Boat trips on Lago Nahuel Huapi

Bosque de Arrayanes

A popular boat trip is across to Lago Nahuel Huapi to Isla Victoriaand Bosque de Arrayanes, where these rare myrtle trees with their twisting cinnamon-coloured trunks create a magical fairy tale atmosphere. The bosquecan also be visited by boat or on foot from Villa La Angosturawhich allows you more time in the forest, and a good 13-km hike back.

Puerto Blest

The other great boat trip in the area is the all-day excursion to Puerto Blest, and Cascada los Cantaros, at the western end of Lago Nahuel Huapi, and Lago Frías, visiting native forest and Valdivian rainforest. Highly recommended. This is usually done as a nine-hour trip from Bariloche, leaving at 0900 from Puerto Pañuelo (Km 25.5), and sailing down to fjord-like Puerto Blest, where there's a good hosteríaand restaurant at the end of the lake. Coihue-clad mountains drop steeply into Prussian blue water, and it's usually raining, but very atmospheric. The tour then continues by short bus ride to Puerto Alegreon Lago Frías, and you cross the still, peppermint green lake by launch. From Puerto Blest, the walk through beautiful forest to the Cascada de los Cántaros (one hour) is superb. Set off while the rest of the party stops for lunch, and you'll have time for your picnic by the splendid falls before the crowd arrives by boat. Or walk beyond them up to quiet Lago de los Cántaros, enclosed by vertical granite cliffs.

Boats fill up entirely in high season, and are much more pleasant in December and March. The guardaparquesat Puerto Blest can advise on the many walks from here (and their state), but the seven-hour, 15-km trek to Lago Ortiz Basualdois recommended (mid-December to March only).