in the Lake District, where they were said to be well-liked by their neighbours before returning to a life on the run. Today, you can still visit the cabin where the infamous outlaws once lived.

Teutonic influence

Much of Argentina’s Lake District was shaped by German, Swiss and Austrian immigrants who settled here during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Their influence is still evident today in the region’s alpine architecture, artisan chocolate shops, craft breweries and mountain lodges, giving towns such as San Carlos de Bariloche a distinctly Central European feel in the heart of Patagonia.

Good to know

Getting to the Lake District

The main hub for the region is the town of Bariloche which is well served by domestic flights from across Argentina.

Alternatively, many people arrive from the Chilean side of the Andes which makes for a stunning journey.

When to go

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OUR FAVOURITE TIME TO VISIT

This region can very easily be visited at any time of the year. While winter (July to September) offers some incredible skiing, it is in spring and autumn that the colours in the valleys and hiking trails become something really special.

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