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The Lake District of Argentine Patagonia 

The Lake District of Patagonia lies across the provinces of Neuquén and Rio Negro. It makes up the most fertile end of Argentine Patagonia. A magnificent wilderness, where crystalline rivers and lakes weave from snow-capped mountains to forest-coated hills. We organised one of our most memorable honeymoons in the region, during which the couple learnt the ways of the Gauchos on a remote ranch and drove a herd of cattle up to their Summer pastures. They ended boating down the great Nahuel Huapi lake with one of our favourite guides, Facundo, who at one point pretended to catch a fish only to then pull out of the chilled waters of the lake a bottle of champagne! We believe it is these touches that turn a great trip into an unforgettable experience.

Where to go & What to do

  • White rafting on the Manso river, from a glamping site in the middle of the Andes mountains.
  • Yoga and meditation in a luxury mountain lodge on the shores of Lake Gutierrez.
  • Private boat trips along the length of the great Nahuel Huapi Lake, between Villa La Angostura and San Carlos de Bariloche city.
  • A lesson in the art of the Argentine Asado (barbecue) on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi.
  • Horse riding up to the Chilean border, near the town of El Bolson
  • Birdwatching in the little known National Park Los Alerces.
  • A road trip around the famous Seven Lakes road passing by the picturesque town of San Martin de los Andes.

Travel logistics

  • The climate in the region varies significantly between seasons. Winter brings cold days with genereally plenty of snowl for skiing, while the Summer offers warm and sunny days ideal for exploring the beautiful countryside. Autumn and Spring are transition seasons with a mix of sunny and rainy days. During the summer, daylight extends from 6am to 10pm while in the winter, daylight is from 9am to 7pm.
  • Skiing season: June to October
  • From Buenos Aires city Bariloche it is a 21 h driver.

Things to keep in mind

  • There are several airports in the region, the princiipal one being Bariloche, 2 h from Buenos Aires. Though, flying into Esquel and departing from San Martin de los Andes for example is a good way to see more of the country. 

Example Itineraries

Some examples of our favourite trips that we’ve organised over the years:

Long Adventures

Over 7 days

Short Breaks

Up to 7 days

What our guests say

May K
May K
Lovely vacation Argentina and Chile. Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company: Perfect trip, it was lovely experience working with Paulo and his team very helpful in all ways and responsive for any questions or concerns he created WhatsApp group for fast respond that was very helpful, all the accommodation, he suggested it was perfect as far as location service kind from desk assistance very nice breakfast, and all the transportation was perfect on time and very professional. It was lovely, working with Paulo and his team and definitely we recommend his business for future traveler, thank you Paulo, and everyone for a wonderful trip we had an amazing time sending you our best regards from Los Angeles What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip? Everything was top-notch from beginning to end If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently? Actually everything was perfect. I wouldnt change anything Thank you so much for everything
Terry Tower
Terry Tower
My experience with MacDermott's was wonderful. They set up all the ground transportation, hotels, and excursions for three locations in Argentina. I had different people meet me at airports with my name on signs for easy identification. The link to my own portal outlining my trip in detail was extremely helpful and comforting to my family since I was traveling alone. I was even met at my first hotel and given a booklet with artist sketches and maps for walking tours around Buenos Aires, and he wanted to make sure I was comfortable with my itinerary and to answer any questions. Thanks to MacDermott's my excursions were easy to join and I felt very safe. I went kayaking in El Chalten and ice trekking in El Calafate. The hotels were lovely and in good areas, so I never felt unsafe walking around. When I go back to Argentina, I will definitely be using this agency again to help organize my trip. I highly recommend them to all travelers.
Karen Mielke
Karen Mielke
We found MacDermotts through Zicasso and they planned our fabulous anniversary trip to Argentina. They listened to what we were looking for and found us unique experiences and awesome boutique accommodations. Highly recommended.
Alan L
Alan L
Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company: Our trip to Argentina was absolutely phenomenal in a huge part due to MacDermotts and their careful selection of local experts! What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip? The hike down the mountain from Estancia Christina and the boat trip (captained by the boat brothers) from Llao Llao to Las Balsas were incredible, but truthfully, every single excursion was simply fantastic.
David Sprows
David Sprows
We spent a month in Argentina & Chile and it was a perfect trip !!! Hugh was a great partner helping us plan the best bespoke trip based on our personal preferences. They made all of our complex logistics completely stress free and arranged many unique experiences that we never would have found on our own. The hotels were all luxury and each one was unique which made the trip extra special. We would especially recommend all 3 Awasi resorts, Eolo and Jasmine (near Salta). We normally do our own travel planning but I am so glad we connected with MacDermott's to plan this amazing month. We will be going back and will definitely reach out to Hugh and his team again.
Lauren Marlais
Lauren Marlais
My friend and I decided to plan a trip to Argentina. Argentina is a huge country with many sights to see, and we wanted to see as much as possible in the two weeks that we had alotted ourselves. We knew that our adventure would involve many hotels and airplane trips. We wanted our trip to be safe and comfortable and as efficient as possible. I spoke with several travel planners, but I felt most comfortable with Adriano from MacDermott's. He really listened to what my friend and I wanted from the trip. I could not be more pleased with how our trip worked out. We felt completely taken care of the whole time. We were promptly met at each airport ( we saw 5 cities all the way from the very north to the very south of the country) and brought to our accommodations. Each night we would get a text to let us know the itinerary for the next day and when we would be picked up. If we had a question, we would get a response from someone at MacDermott's within a few minutes. Each staff member went out of their way to make sure that we were completely comfortable. If I go back to Argentina again in the future, I will definitely contact Adriano, and I will definitely try to encourage anyone I know to use MacDermott's!
Jennifer Kidd
Jennifer Kidd
Mariana and her team at MacDermott's Argentina helped my family plan the perfect itinerary to Argentina! This was our first international trip as a family and we had two weeks to see and do as much as we could. Other than our flights to and from Buenos Aires, everything was taken care of by the Mariana. She coordinated our flights between Iguazu Falls, Bueno Aires and El Calafate with all the necessary transfers and hotel bookings. She selected the perfect tours and guides for all our excursions. She made certain we had excellent service every step of the way and was responsive and accessible for help or questions at any time during our stay. We never had to worry about anything while we were there and everything went so smoothly during our 2 week stay. There was clear and appropriate communication all throughout the planning stages leading up to the departure and throughout our trip. I can't say enough great things about this agency and how wonderful they made our experience. I would highly recommend MacDermott's Argentina to anyone looking for excellent service from a travel agency!
Claire Schoen
Claire Schoen
Cannot say enough good things about McDermott’s - Paulo organized a fantastic trip that took us to remote areas in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. Fabulous overnight in the salt flats! They did an excellent job working in a variety of experiences for us, based on our own interests. Highly recommended!
Tommy Heydinger
Tommy Heydinger
We could not have had a better honeymoon. From the day we arrived in Buenos Aires, to the trips to Mendoza and Bariloche, everything went so smoothly. Hugh planned out an incredible itinerary for us that was exactly what we were looking for. We had days where we had activities and were able to learn more about the culture and cuisine in Argentina, but we also had days where we could rest and relax. It was truly one of the most memorable trips we will ever take. Hugh and his team were also incredibly responsive whenever we had a question about any activity we were doing. I can't recommend him enough! The most enjoyable part of the trips for us was staying at Peuma Hue and Las Balsas. They were both beautiful properties and had no shortage of things to do. We loved having the opportunity to relax at both of these places. But, it was great to be able to hike at Peuma Hue and the meals we had there were unbelievable. We also loved the day we spent out on the boat. Our guides were amazing, especially with how accommodating they were for my wife. I am also so happy we were able to experience a Tango show. Although that is something we normally wouldn't do, it was great to experience the arts culture in Buenos Aires. In Mendoza, the property was absolutely beautiful and hanging out by the pool with a glass of wine was tough to beat. My favorite part of that was the cooking class! There is not much that I would change. Every domestic flight we took was so easy, with transportation to and from each airport, it really helped us feel comfortable in a place where we had never been. Every bite of food we had was exceptional. There truly is nothing I would change. I hope we are able to get to Argentina again, because there are so many other areas we would love to explore! We cannot thank Hugh, and everyone else, enough for making this a trip of a lifetime.
Gay Gasser
Gay Gasser
These guys managed to put together a memorable trip for 4 very different personalities! We gave them many challenges and were given just as many viable solutions. I can not imagine using anyone else when traveling to Argentina.

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