San Martin de los Andes

Surrounded by mountains with dense forests and deep glacial lakes, it is one of the most important tourist destinations in the province, and worthy possessor of immeasurable beauty, where nature shows its best. In this scenery San Martin de los Andes in the Patagonia Argentina offers a wide range of options to suit all tastes throughout the year.

Integrates Lakes Corridor with other parts of the west and south of the province and tourist destinations in Chubut and Rio Black. Also up the Route 40 corridor linking north to south across the country through the magnificent Andes.

A village with history

San Martin de los Andes was founded on February 4, 1898 for the purpose of establishing a strategically near the border with Chile populated due to territorial conflicts that existed at that time. The first settlement developed on a territory which, at the time, Curruhuinca the Mapuche community.

Today with more than one hundred years of life the town continues to retain some aspects of its appearance of traditional village of mountain range, where people have worked together to achieve a balance in urban development, using its materials architecture characteristic stone and wood that have given that image of mountainous village retains.

Today this beautiful village is a major tourist center of almost 25,000 inhabitants (2001 census Projection) living mainly from tourism.

Nature privileged

San Martin de los Andes is considered the gateway to the Lanin National Park: Created to protect natural landscapes of the region made up of mountains, forests, rivers, springs, waterfalls and glassy lakes that provide a unique space to enjoy a wide variety of activities and sights.

Located at one end of the famous Road of the Seven Lakes, which links this town with Villa La Angostura, it is home to one of the most fascinating tours of Patagonia given the natural beauty along the way. The lakes: Machónico, beautiful, Falkner, Villarino, Mirror, Escondido and Nahuel Huapi and rivers like the Beautiful and Pichi Traful, are enjoyed in this way.

Villa La Angostura

South of the Province of Neuquen on the northwestern shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi, a mountain town in the Patagonian mountain range, which is accessed from Neuquén capital through the National Routes 22 arises, then 237 and finally 40. Villa La Angostura integrates Lakes Corridor with other towns in the southwest of the province and tourist destinations in Chubut and Rio Black. Also forms elCorredor of Route 40 that connects north to south across the country through the magnificent Andes.
Born a village
The town was officially founded on May 15, 1932 with the opening of the radiotelegraph station Correntoso. Its name comes from the isthmus or narrowness of the peninsula Quetrihué where myrtle forest is located.
Villa La Angostura today is a warm mountainous village whose buildings built in stone and wood are in harmony with nature and have given a typical image of a mountain village. It has about 12,000 inhabitants (2001 census Projection) living mainly from tourism.
A privileged natural setting
Surrounded by a lush forest of aged coihues, lengas ñires and lakes and rivers with crystal clear water, wear colors and textures the mountains surrounding this magical mountainous village. A privileged natural environment that is protected within the Nahuel Huapi National Park, providing the ideal space to practice different adventure activities and walks or circuits available throughout the year: horseback riding, mountain biking, bird watching or trekking Footprint walking paths and through Andean circuits Inacayal waterfalls, rivers Bonito, Dorada and Santa Ana.
This natural framework also allows the realization of international sporting events like the K42 hierarchy.
Los Arrayanes National Park can be visited through an incredible journey of 12 km. walk or bike; or you can also be reached via any vessel sailing the waters of majestic Lake Nahuel Huapi. The latter, along with the Correntoso lake and river are ideal places to practice water sports like kayaking, canoeing and windsurfing or simply enjoy the magnificent volcanic sand beaches that surround the lakes in the village and its surroundings.