Three Alternatives to Visit Neuquén in a Weekend Getaway.

Villa La Angostura, Villa Traful, and San Martín de los Andes honour it. They gift us with spellbinding panoramic views, local gastronomy, and nature —the perfect ingredients to enjoy a getaway in Patagonia.

Let’s make a bet. If, upon reading this article, you feel like you urgently need to visit Argentina’s Patagonia region, give yourself 72 hours in one of the most amazing provinces of our country. We promise you that will be enough to get your heart throbbing. Besides, no one has ever regretted enjoying tale-like landscapes, blue reflections of the region’s most beautiful lakes, endless paths, and amazing experiences that have been immortalised in the world’s lenses and eyes.

Neuquén leaves everyone speechless. In winter, summer, autumn, or spring: all answers are correct. It has such a great and versatile offer that its landscapes inspired Walt Disney himself to create magical worlds. As with the storyteller magnate responsible for our childhood smiles, the Patagonia formula of water mirrors plus mountain peaks will make you show your teeth throughout your stay. Let’s move on to the facts. What can you do in these paths? Read the complete journey below.

Villa La Angostura

A city that meets and surpasses explorers’ expectations. Villa La Angostura has all to kindle travellers’ internal fire. For example, 7 km away from the city centre, a pine forest and magic street light up every visitor’s gaze. We’re talking about Bahía Manzano, the perfect accommodation and gastronomy ally. Tastes you don’t want to miss? Grilled Patagonian lamb, brook trout, and deer stew.

A bit further away, you’ll find a gem that inspired the Bambi film: National Park Los Arrayanes. Thousands of 25-metre-high orange trees that are up to 600 years old draw the perfect image. By the way, we have a unique natural privilege in the world. Don’t you think? There are loads of paths, viewpoints, and amazing sceneries that bring peace and energy to every observer. The same happens in Lago Espejo, which, as its name implies, reveals a second version of the Patagonian landscapes in its reflection. The best part? You can visit it during the day, and discover the starry sky at night in one of the most popular campsite on the Road of the Seven Lakes.

Now, if you need your heart to throb to make the most of it, Cerro Bayo is the ideal place. There are loads of activities for the fearless and adventurous souls here. You can mountain bike along special circuits, go trekking, or even zip-wire among the infinite green of Patagonian forests. Mind you! Winter also has a restless version. As the green soil becomes covered in snow, ski slopes welcome snowboarding and ski lovers. Whether in winter or summer, eager photographers will be delighted by capturing some of the area’s most beautiful panoramic views when travelling.

Villa Traful

Sixty kilometres away from Villa La Angostura, there’s a small village where Traful lake crystal waters fuse in the purity of the sky, weaving a single fabric. Of course, water landscapes and beaches offer alternatives to relax and for adventure tourism too. This city is for all tastes, as is the whole province of Neuquén. In this case, the sporting star is sport fishing and diving. So much so that there’s even a lake at the bottom of the Traful lake. Yes. Something like an Argentinian Atlantis. There are almost 60 cypresses that have survived the passing of time, and today they naturally stick out to the surface. If you want to discover this Neuquén environmental rarity, sail the lake on a boat.

For horses’ lovers, horseback ridings are a must in this southern land that gets deeper and deeper into tourists’ hearts. Hiking is also one of the most chosen activities since you’ll always be astonished by the scenery, regardless of the path you take. Cerro Negro and Cerro Monje are the first options if you want to go climbing. It’s a challenging activity, and to be able to enjoy it, you have to spend a whole day. Picture-perfect places? Loads of them. You can take the most iconic pictures from the Mirador Traful viewpoint.

San Martín de los Andes

Again, the Argentinian formula is shown on the maps: mind-blowing views, top-notch gastronomy, adventure tourism, and peaceful moments. Now, it’s San Martín de los Andes’ turn, or for many, the happiness recipe. 

As you would expect, lakes are common, and they paint landscapes turquoise. When you gaze at them, it’s as if time stopped. The plan is simply to admire those Mother Earth’s gifts under the sunlight, and keep in your mind as many horizons and orange sunsets as possible. The perfect portrait is completed with the iconic Lácar lake, located in the National Park Lanín. This place also embraces amazing water mirrors, such as Curruhue Grande, Huechulafquen, and Paimún, among other wonders. If you want to get lost in nature, far away from the urban chaos, visit Quila Quina, a village 18 km away from the capital, where you can also stay for the night to make the most of your peaceful moments. Lastly, as part of the dynamics around the lake, you can go trekking for the Patagonian forest that peaks with the spellbinding Ñivinco waterfall.

The best part is that, once the relaxing dose comes to an end (if that is ever possible), you can also take up the braves’ programmes. For example, two hours away from San Martín, you can go rafting in the rivers Aluminé, Chimehuin, or Hua Hum. The Cerro Chapelco, the five-time awarded the best ski resort in the World Ski Awards, is a spectacular destination for snow sports in winter, and horseback riding, climbing, trekking, and mountain biking in summer.

Tip: Would you like to take the best picture of San Martín? Get to the summit, to the viewpoint of Bandurria or Arrayanes, and shoot. 

Now that we have come to the end, have we persuaded you to visit one of the most splendid provinces in Argentina? So, we’ve won the bet. Reconnect with your best self, the version that dazzles every time you tread a new path.