CRUCE ANDINO

This crossing, to be done in one or more days, is particularly recommended to have a glimpse of the greatness of the Andean landscapes between Argentina and Chile. It is the only crossing of the Andes that allows to cross three lakes: Todos los Santos, Frias and Nahuel Huapi. You can schedule the crossing from Puerto Varas, in Chile. On the Argentine side, the first part of the trip leads from Bariloche to Puerto Panuelo, located further west on the Llao Llao peninsula. On the Nahuel Huapi lake, in the early morning, the colors of the snowy peaks, the fog which dissipates and the aerial flights of the seagulls compose a spectacle as picturesque as majestic. Then, the second part of the trip consists in reaching Puerto Blest on board the Gran Victoria. Once arrived, you will take a bus of about twenty minutes to Puerto Alegre, on the edge of the Lago Frías, where the boat Victoria del Sur awaits you, then the crossing of the lake takes you to the port of the same name. You have then arrived at the Argentinean border. The journey continues with a Chilean bus (change of the team of supervision), through the greatness of the Andean landscapes and this until the Chilean customs, installed in Peulla. The route is magnificent, preferably sitting on the left side; grandiose trees (Valdivian forest, one of the most beautiful in the southern hemisphere), sometimes animals, and a stop for an unforgettable photo of Cerro Tronador. If you have chosen the day trip, it is time to have a snack. Remember that it is not possible to bring sandwiches from Argentina, all products of vegetable or animal origin will be confiscated at the Chilean border. After eating, there is time to indulge in an activity or to rest while waiting for the departure of the Chilean catamaran towards Petrohué, at 4 pm. On the program: excursion towards the Laguna El Encanto (1 hour 30 min), horse riding (between 2 and 5 hours), fishing (3 hours, or a complete day), peaceful navigation on the Negro river (3 or 4 hours), tour in canopy (1 hour 30 min approximately) or even 4x4 safari (presents however costs). The next day, the second day, we go along the lake towards the pier: count about twenty minutes of walk. You will be rewarded by a nice little waterfall near the pier. From Petrohué, you will embark on a modern and perfectly equipped catamaran. The crossing of the Todos los Santos lake (also called Esmeralda because of the unreal color of its waters) is a magical spectacle (1 hour and 50 minutes of navigation). We discover the Puntiagudo volcano (sharp point), with its unusual relief, then the Osorno volcano, with its postcard cone and, still, the Cerro Tronador, emerging from the mountain range. We then arrive at Petrohué, which has several camping sites and a hotel flanked by a few bungalows. The squadron of tourists is already a little tired, but we still stop at the site of the Petrohué falls, whose entrance fee is not included in the tour. According to your choice (an excursion of one day, two days or three days), you will be able to admire the Saltos del Petrohué within the national park Vicente Pérez Rosales. We take the bus again, passing by Ensenada (a small village in full expansion, many possibilities of lodging and camping), skirting the lake Llanquihue to arrive at the charming small tourist village of Puerto Varas, where we advise you to lodge. A last precision: if you chose to realize this excursion in two days, you have the afternoon and the following morning, since in any case you will have to wait for the departure of the catamaran the following day at 4:30 pm. It may seem long, but the site of Peulla allows many activities, such as a beautiful walk to a viewpoint and then to a lagoon. This luxury excursion is the best way to indulge in a contemplative activity (the landscape is enough for itself) while punctuating the stay with some interesting activities. The guides are very professional, they all speak good English, the team is very attentive, available and courteous. The program can be a bit too short, especially on one day, but everything is perfectly coordinated and organized: luggage pick-up, border crossing... don't ask questions, just follow the guide! However, we recommend, if you can, to go for the two or three days excursion: the day will be long if you count on the day trip, the rhythm is still intense and you may be frustrated! Very important: this trip is fantastic when the weather is good. If it's raining or cloudy, you'll be disappointed. The weather can change completely from one moment to another: don't forget we are in Patagonia and the weather is always very unpredictable! Finally, you can avoid taking the bus by opting for the "Bike&Boat" option: the navigation on the three lakes is still on the program, but you will make the connections by mountain bike. However, this option is for those who have a sporty profile: beyond the sections to be climbed at the border, the circuit extends over nearly 120km. It is therefore far from being a Sunday stroll, but it is definitely worth the effort.