The southern exit from Bariloche is very spectacular: flowers on both sides of the road RN 40 and huge wall of the mountains in the front. Then we enjoyed three mountain lakes and finally the Virgen waterfall around 70 m high. Oit is possible to climb the primitive path to the bottom of the fall, but use the path on the right side of the stream!
Then we reached little town of El Bolson, once the Mecca of the hippies. It has spectacular location between high mountains. Legendary route 40 took us later to the semi-desert area and to Esquel. Esquel is located at the mountain full of colors. Twin room with breakfast in the hostel costs us just 12 USD.
In the afternoon we still had enough time to drive 40 kms to the Alerces National Park. The lakes & mts landscapes are the main attraction but I expected to see also huge and old alerce tree. There is one 2600 years old – they say. But to see it you have to catch 11am boat taking people to the other side of the lake.
Too late. Of course there are many smaller alerce trees spread uout in the park – you will see them, but with their miniature leaves they are not too impressive. Summary: not worth 150 kms RT drive and 400 pesos entry fee 🙂
