Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
336
BY CAR
As outlined abo ve in “D riving Bariloche to S an Martín,” San Martín de los
Andes can be r eached from San Carlos de B ariloche following one of four r outes. The
popular 200km (124-mile) S iete Lagos route takes rutas 234, 231, and 237, and some-
times closes during the winter (see abo ve). The 160km (99-mile) P aso Córdoba route
takes rutas 234, 63, and 237; the longest, y et entirely paved 260km (161-mile) Collón
Curá route follows rutas 234, 40, and 237. I f driving at night, take the pav ed route. To
get to N euquén (420km/260 miles), take r utas 234, 40, and 22. F rom Chile, take the
Tromen Pass (132km/82 miles fr om Pucón) to R uta 62, taking y ou to R uta 234 and
through Junín de los Andes; note that a large por tion of this route is on unpaved roads.
Getting Around
San Martín is compact enough to explore by foot. For outlying excursions, tour compa-
nies can arrange transpor tation.
El S ol R ent a C ar,
Av. S an M artín 461 (
&
02944/
421870
), will drop a car off in Junín de los Andes (see later in this chapter).
Hertz Rent
a Car
is at A v. San Martín 831 (
&
02972/430280
), and
Nieves Rent-A-Car
is at Vil-
legas 668 (
&
02972/428684
).
Note that two main str eets have similar names and can be confusing: P erito Moreno
and Mariano Moreno.
Visitor Information
San Martín's excellent
Oficina de Turismo
(
&
/fax
02972/427347
or 02972/427695)
offers compr ehensive accommodations listings with prices and other tourism-r elated
information, and the staff is friendly and eager to make your stay pleasurable. The office
is open daily 8am to 8pm, at R osas and A venida San Martín, on the main plaza. The
Asociación Hotelero y Gastronomía,
San Martín 1234 (
&
02972/427166
), also offers
lodging information, including photographs of each establishment, though service is not
as efficient as it is at the O ficina de Turismo. During the off season, it's open daily from
9am to 1pm and 3 to 7pm; during high season, it 's open daily from 9am to 10pm.
For information on P arque Nacional Lanín, dr op by the par k's information center ,
open daily 9am to noon only, or visit
www.parquenacionallanin.gov.ar
.
A website chock-full of valuable information is
www.smandes.gov.ar
.
11
Fast Facts
San Martín de los Andes
Banks & Currency Exchange
Andina International,
Capitán Drury 876, exchanges
money; banks such as
Banco de la Nación,
A v. San M artín 687;
Banco de la
Provincia Neuquén,
Belg rano and Obeid; and
Banco F rances,
Av. San M artín
and Sarmient o, ha ve ATMs and money ex change. All banks ar e open M onday
through Friday from 10am t o 3pm.
Emergency
Dial
&
107.
Hospital
Hospital Regional Ramón Carrillo
is at A venida San M artín and Coro-
nel Rodhe (
&
02972/427211
).
Laundry
The most c onvenient laundr omats ar e
La verap S anta A na,
Belg rano
618 (
&
02972/421898
), and
Laverap Drury,
Drury 880 (
&
02972/428820
).
