Loading…
← All parks
Patagonia · Río Negro · Neuquén
National ParkNahuel Huapi
Latin America’s first national park.
41.10° S · 71.50° O
- Established
- 1934
- Area
- 717,000 ha
- Ecoregion
- Patagonian forest, steppe and High Andes
- Gateway
- San Carlos de Bariloche
Lakes, coihue and lenga forests, glaciers and a network of mountain huts unique in South America. From Tronador to Puerto Blest, it is the capital of hut-to-hut trekking.
Highlights
- Hut-to-hut trekking: Frey, Jakob, Laguna Negra.
- Tronador and the Black Glacier from Pampa Linda.
- Sailing to Puerto Blest and the Cántaros waterfall.
- Kayaking on lakes Gutiérrez, Mascardi or Steffen.
Getting there
By plane
Aeropuerto Internacional Tte. Luis Candelaria, Bariloche (BRC)
Flights from Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Rosario and El Calafate, with connections to Brazil and Chile.
By car
RN 237 · RN 40 · RN 231 — 1,600 km from Buenos Aires
From Neuquén on RN 237; from San Martín de los Andes along the Seven Lakes Road. Some park roads (Tronador, Cascada Los Alerces, Steffen) have one-way time windows.
By bus
Terminal de Ómnibus de Bariloche
Most bus companies serve Bariloche; local buses reach many trailheads.
Trails
Difficulty
Duration
Difficulty: EasyModerateHardExpert
Refugio Frey
From the base of Cerro Catedral, up the Van Titter valley to Laguna Toncek and the Frey granite spires. You can sleep at the hut.
Registration required
- Distance
- 22 km
- Duration
- 8 h
- Elevation gain
- 800 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Out and back
Laguna Jakob (Refugio San Martín)
Up the Casa de Piedra valley to a high lagoon ringed by lenga trees. Best over two days with a night at the hut.
Registration required
- Distance
- 30 km
- Duration
- 10 h
- Elevation gain
- 1,100 m
- Difficulty
- Hard
Out and back
Refugio Italia (Laguna Negra)
From Colonia Suiza up the Goye stream to a dark lagoon beneath rock walls.
Registration required
- Distance
- 20 km
- Duration
- 8 h
- Elevation gain
- 1,000 m
- Difficulty
- Hard
Out and back
Paso de las Nubes
A classic crossing from Pampa Linda to Puerto Frías beside Tronador, returning by boat via Puerto Blest.
Registration required
- Distance
- 22 km
- Duration
- 10 h
- Elevation gain
- 900 m
- Difficulty
- Hard
Point to point
Cascada Los Duendes (Lago Gutiérrez)
From the Lake Gutiérrez ranger station, 500 m of old forest to the waterfall. Great with kids.
- Distance
- 1 km
- Duration
- 0.5 h
- Elevation gain
- —
- Difficulty
- Easy
Out and back
Cascada y Laguna Los Césares
From Lake Mascardi, forest and a stiff climb to the lagoon. One of the park’s recommended demanding trails.
Registration required
- Distance
- 16 km
- Duration
- 6 h
- Elevation gain
- —
- Difficulty
- Hard
Out and back
Distances, elevation gain and times are approximate and change with the season. Check each trail’s status with the park before setting out.
Where to stay
Mountain hut$
Frey, Jakob, Laguna Negra, Otto Meiling
The mountain hut network is unique in South America: hot dinner and a bunk in the high Andes. Book ahead in high season.
Hotel$$$$
Circuito Chico y Llao Llao
Lakeside hotels minutes from Puerto Pañuelo and the López and Colonia Suiza trailheads.
Cabins$$
Villa La Angostura y Villa Traful
Quieter than Bariloche, on the Seven Lakes Road and close to the arrayán forest.
Campsite$
Lagos Gutiérrez, Mascardi, Roca y Steffen
Over 25 serviced campsites with toilets and fire pits, plus free sites in the north zone.
Before you go
- Trekking registration is mandatory for every hike in the park.
- From 1 March to 30 November, trails in the Challhuaco–Ñirihuau area close for red deer control.
- The road to Pampa Linda (Tronador) runs uphill 10:30 am–2 pm and downhill 4–6 pm.
- Many areas have no signal: share your plan and carry water and warm layers.
Plan your journey to Nahuel Huapi
We design private trips at each traveller’s pace: hikes, local guides and carefully chosen stays. Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll reply within 48 hours.