Los Alerces National Park

Los Alerces National Park is a protected area in Argentina’s Chubut Province that conserves glacial lakes, rivers and old-growth Fitzroya (alerce) forests. The park is noted for its stands of long-lived conifer trees and for lakes framed by temperate rainforest.

The park includes a series of large lakes such as Futalaufquen and Menéndez, as well as rivers, wetlands and mountain terrain used for hiking, boating and wildlife observation. Alerce stands within the park include trees of exceptional age and size.

The area was created as a national park to protect its unique forest ecosystems and freshwater landscapes and is managed for conservation and sustainable tourism. Facilities include boat services on the larger lakes, marked trails and visitor centres.

Los Alerces lies in northwestern Chubut Province in Patagonia; the nearest regional towns offering access are Esquel and Trevelin, which serve as gateways to the park.

• UNESCO status: Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its ancient Fitzroya (alerce) forests and well-preserved temperate ecosystems.
• Access points: Access is commonly via the towns of Esquel and Trevelin; park facilities focus around boat launches and trailheads near the main lakes.

What to See #

• Main lake system: A chain of deep glacial lakes surrounded by temperate rainforest, with Lago Futalaufquen and Lago Menéndez among the largest bodies of water in the park.
• Alerce groves: Zones of ancient Fitzroya (alerce) trees including stands with trees many centuries to millennia old, found in protected forest sectors.
• Mountains and rivers: Mountain ranges, rivers and waterfalls that support hiking, boating and wildlife viewing across the park's protected landscapes.