A day in Bariloche starts with a good breakfast and amazing landscapes that captivate the eyes of travelers from all over the globe. As part of the Lakes Crossing circuit we decided to be part of the Patagonian history at Puerto Blest Hotel.
After a twenty minutes transfer from the hotel to Puerto Pañuelo we board a Catamaran to navigate for an hour the Nahuel Huapi Lake to get to Puerto Blest. The magnificent views of the andean mountain range. The snowed peaks, the seagulls flying around to get a cookie from the hands of travelers. The way the sun warms the mountains and sweeps its light on landscapes are a highlight in itself. A great way to experience the Patagonian history at Puerto Blest Hotel
We arrived at Puerto Blest and disembark. This pier located at the end of the Blest tributary of the Nahuel Huapi Lake is a spectacle in itself, At this point you can see how the green waters of the Frías River blends with the cool blue waters of Nahuel Huapi Lake resulting in a surreal view., Surrounded by a dense Valdivian rainforest that only leaves space to enjoy the quiet beach that allows us to enjoy the Blest harbor.
Across from the harbour we find Puerto Blest Hotel. Accessible only by boat. It is a small hotel made of wood and stones like the typical german architecture of the region. With only 14 comfortable rooms, some of them include a seating area where you can relax. Certain units feature views over the lake or the river. There is wi-fi in the hotel..
At the hotel´s surroundings we can enjoy various activities such as biking and hiking. There is a circuit that will take you to Los Cantaros Waterfall by doing a lovely two hours´ trekking and going up a stepped terrain of more than 800 steps bordering the cascade that begins in the Los Cantaros Lagoon, That effort is crowned visiting the “grandfather” a 1,500 years old tree. From this point we continue our trekking on this trail through the rainforest to get back to the Hotel.
Back in the hotel we enjoyed a nice and warm cup of coffee seating on the deck and having magnificent views of the lake and mountains. The landscape mesmerized you.. Makes you want to stay for hours standing in awe at such a natural beauty. Later we had dinner at the restaurant which serves a menu of local cuisine and great wines. There is also a living room with a tv set for those who love watching movies..
A historical place where the remains of Francisco Pascasio Moreno were laid down to rest on the Centinela Island, which can be seen from the catamaran during the trip in the National Park that was founded by him..
If you are looking for remote hotels to relax, enjoy nature or spend night in the Andes, Puerto Blest Hotel is the place you have to visit. Contact your Account Executive for more information about this Hotel or the Bike Andean Crossing.
A private initiative with the purpose of preserving and displaying the remains of the “paranaense” rainforest and located 32 kms away from Saltos de Moconá is one of the main purposes of the Rainforest experience at Chacra del Agua (Mocona Waterfalls) at the entrance to the Yaboti Reservation which is protected by the UNESCO.
For a couple of days we stayed in one of the cabins that is a part of this “home lodge” as they call Chacra del Agua. The cabins were built using native wood and the design is an example of the traditional architectural style you will find in Misiones Province which combines German techniques from the XIX century with a strong influence from the Brazilian lifestyle. The cabins were built 1 meter above the ground and are separated 40 meters from each other, for privacy which is one of the main purposes. They are also perfect to enjoy the rainforest in absolute tranquility. Each cabin has a unique and distinctive view. You can gain access to your cabin by taking the wooden footbridge which communicates the cabins with the main building where breakfast and dinner is served. There you can enjoy a relaxing time sharing experiences with the owners Sebastian and Mariana, enjoying a glass of good wine and relaxed talk while they cook. It is really nice being able to share the table with them and other travelers who are staying there.
We enjoy the activities of Chacra del Agua during the day, There are several options such as mountain bike and trekking through the 2.5 km of trails found in the Chacra, One of the most exciting activities was kayaking through the Uruguay river on seat-on-top kayaks. Sebastian, who is also the guide for this experience, took us to remote locations at the entrance of the Yabotí Reservation (Yabotí means turtle in guarani language) guiding us and explaining the environment and the importance of preserving the natural reserve. Sebastian is also a professional photographer, you’ll see him capturing moments with his camera during the activity so travelers can take them back home. The activity takes between 2 and 3 hours. This is the time they’ve estimated for us to enjoy a personalised and unique experience; the good thing about the proposed activities is that they can be adapted to the needs and requests of the travelers, regardless of any earlier experiences they could have had with kayaking.
There is also a pool where you can enjoy a relaxing time reading, while seating on the deck, or refreshing yourself when the weather is hot.
