The Lake District
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In the northwest of Patagonia is an area referred to as the Lake District, that extends into the provinces of Neuquen, Chubut, and the Rio Negro, and features an extraordinary outdoor wonderland, complete with thick pine forests, jagged mountains, the Andes, low lying valley’s, 20 great lakes, and a series of ancient glaciers.
Climate in this area plays a big part in its tourism seasons and activities offered. During the winter months, June until September, the area sees cold and windy temperatures, snow at higher peaks, and skiing and mountain hiking become the number #1 activity filling the skiing resorts with thousands of visitors. Fall, March until June, puts a damp chill in the air, and spring, October-December, does just the same. From December until March, summer brings out the sun, warm days and cool nights, and the area turns into a paradise of flowers and green scenery. The area is open for activities all year long but keep in mind that during the winter months, severe winter temperatures and heavy snow will close the higher travel routes, reopening in October.
The Lake District is most famous for its myriad of outdoors activities. Visitors come to this area to go skiing, mountain climbing, hike, take nature walks, swim in crystal clear lakes, fish, explore the glaciers, and rest in the relaxing mountain scenery. National Parks are major attractions in this area, the most popular being Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi and Parque Nacional Lanin; both include extensive forest areas, lakes, wildlife, and glaciers, as well as resorts that accommodate visitors during their stay. This area is also a popular spot for travelers to cross over to Chile through either the mountain passes in the Andes or by boat through the various lake crossings, cross country travel being offered by tour services in any of the larger cities in the area, preferably Bariloche or Neuquen.
Towns, cities, lakes, and national parks…
Bariloche
The town of Bariloche, nestled in vibrant forests, beneath mountains, and surrounded by lakes, is a major tourist destination in the south of Argentina. During the summer months the picturesque town is popular to enjoy hiking, horseback riding, water sports, or simply relaxing and enjoying the surrounding views. In the winter, Bariloche turns into a skiers paradise and is said to boast some of the best skiing conditions and ski slopes in the world.
Nahuel Huapi National Park
This enormous park covers almost 750,000 hectares of land and is a combination of mountains, forests, lakes, and valleys. Also in the park is the famous Lago Nahuel Huapi, a lake over 100km, and Monte Tronador, an extinct volcano that features heavy snow and ice in the winter months and delicate flowers and greenery in the summer. This park is fantastic to explore and discover various types of plants and trees and see a myriad of wild birds and other forms of wildlife.
El Bolsón / Villa Lago Puelo
Located in the province of the Rio Negro, El Bolson and Villa Lago Puelo are just two of the many mountain villages that make up this area that is surrounded by beautiful thick forests, mountains, rivers, and famous glaciers. In the summer this area is famous for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and climbing, and in the winter, famous for skiing Mount Perito Moreno and enjoying the surrounding beauty.
Villa La Angostura
This special town in northwest offers its visitor’s mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, beaches, incredible accommodation, cuisine, and a myriad of activities to choose from all year long. The surrounding beauty is incredible and visitors can explore the area through hiking, mountain climbing, sailing, walking tours, horseback riding, beach walks, or a very unique trip through the famous Myrtle Forest, an enchanting forest that can be accessed on foot, catamaran, or bicycle.
Parque Nacional Lanin
Running along the Chilean border, this beautiful park is a centre piece for various types of flora and fauna, unusually thick and ancient forests, the Volcan Lanin ( an ancient volcano towering at an extreme height in the middle of the park), and various lakes including Lake Lacar, Lake Lolog, Lake Huechulafquen, Lake Troman, and Lake Quillen. This park is a great place to explore and many tours and activities can be booked in San Martin de los Andes.
San Martín de los Andes
This resort town is located in the Lanin National Park and offers a wide array of outdoors activities such as skiing, hiking, mountain climbing, fishing, hunting, and a few popular tours which take visitors to see local villages, hot springs, and lakes in the area. The town accommodates its high tourism numbers with fantastic hotels, restaurants, shopping, keeping tourists busy day and night.
Another place to check in the Argentina Travel guide, also located in Patagonia is San Martin de los Andes.