Nahuel Huapi National Park

Nahuel Huapi National Park is a large national park in northern Patagonia, Argentina, centered on the Nahuel Huapi lake basin and acting as a major protected area for Andean-Patagonian landscapes. It was established in the early 20th century and is Argentina’s oldest national park.

The park contains large lakes, glaciated peaks, forests and wetlands; primary attractions include Nahuel Huapi Lake, the glaciated peak Cerro Tronador and the Cerro Catedral ski area. Activities commonly include hiking on marked trails, boat trips on the lakes, sport fishing and winter skiing at resort facilities near Bariloche.

The park was set aside for conservation and recreation in the 1930s and has since been managed as a national park protecting Andean forests, alpine environments and freshwater systems. Infrastructure for visitors is concentrated around the city of San Carlos de Bariloche and a handful of lakeside towns.

Geographically the park straddles the border of Río Negro and Neuquén provinces in northern Patagonia and surrounds San Carlos de Bariloche, lying along the eastern slopes of the Andes.

• Size and extent: Covers roughly 7,000 square kilometres and spans parts of Río Negro and Neuquén provinces, surrounding the city of San Carlos de Bariloche.
• Established: Established in 1934 as Argentina's first national park and developed for hiking, boating, fishing and winter sports at nearby ski centres.

What to See #

• Nahuel Huapi Lake: Nahuel Huapi Lake forms the park's centrepiece, stretching over dozens of kilometers with numerous islands and peninsulas.
• Cerro Tronador: Cerro Tronador is a glaciated volcanic peak on the park's western edge, dominating local weather and watershed patterns.
• Cerro Catedral / Bariloche: Cerro Catedral hosts one of South America's major ski resorts on the eastern side of the park near San Carlos de Bariloche.