travel | Wander Argentina

Seven Lakes Route: Patagonia’s Ultimate Scenic Road Trip

Patagonia is a huge, diverse wilderness encompassing 300,000 square miles of southern Argentina and is home to one of the country’s most scenic road trips. La Ruta de los Siete Lagos or ‘Seven Lakes Route,’ spanning 108km of famous Ruta 40, provides the opportunity to view the immense landscape and spectacular beauty of the area. It is best enjoyed by private car, giving travelers the freedom to explore the beautiful post-glacial valleys, pristine waters and rugged trekking of national parks, Lanin and Nahuel Huapi, both which are covered on the journey.

The route mapped in this article runs north to south, connecting popular tourist towns of the region, San Martín de los Andes with Villa La Angostura via RN40 ex 234 and 231. The direct route is 108km, not including the diversion to Villa Traful.

There are more than seven lakes in the region. However, the principal lakes which run roadside to RN234 for which this trip is names for are:

Lago Lácar
Lago Machónico
Lago Falkner
Lago Villarino
Lago Espejo
Lago Correntoso
Lago Nahuel Huapi

San Martín de los Andes

Nestled between the clear lake shore of Lago Lácar and a mountainous backdrop, San Martín de los Andes is a small but bustling alpine town, well equipped for those seeking adventure in the wild surrounds or simply looking for lakeside rest and relaxation. It is possible to arrange car hire in San Martín de los Andes and two large service stations are also located here for refueling and vehicle maintenance.

San Martín accommodation options are plentiful, from the popular and well-located camp ground on RN234 – which runs through town — to four-star hotels. A short drive from the town center, Rucaleufu Cabins is an excellent mid-range option. These rustic cabins are found amidst a beautiful forest setting, a creek runs right through the grounds and super helpful staff even prepare a delicious asado onsite for visitors each Friday night.

For those starting the drive early, the cozy Pasteleria Pan y Chocolate is well worth a visit. While most of the town is still sleeping, Pan y Chocolate serves up coffee and all the sustenance required before hitting the road, including piping hot egg and pancetta English muffins, fresh croissants and scones with cream.

The Journey Begins

The drive begins alongside Lago Lácar in San Martín de los Andes, following RN234 and winds up the mountainside. Stop at Pil Pil mirador, 5km along, to snap some photos taking in the panoramic view of Lago Lácar and San Martín de los Andes. While on most of this route drivers need to be aware of wildlife on the road, here drivers will want to be careful of runners, pounding the roadside close to vehicles while using headphones.

Lago Machónico

Thirty-one km from San Martín de los Andes you’ll reach Lago Machónico. The wide mirador (lookout point) here is another opportunity to appreciate the deep blue waters of the lake from above.

Lago Hermoso

Six km further along RN234 take the detour to the right for Lago Hermoso, another 4km along unpaved road off the RN234. Largo Hermoso’s pebbly shoreline along crystal waters makes it perfect for kayaking, a popular activity here. For those not equipped with their own, kayak tours of the lake are possible. Arrangements should be made prior to arrival.

Lago Falkner

After returning from Lago Hermosa to RN234, the next stop is Lago Falkner, 13km south. Reaching Largo Faulker, you’ve crossed the boundary from Lanin National Park and entered Nahuel Huapi National Park. For camping enthusiasts, Largo Falkner is a well-equipped place to pitch a tent or park a campervan. Organized campsites have access to bathrooms, hot water, fire pits, tables and benches.

The 20-meter waterfall, Cascada Vullignanco, can be seen from the roadside just before Lago Falkner and visitors can safely pull over to the side of the road here for a closer view and photo opportunity.

Lago Villarino

A little further along RN234 lies Lago Falkner’s smaller neighbor, Lago Villarino. The lake is a hot spot for fishing enthusiasts but before casting a line out, ensure permits are in order. These can be obtained from tourist offices, YPF stations or campsites.

Lago Traful and Villa Traful

Continuing south-west on RN234, after about three km the Seven Lake’s Route’s ‘eighth lake,’ the appropriately named Lago Escondido (Hidden Lake) is spotted off to the right. Onward another 25km, take the left turn off for Lago Traful on RP65. Follow RP65 along the lakeshore another 22km to arrive at the small and simple town of Villa Traful on Lake Traful.

The town is a peaceful choice for an overnight stay and Villa Traful accommodation options range from hotels to abundant campsites. Activities here include the Mirador del Viento, providing a panoramic view of the lake and surrounding hills. A tour of Bosque Sumergido is also popular option, a forest of between 50 and 60 specimens of cypress submerged 30 meters below the surface of Lago Traful.

Lago Espejo Chico

From Lago Traful, head west via RP65 for 22km, take left turn back onto RN234 and travel a further 8km along to reach Lago Espejo Chico. On this route, out the window to the left, the clear waters of Largo Correntoso run alongside the road. The beach inlet of Lago Espejo Chico closest to the R234 is the perfect place to stop for a spot of sunbathing before continuing. For those keen to take in the atmosphere a little longer, affordable camping at Lago Espejo Chico includes showers, hot water, fire pits, and picnic tables. A cafe can also be found onsite.

Lago Correntoso and Lago Nahuel Huapi

Leaving Lago Espejo Chico, turn right back onto RN234, traveling for another 28km to cross over the stunning Lago Correntoso. From this point, you can take the turnoff to the left leading to the beach and volcanic sands of Lake Correntoso. Again, camping facilities are available at the lake and for those keen on outdoor adventure, water sports including kayaking and canoeing are possible.

The surprisingly short, surging Rio Correntoso, reaches a maximum of only 300 meters depending on lake height and connects Lago Correntoso to its immense neighbor, Lago Nahuel Huapi. Built in the early 1900s and once the hub of La Angostura, iconic Correntoso Lake and River Hotel is today still serving Patagonian visitors and sits above the river on the Nahuel Huapi side, offering one of the finest vistas in Northern Patagonia.

Villa La Angostura

The final destination on the Seven Lakes Route is Villa La Angostura, situated on the northwest shore of Nahuel Huapi along RN231. The town, named angostura after the type of narrow land upon which it sits, was developed in the 1930’s to encourage travelers to the region. Today, Villa La Angostura is a thriving tourist hub and for outdoor adventurers, the ideal place to call home for a few nights while exploring the area. Boat, canoe or kayak the seemingly endless shores of Nahuel Huapi, visit the one of a kind Arrayanes Forest, home to 650-year-old Arrayán trees up or trek through Parque Nacional Los Arrayanes.

Villa La Angostura also boasts some of the most upmarket resorts of the lakes region, an outstanding microbrewery Australis Cerveceria Artesanal and numerous gastronomic options.

Restaurants range from the popular Cook Pizza Menu for affordable pizza and empanadas, to Mirador Social Club for those looking to splash some cash in order to enjoy an amazing view. Arrive just before sunset and watch the sun dip below the lake with a glass of wine in hand — the perfect end to Patagonia’s most unforgettable road trip.

– Elesha Piper

→ Car rental

– Reading our driving tips for Argentina
-Check all local rental cars
-Easy Rent A Car: Rivadavia 804 y Aeropuerto Chapelco, San Martín de los Andes

• Accommodation & Camping

–Rucaleufu Cabins, El Oasis 220 San Martín de los Andes

–Correntoso Lake and River Hotel

• Dining on the 7 Lakes Route

-Pasteleria Pan y Chocolate, Judge Del Valle 876 , San Martín de los Andes

–Mirador Social Club, Ruta 40 – Km 2119,8
Villa Langostura

-Australis Cerveceria Artesanal Patagonica, Avenida Arrayanes 2490, Villa La Angostura

• Seven Lakes Activities & Tours

⇒ Book a full-day tour of the Seven Lakes San Martin de Los Ande Tour

⇒ Book a full-day premium San Martin de Los Andes and Seven Lakes Tour

Las Grutas Travel Information

Getting to Las Grutas

Las Grutas is 1072 km from Buenos Aires, which explains why it is principally a popular tourist destination for those who reside in Patagonia and relatively few Porteños vacation here.

Las Grutas is also not well-serviced by flights, although there are a few flights to nearby San Antonio Oeste. If arriving from Buenos Aires or any other city, one could also take a flight to Viedma,180 km away and take a bus from there.

The one-and-a-half hour flight from Buenos Aires starts at about US$450 roundtrip, on Aerolineas Argentinas, but check out prices with the new budget airlines operating in Argentina.

→ Check prices and availability of flights to San Antonio Oeste and Viedma.

→ Check flights on Expedia

• Aerolíneas Argentinas Tel: 0810-222-86527

Buses to Las Grutas

Las Grutas is well serviced by bus and that is how most arrive here. These are some of the better bus companies that service the area :

• Don Otto: Call Center BsAs: 0800-333-7575/ 4315-7700.
— Las Grutas: 02934-497778// 430-007

• El Cóndor: In Buenos Aires: 11-4313-1700
– San Antonio Oeste: 02934-421580

• Andesmar: Call Center, BsAs – (011) 6385-3031
-Las Grutas:02920-497527-

Getting to Las Grutas by Car

The trip to Las Grutas by car from Buenos Aires takes a bit over 13 hours. Take Ruta 3, passing through Bahía Blanca and Viedma, directly to San Antonio Oeste, 15km from Las Grutas. From there you’ll see signs leading to Las Grutas. To see the exact route from Buenos Aires or to check the route from other cities, take a look at Google Transit.

Trains to San Antonio Oeste/ Las Grutas

There is a train that services the area including a train from Bariloche to Viedma that passes through San Antonio Oeste, 15 km from Las Grutas. Once a week during the summer there is a luxury train with a restaurant, disco and cinema called Expreso Arrayanes.

As with many of the trains in Argentina, service is on again off again. At the moment the Bariloche-Viedma line is down due to damage on the rails after a violent storm. Check the Tren Patagonico webpage to see if service has been restored.

Travel around Las Grutas

Las Grutas town spans just a few city blocks, so you can walk pretty much everywhere. There are buses to San Antonio Oeste every thirty minutes. Renting a car if staying in the local area is not necessary unless you want to explore some of the surrounding sites. One worthwhile excursion is the penguin colony at Sierra Grande, 120 km to the south.

Hotels in Las Grutas

Be aware that in the summer high season (Dec-Feb), it is necessary to make hotel or hostel reservations for Las Grutas, because this once-secret hideaway is a favored vacation spot for people all over Patagonia.

A little away from the center of the action, 1km out of town is Marinas del Golfo offering comfortable furnished apartments for rent. The 23-apartment complex includes a golf course, outdoor pool, sauna and Turkish steam bath.

All of the apartments have a private balcony. Guests can rent a bike, get a massage, and the friendly staff will help you to arrange sightseeing excursions.

Melewe Las Grutas is listed as a three-star hotel but is really an apart-hotel with fully equipped family-size units in the center of town. Although the exterior is somewhat unappealing, units are equipped with cable tv, wifi, cleaning service, a shared party house and barbeques.

The two-star Hotel Acantilado offers basic accommodations equipped with wifi, breakfast, access to the fitness center, spa and an in-house restaurant. Complejo Habitacional Acantilado, is run by the same people and offers the same amenities.

Guests at Complejo Habitacional Acantilado must check in at Acantilado Hotel down the street.

→ Check Hotels in Las Grutas on Hotels Combined

For budget travel, there are a few of campsites equipped with showers and parillas (barbecue grills) for preparing food.

Restaurants in Las Grutas

Las Grutas has a variety of restaurants and cantinas, all packed into the town’s center around a few blocks. Here you can enjoy fresh seafood dishes featuring prawns or octopus that are hard to impossible to find in Buenos Aires.

As with other destinations in Argentina, ask locals for recommendations and look for restaurants that are full of diners.

The Children’s Museum

The Children’s Museum of Abasto is a not-to-missed Buenos Aires attraction for the under-12 crowd.

Here parents might observe the first spark of their child’s future career through experiential exhibits that allow them to play at being grown-ups. Interactive displays allow kids to act as a broadcast journalist, dentist, TV cameraperson, construction worker and supermarket clerk among others.

There is also a pint-sized city with a Casa Rosada, Congress building and National Bank. The brightly colored exhibits are all in Spanish but language isn’t a barrier here.

The museum has various official city endorsements including from the Education Minister, and the culture departments of Argentina and the City of Buenos Aires. The Children’s Museum is a non-profit designed with the Declaration of the Rights of a Child in mind. Unfortunately that doesn’t preclude corporate-sponsored exhibits such as a McDonalds and YPF station to ensure early brand recognition, and that is the museum’s biggest drawback.

In the auditorium there are puppet shows, movie projections, storytelling and other events, listed daily by the entrance to the museum. There are two rooms are dedicated to toddlers and babies for those who have a multi-age brood in tow.

For expat parents, this is the perfect place to host a birthday party that is sure to be a hit. Parents will be happy to find that there are spots for them to rest, or better yet send them with the grandparents, who get in free.

If a few hours at the museum doesn’t wear them out there is also the unfortunately named Neverland Theme Park right next door.

Museo de los niños
Av. Corrientes 3247, 2nd floor
Abasto Shopping
Tel: 4861-2325

• Hours: Tue- Sun& holidays 1:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m.
• Cost: AR$ 30 children
—AR$15 adults
• ½ off from 7:00 p.m.
• Seniors, students and kids under 2 free

Buenos Aires Walking Tours

With 400 years of history and abundance of architectural delights, Buenos Aires is a city packed with alluring sights. There are so many attractions in South America’s most European capital that it can be difficult for visitors to prioritize if they have a finite time frame to explore the city. This is where a professional tour can help visitors get a handle on the highlights.

Eternautas, established in 1999 by University of Buenos Aires professors Ricardo Watson, Lucas Rentero and Gabriel Di Meglio are the tour guides of choice for educational institutions such as Harvard and NYU, many of the city’s embassies and its best hotels, including the Alvear Palace and Home.

These aren’t your grandma’s corny loudspeaker tours on a double decker bus, but handcrafted excursions that illustrate the city through the eyes of some of the city’s brightest academics.

Only two years after opening, the homegrown tour group received the coveted ‘cultural interest’ seal of approval from the city of Buenos Aires and the department of tourism. Named after a 1950’s Argentine science fiction comic, Eternautas has since grown into a diverse multilingual group of historians, architects, social scientists, anthropologists and geographers.

In 2006, the history buffs hosted Queen Beatrice of the Netherlands. Rock and roll royalty, the New York Dolls also sought out the Eternautas’ Buenos Aires run-down when they played here in 2009.

Buenos Aires Walking Tours

Eternautas has more traditional sightseeing and custom excursions, but the most enjoyable are their walking tours. The strolls through the city are an entertaining and relaxed way to discover some of the city’s most interesting nooks and crannies.

Architect and historian, Eduardo Masollorens leads the popular Palermo Viejo tour. The circuit starts at Plaza Italia, where the group learns how this area was developed from the palatial rural estates that once dominated the area.

WA-palermo-casadeborges — The childhood home of Jorge Louis Borges

It then wanders up Jorge Luis Borges Street (formerly Serrano). The group passes the first art deco style home in Buenos Aires and hears about the scandal that developed around its 1928 construction. Other architectural curiosities include the neighborhood’s ornate electric transformer facility.

At the childhood home of Louis Jorge Borges, tour participants hear how the neighborhood of his era is reflected in his work.

The tour also passes Guatemala, one of the city’s oldest streets, lined with century-old trees and El Preferido, a popular restaurant in a historic 1885 building. This area, once known as ‘lower Belgrano,’ was the site of ‘Creole duels’ among the gauchos who came here to blend in when they were wanted by the law out on the pampas.

The Palermo tour ends at lovely Pasaje Russel, where you can see some of the city’s best street art and peak over a gate to see the gorgeous Italian villa-style mansion of Uruguayan actress and singer, Natalia Oreiro.

As with all the Eternautas tour guides, if you can corner Masollorens for a coffee, you can mine him for insider information. He’ll recount his early childhood during the Perón years and hand out advice about the best restaurants and places to golf in Buenos Aires.

‘The Paris of South America’ is another popular circuit through Retiro and Recoleta, the areas where the urban design and architecture of the city are most reminiscent of the French capital. Eternautas also do an informative Recoleta Cemetery tour called ‘Between Heroes and Tombs’ and a Jewish Buenos Aires tour.

In 2008 the Eternautas group published a book based on their tours called, ‘Buenos Aires Tiene Historia (Buenos Aires Has History: Eleven Guided Itineraries Around the City).

→ Check out our curated list of Buenos Aires Tours and Day Trips

⇒ See even more Tours & Activities in Buenos Aires

→ Check out Buenos Aires most popular Tango Shows & Activities

To schedule an affordable group Buenos Aires’ walking tour or a private English-language city tour get in touch via our contact form below.

Cachi Dining and Travel Info

Most travelers roll through Cachi on a scenic drive such as La Vuelta a Los Valles. The 5,000-person town at the foot of Mount Cachi it is a pleasant place to kick around for a few hours. Here you can see the hilltop cemetery, dine around the central plaza and do some shopping for local arts and crafts. Rock climbers will also find Cachi a good base to do some local climbing.

When to go

All year, spring is ideal

Getting there and away:

By Car

Cafayate to Cachi: 165km. Rough road conditions 5.5 hours.
Cachi to Salta: 160km. The first 1/3 of the route is unpaved followed by paved roads. Some parts of this route wind around steep mountain terrain. 3-4 hours

by Hired Car

For the same price as larger bus services, you can share a comfortable four-person ride in a private car

Remises Interurbanos San Jose
Chachi
Tel: (03868) 491-907
Salta office: (0387) 424-3077

Remises Interurbanos Los Calchaquies
Also a good pick. Low price, less people, accommodating drivers
Cachi
Tel: (03868)/491-071
Salta’s office: 0387/4247877

Public Transport

From Salta, the Marcos Rueda (tel. +54 03868/491063) bus leaves twice daily except of Tuesdays and Wednesdays when only one bus departure is available for US$8- US $10.

Dining

Surrounding the plaza you’ll find a handful of good choices for dining.

Oliver — A popular restaurant with friendly waiters, outside seating, killer empanadas and good wine.
Ruíz de los Llanos 160
Tel: (03868)/491-052

Ashpamanta —
For Argentine flavors flavors like pumpkin soup and quinoa empanadas in a cozy atmospheric spot, try Ashpamanta, a charming family run restaurant.
Bustamante no address
Tel: (0387)15-5782244

Luna Cautiva — Another local favorite offering an authentic ambiance, regional favorites and good wine.
Pasaje Borja and Suarez
Tel. +54 03868/491029

Shopping

The town has quite a few shops selling typical northern Argentine arts and crafts. You may want to compare prices before purchasing anything. In general, most shops sell similar, if not identical, arts and crafts. Many vendors are willing to bargain.

Attractions

A few steps away from the plaza, admire Iglesia San José’s brilliant eggshell-colored facade. Run your hands over old cardón (a type of cactus) wood pews that rest quietly inside the cathedral’s dark and narrow interior.

Iglesia San José
Plaza 9 De Julio

Museo Arqueologico Pio Pablo Diaz
Juan Calchaqui s/n
Tel: (03868) 491-080

Take in some of the region’s rich history in this modest but well-curated exhibit, all in Spanish.
• Suggested donation: AR$2

Hilltop Cemetery

With a spectacular panoramic view of the town and surrounding mountains, Cachi’s magnificent hilltop cemetery is a must see.

Money

Banco Macro has an ATM on the corner of Ruiz de los Llanos and Güemes

Post Office

Güemes s/n
One block south of the main plaza on Güemes Street you will find the Correo Argentino building.

Cachi tourist office
Plaza 9 de Julio. Güemes/no address
Tel: (03868)491-053

Take a Tango Tour

Seven Lakes Route: Patagonia’s Ultimate Scenic Road Trip

San Martín de los Andes

The Journey Begins

Villa La Angostura

• Accommodation & Camping

• Dining on the 7 Lakes Route

• Seven Lakes Activities & Tours

Las Grutas Travel Information

Getting to Las Grutas

Buses to Las Grutas

Getting to Las Grutas by Car

Trains to San Antonio Oeste/ Las Grutas

Travel around Las Grutas

Hotels in Las Grutas

Restaurants in Las Grutas

The Children’s Museum

Buenos Aires Walking Tours

Buenos Aires Walking Tours

→ Check out our curated list of Buenos Aires Tours and Day Trips

Cachi Dining and Travel Info

When to go

Getting there and away:

Dining

Shopping

Attractions

Money

Post Office

Book Airport Transfer

Book Cheap Flights

Porteño Corner

Walter Freiberg

Popular Posts

Recent Posts

Disclosure

Resources