San Martin de los Andes

Resort Town Founded 1898 At The Head Of Lago Lacar, Gateway To Lanin National Park, The Chapelco Ski Area And The Northern End Of The Seven Lakes Route · San Martin de los Andes, Neuquen

San Martin de los Andes is a low-rise mountain town of timber and stone at the eastern end of Lago Lacar in Neuquen, tidier and quieter than Bariloche, with strict building rules that keep it looking like an alpine village. It works in two seasons. In summer the lake beach in town fills, boats run west along Lacar to Quila Quina and Hua Hum near the Chilean border, and people come to fish, hike and cycle in Lanin National Park, whose perfect snow cone of a volcano rises to the north. In winter it is the base for Cerro Chapelco, a ski area with views to Lanin. It is also the northern end of the Seven Lakes Route south to Villa La Angostura. The lookouts above town, Mirador Arrayan and Bandurrias, give the classic view down the lake. Fly fishing on the Chimehuin and Malleo rivers draws anglers from abroad. The Mapuche communities of the area run some of the lakeside campsites and trails. It is an expensive town by Argentine standards, and in January and July it is full.

Costanera, Lago Lacar, San Martin de los Andes, Neuquen, San Martin de los Andes, Neuquen, Q8370, Argentina

The town is open year-round, with a summer lake season and a winter ski season at Chapelco. Boats on Lago Lacar run mostly in summer. Shops take a long midday break.

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