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All righty, guys. So, in today's video, I am taking you to northern Patagonia, specifically Argentina's Lake District. And I'm super excited for this video because this is basically my favorite part of Argentina. Samuel and I have traveled through Argentina's Lake District multiple times. We have visited so many different towns and national parks, and I'm highlighting all of that today. We are going to be covering 10 places to visit in northern Patagonia and that includes seven towns and three national parks that I just think are beautiful. So, these are super accessible places. You would be flying into Bariloce and you can reach all of these places by bus or by car. So, let's dive in and learn a little bit more about
northern Patagonia, Argentina. Okay, first up, let's start with Baroce since this is the destination you're going to be flying into. Bariloce is a city in northern Patagonia and it is the gateway. So what is there to do here? One of the most popular attractions is called Siruito Chico or the short circuit. So this is a loop that winds through forests, lakes, and mountains in park national. And along the way you can stop at different lookout points, craft breweries, hiking trails, hidden beaches, and more. So it's a really fun activity. You can do this by renting a car, taking a tour, but we actually did it using the public bus system. It's very doable, very affordable, and just a
really fun adventure. And also, I think this is a great way to get a taste of Patagonia if you're spending very little time in the region and you only have a few days in Bariloce. Another fun thing to do in Bariloce is to admire the views from Cerero Campanario. This is a beautiful panoramic spot and you can reach the mountaintop either by hiking or by taking the chairlift. We hiked but honestly there are more beautiful hikes in Baloce. So I would say just take the chairlift and enjoy the views from the top. Crampania was actually voted one of the best panoramic views in the world by National Geographic. So that's another reason to visit. And now let's talk about the food scene in Bariloce because
I'm kind of obsessed. They have so many different craft breweries, artisal chocolate shops, and really good restaurants where you can try typical Patagonian dishes. I'm talking about wild trout, boar stew, deer stew, and things that you aren't necessarily going to find in other restaurants across Argentina. Next, let's talk about Nil Wapi National Park. This is the oldest and the second largest national park in the country. And of course, Bariloce is the gateway to the park. One of the most iconic experiences you can have in this park is taking a boat tour to Isla Victoria. And this is where you get to cruise Lake Nawwapi. All of the tourists depart from Puerto Puellum which is this
little port area in front of the Xiao Hotel and then once you reach the island you disembark at Puerto and you have the option of going on a guided hike or you can just explore the island on your own. They do give you a certain amount of time and then you need to be back at the port to board the boat and continue with the tour. So that's actually what we did. We explored independently and it was just really beautiful. One of my favorite spots on the island is called Plada del Toro or the Bulls Beach. I don't know why it's called the Bulls Beach. Didn't see a single bull there, but it's a nice pebbly beach and the waters are just turquoise and crystal clear. It's just it looks like the Caribbean in
Patagonia. Hiking obviously is another big activity to enjoy in Nalwapi National Park. There are so many different trails to choose from. We did a hiking trip in autumn and it was so nice getting to see the changing foliage. We actually did a hike that started out from Refu Noi Meyer to Laguna Verde which is the green lagoon and it was really cool to see the red leaves and the trees and the contrast with this green lagoon. So that's one of my favorite hikes that we've actually done in that national park. But again, so many options to choose from. You can definitely go for something a bit more challenging. And another activity I'll mention that you can enjoy in Naval Wapi National Park is to go horseback riding.
Again, there are so many different tours that you can choose from. We chose one departing from Los Bakanos and we got to ride along Lake Gutierrez and just see the mountains again with autumn colors and it was just so scenic and such a nice way to experience the park. Okay, next let's talk about the town of Vija Langostura. This is a high-end resort town that's located on the shores of Naww Wapi Lake and it's also known as the garden of Patagonia because of all the rose bushes along the town streets and also the town streets are named after different flowers and plants. So that's kind of cool. So what is there to do here? First of all, you have the Aradanis forest which is located on the
Ketriway Peninsula that juts out into Nulwapi Lake. And the forest here is known for its aradan trees. They have this cinnamon colored bark which feels cool to the touch and this is because the treere's bark is so thin that you can actually feel the sap flowing inside the tree. So most of the trees in this forest are about 300 years old though you also have specimens that are around 600 years old. So it is a very special park to visit and vija langostura is the gateway to this forest. Another thing to do in vija langostura of course is to drive the route of the seven lakes. Vija Langostura can act either as the starting point or the ending point and it runs all the way up to San Martin de
Loses. It is a 107 kilometer drive and the route goes through two national parks, Lanin National Park and Nwapi National Park. And as the name suggests, you do go past seven lakes. And this is a drive that can easily be done in a day. You get to see lakes, waterfalls, and various scenic points. And again, you can either drive yourself or book a tour. We booked a tour and it was super easy and no hassle. Another activity we really enjoyed in Vijay Langostura was to eat at Cuckoo Schulz. This is a cafe that is shaped like a cuckoo house. And then inside the cafe, they have walls just plastered with different cuckoo houses. So you can imagine what it sounds like when the clock strikes the
hour and all the cuckoo start going off at the same time. It's pretty fun. pretty cute. Uh the one dessert to try here I would say is the ricotta cake. It is so delicious. I still dream about that dessert. It was amazing. Next place to visit is San Martin de Losand. This is another typical lakeside mountain town in Patagonia's Lake District. And the main activity to enjoy here is a boat trip on Lake Lacad. So this is a boat tour where you get to hit up several attractions in the area. The tours depart from the waterfront on the west end of town and then you cruise across the 25 kilometer lake making multiple stops along the way and these include Gilakina beach, Chachin waterfall, Wum, which is the Argentine Chilean border pass and also Santa
Teresita Island. So it's a really nice and relaxed day where you get to enjoy beautiful scenery. Another activity we enjoyed in San Martin de Los Angeles and was going up to the Ardan Tea House. This is a tea house located on a mountaintop. You can hike to get there. The views are beautiful and the food is delicious. So, we got to enjoy a three tiered tea featuring sandwiches, scones, cakes, muffins, and more. You'll definitely want to come hungry because the portions are abundant. And then, of course, you have to hike when in San Martin de Los Angeles because there are so many different trails. The town sits in a valley in between two mountain
ranges. So if you're looking for something easy, I would suggest Mirador Ardan. That's 2.6 km or 30 minutes and you get views of the town and the lake plus you end off at the tea house that I just mentioned. And otherwise you can do the hike to Mirador Banduras. That's 4 km an hour and a half and you get views of Lake Lacar. Next town I'm going to mention, El Bulson. Probably our favorite town in all of northern Patagonia. We have been there so many different times that we have actually lost track at this point. This town is pretty iconic for hiking and epic mountain views. Specifically, Serero Piltron. This is the mountain behind the town that makes El Bolson look like a postcard. So, there's so much to do
here, but I'm only going to highlight three activities because I could honestly rave about El Bolson. So, number one, I'm going to suggest you visit the sculpture forest. So this is locally known as Boskeet Tadada and the sculpture forest is located on Crotri and it's an art project that came about after a series of fires burned down part of the mountain side. So a local artist saw the opportunity to create something beautiful out of the tragedy and he invited different artists to carve sculptures using the burnt and fallen trees. So this project began in 1998 and it is still ongoing with artists being invited every few years to add new sculptures to the forest. Another thing to do of course is to tackle the trails.
There are so many trails in Elson. So it is a hiker's paradise. These trails lead to lush forest, crystal clearar rivers and of course majestic mountain views. And they all range in level of difficulty. A few to consider include Cro Amigo, Cascades Scandida, Gabesa Deio, Kon Lassul, or Cero Pri. We've done all of them and you won't be disappointed. From the easy trails to the hard trails, they all have their rewards. And lastly, you have the Hippie Fair or the Fedia Artisanal. It runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. So plenty of opportunities to go shopping and you can find everything from ceramics and tapestries to homemade jams and natural cosmetics.
Plus they also have food trucks where you can try traditional Argentine dishes like chipan empanadas. You name it, you won't go hungry there. Number six, let's talk about Lago Plo. Again, another national park that we have visited multiple times. So, this park is home to Vulivian forest, mountain peaks, and of course, hiking trails, including one that reaches the Chilean border. So, one of our favorite activities that we've enjoyed at Lago National Park is the boat tour that runs 2 hours and 45 minutes, and it goes past places like Rio, Bayakavos, and Hender Maria before reaching Lostos. So, just to be clear, this cruise goes past these
three locations where you get to enjoy the scenery from the boat, but you do not disembark. You only get off the boat when you reach the final stop at Los Etos, and then you dock and you go on a guided walk all the way to the border with Chile. So, that's pretty cool. So, one of the highlights from this hike was getting to drink glacier melt water that runs down the mountain. and our guide was telling us that this meltwater is over 3,000 years old. And then after doing so, we hiked over to the Argentine Chilean flag where we snapped some photos. And then we continued a bit further to the official border between the two countries. And we also got to visit the Puelo River Rapids. So this is
where Lake Puelo becomes the River Puo. This is a really fun tour and I would recommend doing it if you're planning to visit the park. Otherwise, if you want something a bit easier, you can rent kayaks or you can just pack a picnic and enjoy the beach at Laggo Puelo. Number seven, Eskeel. Another town that we have visited many times here in Patagonia. Now, Eskel is best known for the old Patagonian Express. So, if you're a fan of train travel, you've probably heard of this train. It is locally known in Argentina as Latroita. And this is a train that was made famous by Paul Thuru in his 1979 novel, The Old Patagonian Express, in which he recounted his train journey from his hometown in Massachusetts all the way down to
Argentina. So while the railway tracks of the Old Patagonian Express once stretched out 402 km, today only three short segments of the route can be traveled by tourists. We have actually done all three, believe it or not. But I would say the best segment and the longest segment is the one from Eskeale to Nilpan. So this is a half-day activity where you can travel across the Patagonian step and then upon arriving in Nilpan, you can visit an artisal market, tour the museum of Patagonian culture, and enjoy some Argentine street food in the form of a chip pan. And they also sell alphaes if you're looking for something sweet. So another cool activity that you can enjoy from Iskel
is a day trip to Pedra Parada. Now this is a day trip that takes you out to the Patagonian step and you visit a protected area that is home to a towering monolith that rises 210 m from the Chiboot Valley. So the rocks origins are volcanic and once upon a time this area would have been the calera of an ancient mega volcano. You can also visit the nearby Vultures Canyon, which is a really nice area for hiking and rock climbing. And the canyon's walls rise 150 meters on either side. And along the way, you can walk up to these small refues in the rock that would have been used by the Pria Welches and the Tulches who inhabited the area in a seasonal manner up to 5,000 years ago. Last but
not least, another activity to enjoy in Eskeel, hiking. We are in a Patagonian mountain town. So again, lots of different trails. One memorable one was Laguna de lasetta because it zigzags all the way up to this lagoon on top a mountain. It's pretty cool. If you don't feel like hiking, you can take a taxi up to the lagoon and up there you can go kaying or horseback riding. And it takes about an hour to hike up from the center of town. It is a little bit of a dusty trail because you're on the side of a dirt road and there is car traffic, but it's really cool once you get to the top. And if not, you can hike up to Sro de la Cruz again for views of the town and the surrounding mountains. This is a
bit of a steep hike and it takes about an hour and a half to reach the top and there are two access points via Barioen in the east or Bario Sephirino on the west. Number eight, Los Alertes National Park. Again, this is a park that we have visited so many different times from all three access points. So, we have gone in from El Bolson in the north. Then there's Iskeell in the east and Trellin in the south. And one of our favorite experiences there was taking a boat tour where we got to see the waters shift from emerald to turquoise. We saw a hanging glacier. And then we also came face to face with the second longest living tree species in the world, Viace, which gives the park its name. Number
nine, let's talk about the town of Cholila. Cholila is very small and there's just one main attraction that draws intrepid travelers I would say because it is quite out of the way. So if you've watched the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a 1969 film, then you know what we're talking about. Butch Cassidy and his wild bunch were a group of outlaws and they operated during the Wild West era of the American frontier. So they were prolific train robbers and bank robbers whose careers as criminals eventually caught up with them. So what did they do? They fled down to Patagonia. Specifically, it was Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and the kid's girlfriend at a place. They all decided they needed to get far, far
away. And today, you can visit the ranch they bought and see the little house, the log cabin where they lived. It's very bare bones inside, but it's a cool piece of history. And there's also a little museum with a cafe/bar that you can visit. And then the other reason to visit Cholila is for an event that it doesn't take place every year. Sometimes it's every other year, but it's called Fiesta National Deo. This is a big celebration. It is the biggest barbecue in the world. It is hundreds of rows of grills and there's lamb, there's beef, there's sausage. Thousands of people descend on the town for a party with dancing, live music. We went one year and it was just a cultural experience, a very traditionally
gaucho rural cambo experience. So if you want to see what that is like, it is called Fiesta National De. It typically takes place in February, but check in advance before you book your trip and make sure the party is actually happening that year. Last but not least, number 10, the town of Trellin. This is a Welsh town and the name translates to Miltown. It is located in a picturesque valley surrounded by the Andes mountains. And of course, the main thing to do here is to experience Welsh culture in Patagonia. Trevalin is one of several Welsh towns in Argentina that may surprise you. And you can do things like see the dragon that sits on top of the tourist office. You can have a Welsh
afternoon tea. You can visit Moolino Andes, which is set in a former mill. It's a museum where you can learn about Welsh culture. And then you have the wineries. The one we visited is called Casa Jagu. You need to make reservations in advance, but it is a beautiful property. White wines do really well in this part of Patagonia. So you can expect to find Chardonnay Reisling and the Gort Stiner. And then if you like red wines, you can go for the Pon Noir. And another thing to do in Travelin, we have never been here at the right time, but if you visit in the springtime, you have to see the tulip fields. These are iconic. And again, tourists just descend on this little town to walk the tulip
fields. This takes place during springtime in the southern hemisphere. So if you find yourself in Patagonia during that time frame, which is October to early November, then you have to go to the tulip fields. So there you have it, 10 places to visit in northern Patagonia, specifically Argentina's Lake District. I have highlighted seven towns and three national parks. Let me know in the comments which place you would most like to visit. And again, if you have any questions, just write to us. We read all of the comments, we answer them, and it also gives us ideas of what videos we should film next. So, feel free to chime in. And that is it for today. I hope you enjoyed the video. I hope you were
inspired and got some ideas of where to go in Patagonia. So, if you enjoyed this video, I invite you to give it a like, subscribe, and I'll see you very soon with more adventures from Patagonia. Ta.
