Bariloche: 7 Lakes & San Martin de Los Andes Road Trip

The best part of this day trip is the road itself. From Bariloche, you follow mountain roads past forest, open steppe, and a chain of clear lakes, with the scenery changing almost every few minutes. Villa La Angostura adds a handsome mountain-town stop, and San Martín de los Andes gives you time to eat and walk beside Lake Lacar.

I like the number of viewpoints, the comfortable coach, and the guides who make a long ride useful rather than silent. Isis, Freddy, Matias, and Deborah have all been praised for clear bilingual explanations, and guides commonly share details about Patagonia, local plants, animals, and village life. The tradeoff is simple: this is a very long bus day, with roughly 400 kilometers on the road and only short stops at many of the lakes.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven named lakes: Correntoso, Espejo, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner, Hermoso, and Machonico each bring a different view.
• Villa La Angostura: Expect Alpine-style wooden buildings, a brief stop, and time for coffee or ice cream on some departures.
• San Martín de los Andes: You get free time for lunch, shopping, and a walk, usually about two hours.
• Bilingual guiding: Tours run in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, with guides such as Isis and Freddy praised for handling mixed-language groups.
• A full day in a coach: The advertised duration is 10 hours, but some departures take 11 to 11.5 hours.
• Bring cash and water: The national park fee is paid in local currency, food is not included, and restroom stops can be widely spaced.

Why the Seven Lakes Route is worth your day

The Seven Lakes Route is one of northern Patagonia’s great scenic drives. It is less about one grand attraction and more about the steady rhythm of changing views: dark forest, pale mountain slopes, open grassland, and water in shades that shift with the weather.

You do not need to hike to enjoy this outing. The coach follows the road and stops at selected viewpoints, allowing you to step out, take photographs, and hear an explanation before moving on. That makes the trip a good choice if you have only one day in Bariloche and want to see the wider region without renting a car.

The route also gives you a useful sense of Patagonia’s scale. Bariloche is surrounded by dramatic scenery, but San Martín de los Andes is far enough away to show how the area changes beyond the city. The road moves through different types of countryside, and several guides explain what you are seeing as you go.

The price is listed at $100 per person. That is fair if you value a bilingual guide, hotel pickup, organized viewpoints, and a driver who knows the route. It is less attractive if you mainly want transportation, since the regular bus between Bariloche and San Martín de los Andes follows the same road. In that case, you are paying for the commentary, scheduled stops, and convenience rather than for a completely different route.

Leaving Bariloche and reaching Villa La Angostura

Pickup is available from centrally located Bariloche hotels and properties up to kilometer 8. The listed meeting point is Margarita Stuke Turismo at Rolando 287, and the return drop-off is there as well. Confirm your exact pickup point before the morning of departure, since one departure involved confusion over whether the meeting point was a hotel or the tour office.

The first part of the drive can take about two and a half hours before the main sightseeing begins. That sounds like a lot, but the guide usually fills the ride with information about Bariloche, Patagonia, the route, and the countryside outside the windows.

Villa La Angostura is an appealing early pause. This is a small mountain town with carefully styled Alpine and wooden architecture, and it feels more polished and village-like than a simple roadside stop. Depending on the timing of your departure, you may have a chance to use the restroom, buy coffee, or get ice cream.

Do not expect a long visit here. The main purpose is to break up the first stretch of driving and give you a quick look at the town. If you prefer a slow morning with time to browse shops, this schedule may feel tight. If you want to cover a lot of ground, the stop is well placed.

The seven lakes, one viewpoint at a time

A few kilometers beyond Villa La Angostura, the Seven Lakes Route begins in earnest. The coach follows scenic roads along the Patagonian mountains, with forests and water appearing between bends in the road.

The seven named lakes are:

• Correntoso: Known for its forested setting and mountain views.
• Espejo: Its name means mirror, a fitting description when the water is calm.
• Escondido: A quieter lake tucked into the wooded route.
• Villarino: Part of the sequence of broad water views and forested slopes.
• Falkner: One of the route’s well-known scenic stops.
• Hermoso: Its name means beautiful, and the setting explains why it earns that description.
• Machonico: A later stop as the road continues toward San Martín de los Andes.

The exact stopping pattern can vary, but you should expect several viewpoints on the way to San Martín. One detailed schedule included four lake viewpoints before reaching town, plus more stops on the return. These are generally short photo breaks, often around five minutes, so you need to be ready to get off the coach quickly.

That short timing is the main limitation. You can photograph the lakes and enjoy the view, but this is not a walking tour and there is little time for a lakeside stroll. If you want to sit quietly beside the water, hike into the forest, or explore several trails, a self-drive trip or a dedicated hiking outing would suit you better.

Still, the short stops work well for a broad overview. You see all seven lakes without having to plan parking, navigation, or road conditions. The guide also gives the names and context that can be easy to miss when you drive the route alone.

What the guides add to the long ride

The guide is a major part of the value. The best guides turn the coach ride into an informal lesson about the region, explaining the lakes, forests, wildlife, villages, and the transition from steppe to woodland.

Isis has been especially praised for clear English, strong organization, and explanations about Patagonia’s plants and animals. She has also handled groups in which only one or two people spoke English, giving those passengers a full explanation after speaking in Spanish.

Freddy has received similar praise for his English, personal manner, and enthusiasm for Argentina. Matias is often described as funny and informative, while Deborah has been noted for carefully translating explanations for English-speaking passengers. Other guides named on departures include Diego, Paz, Federico, Ana Laura, and Joanna.

The tour is offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. In a mixed group, the guide may explain each point in one language and then repeat it in another. That takes time, but it is better than leaving anyone out. It can also mean the ride feels longer if you understand only one language.

The return leg follows the same general route. On the way out, there is plenty to explain because the scenery is new. On the way back, the guide may have less fresh commentary, and the repeated views can feel familiar. Bring something to read or download entertainment in advance, since internet service is absent for much of the drive.

San Martín de los Andes, your main break

San Martín de los Andes is the biggest pause of the day and the point where you can leave the coach behind for a while. The town sits on the shore of Lake Lacar and offers time for lunch, shopping, and a walk through the center.

You usually have about two hours, though the formal schedule allows roughly 45 minutes for lunch and shopping within a longer visit. That is enough to choose a meal, look around, and get a brief feel for the town. It is not enough for a slow restaurant meal, extensive shopping, and a long lakeside outing all at once.

Plan your priorities before you arrive. If lunch matters most, choose a place quickly. If you want to browse, grab something simple to eat. Food and drinks are not included, so budget separately for this stop.

San Martín is valuable because it gives the day a human pause after hours of scenery. The lakes are the headline attraction, but a town stop keeps the outing from becoming one continuous series of coach windows and photo platforms.

The town also makes clear what this trip is and is not. You are getting an introduction to San Martín de los Andes, not a full town tour. If you want to stay longer, it is possible to visit independently by bus, but that means planning your own transport and giving up the organized return to Bariloche.

The return drive and the real length of the day

The advertised duration is 10 hours, with about 2.5 hours each way between Bariloche and San Martín. In practice, you should allow 10 to 11.5 hours. One departure began around 8 a.m., reached San Martín at about 1 p.m., left town around 3 p.m., and returned to Bariloche around 7:30 p.m.

Traffic, pickup delays, the number of passengers, and the time spent at stops can affect the schedule. There is no working toilet on the coach, although the route includes restroom opportunities. One detailed account described the first restroom stop after about two and a half hours and another on the return around 5:15 p.m.

Bring a water bottle and snacks. You can buy food in San Martín, but the first long stretch may pass before another convenient chance to eat. Comfortable shoes are useful for the viewpoints, though you will not be doing serious walking.

The coach has generally been described as comfortable, with air-conditioning on some departures. There may be no seat chargers, and mobile service can disappear for much of the route. Charge your phone before pickup and save maps or other material offline.

Large bags and luggage are not allowed. Pack a small day bag with water, snacks, sunglasses, a jacket, and your camera or phone. Patagonia’s weather can change, so layers make more sense than one heavy item.

Group size, comfort, and value

Some departures use a large coach with more than 40 people. That keeps the cost lower than a private trip, but it also means fixed departure times, organized photo stops, and a slower process getting everyone on and off the bus.

The driver matters on a road trip of this length. Drivers named in the feedback include Juanpi, Joseph, Cristian, Marcus, Bruno, George, Chris, and Osvaldo, with repeated praise for careful driving and help boarding the coach. That is worth considering when so much of the experience takes place on mountain roads.

The $100 price buys more than a seat. You receive hotel pickup and drop-off in the stated Bariloche area, a guide, insurance, and a planned route that covers Villa La Angostura, all seven named lakes, and San Martín de los Andes. The national park entrance fee is extra and must be paid in cash in Argentine currency.

The value depends on your alternative. A rental car gives you more control and longer stops, but you take on navigation, parking, fuel, and a full day of driving. Public transport can cost less, but it may not include the same viewpoint schedule or explanations. A private tour gives you flexibility but usually costs more.

Some people have found the organized trip expensive compared with booking locally in Bariloche. That can happen, especially if you find a cash rate in town. I would compare the final price, the pickup area, the language offered, and the number of stops rather than comparing the headline price alone.

Who should book this road trip

I would choose this tour if you have one free day in Bariloche and want to see the Seven Lakes Route without driving. It is also a strong fit if you like scenery, photography, and background information more than physical activity.

You will probably enjoy it most if you can handle a long coach ride and treat the journey as the main event. The route supplies the entertainment, while the guide explains what you are passing and the stops give you time to take photographs.

This is less suitable if you dislike buses, need frequent restroom access, want long walks, or prefer to explore at your own pace. The lakeside stops are brief, and San Martín offers only a limited window for lunch and wandering.

It is also worth checking your previous plans. If you have already taken the regular bus between Bariloche and San Martín, you may have seen much of the same road. In that case, the tour still adds commentary and viewpoint stops, but the scenery itself will not be new.

Cancellation is flexible, with a full refund available when you cancel at least 24 hours ahead. You can also reserve and pay later, which helps if weather or your Bariloche schedule remains uncertain.

FAQ

How long does the Seven Lakes and San Martín de los Andes trip take?

The listed duration is 10 hours, but some departures take 11 to 11.5 hours. Plan for a full day, with early pickup and an evening return to Bariloche.

Where can I be picked up?

Pickup is included from centrally located hotels in San Carlos de Bariloche and properties up to kilometer 8. Margarita Stuke Turismo at Rolando 287 is also listed as a pickup and drop-off point.

Which lakes are included?

The route passes Correntoso, Espejo, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner, Hermoso, and Machonico lakes.

Is lunch included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You have free time in San Martín de los Andes to buy lunch, and personal expenses are your responsibility.

Is the national park fee included?

No. The national park entrance fee is paid separately in cash and in local currency.

What languages are available?

Guiding is available in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. The guide may repeat explanations in different languages when the group includes speakers of more than one language.

Should you book it?

Book it if your priority is seeing the Seven Lakes Route in one organized day, with a bilingual guide, planned viewpoints, and no need to drive. The scenery is excellent, Villa La Angostura is a pleasant addition, and San Martín gives you a useful break from the road.

Skip it if you want a relaxed schedule or substantial time outdoors at each lake. This is a scenic road trip first and an activity second. Bring water, snacks, charged devices, and patience for the long ride, and you will get a broad, memorable look at one of Patagonia’s finest drives.