Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
sandwiches and burgers, though the quiche generously
stuffed with veggies is most popular with locals (around
AR$30 each). Daily 9am-11.30pm.
Downtown Matias San Martín 598 W downtownmatias
.com. This is where all the nocturnal action is - a cool
Irish pub and restaurant that shakes its drunken groove
well into the small hours. Daily 8pm to late.
La Fondue de Betty Villegas 586 T 02972 422 522.
Warm your hands on a fondue pot at this European-style,
intimate restaurant. Cheese, meat and chocolate fondue
are served up by the owners themselves alongside French
favourites like beef bourguignon.
El Tenedor Villegas 745 T 02972 427 597. The cheapest
place to fill up on grilled meat. Go nuts with endless refills
of parrilla and unlimited sides of french fries, salads and
milanesas - for a few pesos more you also get access to all
the empanadas , goulash and other appetizers, plus a main
course of trout or deer.
along Avenida Arrayanes, a squeaky-clean
main street with twee log-cabin buildings.
Heading 3km downhill from here, along
Boulevard Nahuel Huapi, you'll find
a handful of pretty lakeside teahouses
known as La Villa , as well as two jetties
and the entrance to Parque Nacional Los
Arrayanes (see below).
Ten kilometres northeast of town is
Cerro Bayo ( W cerrobayoweb.com),
a lovely small winter ski resort that caters
for hikers and mountain bikers in the
summer. Villa La Angostura is also the
southern start (or end) point for the
scenic Seven Lakes Route (see box
below), which heads north to San Martín
de los Andes.
Parque Nacional de los Arrayanes
A mini-park nestled within the
mammoth Parque Nacional Nahuel
Huapi (see p.122), the PARQUE
NACIONAL DE LOS ARRAYANES (daily
8am-2pm if arriving by land,
8am-4.30pm by boat; AR$50) lies on
Península Quetrihué, which dips into
Lago Nahuel Huapi from Villa La
Angostura. Its key feature is the Bosque
de los Arrayanes at the peninsula's tip.
he bosque (wood) hosts the world's last
stand of rare arrayán myrtle woodland,
VILLA LA ANGOSTURA
A hit with well-heeled Argentines, VILLA LA
ANGOSTURA is a lovely little wooden
village spread loosely along the northern
shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi. It makes
a tranquil alternative to Bariloche and is
the obvious place to overnight before
taking a stroll in the unique woodlands of
Parque Nacional Los Arrayanes . Most of
the village's shops and restaurants are in the
commercial area known as El Cruce , spread
SEVEN LAKES ROUTE
The Ruta de los Siete Lagos is one of South America's most picturesque drives. It winds for
110km between San Martín de Los Andes and Villa La Angostura along the RN40 traversing
the dense alpine forests, snowcapped Andean peaks, brilliant blue lakes, trout-stuffed rivers
and plunging waterfalls of two magnificent Patagonian national parks - Lanín and Nahuel
Huapi . In summer the road is lined by purple and yellow wild flowers, and the dramatic
snow-covered mountains make the view in winter.
Seven principal photogenic alpine lakes are visible or accessible from the roadside. From
north to south they are: Machónico, Falkner, Villarino, Escondido, Correntoso, Espejo and
Nahuel Huapi. You can spend the night en route at numerous free and serviced lakeside
campsites as well as at refugios and lodges. Camping Lago Falkner (AR$40/person;
W campingfalkner.com.ar) has lots of facilities, including a restaurant and shop, and is popular
with Argentine students and young families, who come to cool off in the lake, camp and party.
The first half of the road is paved, while the final stretch, between Lago Villarino and Lago
Espejo, is a bumpy dirt track, with vehicles spewing up walls of blinding dust in their wake,
though tarmac is gradually being applied. Regular buses run the route, though check you
are going on the “7 Lagos” route rather than the “Rinconada” alternative route that some buses
take between San Martín and Villa Angostura. La Araucana ( W araucana.com.ar) runs two
minibus trips daily (AR$50), picking up and dropping off on request along the way. Despite
obvious hazards from rip-roaring cars and buses, the route is also extremely popular with
cyclists. Check in with the tourism of ce before setting out in winter as parts of the road can
be closed due to snow.
 
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