San Martin de los Andes
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Located in the gorgeous Parque Nacional Lanin and on the shining shores of Lake Lacar, San Martin de Los Andes is a small exclusive town with a big view of the surrounding mountains, forests, lakes, and the famous Lanin Volcano.
San Martin de Los Andes is situated in an area in the Lake District of Argentina that sees cold winter and warm summers. In the winter, from June until September, the area receives a lot of snow fall and cold temperatures, often closing off high mountain passes when the conditions get really bad. During the spring and fall months, the climate is a mixture of sun, rain, and cool breezes. Summer is sunny and warm, with temperatures never falling below 15C and never rising above 30C.
Once a military settlement, this delightful town is own of the most fashionable in the area and is outfitted with quality hotels, restaurants, bars, shopping centres, boutiques, and recreational centres. Featuring quiet tree-lined streets, narrow roads, well kept plazas and walkways, and gorgeous beaches on Lake Lacar, San Martin makes for a great place to relax and enjoy the surroundings. The vibe here is laidback and peaceful, with the locals strolling down the streets, speaking with one another, or sipping mate in front of the beach shores. During the summer months (peak season), the town fills with hundreds of visitors, the hotels and restaurants reach maximum capacity and the towns beaches are lined with relaxed summer vacationers.
During the summer, the area around San Martin de Los Andes is also a major attraction for visitors seeking to explore the beautiful outdoors. Forest walks, land and lake tours, fly fishing, bike riding, hiking, and climbing are among the most popular activities. Especially popular is the Ruta de Los Siete Lagos that follows a rustic route past numerous alpine lakes, ending up in Villa la Angostura.
During the winter, the Chepelco Winter Resort, located on 19km away from the centre of San Martin, becomes a major skiing destination offering visitors 29 snowy runs, incredible cabins and restaurants, as well as ski lessons, tours, and more. The town turns into a lovely winter getaway, days are short, and the nights are spent warm and cozy inside.
San Martin is also the spot where boat tours are taken from. Boat tours will take you through the Lanin National Park, past lakes such as the Epulafquen, the Huechulafquen, as well as a solidified lava river, and incredible view of the Lanin Volcano. This is a great way to get to know the surrounding area and get picture perfect views of nature at its best.
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