Lago Puelo National Park Voyage Tips and guide

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Lago Puelo National Park is a protected natural area in Patagonia, a mountainous area the Andes in western Argentina. The park's main attraction is a large lake, 19 km long and up to 200 meters deep.

The park was established as part of the Argentina national parks system in 1971. It was established to protect the Valdivian rain forest and its flora and fauna.

The park covers an area of 27,600 hectares, much of it the lake which fills a valley surrounded by sheer cliffs and sharply rising mountains of the surrounding Andean peaks. Some of the peaks are covered year round by snow and ice. The valley and lake were formed by glacial action and glacier sediments are assumed to contribute the deep indigo blue color of the lake.

Animals living within the park include the puma, several species of smaller wild cat, several species of deer, and foxes.

One of the most noteworthy animals in the park is the pudu, the world's smallest species of deer and an animal that is considered threatened. The pudu who live in this part of the world are similar to the pudu of northern South America (who live in a narrow strip of the Andes between Peru and Colombia. The two types of pudu are different species. The pudu stands about 40 cm high with a length of about 80 cm -- about the size of a terrier (but the pudu don't pupu on your rug). Pupu have brown fur with rounded ears.

The park is also home to the guanaco (a type of llama) and the huemel (or South Andean deer), Larger than the pudu, it is a favorite prey of pumas and has suffered a loss of suitable vegetation causing its numbers to drop precipitously. The huemel is designated as an endangered species.

More than 100 bird species inhabit the park, mostly species that will be novel sights for a [[Birdwatching|birdwatcher from the northern hemisphere. Birds include the pato vapor volador, the bandurria, and the zorzal patagónico.

The climate is wet and cold. Temperatures in the valley range from 5 °C (41.0 °F) in winter to 17 °C in summer. Annual precipitation is about 1500 mm, most of it between May and August. Occasional snowfall occurs.

From major airports in Argentina or Chile, fly to San Carlos de Bariloche (BRC ^IATA).

From Bariloche, Via Bariloche operates comfortable first-class buses to the town of Lago Puelo (gateway to the national park). The 3-hour trip will cost about ARS 12,000.

• -42.059779-71.5984721 Via Bariloche - Lago Puelo, Los Notros. M-F 07:30 - 14:00 and 16:00 - 19:30, Sa-Su 08:00 - 13:00 and 16:30 - 19:00. Small terminal with hit or miss service. (updated Jan 2025)

There are many options for places to stay, including hostels and small hotels in the nearby town of Lago Puelo, rustic cabins in nearby woods (some with lake views), and backcountry camping around the lake.