Neuquén: Routes, Protected Areas and Winter Destinations

Neuquén combines a distinctive route with protected areas whose natural features are quite different. When planning your trip, it is important to consider not only which places you want to include, but also how much time you want to spend on the road. A day trip, a multi-day tour, wildlife watching and seasonal winter activities each offer a different focus.

The Ruta de los Siete Lagos: one day or several stages

The Ruta de los Siete Lagos connects Junín de los Andes, San Martín de los Andes, Villa La Angostura and Villa Traful; it also passes through Villa Lago Meliquina and Piedra del Águila. The route can be driven in one day. By bicycle or motorcycle, with overnight stays at different campsites, the trip can take three or four days. Travel time therefore varies considerably depending on the mode of transport and type of accommodation; in winter, conditions can affect activities. In Argentina, the Ruta de los Siete Lagos is just over 110 kilometers long and passes through landscapes with glacial lakes.

Protected areas with different natural features

Parque Nacional Lanín is in Neuquén Province and protects 412,000 hectares of Patagonian forest-steppe, including areas of Patagonian steppe and the High Andes. Activities in the park include trekking, mountaineering, cycling, hiking and wildlife watching. Registration and specific conditions may apply to activities. This offers several ways to experience nature, from active pursuits to observing wildlife.

Parque Nacional Los Arrayanes is also in Neuquén Province and protects more than 1,700 hectares of Patagonian forest-steppe. The arrayán trees there are more than 650 years old and over 15 meters tall. Unlike Parque Nacional Lanín, whose landscape also includes areas of Patagonian steppe and the High Andes, Los Arrayanes combines forest-steppe with the natural feature of exceptionally old, tall trees.

A.N.P.P. Sistema Domuyo protects ecosystems around volcanic thermal springs, where a distinctive algae species lives at high temperatures. Neuquén’s natural features therefore range from protected landscapes to a protected thermal-spring ecosystem.

Winter activities and seasonal planning

Batea Mahuida Snow Park is managed by the Puel Mapuche community; its winter operations are seasonal. Caviahue has a ski center, while Copahue is home to a thermal complex that operates seasonally. These destinations offer different experiences: a snow park, a ski center and a thermal complex. If you plan to visit these seasonal attractions, check current operating hours before you travel.

When choosing a hotel in Neuquén, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: the Ruta de los Siete Lagos as a day trip or multi-day tour, the natural features of the protected areas, or seasonal winter activities.

Discover more destinations: Departamento Ñorquín, Villa Traful, Departamento Confluencia, Departamento Los Lagos, Picunches, Departamento Lácar, Pehuenches Department, Minas Department, Departamento Aluminé, Andacollo, Departamento Loncopué, Departamento Huiliches, Departamento Chos Malal, Departamento Añelo, Catán Lil, La Lipela, Departamento Zapala, Departamento Collón Curá.

For the broader travel overview: Argentina.