Pucon San Martin de los Andes Bariloche Puerto Varas
A breathtaking road trip to explore the glorious Andean scenery of the Lake District from both sides of the border. From Temuco, you collect a pick-up truck and set off to discover breathtaking national parks and snow-capped volcanoes, zigzagging across the border along magnificent mountain passes. The roads are long, wide and empty and the self-drive experience truly out of this world!
Itinerary Highlights
Walking in Huerquehue National Park
Driving the Tromen Pass
The stunning 7-Lakes Drive to Bariloche
Lake Nahuel Huapi & the Enchanted Valley
Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Rapids
What’s included
Private tours for most included activities
Meet & greet airport service
Luxury or boutique accommodation at your chosen level
Expert guides in each destination
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.
10
Nights
Price Guide
Price on request
Our quotes are bespoke for your customised trip. The prices displayed are indicative only, read more
Day 1
Fly to Chile
Day 2-3
Pucon & Volcano Villarica
After a short flight south to Temuco, you will collect a suitable vehicle for the start of your wonderful cross-border driving trip that takes you through the magnificent Andean mountains, volcanoes and forests that straddles the border with Argentina. Your first days are spent exploring the national parks surrounding Chile’s adventure capital Pucon. Scenic drives aside, there is excellent walking, biking, rafting and riding in the Huerquehue and Conguillio National Parks, while for thrill-seekers, the hike up Volcano Villarica is unmissable! From the summit, the views across the Andean range are extraordinary matched only by the sight of molten lava bubbling away in the dark depths of the crater!
Day 4-5
The Tromen Pass & San Martin de los Andes
Drive the spectacular Tromen Pass into Argentina and onto the pretty resort town of San Martin de Los Andes. Towards the border, the lush Valdivian rainforest is replaced by forests of iconic monkey puzzle trees which sit amidst ancient lava flows on the shoulder of the stunning Lanin Volcano. In San Martin, you have a day to recover from the drive or you may prefer to visit the beautiful Lake Huechulafquen or enjoy scenic walks overlooking Lake Lacar.
Day 6-7
Bariloche & Nahuel Huapi National Park
Your journey continues onto the tourist centre of Bariloche along one of Argentina’s most famous and scenic routes, the iconic “Seven Lakes Drive”. The road meanders past a chain of picturesque lakes and densely forested lagoons under the shadow of the towering Andes. You will stay at a lodge overlooking Lake Nahuel Huapi and have a day to explore the area. There are wonderful viewpoints accessed by chairlifts up Cerro Campanario or Cerro Catedral mountains, breathtaking boat-trips out on the lake and excellent walking trails. Back in the car, you can drive the picturesque “Circuito Chico” driving loop, venture into the eerie rock formations of the “Enchanted Valley” or head further afield to the “black glacier” of Mount Tronador.
Day 8-9
Puerto Varas & the Chilean Lake District
Today, you complete the driving loop by recrossing the border into Chile. Your destination is the pretty Germanic town of Puerto Varas perched on the banks of Lake Llanquihue overlooking the Volcanoes Osorno, Calbuco and Puntiagudo which loom high on the far shores. For your final day, you may like to visit the Volcano Osorno and the famous Petrohue Rapids or for a change of scenery, take a ferry across to the fascinating emerald islands of Chiloé rich in wildlife and traditional heritage.
Day 10
End of the driving trip
Drive to the airport, hand back the car and take a flight to Santiago (or Punta Arenas) for onward connections.
Day 11
Fly home
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 Price on request
When to travel
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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.
In Argentina, January is usually one of the hottest months of the year with temperatures ranging from 25 to 35 degrees Celsius. It can be quite humid, especially in Buenos Aires, so it's important to stay hydrated and wear light clothing. If you're planning to explore the country during this time, be prepared for some intense heat and seek shade during the hottest parts of the day.
February in Argentina is usually warm with temperatures ranging from 22 to 32 degrees Celsius. While it may not be as hot as January, it's still important to stay hydrated and wear light clothing. The weather is generally pleasant and sunny, making it a great time to explore the country.
In March, Argentina experiences an autumn climate with temperatures ranging between 16 and 27 degrees Celsius. It is generally sunny with occasional cooler days, making it a good time to explore the country without worrying about the scorching heat. It is recommended to wear layers as the temperature can drop at night.
In April, Argentina experiences a mild autumn climate with temperatures ranging between 14 and 23 degrees Celsius. It is generally sunny with occasional cooler days, making it a good time to explore the country without worrying about extreme heat or cold. It is recommended to wear layers as the temperature can still drop at night.
May in Argentina is the beginning of winter, with temperatures ranging from 9 to 18 degrees Celsius. It can be quite chilly, especially at night, so it's recommended to pack warm clothes and layers. Despite the cooler weather, it's still a good time to visit Argentina as there are fewer crowds and the scenery can be quite stunning.
In June, Argentina experiences the heart of winter with temperatures ranging from 6 to 14 degrees Celsius. It can be quite cold, especially at night, so it's important to pack warm clothes and layers to stay comfortable. Despite the cooler temperatures, June is still a great time to visit Argentina as there are fewer crowds and the scenery is still breathtaking.
In July, Argentina experiences winter with temperatures ranging from 5 to 13 degrees Celsius. It can be quite chilly, particularly in the evenings, so it's important to bring warm clothing and layers to stay comfortable. Despite the cooler temperatures, July is still a great time to visit Argentina as there are fewer tourists and the scenery is still stunning.
In August, Argentina experiences a milder winter with temperatures ranging from 6 to 16 degrees Celsius. While still cool, it's not as chilly as July and visitors can still enjoy the beautiful scenery without having to worry too much about the cold. It's still recommended to bring layers for the evenings, but overall, August is a great time to visit Argentina.
In September, Argentina experiences a gradual increase in temperature with highs ranging from 14 to 20 degrees Celsius. The evenings can still be cool, so it's best to bring layers, but overall, the weather is pleasant for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
During October, Argentina experiences a slight increase in temperature with highs ranging from 16 to 22 degrees Celsius. The evenings can still be cool, so it's best to bring layers, but overall, the weather is pleasant for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
In November, Argentina's temperature starts to rise again with highs ranging from 20 to 27 degrees Celsius. The weather is generally warm and sunny, making it an excellent time for outdoor activities. However, it's still advisable to bring some layers for cooler evenings.
In December, the weather in Argentina is generally warm with temperatures ranging from 21 to 30 degrees Celsius. It's a great time to explore the outdoors and enjoy the sunshine, but it's also a good idea to bring some layers for cooler evenings.
Add on’s
Note: – Though self-drive, the itinerary can be fully escorted – There is an alternative driving loop through the spectacular private reserve of Huilo Huilo. Please contact us for more information.
If you love the feeling of freedom as you drive across lonely mountain passes through breathtaking national parks, why stop with just the Lake District? Continuing south past Bariloche, you can drive a larger loop that takes in Chile’s wonderful Carretera Austral and picturesque fjords of Pumalin Park. Or, with an extra 2 weeks, you can take on Patagonia’s ultimate driving trip and heads towards the wilds of Argentina’s Mount Fitzroy and the magnificent Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. No driving trip will ever be the same again!
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