The Lakes District is one of the most popular and accessible trekking regions in Patagonia which spans the border areas of both Chile and Argentina. The natural scenery is outstanding with glacial lakes, volcanic plateaus and a huge diversity of forests. The area contains a number of large national parks including Lanin, Nahuel Huapi and Lago Puelo on the Argentinean side alone.

Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi

This is the oldest National Park in Argentina and was established in 1922 when the explorer Francisco Pascasio Perito Moreno donated land given to him back to the nation. It is situated around the tourist town of Bariloche and has an extensive network of trekking routes as well as several large lakes. The total size of the park approaches 8000 square metres of wilderness and amazingly some 20% of this area is water. It also has the massive volcano of Monte Tronador, which sits right on the international border and rises to over 3500m.

Photographs from one visit.

In January 2008 we spent four days trekking in Parc Nacional Nahuel Huapi, walking the famous Nahuel Huapi Traverse. From the ski area at Cathedral the the route heads in to Refugio San Martin in one or two days, before crossing Cerro Navidad. This section is very difficult, exposed and may have snow on the route until well in to the summer. After arriving at Laguna Negra and the Refugio Italia there is one more gruelling scree slope to overcome before a final descent to Lago Perito Moreno. This are several huts on this route. Camping is permitted around the huts and at other designated sites. The more easily accessible areas are very popular, but the traverse of Cerro Navidad is a serious undertaking and much more remote.

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