San Martín de los Andes, Argentina: travel guide
Charming Andean village on Lago Lacar — Lanín Volcano, fly-fishing, Chapelco ski resort, and the scenic Seven Lakes Route.
- Country
- Argentina
- Currency
- ARS
- Time zone
- America/Argentina/Salta
- Nearest airport
- CPC
Plan a San Martín de los Andes trip
Top places to visit in San Martín de los Andes
Lago Lácar
Nature · about 3 h · entry ARS 35,000
The glacial lake San Martín de los Andes is built around — 25 km of deep blue water inside Lanín National Park, with the town pier at its eastern head and boat crossings west to Hua Hum and the Chilean border.
Cerro Chapelco
Activity · about 7 h
San Martín's ski mountain, 20 km south of town — lift-served slopes to 1,980 m with Lanín volcano on the skyline, and a lift-served summer viewpoint out of season.
Mirador Bandurrias
Viewpoint · about 2.5 h
The classic lookout over San Martín de los Andes — a wooded hour's walk from the end of Juez del Valle ends on a bluff with the whole length of Lago Lácar below.
Playa Catritre
Beach · about 2.5 h
A grey-sand beach on the south shore of Lago Lácar, 4 km from town on the Siete Lagos road — shallow water, coihue forest behind, and one of the closest swimming spots to San Martín.
Quila Quina
Beach · about 4 h · entry ARS 35,000
A Mapuche-community hamlet and beach on the south shore of Lago Lácar, reached by launch from the town pier or a winding 18 km road — swimming, a self-guided community trail and a waterfall walk.
Mirador Lago Escondido (Ruta de los Siete Lagos)
Viewpoint · about 0.5 h
The signature stop on the Ruta de los Siete Lagos — a roadside balcony on RN 40 looking down onto Lago Escondido, hemmed in by forest between San Martín de los Andes and Villa La Angostura.
Lago Lolog
Nature · about 3 h
A quieter lake 15 km north of town inside Lanín National Park — fly-fishing for trout, black-sand beaches at Puerto Arturo, and far fewer people than Lácar in high summer.
Things to do
- Ski or snowboard day at Cerro Chapelco Skiing · 7 h
- Ruta de los Siete Lagos scenic drive Scenic Drive · 8 h
- Lago Lácar launch to Quila Quina and Hua Hum Boat Tour · 4 h
Where to eat
- La Reserva Patagónica argentinian, patagonian · about ARS 9,000 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Car Rental Self main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.