Bariloche San Martin de los Andes and Seven Lakes Road Tour

The lakes make the long road worthwhile. This full-day outing links Bariloche with Villa La Angostura and San Martin de los Andes, passing forests, viewpoints, and seven very different lakes along the way. I especially like the chance to see Lake Nahuel Huapi and Lake Correntoso in one day, plus the time to explore San Martin de los Andes. The main drawback is clear: you spend many hours in the vehicle, with only short stops at several viewpoints.

The small group, capped at 15 people, helps keep the trip more personal than a large coach outing. An English and Spanish-speaking guide accompanies you throughout, and guide Matias has received especially warm praise for his work. I would book this for scenery and convenience, not for long walks, detailed sightseeing, or a relaxed lunch break.

Key points to know before you book

• Seven named lakes in one day: Correntoso, Espejo, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner, Hermoso, and Machonico form the heart of the route.
• San Martin de los Andes included: You get time to tour this attractive mountain town beside Lake Lacar and visit a viewpoint.
• English and Spanish guide: Commentary is provided throughout, with Matias singled out for making the day especially enjoyable.
• About 10 hours on the road: The scenery is the reward, but active people may find the bus time tiring.
• Small group size: The maximum is 15 people, a useful middle ground between a private outing and a big coach tour.
• Lunch costs extra: Bring money for a meal in San Martin de los Andes, and remember that hotel pickup only reaches central Bariloche and hotels up to kilometer 8 of Avenida Bustillo.

A long but rewarding road day from Bariloche

The Seven Lakes Route is one of the best ways to see the countryside beyond Bariloche without renting a car. The trip begins around 8:00 a.m., although the exact pickup time changes by season and is confirmed later. You are collected from central hotels and properties located up to kilometer 8 along Avenida Bustillo.

That pickup area matters. If your hotel lies farther out, you will receive a meeting point instead of door-to-door service. Send the hotel name when booking, since the operator may be able to arrange a nearby meeting point along the transfer route.

From the start, think of this as a scenic road journey, not a hiking excursion. The day lasts about 10 hours, and the route covers a lot of ground. You will get frequent visual rewards, but the scheduled stops are generally short. Several viewpoints allow about 15 minutes for photographs, so you should be ready to step out, enjoy the view, and rejoin the vehicle promptly.

The group limit of 15 is a real advantage. You avoid the scale of a large sightseeing bus, while still paying far less than you normally would for a private vehicle. The guide speaks English and Spanish throughout the day, which helps you understand the places you are passing instead of simply watching them through a window.

Villa La Angostura brings an Andean village into the day

One of the first major highlights is Villa La Angostura, a mountain town known for its traditional Andean architecture. It gives the route a human touch after the broad views around Bariloche. You are not only looking at lakes and forests. You are also seeing how a small settlement fits into this part of Patagonia.

The town is presented as part of the journey toward the Seven Lakes Route rather than as a long independent visit. That distinction is important. You should expect a brief look and a sense of place, not several hours for shopping, museums, or a slow café stop.

I like this stop because it breaks up the driving and gives you a chance to see a settlement with a distinct local character. If your priority is architecture, town life, or extended independent exploring, the schedule may feel limited. If you want a broad overview of the region in one day, Villa La Angostura adds useful variety.

Lake Nahuel Huapi starts the photo stops

Lake Nahuel Huapi is described as the most important lake on the tour, and the viewpoint stop allows about 15 minutes for photographs. Its scale makes it a strong early reminder of why this road trip takes so long. From the lookout, you can take in the water and surrounding Andean scenery before continuing.

Fifteen minutes is enough for pictures and a quick look. It is not enough for a long walk along the shore or a quiet period of sitting and watching the water. Keep your camera ready, but do not expect a full lakeside visit.

This stop also helps put Bariloche in context. Nahuel Huapi is not just a pretty backdrop near town. It is the major body of water around which much of the region’s scenery is organized. Seeing it from a viewpoint gives you a useful geographic anchor before the route moves toward smaller lakes and forested valleys.

Lake Correntoso and the shortest river connection

Lake Correntoso is one of the more memorable stops because of its size and its connection to Lake Nahuel Huapi. It is described as the largest body of water on the Seven Lakes Route, and the two lakes are linked by the shortest river in the world.

The stop lasts about 15 minutes. That gives you time to photograph the lake, take in the surrounding Andean-Patagonian forest, and hear the guide explain the connection between the two bodies of water. A good guide can make a short stop feel more meaningful, and this is one place where the English commentary matters.

I would pay close attention here if you enjoy geographic oddities. The shortest-river detail gives the stop a memorable fact beyond its appearance. Still, the visit remains brief. You will not have time for an extended shoreline walk or a long independent exploration.

Espejo Chico is a quieter forest-framed stop

Lake Espejo Chico is smaller and more enclosed than the large lakes near Bariloche. Mountains and forest surround this quiet body of water, and its position away from the main visual drama makes it one of the more appealing stops on the route.

The name means Little Mirror, and the setting suits it. The water is presented as a small lake tucked between mountains, with trees framing the view. You have about 15 minutes here, so the best approach is simple: step out, look carefully, take a few photographs, and notice how different the scale feels from Nahuel Huapi and Correntoso.

This is the kind of stop that rewards attention rather than a checklist mindset. You may find it especially attractive if you prefer intimate scenery to grand viewpoints. The tradeoff is that the visit is too short for a long walk or a more active outdoor experience.

Lake Escondido and the Roman Bridge

Lake Escondido is another small body of water, hidden among dense forest. Its name means Hidden Lake, and the setting gives the name an obvious logic. The lake is oval, about 850 meters long and 250 meters wide, and the stop also includes the Roman Bridge.

The bridge adds a bit of variety to a day otherwise shaped by water, woods, and mountains. Rather than repeating the same kind of viewpoint, this portion lets you see a local feature connected with the road itself. The lake’s smaller scale also helps show how varied the Seven Lakes Route can be.

Again, the scheduled stop is about 15 minutes. You should not expect a substantial walk around the lake or a long visit at the bridge. The value lies in seeing several distinct places in one organized day, with the guide providing context as you move between them.

Seven lakes, seven different views

After the main viewpoints, the route continues through the group of lakes that gives the journey its name: Correntoso, Espejo, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner, Hermoso, and Machonico.

The appeal is not that you stop for a long time at every lake. Instead, the road lets you compare them as you go. Some are broad and open, some are small and enclosed, and many are surrounded by old, thick forests. The changing combinations of water, mountains, and trees keep the ride from feeling like one repeated viewpoint.

The challenge is that some of these lakes may be viewed from the vehicle or during brief roadside pauses rather than through a long stop. If you want to hike, kayak, picnic, or spend an hour at each lake, this is not the right format. You are buying access to a wide regional circuit, not a collection of extended outdoor activities.

The guide’s role matters here. One of the strongest comments about the experience praised the guide’s English and the ability to explain what you were seeing. Without that commentary, a full day of similar-looking forest and water could become a blur. With it, the drive has more structure and meaning.

San Martin de los Andes beside Lake Lacar

The journey reaches San Martin de los Andes, a mountain town on the shore of Lake Lacar. This is the day’s main town stop and a welcome change after hours of roadside scenery. You can tour the town, have a meal, and visit a viewpoint.

The town has a reputation in the provided feedback for being especially pleasant, with a good meal and cheerful service adding to the day. Lunch is not included, so plan to pay separately. The schedule gives you a chance to eat, but the exact amount of free time is not specified, so you should not assume a leisurely restaurant afternoon.

San Martin de los Andes is valuable because it gives the route a destination rather than making the entire day a string of lookouts. You get to see how the region feels as a lived-in mountain community, not just a scenic corridor. The lakes and forests are the main attraction, but the town helps complete the picture.

A viewpoint near Lake Lacar adds one more broad look at the area. After a long drive, this can feel like a satisfying final visual stop. It also means you should keep some energy for the return journey, since the tour still has to bring you back to Bariloche.

Why the 10-hour schedule needs honest planning

Ten hours is a full day. The start is early, and much of the time is spent traveling between stops. One piece of feedback praised the scenery and the English guide but found the bus time long, especially for an active person. That is the central issue you should consider before booking.

I would choose this tour if I wanted to cover a large area without driving myself. I would also choose it if my time in Bariloche were limited and I wanted one organized day devoted to the Seven Lakes Route. The convenience of hotel pickup, a bilingual guide, and a maximum group of 15 makes the long distance easier to manage.

I would hesitate if I needed regular movement or long walks. The tour does not promise hikes, and the listed viewpoint stops are short. You may spend more time sitting than standing, so comfortable clothing and patience matter.

The schedule can also change with the season. The start time is estimated, and the exact pickup schedule is provided about one week before the tour. Build flexibility into your day rather than booking an evening activity too close to the expected return.

Is $135 a fair price?

At $135 per person, the tour is not a budget local outing, but the price can make sense for the amount of ground covered. It includes round-trip transfers from eligible Bariloche hotels, a professional guide in English and Spanish, the Seven Lakes Route, Villa La Angostura, San Martin de los Andes, and several scenic viewpoints.

You are mainly paying for transport and organization. The route is long, and arranging it independently would require a vehicle, fuel, navigation, and a driver willing to spend the whole day on the road. The group size keeps the price below a private tour while avoiding a very large bus.

Lunch is extra, and hotels beyond kilometer 8 of Avenida Bustillo do not receive regular pickup. Factor those points into your real cost. I would call the price reasonable for a first visit or a short stay, especially if you value having an English-speaking guide explain the sights.

The value drops if you want freedom. A rental car would give you more control over how long you stay at each lake, though this tour removes the work of driving a long mountain route. The choice is convenience and commentary versus independence.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would recommend it to you if you want a broad first look at the region and prefer a planned day. It suits people who enjoy scenic road trips, mountain towns, viewpoints, and photography. It also works well for English speakers who want a guide able to explain the route in English.

It is a good match for:

• First-time visitors to Bariloche with one free day
• People who do not want to rent a car
• Couples and small groups who prefer a shared excursion
• Anyone interested in comparing several lakes in one trip
• Visitors who enjoy town stops alongside outdoor scenery

I would not choose it for a hiking-focused day, a slow picnic beside the water, or a private custom route. Active people should understand the amount of sitting involved before committing.

The small group and the positive comments about guide Matias are meaningful advantages. A strong guide can turn a long transfer into an educational journey, and the tour’s best moments come from seeing the region as one connected route rather than as isolated photo stops.

Booking details worth remembering

Pickup is offered from central Bariloche hotels and hotels up to kilometer 8 of Avenida Bustillo. If you are outside that area, a meeting point will be arranged. Provide your hotel name so the operator can check the most convenient point along the transfer route.

Confirmation arrives at booking, but the exact pickup time can change by season and is supplied later. The advertised start is around 8:00 a.m. The tour is offered in English, and the professional guide also speaks Spanish.

The maximum group size is 15. Lunch is not included, and admission is free at the listed stops. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, so confirm your date, hotel, and participant count carefully before paying.

Should you book the Seven Lakes Route tour?

Book it if your goal is to see a lot of Patagonia in one day without handling the driving. The combination of Nahuel Huapi, Correntoso, Espejo Chico, Escondido, the other named lakes, Villa La Angostura, and San Martin de los Andes gives you a generous regional overview.

Skip it if you need exercise, long stops, or complete control over the schedule. The scenery is the star, but the road time is substantial. For the right person, $135 buys a convenient, bilingual, small-group introduction to one of the finest scenic routes around Bariloche. Just bring patience, plan for lunch, and treat the day as a moving panorama rather than an active excursion.

FAQ

How long does the Bariloche Seven Lakes tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 10 hours, with an estimated start around 8:00 a.m. Exact pickup times can change by season and are provided later.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are included for central Bariloche hotels and hotels located up to kilometer 8 of Avenida Bustillo. Properties farther away receive a meeting point.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. A professional guide speaks English and Spanish throughout the tour.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is not included, so you should budget separately for a meal in San Martin de los Andes.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 15 participants.

Can I cancel or change the booking?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.