Lago Puelo National Park

Lago Puelo lies at only about two hundred metres above sea level, low for an Andean lake, and that altitude gives it a mild microclimate: the water warms enough for swimming in summer, unusual in Patagonia, and the forest around it includes Valdivian species such as ulmo and tique that have crossed from Chile through the low pass. The lake drains west through the Puelo river to the Pacific rather than the Atlantic. A broad beach of grey sand at the north end serves as the main access, with boat trips up the lake toward the border, short trails to viewpoints and the Río Azul, and longer routes into the mountains. Fishing and kayaking are popular, and the park is small enough to explore in a day.

History

The first people here were hunter-gatherers of the steppe who hunted guanaco with stone tools, and cave paintings inside the park seem to show paths into the forest; Mapuche communities live in its eastern part today. The area began as an annex of Los Alerces National Park, protecting its Valdivian flora, and became a national park in its own right in 1971 (Wikipedia, Lago Puelo National Park).

Highlights

• The turquoise lake - warm, low-altitude water good for swimming.
• The Valdivian forest - Chilean plant species growing on the Argentine side.
• The grey beach - the main access point at the north shore.
• The boat trips - runs up the lake toward the Chilean border.

When to go

December to March for swimming, boats and open trails; January is the busiest month and the beach fills. Autumn is quiet and colourful. Winter brings rain rather than snow at this altitude, and services close.

Practical notes

The park is small and its main beach can be crowded in summer. Wildfires have burned parts of the surrounding forest in recent years, and the scars are visible. Boat schedules depend on wind, and border-area trails require reporting to the authorities.

Nearby

El Bolsón lies north; the Chilean border and Puelo valley are west.

Key facts