Los Alerces National ParkAbout 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.
Best Time to Visit Los Alerces National Park
The austral summer (December-February) is the best time to visit for hiking, boating and full park access; winter brings snow and reduced services.
Weather & Climate near Los Alerces National Park
Los Alerces National Park's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Mediterranean - Warm-Summer Mediterranean climate with cool summers (peaking in January) and freezing winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from -4°C to 18°C. Moderate rainfall (912 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 6° - 18° | 12° | 33 mm | - | - | 6.4 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 5° - 18° | 12° | 37 mm | - | - | 5.5 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 4° - 15° | 7° | 52 mm | - | - | 5.4 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 1° - 12° | 3° | 76 mm | - | - | 5.3 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | -1° - 8° | -1° | 120 mm | - | - | 4.9 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | -3° - 4° | -4° | 136 mm | - | - | 4.7 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | -4° - 3° | -5° | 138 mm | - | - | 4.8 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | -3° - 5° | -4° | 107 mm | - | - | 5.2 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | -2° - 8° | -1° | 74 mm | - | - | 5.3 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 1° - 12° | 2° | 50 mm | - | - | 5.9 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 3° - 14° | 5° | 43 mm | - | - | 6.2 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 5° - 17° | 11° | 46 mm | - | - | 6.5 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Los Alerces National Park
Los Alerces National Park is accessed by road from the nearest gateway towns such as Esquel in Chubut Province. Visitors typically drive from Esquel into the park on paved and gravel provincial roads; Esquel is the usual service centre with regional bus links and flights connecting to other Patagonian cities.
From Esquel there are regular excursion buses and tour operators that run into the park and to popular trailheads and lakeshores; within the park travel is by park roads and trails, with short walks from parking or landing points to viewpoints and lakeside areas.
Tips for Visiting Los Alerces National Park
- Base yourself in Esquel (the main gateway town) to get boat departures and guided trips into the park-Esquel has the most frequent services and tourist information offices.
- Take the boat across Lake Menéndez to reach remote trails and the ancient alerce trees; the boat trip is the most efficient way to access the park's interior forests and secluded viewpoints.
- Visit in the austral summer (December-March) for the best road access, longer daylight and open boat services-some park roads and services are limited outside this window.
- Get to the scheduled boat departures early in high season to avoid long waits at the docks; many visitors arrive mid-morning and lines can form for the most popular routes to the Alerce areas.