Villa La Angostura

A small Patagonian forest town on the northern shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi. The cinnamon-trunked arrayán trees of Arrayanes National Park look like a fairy tale, boat trips reach Victoria Island, and the Seven Lakes Route heads north from here.

Villa La Angostura lies in the south of Neuquén Province, Argentina, on the northern shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi, about 80 km from Bariloche. It is a boutique Patagonian town surrounded by forest, with wooden and stone guesthouses, chocolate shops and craft breweries along its main street. The town's name means 'the narrow place', referring to the narrow isthmus that connects it to the Quetrihué Peninsula.

The main highlight is Arrayanes National Park. From the entrance near Manzano Bay, you can hike or cycle about 12 km to the tip of the peninsula, passing through groves of cinnamon-barked arrayán trees, then return by boat. You can also take a boat tour to Victoria Island in the lake.

Around the town are the Río Correntoso, said to be one of the world's shortest rivers; the Belvedere viewpoint, overlooking two lakes; the Inacayal and Bonito waterfalls; and Cerro Bayo, a mountain with winter skiing and summer gondola views.

To the north, Route 40, known as the Seven Lakes Route, passes Lake Correntoso, Lake Espejo and other lakes before reaching San Martín de los Andes.

Best seasons: December to March is ideal for hiking, lake trips and self-drive touring. April and May bring golden autumn foliage. July to September is ski season.

Getting there: A bus from Bariloche takes about 1.5 hours. The town is also a border crossing point for Osorno in Chile.

Plan to stay 2 to 3 days: one day for the arrayán forest, one for the viewpoints and waterfalls, and one more for a lake drive or skiing.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries