San Martín de los Andes
Lake-district town in northern Patagonia on Lake Lácar, starting point of the Seven Lakes Road and gateway to Lanín Volcano and the Chapelco ski area.
San Martín de los Andes lies in southwest Neuquén province, Argentina, in the northern Patagonian lake district, nestled in a valley on the eastern shore of Lake Lácar. It is the gateway to Lanín National Park and the northern starting point of the famous Seven Lakes Road (National Route 40). Founded in 1898, the town is quiet and refined, with Alpine-style timber-and-stone buildings, gardens and chocolate shops, and strict limits on building height. The area divides into three parts: around town are Lake Lácar, the Bandurrias and Arrayán viewpoints, the Quila Quina and Catritre beaches, and the Chapelco ski area; to the west, along the lake, are Chachín Waterfall and Hua Hum; to the north, via Junín de los Andes, are Lakes Huechulafquen, Paimún and Tromen at the foot of Lanín Volcano, and the Lahuen Co hot springs; and to the south, the Seven Lakes Road passes Lakes Machónico, Hermoso, Falkner and Villarino. Summer (Dec–Mar) is ideal for lake activities and hiking, July–September is ski season, and April brings brilliant autumn colors. Getting there: Chapelco Airport (actually located between the town and Junín) has flights to and from Buenos Aires; Bariloche is about 4 hours' drive along the Seven Lakes Road. Sights are spread out, so renting a car is recommended. Allow 3–4 days. Mountain weather is changeable – summer sun is strong while mornings and evenings are cool – and some areas of the national park require an entry ticket.
Top sights
- Lago Lácar – A glacial lake beside the town, extending west deep into the Andes to the Chilean border. Its beach and boat trips are the highlight of any…
- Mirador Bandurrias – A viewpoint on the hillside northwest of town, offering panoramic views of Lake Lácar and the town. It is the most classic photo spot.
- Lanín National Park – A national park centered on Lanín Volcano, featuring Chilean pine forests, a chain of glacial lakes, and Mapuche communities.
- Volcán Lanín – A perfectly conical dormant volcano rising to 3,776 m, forming the border between Argentina and Chile and serving as a symbol of Neuquén Pr…
- Lago Huechulafquen – A large lake at the foot of Lanín Volcano. Its scenery is the park's most iconic view, and boats run to Paimún Lake.
- Ruta de los Siete Lagos – A scenic road of about 110 km along National Route 40 between San Martín de los Andes and Angostura. It links seven glacial lakes and is Ar…
- Mirador Arrayán – A viewpoint and mountain tea house on the hillside southwest of town, where you can sip afternoon tea while overlooking Lake Lácar.
- Quila Quina – A Mapuche community bay on the south shore of Lake Lácar, with fine sand beaches, clear lake water and a short hike to a waterfall.
- Playa Catritre – The beach on Lake Lácar's south shore closest to town, run as a campsite by the Mapuche community, with swimming and views back to the town.
- Cerro Chapelco – A well-known ski resort in northern Patagonia, with runs winding through the forest, and on clear days the summit offers views of Lanín Vol…
- Lago Paimún – The quieter sister lake west of Lake Huechulafquen, with black volcanic sand shores and the southern slope of Lanín Volcano close at hand.
- Lago Tromen – A lake at the northern foot of Lanín Volcano, surrounded by araucaria forest, and the starting point for viewing the volcano's north face a…
- Lago Lolog – A quiet glacial lake about 15 km north of town, with pebble beaches good for trout fishing, kayaking and picnics.
- Cascada Chachín – A waterfall in the forest at the western end of Lake Lácar, reached by a short trail through southern beech and bamboo groves.
- Hua Hum & Lago Nonthué – The mountain pass area at the western end of Lake Lácar leading to Chile, with Hua Hum River rafting and the tranquil Lake Nontué.
- Lago Machónico – A lake along the northern section of the Seven Lakes Road, surrounded by forest with emerald-green water, where you can pull over at the ro…
- Lago Hermoso – The Beautiful Lake along the Seven Lakes Road, with a lake-bay beach and southern beech forest, suitable for camping and kayaking.
- Lago Falkner – One of the most expansive lakes along the Seven Lakes Road, with the road hugging the shore, sandy beaches and Mount Buc reflected in the w…
- Lago Villarino – A small lake separated from Lake Falkner by only a narrow isthmus, with dense forest on its shores and a classic Seven Lakes Road viewpoint.
- Cascada Vulignanco – A waterfall about 20 meters high beside the northern section of the Seven Lakes Road, with the full view just a few steps from the roadside…
- Lago Meliquina – A lake southeast of town where grassland meets forest, with a lakeside resort village, and a hotspot for kitesurfing and horseback riding.
- Junín de los Andes – The trout capital about 40 km north of San Martín de los Andes, rich in Mapuche culture and the gateway to Lanín Volcano.
- Vía Christi – A religious sculpture trail on a hill above Junín de los Andes, retelling the Passion of Christ through Mapuche and Latin American imagery.
- Termas Lahuen Co – Natural hot springs deep in Lanín National Park, with a free outdoor natural pool in the forest and a hot springs resort.
- Lago Escondido – A jewel-green lake hidden in dense forest along the Seven Lakes Road, visible from a roadside viewpoint where you can park.
Where to eat
- Doña Quela – A long-standing pasta restaurant in the 1910 Lacar Hotel building, known for trout, lamb and venison pasta, with live p…
- Torino Bar Bistro – A longtime local favorite that has ranked first on several lists, serving French technique with Patagonian mushrooms, v…
- Ku de los Andes – A longtime grill on the main avenue, open since 1997, known for Patagonian lamb and also serving venison, trout and hou…
- Pizza Cala – The town's most popular budget pizzeria, with more than thirty thin-crust pizzas and oven-baked empanadas, a favorite o…
- Merken Café Restaurant – An all-day café and restaurant serving house-baked bread with specialty coffee, plus an oversized breaded steak and ven…
Itineraries
- Lake District Seven Lakes Road & Lanín Loop – A self-drive loop starting and ending in Bariloche, heading to San Martín via the Seven Lakes Road, and returning via P…