The Lake District

by Adam Seper

The shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi in Bariloche

Overview

Lakes. Mountains. Hiking. Biking. Horseback riding. Fishing. Climbing. Watersports. Skiing. Snowboarding. Quaint little towns. Great cities. The Lake District in Argentina and Chile offer some fantastic adventures for those active travelers and backpackers. It also has gorgeous views and areas and fantastic food and dining options for those travelers who enjoy a different kind of travel.

Highlights/Where to Go

The Lake District is a beautiful area of both Argentina and Chile that lies just north of Patagonia. Highlights are many depending on what you want to do and the time of year you visit.

Bariloche- A stunning location on the shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi, Bariloche offers every outdoor activity you can imagine. Though a touristy city, the negatives of most really touristy places doesn’t seem to have an effect on Bariloche.
El Bolson- A small little hippie town a few hours south of Bariloche, El Bolson is known for its beautiful surroundings, laid back atmosphere, and the 3 times a week farmer’s market that offers incredible food and crafts in a festive atmosphere. If markets are your thing, go to El Bolson.
Parque Nacional Lanin- This national park located just north of Bariloche has it all. Sparkling lakes, mountains, and volcanoes offer every type of outdoor activity you can imagine. If you have the money to rent a car, consider the Seven Lakes Drive, one of the most picturesque in all of Argentina.
Pucon, Chile- If you’ve ever wanted to hike a volcano, consider a trip to Pucon to hike to the top of Volcan Villarica, where you will then slide back down on your butt in a luge-like track. One of the most incredible experiences of my life. A beautiful lake, a black sand beach, and top notch food can also be found in Pucon.

Near Bariloche, this view is continuously voted one of the best in the world.

When to Go

Like Patagonia, high season is summertime, December to February, where crowds are biggest and prices highest. Unlike Patagonia though, winter is also a popular time to visit some areas with skiiing and snowboarding is possible. Mid June to mid August sees heavy crowds again with school holidays and tourists in town for winter sports. Spring and fall are shoulder seasons, where prices and crowds drop, but weather can be a factor in some areas.

Weather

Weather in the Lake District is similar to Patagonia, but not quite as harsh. It’s going to be a little warmer in the summer and not quite as cold in the winter, and while the winds are a factor, again, they aren’t as bad as the southern parts of the country.

Warm days are the norm in the summertime (December to February), with long daylight hours (it can stay light until 10pm). Winter brings very cold days and a lot of snow, perfect for winter sports like skiing and snowboarding. Spring and fall will see varying days of sunlight and rain.

Hiking to the top of an active volcano is one of the most memorable things I have ever done.

Getting Around

Bus- Like the rest of Argentina, buses are the way to go in the Lake District. It can take some time to get around as the area is vast and roads aren’t as well kept as other parts of the country. The buses aren’t quite as nice as the north, but they’re still nicer than most other countries.

Car rental- If you have the funds, consider renting a car and driving from city to city, particularly in summertime. It’s a gorgeous area, and being able to take your time as you drive from one destination to the next is a major highlight.

Costs

Costs are a bit higher than the rest of the country outside of Patagonia. We averaged about $95/day total for the two of us during our 19 days in the Lake District. We had a private room with private bath the whole time, and we splurged for a really nice hostel in both Bariloche (where we stayed for 10 nights) and Pucon.

Share and Enjoy:

http://blog.malaysia-asia.my David @ Malaysia Asia

Hey Adam, simply stunning view with your portrait picture! Agree that it looks like one of the best around the world to.
http://www.journeyofatravelwriter.com Adam

Thanks David! It was an absolutely stunning view, that's for sure!!
http://twitter.com/thecloud_people Jamie Davy

loved it there, especially el bolson for some reason. i agree with david, stunning portrait shot.
Steffy dechina

Great pictures, very informative post! I've never been there but this place Pucon sounds so tempting ) I will try to include it in my Chile trip, so thnx for recommending it:)
http://myexpatgermany.com Laurel

I had no idea there was a Lake District in Argentina and Chile. The hike to the active volcano looks like fun! I did one in Guatemala, but no snow being in Guatemala and it was one of the coolest things I'd ever done as well.
http://www.journeyofatravelwriter.com Adam

Thanks Jaime! Yes, we loved El Bolson as well. Will have a post about that going up this week. The market was just the best, and the area/vibe was just awesome.
http://www.journeyofatravelwriter.com Adam

Oh, Steffy, Pucon is the shit!! We had never heard of it before, but we got the lowdown from someone at our hostel in Bariloche. He was showing us pictures of him climbing a volcano, and that was that for us. We had to do it, so we added it to the itinerary, and it was honestly one of the more memorable days of our entire year long trip. Just awesome standing on top of an active volcano.
http://www.journeyofatravelwriter.com Adam

Thanks Laurel! Yeah, I always thought of this area of Argentina and Chile as Patagonia, but it's actually the Lake District and is just north of Patagonia. Pucon is amazing, and there will be more about it next week.
http://twitter.com/TravelingWithS Cathy Sweeney

What an experience hiking to the top of the volcano. Great overview and highlights of the Lake District. As always, I'm super-impressed with your photos, too.
http://thefrenchway.wordpress.com John in France

Got to say you guys always have the most stunning scenery in your photos – good travelling!!
http://migrationology.com/ Mark Wiens

Great pictures and tips! I was in the Bariloche area for a week or so and had an incredible time, mostly sitting around the lake drinking crazy amounts of mate! That view is just insane!
http://www.ordinarytraveler.com/ Scott @ Ordinary Traveler

We've always wanted to head to Patagonia and I'd almost forgotten about Bariloche. Thanks for putting it back in my brain! $95/day sounds a bit expensive, I guess we better start saving.
http://www.journeyofatravelwriter.com Adam

Thanks Cathy, you're too sweet. And yes, hiking to the top of a volcano was freaking amazing. I can't wait to write about it again and re-live the experience.
http://www.journeyofatravelwriter.com Adam

Thanks John! This area of the world is just so beautiful that it's hard not to get great pictures.
http://www.journeyofatravelwriter.com Adam

Yeah, it was pretty awesome. And we were actually pretty lazy around Bariloche as well. For as much outdoor activities as there are, we did surprisingly little.
http://www.journeyofatravelwriter.com Adam

A couple things about that $95/day. Remember, that was for two of us, in high season, and that also included 10 nights in a hostel that was $45/night (well, well, well worth it though) in Bariloche and another 3 nights in a hostel that was almost $50/night (Pucon, Chile), plus we climbed a freaking volcano, which wasn't cheap. And we drank A LOT in Bariloche, which always kills the budget, and we splurged on a few meals since it was our last stop in Argentina. Point is that you can do it for cheaper if you want. We weren't trying very hard for these few weeks.
Eatlaughloveaon

Another informative post with stunning photos. Thanks guys. I want to go there!
Kelly

That view is amazing, I was blown away when I saw it in person! I love this part of the world. El Bolson is one of my favorite small towns of all time, I had a blast here at the markets.
http://alotofwind.com Robin

That view is something else. I could pitch a tent up there and take photographs for days…
http://twitter.com/lilygogo inka piegsa

I can't face anything even remotely cold for the rest of the year (yes, I know it has only started). It is a beautiful place, no doubt and nobody knows it better than you.
Scottcal

Ah yes, I've been there too where your in such a beautiful place and it's the end of your trip. You just want to enjoy everything a splurge a bit. Thanks for the clarification. I totally understand now.
http://www.journeyofatravelwriter.com Adam

Thank you for all the kind words. We really appreciate it!
http://www.journeyofatravelwriter.com Adam

Aren't the El Bolson markets awesome?!? I can taste the fresh berries and waffles smothered with berries and whipped cream. AHHHH, so, so good. This really is an amazing part of the world.
http://www.journeyofatravelwriter.com Adam

You got that right!
http://www.journeyofatravelwriter.com Adam

Thanks Inka! And actually, this area really isn't that cold in the summer. We could hike in the day without jackets or anything, and I don't think I ever needed a hat and gloves. It got windy at times, and it was cooler at nighttime, but the days were very pleasant.
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