Lago Puelo: Water, Forest Trails and Culture

Lago Puelo brings together Andean-Patagonian forests, rivers, mountains and the lake it is named after. If you are planning a stay, you will find a range of options here: relaxing by the water, trails through forest areas and cultural sites. Activities vary in length, duration and theme, making it easy to choose according to your interests.

Water and the Pasarela del Río Azul

The Pasarela del Río Azul is a natural swimming area with opportunities to relax by the water. Trekking trails of varying lengths and difficulty also begin there. The Pasarela itself is a suspension bridge over the Río Azul and may only be crossed on foot or by bicycle. The bridge has a maximum capacity of eight people. Of the two suspension bridges over the Río Azul in Lago Puelo, it is closer to the town center.

Choosing nature trails by duration and distance

At the Jardín botánico, visitors walk through a forest of native trees and old poplars. There are also oak and maple trees planted by earlier residents. The area is easy to walk; wooden walkways cross a flooded section. Allow about one to one and a half hours for your visit.

The Bosque de las sombras is also an easy trail. Wooden walkways lead through a flooded forest; the visit takes approximately 30 minutes. Take care when walking in wet weather. By comparison, the Circuito El Faldeo-El Chucao through a mixed forest of cypress and coihue trees is a longer trail option: the full route is approximately 3,800 meters long, and the El Chucao section is 1,200 meters. Check trail conditions and difficulty before setting out.

The Sendero de los Antiguos Pobladores, nearly a kilometer long, runs between the El Cóndor and Cauken lanes. El Cóndor was formerly called Callejón de Moya or La Lydia, while Cauken was formerly called Callejón de Graciano. The trail is designated as historical, cultural and natural heritage, as well as a cultural landscape. It therefore connects a specific route with part of Lago Puelo’s cultural heritage.

Cultural history and regional offerings

The local identity of Lago Puelo includes an Indigenous history dating back more than 8,000 years. Settlers and migrants arrived later, mainly from Chile. The Museo Memoria del Bosque presents Lago Puelo’s Indigenous past and the era of the pioneers through tools and ways of life. The museum thus focuses on two distinct historical periods.

The Feria artesanal Lago Puelo is an association of artisans and handicrafts from the Andean region. Its crafts include ceramics, alpaca and silver jewelry, glasswork, weaving, leatherwork and musical instruments. The collective aims to promote handmade crafts.

Guided horseback rides also offer different time options: in and around Parque Nacional Lago Puelo, they range from one hour to a full day. This range helps distinguish the activity’s duration from the shorter visits to the nature trails without treating the activities as equivalent.

Getting to Lago Puelo and your stay

Lago Puelo can be reached from the north and south via the fully paved Ruta Nacional 40. Tourist services include accommodation, dining and excursions. Regional products include chocolate, ice cream and craft-brewed beer. Together with the forest and lake landscapes and cultural sites, these offer a varied setting for choosing your stay in Lago Puelo.

Discover more destinations: Leleque, El Maitén, Golondrinas, Epuyén, Gualjaina, Hoyo De Epuyén.

View the regional travel overview: Departamento Cushamen.