Northern Patagonia: lakes and Mapuches

In the early morning, you will choose an activity such as Mountain Bike or Trekking (level of difficulty low) to explore the Coihues Peninsula and viewpoints of Villa Pehuenia. 

In the afternoon, you will begin your adventure to Batea Mahuida Volcano. This volcano belongs to the Mapuche community’s territory. You will arrive at the summit and from the top you will have a wonderful panoramic view of the surroundings and the crater of the volcano.

Return to Villa Pehuenia.

Private tour with English / Spanish speaking guide

In the morning, departure to Moquehue for a 2-hour horseback ride. 

In the afternoon, as you approach Aluminé, your next destination, you will discover 5 beautiful lakes: Aluminé, Moquehue, Nompehuén, Ñorquinco and Pulmarí. Along 130 km and 5 hours, you will admire these water mirrors before arriving at Aluminé. 

Private tour with English / Spanish speaking guide

Villa Pehuenia – Aluminé: 62 km – approx 1 hour. 

You will begin your day with a full adventure experience. You will do rafting in the Aluminé River. It is famous because the World Championship had place there in 2018. It is one of the most famous rivers to do this activity. You can do the high intensity part (World Championship circuit) or the most calm one (Abra Ancha). 

The navigation has a 2,5 h duration, 6-8 km. Total duration: 4 hours. 

Tour with English / Spanish speaking guide

After lunch (not included) you will depart to Quilque Lil, a 250 hás reserve, just 1,5 km from Aluminé city center. There you can choose between several activities to explore the reserve. You can do an 8 km trek, self-guided. During this 4-hour hike of medium difficulty, you will be able to admire 3 panoramic points: Mirador de los Rodales, Mirador de los Chinchillones and Mirador de los Cipreses. You will also discover archaeological remains of 900 years.

The reserve also offers bird watching, running and cultural encounters with the Mapuche communities that inhabit it.

Finally, you will visit the Charrua Museum, an old ranch transformed into a museum. It is dedicated to conserving, investigating objects that are part of the cultural legacy of the Aluminé River basin. You will be able to learn about the past of this region, the old life in the Estancia and take a botanical walk.

Tour with English / Spanish speaking guide

Just 50 km away from Aluminé, you will meet a local community named Ruca Choroy. One of the Mapuche families will receive you in their home, in the middle of the Andes mountain range. Surrounded by an ancient araucaria forest, you will learn about their way of life, their daily activities and their history.

You can take a walk to a nearby waterfall, and observe birds at Laguna Lopez. They will tell you about their language recovery work, their ancestral medicine hospital, their work in crafts while sharing a mate and typical gastronomy. 

In the afternoon, you can take  a 4 hour walk with a member of the community to Laguna Verde.

Private tour with English / Spanish speaking guide

You will leave Aluminé to the South in the direction of San Martín de los Andes. 

Private transfer with English / Spanish speaking guide

Aluminé – San Martín de los Andes: 150 km – approx 3 hours.

On this day you will discover the excellence of the Lanín National Park, lakes Huechulafquen, Paimún and Epulafquen. You will admire the grandeur of the volcano, you will learn about the traditions and history of Mapuche communities, and you will explore this site through interpretation trails in the middle of the surprising nature of the Park. 

The departure is scheduled at 9 am from San Martín de los Andes. The first stop is the city of Junín de los Andes passing by the Mapuche handicraft area and the Laura Vicuña Church.

Later you will arrive at the Chimehuín River, a very famous place among fishermen from around the world. 

Continuing with the route and bordering the Lake, you will leave the Patagonian Steppe area to enter deep in the Andean-Patagonian forest. 

Afterwards, you will continue your trip to Puerto Canoa until you reach the paradisiac Lake Paimún next to the María Auxiliadora Chapel, in a pure forest of ancient araucarias, at the foot of the Lanín Volcano.

You will return to the city at 6.30 pm. 

Private tour with English / Spanish speaking guide

OPTIONAL: Today, you will discover Villa Meliquina and lake Filo Hua Hum.

You start this half-day tour traveling along the emblematic Route 40, passing through the Pil Pil valley viewpoint, with a spectacular view of the Mapuche communities, and Lake Lacar in the background.

A few kilometers later you will take the detour that will take you to the beautiful Villa del Lago Meliquina, bordering the lake with beautiful views of it in all its extension.

The activity continues passing through large pine plantations in the estancias in the area and arriving at Lake Filo Hua Hum, a fishing paradise, where you will take time to enjoy the beaches. 

Finally you will return to San Martin.

Private tour with English / Spanish speaking guide

According to your flight schedule,  you will be transferred to the airport.

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