The Lake District of Argentina is known for its epic scenic routes such as Ruta de 7 Lagos, Circuito Chico, and Circuito Grande. We explored these by bike and a road trip around Bariloche to fully experience the region.
Best Thing I Ate This Week
Fondue de Quesos Especial at Fondue Betty
San Martin de Los Andes is located on Lacar Lake in Lanin National Park and due to its proximity to the mountains is a popular destination for summer hiking as well as winter skiing. Fondue Betty has been serving those hungry visitors for 50 years, and we were able to visit before the owners close the restaurant later this year to retire.
The menu is inspired by their Swiss heritage, and focuses on fondue. It fits in nicely with the mountain town architecture that could be mistaken for being in the Alps instead of the Andes. Our order of Fondue de Quesos Especial came with a mixture of sausage, chicken, vegetables, bread, and a generous portion of melted cheese. It was fun dipping the items in the tasty fondue, but what made the experience even more memorable was the owners. They continued to check-in throughout the meal, made sure we were comfortable, and shared about their 50 years operating this wonderful restaurant.
An Interesting Fact I Learned
There are more than 7 lakes on Ruta de Siete Lagos
Ruta de 7 Lagos is considered one of the most scenic drives in Argentina and makes up a portion of their most famous cross country highway, Ruta 40. In advance, it was difficult to figure out which 7 lakes officially make up this route, but when doing the drive the signs along the way made it clear. In order from south (Villa Angostura) to north (San Martin de Los Andes) the viewpoints of the lakes are: Espejo, Correntoso, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner, Machonico, Lacar.
However, there are a handful of other lakes that can be reached from the main road which are Espejo Chico, Traful, Hermoso. These lakes require a small drive down gravel paths but instead of ending at viewpoints, they conclude at beaches where people can relax and swim in the crystal clear lakes. The combination of amazing view points, tranquil beaches, and winding roads through the Andes made this an incredible road trip around Bariloche regardless of the number of lakes you choose to stop at along the way.
My Travel Tip of the Week
Ask other travelers their favorite activities in places you will visit
While hiking in Southern Patagonia we met many fellow travelers that were doing some incredible extended vacations or long term travel. It was always exciting when people were planning to visit places we had really enjoyed because it was fun to answer their questions and share advice. We, too, get excited when hearing about people’s experiences in places we are thinking of visiting and always make sure to ask about their favorite activities in them.
One great recommendation for the Lake District of Argentina was renting an e-bike for Circuito Chico. It allowed us great flexibility to see the 17 mile route at a leisurely pace, but also stop at the numerous points of interest along the way. Besides the incredible panoramic views, having a bike allowed us to visit Colonia Suiza, stop for lunch at Patagonia Brewery, and hike to the top of Cerro Llao Llao. It was one of my favorite days, and an experience I will be sure to recommend to others visiting the area.
My Additional Anecdote This Week
Lesser known destinations can be as enjoyable as famous ones
Patagonia is most commonly associated with the rugged peaks of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile or Mount Fitz Roy in El Chalten. It was the part of the trip I had really looked forward to and after experiencing how incredible it was thought that maybe visiting Northern Patagonia would be a bit of letdown in comparison.
However, after spending extended time in the Lake District of Argentina, it far surpassed my expectations and led to some of my most enjoyable days of travel so far. Perhaps it is because there was no prior hype that led this visit to being so much fun. Or maybe it was because the variety of activities the destination offered led to a balanced experience that was more tailored to my personal interests. What is certain is that the combination of active activities (kayaking, biking, hiking), passive activities (boat tours, beaches, road trips), great restaurants, abundant local breweries, incredible national parks, and historical towns made the Lake District a spectacular place to visit.
