Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(3554m). Visitors are rewarded with views of dozens of waterfalls that plunge over the
flanks of extinct volcanoes.
From Pampa Linda - the starting point for several excellent
hikes
- hikers can ap-
proach the snow-line Club Andino
Refugio Otto Meiling
(dm AR$130)
on foot (about four
to six hours' hiking time) and continue to Laguna Frías via the
Paso de las Nubes
; it's
a five- to seven-hour walk to an elevation of 2000m. It's also possible to complete the
trip in the opposite direction by taking Cerro Catedral's ferry from Puerto Pañuelo to
Puerto Blest, and then hiking up the Río Frías to Paso de las Nubes before descending to
Pampa Linda via the Río Alerce. The
refugio
itself prepares delicious meals (around
AR$130, kitchen use AR$45) and is well stocked with good wine and beer. You can hire
a guide at the
refugio
to take you on a number of excursions, which range from a three-
hour hike to a nearby glacier to the multiday ascent of Cumbre Argentina on Tronador.
Climbers intending to scale Tronador should anticipate a three- to four-day technical
climb requiring experience on rock, snow and ice.
The road to
Pampa Linda
passes
Los Rápidos
, after which it becomes extremely nar-
row. Traffic is therefore allowed up to Pampa Linda until 2pm. At 4pm cars are allowed
to leave Pampa Linda for the return trip. For AR$130 one way, Club Andino Bariloche
has summer transport (end of November to April) to Pampa Linda at 8:30am daily, re-
turning around 5pm. Buses depart from in front of Club Andino, and the 90km ride takes
about 2½ hours. Park entry fees (AR$65) must be paid en route at the ranger station at
Villa Mascardi (the bus stops so you can do this).
Sleeping
In addition to the campgrounds in the Bariloche area, there are sites at Lago Gutiérrez,
Lago Mascardi, Lago Guillelmo, Lago Los Moscos, Lago Roca and Pampa Linda.
Refu-
gios
are mostly open from December to the end of April. Reservations are not accepted
-beds are allocated on a first come, first served basis but a space will always be found
(maybe on the floor) for whoever arrives.
Within the park is a number of hotels tending to the luxurious, though there is also the
moderately priced
Hostería Pampa Linda
( 0294-449-0517;
www.hosteriapampalinda.com.ar
; s/d AR$580/720)
. For a real treat, stay at the secluded
Hotel Tronador
( 0294-449-0556;
www.hoteltronador.com
; s/d from AR$890/1500;
Nov-mid-Apr)
, at the northwest end of Lago Mascardi on the Pampa Linda road.
Information
