Puerto Blest between rainforest, water and history
Accommodation in Puerto Blest
Puerto Blest lies at the western end of Brazo Blest on Lago Nahuel Huapi. Lush Valdivian rainforest, forested mountains and crystal-clear streams surround the area. When planning a hotel stay, it is worth distinguishing between the possible highlights: the landscape, trails to Cascada de los Cántaros and an optional trip on Lago Frías offer different perspectives on the surroundings.
Landscape, water and trails
Nearby, a stepped trail winds through Valdivian rainforest to Cascada de los Cántaros. Along the way, you can see an alerce tree more than 1,500 years old. Nearby Lago Frías offers a different highlight: its milky-green water gets its color from sediment carried down from the glaciers of Cerro Tronador. The tree is part of the trail to the waterfall, while the distinctive water color is a feature of the lake—two different natural details to consider when planning your excursions.
Excursions and different time frames
Puerto Blest is a starting point for visiting Cascada de los Cántaros and Lago Frías. If you plan to take the optional boat trip on Lago Frías, you first travel three kilometers by bus to Puerto Alegre and then cross the lake by boat. This connection may depend on the operator and conditions. So check in advance whether the trip fits your plans.
The Puerto Blest–Puerto Alegre route is six kilometers round trip. It follows a passable road and is considered moderately difficult. Check trail conditions before setting out. The distinction can help you choose your itinerary: the optional trip combines a bus segment with a boat ride across the lake, while the route to Puerto Alegre is a six-kilometer round trip on a passable road.
You can also walk around the bay: the route takes about an hour. Treat this as an approximate time and check local conditions before setting out. Alongside the travel and route options, this gives you a walking option with an approximate time frame.
A look at history
Puerto Blest is also connected with the history of conservation. Land donated by Francisco Pascasio Moreno in the Puerto Blest area in 1903 became part of Parque Nacional del Sud in 1922, the first national park in Latin America. This historical connection adds a specific link to the creation of the national park to the natural highlights of the area.
Hotel in Puerto Blest
Near the shore in the Puerto Blest area is the reopened Hotel Puerto Blest, with an à la carte restaurant and a cafeteria. Accommodation and dining availability may change. Before your trip, check what is currently available for your travel dates and the opening hours if you plan to include a hotel stay and meals.
More nature experiences in Departamento Bariloche
In the wider destination of Departamento Bariloche, Nahuel Huapi National Park offers mountaineering, boat trips, hiking, camping, horseback riding and rafting; its administrative headquarters are in San Carlos de Bariloche. Another hiking option in Departamento Bariloche is the Travesía de los Cuatro Refugios: a challenging Andean trek rated as highly difficult that takes four to five days. Its time frame differs considerably from the roughly one-hour walk around the bay at Puerto Blest—a useful reference when comparing hikes across the wider destination.
Discover more destinations: El Foyel, San Carlos De Bariloche, Llao Llao, Villa Mascardi, Río Villegas.
Go to the main travel overview: Departamento Bariloche.
