San Martin de los Andes along the Route of the 7 Lakes

The real prize here is the road itself. National Route 40 and the Camino de los 7 Lagos carry you through Nahuel Huapi and Lanín national parks, past seven named lakes, dark forests, and mountain views that change at every bend. I like the chance to see this famous part of Patagonia without arranging a car, and I like that the day includes time in San Martín de los Andes rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.

I also appreciate the guide-led format. Guides including Gonçalo, Valentín, and Rodi have been singled out for their care, explanations, driving, and good attitude. The main drawback is the length: 630 minutes, or about 10.5 hours, with the return along the same road. It is a big day in a vehicle, so it suits you best if the scenery matters more than a relaxed schedule.

Key points to know before you book

• Route 40 is the main attraction: Much of the pleasure comes from watching Patagonia unfold outside the window.
• Seven lakes bring constant variety: Correntoso, Espejo, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner, Hermoso, and Machónico each offer a different setting.
• Villa La Angostura adds a charming town stop: You get more than roadside viewpoints on this excursion.
• San Martín de los Andes gives you useful free time: Walk the center, eat lunch, and see Lake Lacar at your own pace.
• Several languages are available: Choose Spanish, Portuguese, or English when booking.
• The day is long but simple: Hotel transfers, a guide, and the return journey are arranged, while meals and drinks are your responsibility.

Why this road deserves a full day

The Seven Lakes Road is one of those routes where the journey is the point. You are not rushing from one major attraction to another. Instead, the pleasure comes from the steady changes in water, forest, rock, and sky as the bus follows Route 40 north from Bariloche.

The excursion begins with pickup from central Bariloche hotels to the Av. Bustillo Km 8 area. If your hotel is not part of the pickup network, you receive instructions for the closest meeting hotel and must wait in its lobby. That detail matters. Do not assume the vehicle will collect you from every address in town.

The trip uses a guide rather than leaving you to interpret the scenery alone. Depending on your selected option, the commentary is in Spanish, Portuguese, or English. A good guide can make a long road day feel more purposeful, especially when the views begin to look similar after several hours.

Puerto Manzano and the approach to Villa La Angostura

As Route 40 heads north, the road soon reaches the calm setting of Puerto Manzano. This is an early taste of the region’s quiet beauty, with water, trees, and mountain surroundings setting the tone for the rest of the excursion.

Villa La Angostura is one of the day’s strongest stops. The town is described as picturesque and cozy, and it has a distinctly small-scale feel compared with Bariloche. You can expect a mountain settlement that invites a slower look, even though the overall excursion must keep moving toward San Martín.

I like this stop because it breaks up the drive with a real town rather than another roadside viewpoint. You get a sense of how people experience this part of Patagonia beyond the main city gateways. The tradeoff is time. Since the tour still has a long route ahead, your stop here will not feel like a full town visit.

The seven lakes, named one by one

After Villa La Angostura, the famous Seven Lakes Road takes center stage. The route passes Correntoso, Espejo, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner, Hermoso, and Machónico. Their names are worth noting because they help you follow the trip and remember the places you see later.

The lakes are not presented as seven identical stops. Each is framed by a slightly different mix of forest, mountain slopes, and open sky. Some views feel broad and exposed, while others are more enclosed by trees. The water can act like a mirror, reflecting the surrounding peaks and clouds when conditions are right.

This is where comfortable clothes matter. You may be sitting for long stretches, then stepping out for views and photographs. Wear shoes suitable for ordinary roadside stops and bring clothing that works across changing weather. The supplied guidance only asks for comfortable clothes, but that is sensible advice for a full day outdoors and on the road.

You should also keep your camera ready, but do not spend the entire ride looking at a screen. The best part of this route is its constant motion. A view may appear for only a short time before the road bends away, and the next lake may have a completely different mood.

Viewpoints including Isla Corazón and Pampa Linda

The excursion highlights viewpoints such as Isla Corazón and Pampa Linda. These stops add more than a chance to stretch your legs. They give you named places to connect with the wider scenery and offer opportunities to frame the lakes, forests, and mountains in photographs.

A named viewpoint also helps you understand the scale of the region. Patagonia is easy to reduce to a string of pretty pictures, but standing at a lookout gives you a clearer sense of how far the water and mountain country extend around the road.

Exact stop lengths are not provided, so you should not plan your day around a specific amount of time at each viewpoint. The day has a fixed overall duration and must cover the route in both directions. Think of these as scenic pauses within a long road journey, not extended walks or independent hikes.

The highlights also refer to the Ventisquero Negro, a striking dark glacier. Since the detailed route description focuses on the Seven Lakes Road and San Martín de los Andes, confirm the exact stops included in your selected departure if seeing the glacier is a deciding factor. This is a useful booking check because the glacier is associated with a different part of the wider Bariloche area than the classic Seven Lakes route.

Arriving beside Lake Lacar

The destination is San Martín de los Andes, on the shore of Lake Lacar. This Patagonian town gives the day a pleasant finish because you are not simply turning around at a viewpoint. You have time to walk through the center, choose lunch, and take in the lakeside setting.

That free time is valuable. A guided road trip can sometimes leave you with many photographs but little sense of the destination. Here, you get a chance to get your bearings fast, browse the town, and enjoy a meal before the return.

Food and drinks are not included, so budget for lunch separately. You can choose one of the town’s picturesque restaurants, but the activity does not specify a restaurant or provide a meal. Bring money and be prepared to make your own choice within the time available.

San Martín is also a useful contrast with the lakes along the road. The route gives you open scenery and quiet viewpoints; the town gives you streets, shops, restaurants, and a place to pause. If you prefer a tour with plenty of independent time, the stop may feel short. If you want an organized introduction to the region, it is a welcome amount of freedom.

The return journey and the cost of a long day

The return to Bariloche follows the same route. That has two sides. You will see familiar places in a different direction and may catch new views because of changing light, weather, or your seat on the vehicle. At the same time, you are repeating much of the road after already spending several hours traveling north.

At $153 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the area. Its value comes from convenience and coverage. You are paying for round-trip transfers from designated Bariloche hotels, a guide, a full route to San Martín, the Seven Lakes Road, and the return trip without needing to rent a car or plan the navigation yourself.

I think the price makes more sense if you are staying in Bariloche for a limited time, do not want to drive, or prefer having explanations along the way. It is less compelling if you already have a rental car and enjoy stopping wherever you wish. A car gives you more control over timing, while this tour gives you a prepared route and a guide.

The transport received especially warm praise, with one detailed note describing it as excellent. That matches the practical strength of this type of excursion: the vehicle carries you between distant points while someone else handles the road. Still, you should be comfortable with a full day seated and with the fixed rhythm of a group outing.

Guides, language, and the human side of the trip

The guide can shape your experience as much as the scenery. Gonçalo was praised for being attentive and explaining the region clearly. Valentín was highlighted for both guiding and driving, while Rodi received strong praise for his friendly attitude and willingness to help.

Those names are useful when you are comparing options, but guide assignments can change. Treat them as examples of the kind of service provided, not a promise that one particular person will lead your departure.

Language choice is important. The activity is offered in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, depending on the option you select. Choose carefully at booking, especially if you want detailed explanations rather than simply transport between stops.

The current rating is 4.5 out of 5 from 20 reviews, with several five-star ratings praising the guide, vehicle, and overall organization. One short comment mentions the Manso River, although that is not part of the main route description, so I would not book this excursion expecting a dedicated Manso River stop.

What to bring and what to expect

The official advice is simple: wear comfortable clothes. For a 10.5-hour outing, I would take that seriously. You need clothing that works for vehicle time and short outdoor stops, since the day combines both.

Food, drinks, and other services are not included. Plan to buy lunch in San Martín de los Andes and carry whatever refreshments you need for the road, subject to the tour operator’s rules. Do not assume that a meal is waiting at one of the viewpoints.

The schedule has a practical advantage: pickup and return transfers are included for central Bariloche hotels to Av. Bustillo Km 8. The practical limitation is that hotels outside the service area may require you to reach a designated nearby hotel. Check your pickup instructions before the morning of departure, and wait in the lobby of the indicated hotel.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Those policies help if your Patagonia schedule is still shifting, though they do not change the tour’s fixed 630-minute duration.

Who will enjoy this excursion most

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a broad first look at the Lake District and prefer not to drive. It is especially useful for visitors based in Bariloche who want to add San Martín de los Andes without arranging accommodation there or managing the long return route.

It also suits photographers and scenery-focused visitors. The lakes, viewpoints, and changing mountain views provide plenty to watch, but the best moments depend on weather and light. No road trip can guarantee perfect blue skies.

You may want a different plan if you dislike long vehicle journeys, need lots of time at each stop, or prefer spontaneous detours. The tour covers a lot of ground in one day, and the return along the same route makes it demanding. Families and older visitors should think about how comfortable everyone is with a long day in transport, since no special accessibility details are provided.

Should you book the Route of the 7 Lakes trip?

Book it if your priority is seeing the Seven Lakes Road, Villa La Angostura, and San Martín de los Andes in one organized day from Bariloche. The guide support, hotel transfer arrangement, multilingual options, and included return transport make the $153 fare reasonable for a long-distance excursion.

Skip it if you have several days, enjoy driving, and want to set your own pace. You would gain more freedom, but you would also take on the planning and driving yourself.

For most visitors with limited time in Bariloche, I think this is a strong choice. Go in expecting a scenic road day rather than a slow village tour, bring comfortable clothing and money for lunch, and confirm the exact viewpoint and glacier stops before paying. If that tradeoff suits you, the route offers one of the clearest ways to see this corner of Argentine Patagonia in a single day.

FAQ

How long does the excursion last?

The activity lasts 630 minutes, which is about 10.5 hours. It includes the journey from Bariloche to San Martín de los Andes and the return along the same route.

Where does pickup take place?

Round-trip transfers are provided from central Bariloche hotels to Av. Bustillo Km 8. If your hotel is not included, you will be told which nearby hotel to use, and you must wait in that hotel’s lobby.

Which languages are available?

The tour offers a live guide in Spanish, Portuguese, or English, depending on the option you choose.

Is lunch included?

No. Food, beverages, and services not specifically listed are excluded. You have time to choose a restaurant and eat lunch in San Martín de los Andes.

Which lakes are included on the Seven Lakes Road?

The route features Correntoso, Espejo, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner, Hermoso, and Machónico.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.