Bariloche | Catamaran Tour to Puerto Blest
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This trip brings you over the Nahuel Huapi lake into the Patagonian rainforest of the national park Nahuel Huapi. You reach the near harbour Puerto Pañuelo by bus. The catamaran navigates along the long and narrow Blest arm. During the entire journey, you will enjoy the spectacular landscape: thick forest, imposing mountain peaks, and transparent glacial waters. The entrance to the Blest arm is guarded by the mountains Capilla and Millaqueo and the Centinela island. On this island, the remains of Francisco Moreno, the creator of the Argentine national parks, are resting. Neither streets nor villages can be seen on the foothills of the mountains. After sailing for one hour, the boat reaches Puerto Blest, a small spot with a landing stage and a hotel. This is the starting point for trekkings into the national park. You are now within the Valdivian jungle, which is one of the places with more rain in Argentina. The average rainfall is 3,000mm per year. Therefore, be prepared for rain showers! In this jungle, enormous trees like the coihue and alerce or larch are growing. Thanks to the humidity a proliferation of herbs, ferns, moss, and fungus can be found. A marked path takes you to the laguna and the cascada Los Cántaros. From this point, the opposite side of Puerto Blest can be seen. At Puerto Blest you will be able to enjoy a typical Patagonian lamb barbecue, beef is also available. There is also an information centre, designed to help you interpret the local species. The nearby river Frias begins at the lake with the same name and carries its milky waters into the Nahuel Huapi lake, creating an emerald green hue in all the surrounding area. You can either walk the easy / 3 km long way to the Frias lake or do another one hour walk to two beautiful waterfalls. The waterfalls can also be reached by catamaran and a shorter foot walk. Later, the boat brings you back to Puerto Pañuelo, where the bus to Bariloche is already waiting for you. |
