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Bariloche - Argentina Lake District Tours

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Western Hemisphere is found in the Meridional Andes. For this reason a chain of Argentine National Parks protects this natural beauty. Numerous large lakes fed by glacial run-off reflect the majesty of the snow-capped peaks. The mountainsides are covered by primeval forests of subantarctic beech forest such as the lenga which changes color spectacularly in autumn, the coihue which grows in the moister zones around the lakes and rivers, and the pellin which looks like an oak.

The Northern Lake District goes from Lake Alumine in the North till Esquel in the South and encompases 4 beautiful National Parks (from N to S): Lanin NP(San Martin de los Andes), Nahuel Huapi NP (Bariloche), Lago Pueno NP (El Bolson) and Los Alerces NP (Esquel).

Though we can customize anything in this area, below are some special options.

Here are some sample itineraries:

Bariloche Classic

DAY 01 Bariloche
Arrival in Bariloche. Meet & greet at the airport / pier and transfer to the selected hotel. Accommodation and balance of the day at leisure.

San Carlos de Bariloche and the Nahuel Huapi Lake are the landmarks of the area and are -maybe the most developed. Of un parallel beauty they offer everything to cater for every taste: From the gourmands that seek for great food and local delicacies to the wanderers, to those looking for soft adventure while horse riding, hiking, climbing, paddling in its amazing landscapes to the hard core explorer that venture into multiactivities to get to the remote corners of the park.
Accommodation: Design Suites / El Casco Art Hotel
Meals: None

DAY 02 Bariloche
Morning start the visit to Bariloche, following its main road - Bustillo Ave., which runs by the Nahuel Huapi Lake. Driving along this route you reach Campanario Mount. A chair lift (not included) will take you to the top (1050 m) to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the lake. Like in a map: Nahuel Huapi and Moreno lakes, El Trébol lagoon, San Pedro and Llao Llao peninsulas, Victoria Island, Otto, López, Goye and Catedral hills, and the main town, San Carlos de Bariloche.

Resume the drive and reach the Llao Llao peninsula, with its namesake hilltop hotel and San Eduardo Chapel, two landmarks of this region. Further on go by Llao Llao golf course (the most scenic in Latin America), cross the bridge over the Angostura River that is the natural link between Nahuel Huapi and Moreno Lakes, and further on pass by López Bay at the foot of López Mount. This scenic drive has its highlight at the so call Lookout Point, a belvedere with a magnificent view of Moreno Lake and Llao Llao peninsula at the back. Return to the hotel and balance of the day at leisure to enjoy on own.
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 03 Bariloche
The city of Bariloche provides an excellent base and easy access to different adventure activities throughout the year. Instead of offering a packaged day-program with fixed itineraries, we offer diverse programs in the diverse environments available in the lake district of Patagonia: dessert, forest, high alpine terrain, glacier and lakes. When designing these alternatives, we take in consideration the appropriate level of exertion wanted by our clients, as well as the weather and mountains conditions.

We will hike amongst the dense forest of native Nothofagus trees and Caña Coihue (local version of bamboo) up to Cerro Llao Llao, from where we can enjoy spectacular views of the Nahuel Huapi Lake and the surrounding mountains, including the glacier covered Mt Tronador. After returning to the trail head, a short drive will take us to Bahia Lopez, where we will hike the Brazo Tristeza Trail to end on a granite dome at the very base of Cerro Lopez. This is a classic scenic view point of Tristeza Bay and Cerro Capilla.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

DAY 04 Bariloche
Starting from Bariloche, we drive to the southern limit of the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Following the border to the Rio Manso we reach Johns' Ranch base camp for breakfast and get our rafts and equipment ready. We will raft in the last section of the Manso River in Argentina. After a soft beginning, the river turns more challenging and our raft dodges exciting rapids through narrow canyons and impressive gorges all along the course until we get to the frontier. After lunch, we hike back to John´s Ranch for tea and return to Bariloche.
CONDITIONS: Average physical condition for a two-hour trek and ability to swim. Previous rafting experience recommended. Minimum age: 14.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

DAY 05 Bariloche
Day at leisure until the time for the transfer to the airport to fly to the next destination or back to Buenos Aires.
Meals: Breakfast

Price per person in US$ (based on minimum of 2 people traveling together):

** A note about hotels recommended:

DESIGN SUITES - www.design.com
A very fine hotel in Bariloche with confortable rooms, nice setting, and convenient location to explore the area. The rooms are ample, well furnished; the breakfast lounge -as well as the publica reas - have an ample view over the Nahuel Huapi lake.

El Casco Art Hotel - www.hotelelcasco.com

**TECHNICAL NOTES
FLIGHTS: Daily flights from Buenos Aires & El Calafate.
AR operates 2-3 daily flights from Buenos Aires & El Calafate.
LA (Lan Argentina) operates 1-2 daily flights from Buenos Aires.

LAKE CROSSING CRUISES
This is a regular scheduled service from Chile (Puerto Montt - Puerto Varas). Arrives late in the evening to Puerto Pañuelo.

BUSES
Long distance buses from Buenos Aires on a regular daily schedule (24 hour journey)
To Puerto Madryn (Valdes Peninsula) buses take 2 days with an overnight at Esquel (due to bus schedules)
From Puerto Montt / Puerto Varas a 6 hour drive very panoramic. Nice drive - recommended

Bariloche Adventure

Can start any day, October-April

Bariloche is the head city for the Lake District and the gateway for Nahuel Huapi National Park, second largest National Park of Argentina and the first National Park of the country (1903). The area features a broken mirror puzzle of lakes, forest, mountains and rivers running along sharp fluvial valleys and dominated by Cerro Tronador (“Thunderer”), an inactive volcano that rises 3554 mts above sea level, with 3 glacier covered summits and 8 glaciers falling to either sides of the mountain which make it a reference mountain in Patagonia. Other mountains such as López, Catedral, Capilla and Negro, all above 2000 mts high, are visible from town and from the different viewpoints along local roads.

Day 1 Bariloche airport - Bariloche
We welcome you at Bariloche airport and transfer to your Hosteria. Time at leisure in the afternoon to visit this European-style city, known as the South American Switzerland because its alpine environment and its European immigration. Dinner is at your own. You can choose one of the several good restaurants that the town offers.
Lodging in a Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom.
We provide no meals today.

Day 2 Rafting River Manso
We pick you up by 9 am at your Hosteria.
River Manso begins in the glaciers of Cerro Tronador, and following a winding itinerary forms different lakes and eventually flows out to the Pacific Ocean. Is one of the emblematic rivers of the Lake District.
We drive south along route 258, following the lakes Gutiérrez, Mascardi and Guillelmo valleys. We arrive to river Manso, where guides will prepare the equipment and address us about the activity. Up in the rafts and start the fun. In this section, the water is turquoise and clear enough to see the bottom of the river. A picnic lunch in one of many sand shores along the river, which flows in the middle of the Patagonian forest. In the afternoon, another section of rafting leads us to the end of our traverse. A hot drink and our dry clothes are waiting for us. We drive back to Bariloche and to our lodge.
Lodging in a Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast and box lunch.

Day 3 Excursion to Cerro López
Cerro López is one of the most characteristic, beautiful mountains that you see from the streets of Bariloche.
We start our drive in 4 wheel drive vehicles towards “Circuito Chico”. On our way to the mountain, we will have many panoramic views of the puzzle of lakes and mountains that features the area. A steep mountain road let us climb high in the mountain offering us spectacular views. We leave vehicles and a short hike leads us to the Cerro López mountain hut, one of a dozen mountain huts spread out in the area. The original 1933 hut was swept away by an avalanche and today we enjoy the new facilities built up by 1959. We have lunch in the hut. After lunch, a steep hike takes us from the hut to Pico Turista, one of the summits of the mountain, from where you see the whole National Park, including Lake Nahuel Huapi and mount Tronador. Down to the hut, and to our vehicle. We drive back to Bariloche.
Lodging in a Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast and lunch.

Day 4 Bariloche – Bariloche Airport
After breakfast we have time at leisure to visit the town. We pick you up at the hotel and transfer to the airport in time to catch your flight.
Meals we provide: Breakfast

2011-2012 Price in US$: $543 per person double, $688 single with English-speaking guide.
$501 per person double, $650 single with Spanish-speaking guide High season supplement of $31 for departures Nov 1-Jan 31.

INCLUDED:
All transfers as detailed in the program
We combine regular and private transfer in our tours
Bilingual guide (Spanish – English) during the excursions
Rafting river Manso (Full Day)
Excursion to Cerro López (Full Day)
3 breakfast, 2 box lunch
3 nights in Hosteria double or single room

NOT INCLUDED:
National Park fees
Medical and life insurance
Tips
Drinks
Optional excursions
Air tickets and airport taxes
Services not detailed in the program

Tours and Excursions from Bariloche

FULL DAY LAKE CROSSING - Oct / April
Includes transfers from hotels in town + tickets for crossing to Chile. Operates from Monday to Saturday on a daily basis except for Dec 25th, Jan 1st) and from Sep 1st to April 30th.
$260. Children under 02 years old: Free of charge - From 02 to 12 years old: 50% of the rate

2 DAY LAKE CROSSING - Overnight in Peulla 2d/1n
Includes transfers from hotels in town + tickets to crossing to Chile and overnight at Peulla with dinner. Operates from Monday to Fridays on a daily basis year round except for Dec 25th & Jan 1st. Superior room = $370 + $67 single supplement. Children under 02 years old: Free of charge - From 02 to 12 years old: 50% of the rate