Junín de los Andes

Situated on the Río Chimehuín, the quiet town of Junín de los Andes (773 m) is justifiably known as the trout-fishing capital of Argentina. It offers some of the best fly fishing in the country, and the fishing season runs from mid November to May. Junín is also an excellent base for exploring the wonderful Parque Nacional Lanín and for climbing the extinct volcano, as well as rafting on Río Aluminé further north.

Founded in 1883, Junín is a real town; not as picturesque or tourist-orientated as its neighbour, San Martín - there are far fewer chalet-style buildings, and few chocolate shops here - but it's a quiet neat place with genuinely friendly people. The hotels are not as upmarket as San Martín, but Estancia Huechahuenearby is superb, and there are some decent family-run hotels here, plus one excellent restaurant make it worth stopping over night to get a feeling of real life trundling by in a Patagonian town, where you can try the celebrated local trout.

Sights

Most of what you need can be found within a couple of blocks of the central Plaza San Martín with its fine araucaria trees among mature alercesand cedars. The small Museo Salesiano Ginés Ponte y Nogueira has a fine collection of Mapuche weavings, instruments and arrowheads, and you can buy a whole range of excellent Mapuche handicrafts in the Feria Artesanal behind the tourist office. There's an impressive religious sculpture park El Via Christiijust west of the town, www.viachristi.com.ar. Situated among pine forest on a hillside, the Stations of the Cross are illustrated with touching and beautifully executed sculptures of Mapuche figures, ingeniously depicting scenes from Jesus' life together with a history of the town and the Mapuche community. The sculptures are to be found along trails through the pine woods. The church, Santuario Nuestra Señora de las Nieves y Beata Laura Vicuña, also has fine Mapuche weavings, and is a pleasing calm space. 

The Centro Ecológico Aplicado de Neuquén (CEAN), where trout are farmed, and ñandus and llamas can be seen is a good place for kids.

Fishing is undoubtedly one of the great attractions of Junín, and the best fishing is at the mouth of the river Chimehuin on the road to Lago Huechulafquen, although there are many excellent spots around. In the town itself, there are pleasant places to fish and picnic along the river, while there are several fishing lodges in the area which cater for experts, with guides whose services you can hire.