The Camino de los Siete Lagos — Full Guide (Argentina)

Overview

The Camino de los Siete Lagos is the most famous drive in Argentine Patagonia: 110 km of winding road between Bariloche and San Martín de los Andes, threading seven emerald lakes through the beech forests of the Lake District, with the snowy peaks of the Andes never far from the windshield. It is a day's drive stretched to a week of possibilities — or, done properly, a golden two-day dawdle.

The road (Ruta 40's northernmost surfaced stretch, northbound from Bariloche) is fully paved, well-signposted and drivable in any season — though autumn, when the lenga forests turn gold, and summer, when the lakes turn turquoise, are the postcard windows. Rent an SUV in Bariloche and go at your own pace.

The lakes, in order

The route runs north from Bariloche along Lago Nahuel Huapi, then enters the chain: Lago Espejo — the mirror lake, first and most photogenic, with a beach lunch spot; Lago Correntoso, famous for its drowned trees and the fishing lodge on the point; Lago Escondido, hiding behind the pass; Lago Falkner and Lago Villarino, the pair of blue siblings below the road; and Lago Machónico before the descent into San Martín de los Andes on the shore of Lago Lácar — the seventh, if you're counting by arrival.

Each lake has a pull-off, a viewpoint or a beach; the magic is in not rushing the list. The short forest walks (Los Arrayanes' cinnamon-tree grove, the Correntoso trail) beat the tenth photo stop every time.

Where to stop

Halfway, the road crosses the Confluencia junction: a left turn adds the village of Villa La Angostura (15 km), a Bavarian-chalet town on the Nahuel Huapi shore worth an afternoon or a night — its shoreline walks and the Quetrihué peninsula are the Lake District's gentlest gems.

San Martín de los Andes, the endpoint, is the Lake District's quieter half: an alpine town of low wooden houses and a serious outdoor scene, and the base for kayaking and fly-fishing on Lácar. Many drivers return to Bariloche the next day via the lakeside route to complete a loop.

Practical tips

• Drive north-to-south in the morning for the best light on the lakes; return afternoons are backlit.
• Fuel up in Bariloche or Villa La Angostura — stations are sparse on the route itself.
• The summer weekend crowds are real; a weekday start beats a Saturday.
• In winter the pass can see snow and ice — check conditions before driving.
• The Siete Lagos bus (summer only) covers the route for drivers who prefer four wheels minus the steering wheel.