Driving in the Lakes District
Waiting at the airport in Bariloche at the moment for our flight to El Calafate, so I thought I´d update the past week.
We got to Villa La Angostura and we were SO tired - I took that as a reflection of getting the most out of the day! We had no idea where to stay or how to find out at 7pm. We had noticed a smaller village called Puerto Manzano on the way in that had heaps of lovely wooden structured hotels, very nice architecture too, but we continued the 10km or so to the long main street of Villa La Angostura and parked. It is a very attractive place with all side streets being unpaved, and the long main street having lots of shops, cafes etc and lines with beautiful green trees with lovely red berries- very nicely presented, friendly people and quite a village atmosphere with the many wooden carvings of people and even a giant ice-cream. We were SO lucky, that I noticed an excursion place on the 1st floor of a building, and not only was it open but they also worked with hotels for bookings. The VERY friendly (and attractive) girl rang a number of hotels that were full before she found one right on the water at Puerto Manzano for us called Dos Bahias. It was really nice at the end of a long peninsula, with big windows and lots of wood. The room must have been at 30 degress and the aircon made it hotter! The day cooled down later and so did the room fortunately!
Next day was Marta and Kurt day, following their recommendations (thanks M&K) as we caught the boat to the Arrayanes forest at the end of another peninsula and then walked the 13km back through lovely forest, although the track was quite dusty in parts. The smooth barked light-brown speckled trees were very interesting. They were about 25m tall and grew in clumps, like a family! After the walk we had a wash and paddle in the lake. Later we drove to another nearby village and had dinner at the Hotel Correntoso (thanks M&K) and had the best meal we have had so far, with steak and lamb and georgeous dessert of cappuchino bavarois and warm fruit with custardy sauce, and of course an excellent Argentinian red.
Next day (Wed 27th Feb) we drove the 7 lakes road to San Martin. It was VERY slow, VERY dusty and quite busy and long. We didn´t enjoy it very much although the views of the lakes were very nice. It was more of a relief to get back on sealed road. We really liked San Martin and had a swim in the lake there.
Our plane is boarding so just quickly, next day we drove to a remote lake to the north west of San Mrtin, through Junin ( like a country town) called Heuchulafuquen (a Mapuche name) and it was remote and lovely. Had a great swim in the lake, just where a river came into it and had fun sinking into the half-pea sized volcanic pebbles to get free exfoliation! The people were great, I practiced Spanish a lot and we had a restul time gazing at the 4000m Vocan Lanin. Next day we drove on a sealed road back to Bariloche to stay for tow nights at Design Suites (very nice) eat, drink swim in the pool and relax.
Out flight is on time (wonders never cease) so I´d better go.
Hasta luego!
We got to Villa La Angostura and we were SO tired - I took that as a reflection of getting the most out of the day! We had no idea where to stay or how to find out at 7pm. We had noticed a smaller village called Puerto Manzano on the way in that had heaps of lovely wooden structured hotels, very nice architecture too, but we continued the 10km or so to the long main street of Villa La Angostura and parked. It is a very attractive place with all side streets being unpaved, and the long main street having lots of shops, cafes etc and lines with beautiful green trees with lovely red berries- very nicely presented, friendly people and quite a village atmosphere with the many wooden carvings of people and even a giant ice-cream. We were SO lucky, that I noticed an excursion place on the 1st floor of a building, and not only was it open but they also worked with hotels for bookings. The VERY friendly (and attractive) girl rang a number of hotels that were full before she found one right on the water at Puerto Manzano for us called Dos Bahias. It was really nice at the end of a long peninsula, with big windows and lots of wood. The room must have been at 30 degress and the aircon made it hotter! The day cooled down later and so did the room fortunately!
Next day was Marta and Kurt day, following their recommendations (thanks M&K) as we caught the boat to the Arrayanes forest at the end of another peninsula and then walked the 13km back through lovely forest, although the track was quite dusty in parts. The smooth barked light-brown speckled trees were very interesting. They were about 25m tall and grew in clumps, like a family! After the walk we had a wash and paddle in the lake. Later we drove to another nearby village and had dinner at the Hotel Correntoso (thanks M&K) and had the best meal we have had so far, with steak and lamb and georgeous dessert of cappuchino bavarois and warm fruit with custardy sauce, and of course an excellent Argentinian red.
Next day (Wed 27th Feb) we drove the 7 lakes road to San Martin. It was VERY slow, VERY dusty and quite busy and long. We didn´t enjoy it very much although the views of the lakes were very nice. It was more of a relief to get back on sealed road. We really liked San Martin and had a swim in the lake there.
Our plane is boarding so just quickly, next day we drove to a remote lake to the north west of San Mrtin, through Junin ( like a country town) called Heuchulafuquen (a Mapuche name) and it was remote and lovely. Had a great swim in the lake, just where a river came into it and had fun sinking into the half-pea sized volcanic pebbles to get free exfoliation! The people were great, I practiced Spanish a lot and we had a restul time gazing at the 4000m Vocan Lanin. Next day we drove on a sealed road back to Bariloche to stay for tow nights at Design Suites (very nice) eat, drink swim in the pool and relax.
Out flight is on time (wonders never cease) so I´d better go.
Hasta luego!
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