Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A herd of guanaco wandering on the vast Patagonian steppe near Tres Lagos
@
Gobernador
Gregores
Road map
B5. 218 miles (352km) S of
Perito Moreno.
*
3,500.
@
n
Ave
San Martín & Ruperto Barrenchea,
(02962) 491-228.
£
Lago Cardiel
Road map
B5. 43 miles (70 km) W
of Gobernador Gregores.
@
n
Ave San Martín & Ruperto
Barrenchea, Gobernador Gregores;
(02962) 491-192.
$
Tres Lagos
Road map
B6. 108 miles (174km) S of
Gobernador Gregores.
*
200.
@
The tiny settlement of Tres
Lagos owes its name to its
proximity to the lakes
Viedma
,
San Martín
, and
Tar
. The town
was originally founded to serve
the sheep ranches that could
be found around the three
lakes. Wool from the estancias
would be brought to Tres
Lagos where it was loaded
onto wagons for the two-
month long journey to the
port at Puerto Santa Cruz on
the Atlantic coast. More
prosaically, this remote settle-
ment today serves mainly the
motorists traveling along Ruta
Nacional 40, its gas station
being the only one on the long,
empty stretch of highway
between Bajo Caracoles and
El Calafate
(see p251)
. It also has
a free municipal campsite.
The clear turquoise waters of
Lago Cardiel are easy to spot for
those traveling along Ruta
Nacional 40. The lake is
overlooked by the dramatic
peak of
Mount El Puntudo
,
and stands out from the
surrounding steppe, providing
welcome relief for eyes grown
accustomed to scrub grass and
flat plains. The colorful colonies
of black-necked swans and pink
flamingos that inhabit the lake's
shores can also be seen from
the roadside.
Brimming with rainbow trout
and salmon, the lake is a prime
spot for angling. The nearby
estancias can make arrange-
ments for excursions.
Situated in the middle of
the windy Patagonian steppe,
deep in sheep territory,
Gobernador Gregores is
characteristic of the many iso-
lated settlements that dot the
southern stretch of Ruta
Nacional 40. A farming town
that was once an important
stopover for landowners trans-
porting wool from the Andes
to the ports on the Atlantic
coast, its chief attractions today
are the working estancias that
dot the surrounding landscape.
As well as farming sheep,
these beautiful ranches provide
visitors isolation and relaxation,
together with activities such as
horse riding, bird-watching,
and fishing. Estancia La
Angostura, in the same family
since 1878, and Estancia Río
Capitán
(see pp310-11)
are two
of the most recommended.
Motorists driving along Ruta
Nacional 40 should note that
the town, situated 45 miles (72
km) off the national highway,
provides basic accommo-
dations and also has the only
gas station between Bajo
Caracoles to the north and Tres
Lagos to the south, a stretch of
over 248 miles (400 km).
Flamingos over the turquoise waters of Lago Cardiel
