Los Alerces National Park

Los Alerces National Park

Los Alerces National Park
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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1 within 6 miles

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,137 reviews
Excellent
887
Very good
202
Average
39
Poor
6
Terrible
3

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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David B
Toronto, Canada419 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
Great side trip on our drive to Hornopiren before taking ferry. Lots of trails depending on your time and stamina, we did a 4 km (each way) into beautiful falls along a good trail. Quite flat except for a staircase at the end up to the head of the falls. Also some really interesting huge trees along the path. Parking and washrooms at the start and halfway along the route. Need cash to enter (6000 CHP per) since no signal for credit cards. NOTE, road in is only 7 km, a bit rough in a couple spots but most good. We did not have 4wd, but take it easy in these spots.
Written November 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Russ Lacuata
Long Beach, CA9,820 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019 • Friends
Los Alerces National Park - whose name in Spanish stands for Patagonian cypress was created to preserved the ancient highly praised tree species. Our eyes were dazzled by a wide range of green hues in the water and vegetation and the entire magic of nature.
Written April 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Journeyer
Miami Beach, FL1,386 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We spent 5 nights visiting the northern section of Los Alerces National Park.

Here are some tips!
• The drive from Bariloche and the time in Los Alerces was definitely worth doing. You get a sense of the raw beauty of Patagonia. The rivers, lakes and mountains open your senses and give a feeling of breathing room that encourages rejuvenation. The nearest town is Esquel, 70 km on the gravel road southeast of Lago Verde, which is in the north section of Los Alerces. This park is for nature lovers; the park has been minimally commercially developed and still retains a wilderness feel; the western two thirds of the park has been designated a strict scientific reserve and is off limits. If you are looking for a charming resort town experience with restaurants, shops and a selection of hotels, this would not be your park of choice.

• We were glad that we came in December. We had good weather and there were not many other visitors in the north section of the park. We were delighted that we had walking paths to ourselves, that the El Abuelo boat excursion wasn’t packed, and that the Lago Verde Wilderness Resort campgrounds and other public campgrounds had only a few campers. In the peak season of January and February, it would be unlikely to have the lake side in front of our cabanas at the Lago Verde Wilderness Resort to ourselves and that precious silence in the night might have been missed. We understand that the fall months are beautiful as the deciduous trees are in full bloom.

• We chose to stay in the northeastern section of the park as it is supposed to be the most interesting for the visitor and the area around Lago Verde is a convenient base for day trips. This minimized the amount of time spent driving each day, leaving more time to enjoy outdoor activities of our choice.

• Definitely be aware of the horse flies in December; we are not sure what other months they are here. Some areas not so bad, but on the Laguna Escondido hike it was really bad. Pack long pants and shirts as well as hats for sun and bug protection.

• A must do is the boat and hike excursion to El Abuelo. Reserve the boat ride in advance! We did this through El Aura/Lago Verde Wilderness Resort. They will have the tickets ready for you and if there are any scheduling changes, they will handle that for you. If you are not staying at El Aura, be sure to check with the boat company a few days before to make sure that it is still going as scheduled. The company is BrazoSur and you want to take the Safari Lacustre; the website is www.brazosur.com.ar

• We had a few hours on Lago Verde and Rio Arrayanes in a small boat and thoroughly enjoyed it! Consider a full day on the lakes; ask Lago Verde Wilderness Lodge where we stayed and they will arrange it. Our travel agent had suggested that we go by boat to the Estrecho del Monstruouso, near Lago Kruger. With more time on the water, this would have been possible.

• To make the drive worth it from Bariloche, plan at least 3 nights, 2 full days. We did 5 nights/4 days and felt it was just right for us. Plan one day to do the excursion to El Abuelo. There are a number of options to choose among in the north section of park. These include:
The walk along the Rio Arrayanes (see day #11)
The Lago Verde Overlook and combined with the boat ride offered by El Aura (see day #9)
Lago Escondido hike (see day#10)
Full day on the water in a boat
Fly fishing - the area is famous for the rich colors of the lakes and fishing
Hiking – see guidebook reference below – includes all areas of the parks with easy, moderate and demanding hikes. El Aura can also email you information on daylong guided hiking near the Torrecillas Glacier as well as a Three Lakes Four Rivers day excursion.

Take a look at our journal and the day numbers (see above) to get a feel for the experience and look at the photos!
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/journeyer/2/1228810320/tpod.html

• Get a copy of the “Guias and Sendas Bosques for El Bolson and Parques Nacionales Lago Puelo and Los Alerces”. It includes English abstracts of hikes, walks and boat rides as well as a glossary/dictionary to help understand the Spanish. The local maps are excellent and the Spanish is simple, so you can get the gist of what is written. ISBN: 987-20080-7-8. Website: www.guiasendasybosques.com.ar Anna gave us a copy, however it can be purchased on line and most likely locally. They have other titles within Patagonia.

• If you are staying in the northern section of the park and arriving from the north, you will most likely not make the 55km drive on the gravel road to the park’s information center. So get information on what you are interested in doing before your arrival.

ENJOY!!!
Written January 24, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Julio B
Buenos Aires12 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Couples
Perhaps the expectation was too much based on the references of the place. The place is very nice but it is monopolized by a single tourism agency to do the excursions, with values prohibited for a common person. If you try to drive a street car it is destroyed, the gravel roads are detonated and to see the most important larch tree you have to cross a lake that can only be done with the boat of the owner of the lake...To leave the car they are forced to paying for parking, a robbery since they do not have any service, nor do they explain to you that you have to go down and up stairs that an elderly person cannot do.
This national park has a long way to go to be on par with Bariloche or Tierra del Fuego. IM not coming back anymore.
Google
Written May 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robbi
15 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2017 • Couples
We wished there was more information about transport - buses from Esquel only run on Wednesday’s and weekends, one a day leaving at 8am and returning late. We were not keen to rent a car and despite what the lonely planet says it is hard to find a company that runs tours to the National Park from Esquel. So we have missed this Park. I have attached the bus timetable. Hope others have better luck than us.
Written December 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ChinaRich
Guangzhou, China254 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Before visiting the park we went to the tourist info cente in esquel to get ideas for walking. We were told to ask at the park headquarters which means you have to get off the bus at the first stop in the park. At the back of the office is an a4 photocopy of the park info. We planned to visit lago verde for couple of walks there. We got the bus from esquel at 7.30am (there is also an 8am one) which took 45 minutes to get to villa futalaufan. There was a stop here long enough to go to the office and grab a basic map which we had seen earlier. The bus to largo verde took a further 45 minutes along the lakes.

We did not have the best weather for the trip and we can imagine a sunny day would improve scenery impressively. We did an easy walk to see the 'mirador del lago verde' which was a 20 minute relatively easy uphill walk. Views are very good. We had to walk a km from where the bus dropped us off and that was more of a challenge than the walk.
We walked 2 km back to pasarela rio arrayanes. We were going to stop at the wilderness lodge but it was too much of a detour- pretty step down to the river. There is a toilet and cafe at the bridge crossing anway. The Lahuan solitario is an okay walk with a few viewpoints including one to see a distant glacier. The bridge crossing at the beginning probably has the best views.
We also started the viejo Lahuan walk from camping rio arrayanes. This is quite well laid out with wooden planks through muddy areas. The weather for us was not great but the riverside views were pleasant enough. We caught the 6.30 bus back to town.
We took our own food and refilled our bottles from the bridge side cafe. The walking between points was quite tiring and dusty. We would probably take a car next time. We were quoted 250arg$ for 24 hours.
Written January 12, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

judythr
Whidbey Island249 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2012 • Couples
I had no idea Parque Nacional Los Alerces was so breathtaking. We camped three nights at the Lago Verde camping agreste (paid camping), which was perfect. We paid under $10 for a really pleasant campsite with hot showers and just up from an amazing beach from where we could kayak. We took a gorgeous day hike to the mirador of Lago Escondido... overlooking pristine green rivers and lakes, mountains, and glacier. For my birthday we took the boat, along with 85 other passengers, to visit the alerces. What a gift! Sunny summer day, cruising amidst amazing vistas. Two-hour super-informative walking group tour with a guide who had been there for 25 years in the park. They saved the best for last!! A 2600-year-old, 57-meter-tall, 3-meter-diameter grandfather alerce. Need I say more?
Written February 23, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

EandSmee
Vancouver, Canada485 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2013 • Couples
We came here to visit the ancient (4500 years old) Alerces tree. Unfortunately it was New Year's Eve and the boat (the only access) was not sailing. Nevertheless, the time spent in the park taking in a few of the shorter trails was simply amazing. Particularly appealing was the short 3 km Lahuan Slitario which is well maintained with many species of plants labelled and explanation boards. And while we didn't get to see the "old one" we did see younger versions of the same species, and they are very impressive.
Written January 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nomadic Boys Gay Travel Blog
London, UK1,078 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2017 • Couples
We came here as a day trip and took the boat ride across the Lake Menendez to Lake Cisne (swan). It's extremely pretty and perfect for photographers. The highlight is seeing one of the oldest living species in the world - the Alcarce Tree!
Written March 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

tesndes
Portsmouth, UK80 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2016 • Couples
Spent a morning in the park at the beginning of October, there are spectacular mountain views and beautiful lakes. We walked for about an hour in the forest just listening to the sound of birds singing, a great place to get back to nature.
Written October 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Los Alerces National Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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