The Southern Lakes Circuit

Argentina - Chile

Departures: From October through May

Meals: Breakfast. Air Fare: Not included.

The region of the lakes is a group of National Parks of incredible beauty. Vast extensions of virgin forest surround innumerable lakes, with a remarkable frame of the Cordillera Austral Patagónica where nature offers a different scenery for each season of the year.

Day 1 - Bariloche

Reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at Edelweiss Hotel. Balance of the day at leisure.

Day 2 - Bariloche / Villa La Angostura

Continental breakfast. Departure from Bariloche city, along Nahuel Huapi Lake up to Villa La Angostura, passing by Puerto Manzano, set in a lovely spot, surrounded by beaches, and Península Huemul with its impressive wood of Cipresses and Coihues. Visit of the Villa La Angostura and accommodation at La Posada inn or Espejo Lake inn, both located by the lakes.

Day 3 - Villa La Angostura

Continental breakfast. Day at leisure to enjoy some of these two excrusions:

a) Navigation from the Villa's pier to the Arrayanes Wood (Myrtle Wood). Sail for half an hour until Quetrihue pier, located in the south of the same-named peninsula. Disembark to admire the marvelous myrtle woods, whose trees have an average of 18 meters high. Nahuel Huapi National Park protects this unique myrtle woods. Those who want to can return to Villa La Angostura walking, going through 12 km of a cypress, cohiues, radales and palo santo woods.

b) Bayo Mount excursion: the chair lift used in winter to transport skiers, transport to the mount summit. Once there mountain bikes are provideded as well as the necessary equipment to go down the Mount, stopping to take beautiful pictures from the panoramic points. For those who prefer to stay at the foot, a visit to Rio Bonito Cascade (36 m high) in the middle of the wood is available. Return to hotel.

Day 4 - Lago Espejo

Continental breakfast. Departure on a half day tour to Villa Traful. Along the "7 lakes road", bordering the Espejo Lake and passing by Portezuelo, we will finally reach the lake and Villa Traful with typical picturesque mountain constructions, most of which are wooden with roof tiles and ample gardens with natural fences. There we’ll taste a typical tea with cakes in a local house. Return to hotel.

Day 5 - Villa La Angostura / Puerto Varas

Continental breakfast. Departure on a regular bus to the Chilean border up to Paso Puyehue, where it is possible to cross the frontier by land, climbing the imposing Cordillera de los Andes up to 1.308 m. On the Chilean side we find Termas de Puyehue and a hotel with the same name, and further along, the city of Osorno. Continue to Puerto Varas, passing by Puyehue Thermal waters and Osorno City. Accommodation at Cabaña del Lago Hotel.

Day 6 - Puerto Varas

Continental breakfast. Departure on a tour to Frutillar, a charming German style village located by the Llanquihue Lake and with a spectacular view of the Osorn Volcanoe. Housing the most complete museum in the area, which exhibits samples and relics from the German pioneers. Return to hotel.

Day 7 - Pto. Varas / Lakes Crossing / Bariloche

Continental breakfast. Departure from Puerto Varas by bus to Petrohue where the Navigation by the Andes mountains starts in one of the last ecological reserves left in the world. Embark on a boat sailing the Todos los Santos Lake up to Peulla. From there, continue to Puerto Blest passing through Puerto Frias and Puerto Alegre. Navigation of the Blest arm of the Nahuel Huapi lake arriving at Puerto Pañuelo pier. Transfer by bus to San Carlos de Bariloche. Accommodation at Edelweiss Hotel.

Day 8 - Bariloche

Continental breakfast. Transfer to local airport.