A spectacular journey under the shadow of the Andes as you wind your way through northern Patagonia to explore some Argentina’s most captivating and remote national parks. Experience ever-changing landscapes from millenary red-wood forests and towering glacier-topped mountains to desolate Patagonian steppe and picture-postcard volcanoes draped in monkey puzzle trees.
Itinerary Highlights
What’s included
flexibility
This is an example itinerary. It is fully flexible; you can add or detract days and include hotels at your chosen budget. It departs daily.
09
Nights
Arrive Argentina
esquel & Los Huemules Mountain Lodge
Fly south to the remote frontier town of Esquel on the northern edge of Argentina’s lonely Chubut province framed by magnificent Andean peaks and desolate Patagonian steppe. Stay at the Los Huemules Mountain Reserve, the first of its kind in the area and a wonderful tented camp surrounded by 6200 hectares of wild Andean Forests, raging rivers and snowcapped granite peaks. All meals and excursions are included at Los Huemules and on arrival, you will sit down with a guide and discuss the activities available for the days ahead. Options include walking, riding and biking – all tailored to your interests and energy-levels. If you are feeling fit, you may like to aim for the summit of La Torta where you can enjoy an unforgettable 360 degrees panoramic view of the Los Alerces National Park and the glaciers on the distant Cordillera de los Andes.
Los Alerces NP – Argentina’s giant redwoods
After breakfast, bid farewell to Los Huemules and return to Esquel. Here, you will collect a vehicle and drive into the magnificent Los Alerces National Park, one of Argentina’s natural wonders. This UNESCO World Heritage Site protects some 250,000 hectares of virgin forests, mountains, lakes and tumbling waterfalls and is one of the last havens of the millenary Alerce tree. Based at a simple lodge within the park framed by gorgeous scenery, you will spend a day exploring this glorious Patagonian wilderness. There is a good network of trails that lead to panoramic viewpoints – crossing the suspension bridge to heavenly Lago Verde is unmissable! Alternatively, why not join a cruise across the glassy Lake Menendez to reach the millenary Alerce forests and Torrecillas Glacier?
The long & winding road to Bariloche
Leaving Los Alerces National Park behind, you will hit the road and drive some 4 hours north to reach Bariloche, the regional captal. On route, lush mountainscapes are soon replaced by huge skies and wild desolate Patagonian steppe under the shadow of the distant Andes. Just past Epuyen, you re-enter the towering mountains and weave past Lakes Mascardi and Gutierrez to reach the city. Bariloche is a popular tourist hub that offers all manner of adventures – from hiking, biking and paddling to rafting, riding and climbing. Or, you can simply kick back and enjoy a relaxing cruise across the glassy waters of Lake Nahuel Huapi.
San Martin & the iconic 7 Lakes Drive
Your adventure continues as you take on the famous Seven Lakes Road, one of the prettiest routes in Argentina. The highway shadows the soaring Andes and weaves through mountains, forests, lakes and waterfalls. There are countless viewpoints to drink it all in and trails to explore. As you approach San Martin de los Andes, picture-postcard Lanin Volcano comes into a view, one of Patagonia’s famous landmarks which straddles the border with Chile. In contrast to Bariloche, San Martin is a small, pretty resort overlooking Lake Lacar and generally overlooked by most visitors. Enjoy a cruise on the lake or better still, explore Lake Huechulaufquen and Lanin National Park where you can get up and close to the iconic Monkey Puzzle Trees that define the region.
Note: San Martin de los Andes sits close to the border and you may like to continue your driving trip across into Chile via the breathtaking Tromen Pass.
Drive to the airport & return the car
A note on price
The prices outlined above are a rough guide to give you an idea of costs and enable you to budget for your trip.
Guide prices are generally for private arrangements based on twin share, in well located, good quality accommodation (excluding international flights).
Please note costs are indicative and may vary due to a number of factors such as; travel date, hotel choice, room category, number of people travelling and prevailing exchange rates.
Price Guide $POA per person
When to travel
Argentina’s weather is as diverse as the country’s landscapes. In the far south, temperatures reach the high teens during the spring and summer months of November to March (best time to visit) though can drop close to zero at night. Due to its latitude, days are long – 16 hours of light in December which contrasts with around 8 hours in mid-winter when temperatures run close to zero during the day and sub-zero at night. Heading north, the Lake District follows a similar pattern though is warmer over 20° in the summer and wettest in March/April though with beautiful autumnal colours. Buenos Aires and central Argentina enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate with annual highs of 30° while the subtropical north is very hot and sticky with tempestuous downpours during the summer months – Iguazu Falls are particularly impressive in January in February though often the sheer volume of water and surrounding mist shroud the view.
Add on’s
San Martin de los Andes sits close to the border and you may like to continue your driving trip across the breathtaking Tromen Pass to reach Pucon, the adventure capital of Chile. This could then add an additional driving loop that takes in Puerto Varas/Huilo Huilo and surrounds before you return the car to Bariloche. Better still, why not start the driving trip in Chile and negotiate wild mountain roads and ferry-crossings to reach Pumalin Park and Futaleufu before crossing the border into Argentina and Esquel? At the end, you would then need cross the picturesque Cardenal Antonio Samoré Pass back into Chile to return the car.
Alternatively, you could take the bus across the border or return to Bariloche which would them lead you on nicely to Calafate, El Chalten and the Torres del Paine National Park.
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