Seven Lakes: Day Trips and Tours from Bariloche

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The Road of the Seven Lakes is an exquisitely scenic stretch of Argentina’s legendary Route 40. This 107 kilometer stretch of the 5,000 kilometer long route lies between the towns of Villa La Angostura and San Martin de los Andes in the Neuquen Province of Patagonian Argentina.

Apart from the seven lakes that lend this section of the route its name, the road also crosses that Lanín and Nahuel Huapi National Parks, and is an access point to many of the forests and natural attractions in the region. A Seven Lakes day trip from Bariloche is a great way to spend a day exploring the area's natural beauty.

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Seven Lakes: Day Trips and Tours from Bariloche

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Authors

Amy Pieterse

Lesley Scott

Here's all you need to know about the Road of the Seven Lakes, one of the most exciting day trips from Bariloche.

How to get to the Seven Lakes Road from Bariloche?

The scenic stretch of Route 40, known as Seven Lakes Road lies between the town of Villa La Angostura and San Martin de los Andes.

From Bariloche to the Seven Lakes Road by car

To travel along the Seven Lakes Road, you will drive north out of the town of Bariloche towards Villa La Angostura.

The road passes through Dina Huapi and shortly after losing sight of Lake Nahuel Luapi, you will turn left where routes 40 and 237 intersect, to remain on Route 40. From Villa La Angostura the Seven Lakes route begins.

Without any stops, the route between Villa La Angostura and San Martin de los Andes will take less than two hours.

Guided tour to the Seven Lakes Road from Bariloche

Full-day guided excursions from Bariloche are one of the best and easiest ways to explore this magical stretch of road at the foot of the Andes mountain range.

What is the typical itinerary?

Seven Lakes day trips start with a hotel pickup in Bariloche. You will make your way along the winding picturesque route, stopping at regular intervals for photographic opportunities or just to admire the magnificent scenery.

Apart from the lakes, you will drive past rivers, intriguing rock formations and alpine forests.

Your destination for lunch is the town of San Martín de los Andes and you will have time to explore, and savor some of the local fare for lunch.

After lunch, your tour returns to Bariloche along the same route, giving you some time to relax and watch the landscape pass by.

What kinds of tours are available to go to Seven Lakes?

The standard itinerary for most types of tour along the Seven Lakes Road is the same and the core differentiator of the tours is the group size.

Guided tours to the Seven Lakes from Bariloche

On a guided tour to the Seven Lakes, you will be collected from your hotel in Bariloche and join the rest of your group.

The tour travels the route between Villa La Angostura and San Martin de los Andes, stopping at various points along the way. After lunch, the tour returns to Bariloche, arriving in the early evening.

Small group guided tour to the Seven Lakes from Bariloche

A guided small group tour from Bariloche to Seven Lakes typically follows the same route as larger group tours.

Some way-points on the tour may vary and you will have more personalized attention from your guide due to the smaller group size.

How much does a day trip to the Seven Lakes from Bariloche cost?

Guided tours along the Seven Lakes Road start from US$55 per person on a larger group tour, while small group tours from Bariloche can cost up to US$200 per person depending on the group size.

Transport and guide services are typically included, but meals and drinks are excluded and you will need to pay for this separately.

What will you see and do?

The seven lakes that give the route its name include: Lake Lácar, Machónico Lake, Falkner Lake, Vallarino Lake, Escondido Lake, Correntoso Lake and Espejo Lake.

Traveling from Bariloche you will also see the glacial Nahuel Huapi Lake, but this isn’t one of the seven lakes described along the route.

You may also see some of the region’s wildlife including huemul, an endangered deer, the pancora fresh-water crab and the huillín, a type of otter.

The tour’s ever-changing panoramas will give you a glimpse of the Andes’ snow-covered peaks and the region’s alpine forests and open pampas plains. Tours also generally stop in both Villa La Angostura and San Martin de los Andes.

When is the best time to visit the Seven Lakes?

The Seven Lakes route can be snowy or icy during the winter months. The best time for a visit is therefore the spring, summer and autumn months.

When traveling from Bariloche, most of the lakes will be on the left (western) side of the road, making morning the best time for photographs, before the afternoon sun creates too much glare and reflection.