Villa La Angostura, all year through

Villa la Angostura is located at the south of the Neuquen Province, at the north margin of the Nahuel Huapi lake, 780m over sea level. Its municipal area has 7960 hectares and it is the heart of the Los Lagos Department of Andean Patagonia. It is only 45 km from the Chile border, 83 km from San Carlos de Bariloche and 110 km from San Martin de los Andes, by the Camino de los 7 Lagos (the 7 lakes route).

It was founded on May 15th, 1932, when the Radio-telegraph office was created where the local Port is today. In 1945 the Comision de Fomento (Improvement Commission) was formed.

Located at the heart of the lakes of the Nahuel Huapi National Park and joined to the Quetrihue Peninsula by the “Angostura Isthmus”, from which it takes its name, this is the entrance to the Arrayanes National Park, where you will find the only pure forest of this kind of tree in the Planet.

The Nahuel Huapi lake with its various bays, peninsulas and islands is the most important one in the lake area. It has 550 square meters (which is the same area as the City of Buenos Aires) and it is at 764m over sea level with depths that go up to 450m.

This mountain village has some 8000 inhabitants, with small and important hotels and inns managed by their owners, this together with the kindness of its inhabitants make it a privileged Tourist Center surrounded by a unique natural landscape, which is unpolluted.

Its four seasons are very well defined and offer changing landscapes with different colors in the flora.

In summer, the fishing season goes from November to April, with the fishing of trout (Rainbow, Brown and Stream trout) in the Espejo, Nahuel Huapi and Correntoso lake. We specially point out fly-fishing in the world famous Correntoso River, the shortest in the world. A fishing license is a must. Spinning, Trolling and Fly-Casting and practiced here.

In winter, the best attraction is Cerro Bayo, a snow and ski center where several sport and recreational events take place both for experts and beginners. Cerro Bayo is one of the ski centers with best landscapes in the world. With 20km of slopes and roads, it is also possible to ski off the runs in 200hectares, with slopes within the forest that let snowboard fans “surf” in deep snow. During the season, there are several events such as ski and snowboard contests, with obstacles, rally on ski and torches descent. In summer and autumn Cerro Bayo is the site for national events such as the Enduro, mountain-bike, Parapente and hang-gliding contests, as well as trekking.

Villa La Angostura also offers many activities such as lake tours in tourist or fishing ships, rowing, water sports, mountain climbing, horse riding, four-wheel drive, trekking and tours, where you can take tour guides or fishing guides.


The Forest and the Animals

In a mountain area with deep slopes, the thick forests are everywhere like a constant tile where the evergreen forest is dominated by giant coehues, which occupy low slopes near the water and go up to the higher areas where the lengas forests are, turning reddish in autumn. The cypress forms important pure forests in areas where there is less rain, and at the bottom of valleys it is common to find ñires forests.

Although it is rare to find certain animals, there is an important community of mammals such as the Pudu, the Huinia Cat and the Mount Monkey. There are also many birds such as the Patagonian Black Woodpecker, the Austral Parakeet or the Chucao. Forests have a vital role, the net of their roots keep the soil in places with deep slopes, preventing erosion and keeping and releasing the water from lakes, creeks and rivers.

The village has DDI and DDN phone service, Internet, cable TV, regional and international transport means, car rental with or without a driver, bike rental, tea houses, pubs, cash dispensers, the Automovil Club Argentino (Argentine Car Club) and other services for your car, medical assistance and religious centers.

Considering its location, Villa la Angostura is the paradise for mini-tourism, since it is in the center of the so called “The lakes corridor”, which goes from Alumine in the west-center of Neuquen up to Esquel in Chubut, passing by Junin de los Andes, San Martin de los Andes, the Camino de los 7 Lagos (7 lakes route), Bariloche and Bolson.

If you still want to continue traveling, from the Villa you can go west: crossing the mountain range is another option to fill your eyes with amazement and, once in Chile, go down the Andes through a particular landscape which is only 40km from us.

You can easily get to the Villa, by car, bus or plane, since it is only 45 minutes from the International Airport in Bariloche.

We will be waiting for you!!!