Bariloche & The Lake District

The Lake District of northern Patagonia covers areas in both Argentina and Chile. The snow dusted peaks, enchanting forests and crystal clear waters bathed in sunshine are a utopia for tourists and locals alike. Winding roads link small towns that present tempting excursions such as horse riding, white water rafting, hiking, fishing, canoeing and much more. During the summer season the weather is warm enough to swim in the lakes and many have beaches for this purpose. The towns have a distinctly alpine feel to them, perhaps due to the popular ski season that this region hosts during the winter months. The rustic wooden buildings house cafes and bakeries selling steaming mugs of locally produced hot chocolate, homemade pumpkin pie and of course, alfajores. On the Argentinian side of the Lake District, San Martin de Los Andes is the starting point of the stunning, and highly recommended, 7 Lakes Drive. This beautiful route leads to Bariloche, which is situated in a tranquil location beside the Nahuel Hapi Lake. Scores of handmade chocolate shops line the streets, and away from the town centre there are hikes to waterfalls, bicycles available to rent and interesting museums containing prehistoric fossils. This exciting destination can be combined with other highlights in Argentina or Chile on a luxury tailor made holiday to South America.