IT
Puerto Blest
Puerto Blest si trova all'estremità occidentale del lago Nahuel Huapi. Fa parte del Parco Nazionale Nahuel Huapi nella provincia del Rio Negro in Argentina. Il lago Nahuel Huapi è diviso in diverse sezioni e il braccio occidentale del lago è la sezione Blest. Il ramo Blest del lago copre un'area di circa 14 miglia quadrate. All'ingresso della sezione Blest del lago si trova l'isola Centinela, dove è sepolto l'esploratore Francisco Moreno. Arrivò in questa regione dell'Argentina alla fine del 1800 e in seguito fondò il Parco Nazionale Nahuel Huapi.
Da Puerto Blest, puoi raggiungere la cascata di Los Cantaros e salire i gradini vicino alla cascata fino al lago Los Cantaros che si alimenta nelle cascate. Durante le escursioni nella zona, troverai cipressi e alberi di coihue che crescono nel microclima della foresta pluviale di questa zona. Questa regione riceve più precipitazioni di qualsiasi altra parte dell'Argentina e qui crescono piante e funghi che non puoi trovare in altre parti del paese. Dal lago si possono anche vedere diverse vette della catena montuosa delle Ande.
The basics
The journey to Puerto Blest is all part of the experience, with boats setting sail from Puerto Pañuelo on the Llao Llao Peninsula and cruising along the Nahuel Huapi Lake. Admire the views from the deck as you cruise past the beaches, islands, and lakefront towns of Nahuel Huapi, with the Andes Mountains as a backdrop. From Puerto Blest it’s a scenic 2-mile (3-kilometer) hike to Los Cántaros Lake, following forest trails through the Valdivian rainforest and affording magnificent views across Puerto Blest Bay. Additional highlights include the hanging bridge that spans the Arroyo Blest stream and the Los Cántaros Waterfalls.
Things to know before you go
- Puerto Blest is an ideal choice for hikers and adventurers looking to venture beyond the typical Nahuel Huapi Lake tour route. The hiking trail is suitable for all levels, including children.
- There’s an entrance fee for tours and boat cruises in Nahuel Huapi National Park.
- There is a hotel, restaurant, and restrooms at Puerto Blest.
- Weather in the Lakelands is notoriously unpredictable, so pack sturdy hiking shoes (the trails can get slippery when it rains), a raincoat, and warm clothing, even in the summer.
- Although many boat cruises are wheelchair accessible, the hiking trail to Los Cántaros is not.
How to get there
Boat tours and catamaran ferries run daily to Puerto Blest from Puerto Pañuelo, on the southwestern shore of Nahuel Huapi Lake. Puerto Panuelo is located 16 miles (25 kilometers) west of Bariloche, or about a 35-minute drive. There is no public transport to the port but taxis run from Bariloche, and most tours include transfers.
When to get there
Boats to Puerto Blest run year round, but the most popular time to visit is between October and April, when the warm weather is ideal for hiking. Winter visitors can enjoy the most impressive views of Los Cántaros Waterfall, thanks to the higher water levels, but the trail may be muddy and more challenging to hike.
Exploring Nahuel Huapi Lake
Argentina’s largest lake is the heart of the Lakelands and stretches all the way across the Chilean border. The most popular boat cruise is to Victoria Island, at the center of the lake, and a typical tour itinerary includes a visit to the historic town of Villa La Angostura on the north shore and a hike through the nearby Los Arrayanes National Park, famous for its rare Arrayán trees. During the summer, enjoy fishing, kayaking, or swimming around the lake, or hike to the peak of Cerro Lao Lao or Cerro Campanario Mountain for the best views.
- Tronador Hill (Cerro Tronador)
- Lopez Hill (Cerro Lopez)
- Victoria Island (Isla Victoria)
- Parco Nazionale Nahuel Huapi
- Lago Moreno
- Lago Nahuel Huapi
- Bella Vista Hill (Cerro Bella Vista)
- Belfry Hill (Cerro Campanario)
- Foresta di Arrayanes (Bosque de Arrayanes)
- Mirador del Traful
- Cathedral Hill (Cerro Catedral)
- Lago Mascardi
- Otto Hill (Cerro Otto)
- Cappella di San Eduardo (Capilla de San Eduardo)
- Centro Cívico