ARGENTINA REGION BY REGION - Argentina - page 234

f San Martín de
los Andes
Road map B4. 118 miles (190 km)
S of Aluminé. * 30,000. ~
@ from Neuquén. n Ave San
Martín and Juan Manuel de Rosas,
[phone]. _ Fiesta Nacional
de Montañés (Aug). ∑ sanmartin
delosandes.gov.ar

Idyllically situated on the
eastern lip of Lago Lácar,
San Martín de los Andes is
arguably Patagonia's loveliest
town. Despite increased tourist
interest and a construction
boom, strict planning laws
have ensured that it retains
much of its original charm.
At the center of town, Museo
Primeros Pobladores
has ethnographic
exhibits on the region's
coloniza tion by
Europeans. Several short
treks lead into Parque
Nacional Lanín nearby.
Visitors wanting longer
excursions into the park
should head first to the
Intendencia Parque
Nacional Lanín for information.

Sculpture of Jesus and his Disciples along Via Christi, Junín de los Andes

s Aluminé
Road map B4. 176 miles (284 km) W
of Neuquén. * 1,300. @ from Neu-
quén. n Centro de Informes, Cristian
Joubert 321, [phone].
∑ alumine.gov.ar

point, with Mapuche artifacts
dating as far back as 12,000
years. The nearby Iglesia
Nuestra Señora de las Nieves
is an aesthetic blend
of indigenous and
Roman Catholic sym-
bolism. Its stained-glass
windows and main
crucifix, portraying a
resurrected Christ in
Mapuche dress, are
standout features. On a
hillside overlooking the
town there is the Via
Christi , a 1-mile (2-km)
walk comprising statues
depicting the life of Christ, each
handcrafted in the image of the
Mapuche. The town is one of
the gateways to Parque
Nacional Lanín and visitors
heading there should go first to
Delegación Parque Nacional
Lanín . Junín de los Andes is
also Patagonia's fishing mecca,
skirted by rivers rich in trout.

Situated within the Mapuche
heartland, the pleasant settle-
ment of Aluminé was founded
as a military fortification in
1884. This was during the
Conquista del Desierto (see p54) ,
the bloody campaign against
the indigenous tribes. The fort
no longer exists and Aluminé
is today a sleepy Andean
town, a rafting and fishing
destination ringed by rugged
hills. Rafting enthusiasts are
drawn by the rapids of Río
Aluminé; anglers by the trout-
and perch-rich waters of Río
Quillén and Río Pulmarí. The
town is an ideal base for trips
into the northern section of
Parque Nacional Lanín.

Fly-fishing sign
near Junín

Environs
Just 12 miles (19 km) from
town is the Chapelco Ski
Resort (see p309) , with 20
slopes of varying difficulty and
a world-class snowboarding
park. The maximum drop is
2,394 ft (730 m).

E Museo Primeros Pobladores
Juan Manuel de Rosas 700. Te l (02972)
428-676. Open 10am-7pm Mon-Fri,
2-7pm Sat & Sun.
Intendencia Parque
Nacional Lanín
Perito Moreno & Elordi. Te l (02972)
427-233. Open 8am-3pm Mon-Fri.

E Museo Mapuche
Ginés Ponte & Joaquín Nogueira.
Open 9am-noon, 3-8pm Mon-Fri.
Delegación Parque
Nacional Lanín
Padre Milanesio 550. Te l (02972) 492-
748. Open varies (call in advance).

d Junín de
los Andes
Road map B4. 242 miles (390 km) SW
of Neuquén. * 10,000. @ from
Neuquén. n Padre Milanesio 590,
[phone]. _ Semana de la
Artesania (Jul); National Trout Festival
(Dec). ∑ junindelosandesturismo.
wordpress.com

The region's oldest settlement,
Junín de los Andes was
founded in 1883 as an army
outpost during the offensive
against the Mapuche. Several
expressions of this tribal culture
are still found on the streets
around the araucaria -shaded
Plaza San Martín. Museo
Mapuche is a good starting Boats for hire along the shore of Lago Lácar, San Martín de los Andes

For hotels and restaurants see pp278-83 and pp288-99