La Ruta de los Siete Lagos

The Seven Lakes Drive is the most famous tourist route in the Argentine Lake District. It follows Route 234 through the Lanín and Nahuel Huapi national parks, and passes seven magnificent lakes, all flanked by mixed natural forest and is particularly attractive in autumn (April to May) when the forested slopes turn red and yellow. The road is only partially paved, and mostly decent, apart from a very potholed stretch in the middle, not recommended after heavy rain or snowfall.

The seven lakes are (from south to north): Nahuel Huapi, Correntoso, Espejo, Villarino, Falkner, Machónico and Lácar. Leaving Villa la Angostura, you'll be treated to a superb view of Lago Correntoso, then turn off to reach gorgeous secluded Lago Espejo ('mirror'), or stop for a picnic at least, a few kilometres off the road, with lovely beaches on the lakeshore, before passing the northwestern corner of Lago Traful at Km 58. At Km 77, Route 65 branches off to the east, running along the south shore of Lago Traful through Villa Traful to meet the main Neuquén-Bariloche highway (Route 237) at Confluencia. If you have a couple of days to spare, this is a lovely place to stop. At Pichi Traful, a beautiful spot by the wide green banks of the aquamarine blue river, there's a campsite and picnic ground amidst little beech trees by turquoise water with steeply rising mountains on all sides. Carry on though for the pretty, if exposed, free campsite (with no facilities) by the deep green Río Villarino, and as the road emerges to climb up overlooking the shores of Lago Villarino, you're suddenly shown a welcome open vista of the lake and from here the road is paved. Popular with fishermen, Lago Falkner opposite is wide and open with thickly forested fjord-like mountains descending steeply into it. There's a long narrow sandy beach on the roadside, a good place for a picnic stop, and wild camping, with no facilities, though Camping Lago Falknernearby does have facilities.

You can see the route from the windows of a bus on a round trip excursion from either Bariloche or Villa la Angostura, which will take about five hours, but you may prefer your own transport, so you can stop and explore. Buses will stop at campsites on the route. It's a good route for cycling, you can really appreciate the beauty of the ever-changing landscape, though note that there's more traffic in January and February.