Understand
[edit]Villa La Angostura is a small town in the southwest of Neuquen, Argentina. It is a gateway to the Nahuel Huapi National Park and the Los Arrayanes National Park.
Tourist information
[edit]- 1 Oficina Turismo Villa la Angostura (Tourism Office), Av. Arrayanes 9, ☏ +54 929 4424 1678. Daily 08:00 - 21:30. Official visitor information center. Can provide advice about lodging and local attractions and activities.
Get in
[edit]
The nearest airport with commercial flights is in San Carlos de Bariloche. Via Bariloche operates several first-class buses from Bariloche to Villa la Angostura with tickets available from US$5 for the 90-minute trip.
- 1 Terminal de Omnibus Villa la Angostura (Bus station), Topa Topa 2. Busy smaller bus terminal with a small seating area for waiting passengers. Free rest room. Frequent buses to Bariloche.
Get around
[edit]Mountain biking is the most popular way to get around, though walking works perfectly well since the town is small.
See
[edit]The landscape is really beautiful. The village is on the Nahuel Huapi, one of the biggest lakes in the Province. Also it is on the slope of the mountains not very high (1,800-1,900 m). At the other side, crossing the lake there is a nice city: Bariloche.
There is a summer landscape and a winter landscape, covered by snow. There is a port where you can see "Quetrihue peninsula" which means "Where “arrayanes” grow.
There is a footpath of 12 km. that ends in Los Arrayanes National Park. There is an amazing forest of huge “arrayanes”. These special trees are natives species and they are very high and very old (300 years) When you walk through the footpath you can see other species as notros, cohiues, ñires and lengas. This forest is very famous and unique in the whole world. In the middle of the forest there is a lagoon called "Patagua" where ducks and birds live. Inside the park there is a little house called "Walt Disney house", because that place inspired his movie “Bambi”
- 1 Museo de Arte Contemporaneo Conrad Meier, Cerro Centinela 325, ☏ +54 29 4439 2931. Tu-Sa 10:00 - 20:00, closed Su-M. Small regional art museum with a collection of mostly drawings and paintings with a photography gallery and several modern sculptures.
Do
[edit]Skiing
[edit]- Cerro Bayo (9 km from Villa de Angostura). Small ski area with 22 trails and 13 lifts, including 2 gondolas. Skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, ski school, and an adaptive skiing program for disabled persons.
Horseback riding
[edit]- 1 Cabalgatas Montahue, ☏ +54 929 4451 1345. Daily 10:00 - 19:00. Horse rentals and guided horseback treks through forested trails. Horses are gentle and guides attentive.
Mountain biking
[edit]
Bicycling is very popular in Villa la Angostura. It's a great way to buzz around town and the gentle hills of nearby national parks are perfect for getting a little workout while exploring the outdoors in a clean, low impact manner. Popular routes are the trails in Los Arrayanes National Park, the 7 Lakes route, and the road up to the Cerro Bayo ski resort where the chair lifts run during summer months so you can bring the bikes to the top of the mountain and ride bikes down the ski trails. Several bike shops in town will rent bikes to visitors:
- 2 Langosta Rental, Av. Arrayanes 121, ☏ +54 929 4422 8753. Daily 09:00 - 20:00. Rental bikes are in good condition and not very old. This business also rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for those who want to explore the lake.
- 3 Fuera de Piste, Av. Arrayanes 282, ☏ +54 29 4451 6494. Daily 09:30 - 20:30. Full-service mountain bike shop. Rents bikes plus accessories like panniers, lightweight tents, sleeping bags etc. They also can advise you on touring routes and provide maps for longer multi-day rides.
- 4 ProShop Bike, Av. Arrayanes 167, ☏ +54 29 4432 9381. Daily 09:00 - 21:00. Sales, service, rentals and good local advice. Bikes are all in good condition with some like new. Friendly staff.
- 5 Bayo Abajo, Av. Siete Lagos 94, ☏ +54 29 4411 0738. Daily 09:30 - 21:00. Bike rentals in warm weather, ski rentals in cold weather.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Casual restaurants invited diners to come eat at any time of day, but the town's better restaurants observe two serving times: 3pm for lunch, and 8pm for dinner; the restaurants close from 3pm to 8pm. Be aware that many restaurants accept cash only. Some of the restaurants that accept credit cards will add a surcharge of up to 10%.
- 1 La Casita de la Oma, Cerro Inacayal 303, ☏ +54 92 9445 66582. Tu-Su 15:00 - 20:00, closed M. You can have your afternoon tea here.
- 2 Cantina Napolitano (La Tanita), Av. Arrayanes 66, ☏ +54 29 4449 4132. Daily 12:00 - 00:00. Here you can have dinner, or stay for a drink as well.
- 3 El Desquite, Las Retamas 105, ☏ +54 11 3379 1978. Daily 12:00 - 17:00. Upscale tavern restaurant with innovative Argentinian cuisine featuring homemade stews like mondongo, grilled meats like succulent lamp chops and more.
- 4 El Esquiador, Las Retamas 146, ☏ +54 29 4455 8729. Tu-Sa 08:30 - 23:30, Su 12:00 - 23:30, closed M. Family-run local restaurant serving hearty regional Argentinian cuisine. The Ciervo a la Casadora is recommended. AR$10,000.
- 5 Ay Ay Ay Maria!, Cerro Belvedere 204, ☏ +54 92 9442 16166. Tu-Su 12:30 - 15:30 and 20:00 - 23:00, closed M. Casual restaurant that serves an Argentinian representation of Mexican cuisine. If the food tastes under-spiced at least the margaritas are strong and can take your mind off any shortcomings. Large portions and affordable prices.
- 6 La Morada, Cerro Bayo 37, ☏ +54 294 478 4261. M-Sa 12:30 - 15:30 and 20:00 - 23:00, closed Su. Cozy restaurant with soft lighting serving regional cuisine cooked homestyle. Portions are generous and there are a number of innovative combinations that seem to mix cuisines. Good bar with creative cocktails.
- 7 Nicoletto Restaurante De Pastas Caseras, Av. Arrayanes 256, ☏ +54 929 4496 1180. Daily 12:00 - 15:00 and 20:00 - 23:00. Upscale Italian restaurant featuring homemade pastas and sauces. Expect innovative sauces and stuffings in the stuffed pastas, like a trout stuffed ravioli or a fresh leek sauce (not just marinara and pesto). Good wine list with several top tier Argentinian vintages.
- 8 Parilla Chop Chop, Av. Siete Lagos 365, ☏ +54 294 449 5419. Daily 12:00 - 15:30 and 08:00 - 23:30. Grilled meats and seafood are the star attractions at this upscale restaurant. Lamb chops, Salman, and fresh trout are expertly grilled and served with sides that are often also prepared on the grill. Good wine list and comfortable ambiance with an outdoor patio area for good weather days. AR$20,000.
- 9 La Locanda, Av. Arrayanes 87, ☏ +54 294 456 0729. Daily 11:30 - 15:30 and 19:30 - 23:30. Upscale restaurant serving regional Patagonian cuisine with locally sourced lake trout, lamb, and venison. Stews, grilled meats, and whole grilled fish. Good wine list. AR$20,000.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Cerveceria Blest, Av. Arrayanes 450 (inside El Mercado), ☏ +54 9 294 433 4209. 19:00 - 02:00. Lively nightspot that brews its own beer, has live music and dancing. Beer selection includes a range of house ales, from a light blonde to some very strong IPAs. Food includes burgers, pizzas, etc. AR$2,500+.
- 2 Australis Cervecería, Barrio Las Balsas, Av. Arrayanes 2490. M-Sa 20:00 - 00:00, closed Su. Cozy pub atmosphere with a limited range of house ales on tap. Serves light food including a venison sandwich. AR$5,000.
- 3 Cervecería Epulafquen, Antriao 1965. Tu-Su 19:00 - 00:00, closed M. Artesanal craft brewery with two locations in Villa la Angostura. Serves a range of ale that includes some darker brews like a robust stout and a soft, tawny Scottish ale that was eminently poundable. Casual food menu includes pizza and burgers.
- 4 Epu Centro, Av. Arrayanes 216, ☏ +54 2 9448 97174. Daily 12:30 - 23:30. Artesanal craft brewery serving hearty pub grub like lamb burgers, a sausage stew, and empanadas. The dark beers are particularly well made.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hostería Maitén Escondido, RP79, ☏ +54 11 4382-5975. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. Very alpine-like with an appealing wood deck and outdoor pool. Comfortable, spacious rooms. $80 USD (AR$40,000).
- 2 Hostel la Angostura, A. L. Barbagelata 157, ☏ +54 29 4449 4834. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. Rustic mountain lodge with clean, spacious rooms that have large windows and heated floors. Hearty breakfast in the mornings. US$70.
- 3 La Posta de Los Colonos, Los Notros 19, ☏ +54 92 9444 94390. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 10:30. Modern hotel in the town's Centro area, clean, spacious rooms. Off-street parking available. US$100.
- 4 Hostería La Roca de la Patagonia, Blvd. Pascotto 145, ☏ +54 29 4421 4750. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Rustic mountain lodge with clean, comfortable rooms. Rates include full breakfast. Off-street parking available. Discounts for cash payments. US$95.
Camping
[edit]- 5 Camping Dormis y Bungalows Osa Mayor, Calle AEB, ☏ +54 29 4449 4304. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. Campground in a forest Glen with tent sites that have electricity, grills, and tables. The campground also offers dorm rooms with hostel-like sleeping arrangements and private cabins that provide a family-friendly alternative to hotel rooms or Airbnb apartments (at a significantly lower cost). US$100.
Connect
[edit]You will find WiFi in most cafés, restaurants and accommodations.
Go next
[edit]