South of Esquel

Río Pico

Río Pico lies in a wide green valley close to the Andes and has become quietly known among trout-fishing circles as a very desirable place to fish. It is the site of an early 20th-century German settlement and some old houses remain from that period. Nearby are several lakes, good for fishing and free camping, ask locals for hitching; the northern shore of Lago Tres, 23 km west of town, is a peaceful and remote place, with a rich birdlife and wild strawberries at the end of January. Some 30 km north of Río Pico lies the huge Lago Vintter, reached by Route 44. There are also smaller lakes good for trout fishing. Permits are available from the municipalidadin Gobernador Costa.