Outings and excursions · San Carlos de Bariloche
Boating on Lakes Gutiérrez and Mascardi
Photos: Argenjosh · CC BY-SA 4.0 / Luca Ezequiel Rodríguez · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Two lakes south of Bariloche to explore from the water: mild Lake Gutiérrez, 15 km from downtown, and Lake Mascardi, with its two arms and Isla Corazón.
South of Bariloche there are two lakes that are best seen from the water rather than from the roadside. The first is Lake Gutiérrez, about 15 kilometers from downtown along Route 40. It fills a valley hemmed in by Cerro Otto, Cerro Catedral and Cerro De la Ventana, covers roughly 1,640 hectares and reaches a maximum depth of 111 meters. Its water is among the mildest in the area, since it is fed mostly by rain rather than snowmelt, which makes it a favorite for paddling and swimming.
The gateway is Villa Los Coihues, at the northern end. From the beach you can head out by kayak or paddleboard along the western shore, lined with coihue forest, as far as the park ranger station. It is worth landing there: a short trail leads to the Cascada de los Duendes waterfall, a nice break before paddling back.
A few kilometers further down Route 40, Lake Mascardi changes the scale. It is about 23 kilometers long and up to 4 wide, with depths of up to 218 meters, and it is shaped like a V: the Catedral arm runs north to south and the Tronador arm east to west. Near the point where they meet lies Isla Corazón, which from some angles really does look like a heart.
Out on the water you find sheltered bays with reed beds, forested shores and, to the west, the road that follows the Tronador arm toward Pampa Linda. It is a fishing lake, home to brook, rainbow and brown trout, with fish averaging one to one and a half kilos. And if you want to keep going on foot, the Huella Andina section to Lake Steffen starts from its shore, a 24.5-kilometer trek.
Both outings work as day trips from Bariloche and can be combined. The wind calls the shots: on these mountain lakes a calm morning can turn quickly, so start early and check the forecast.
- Tour type: Boating, kayaking, fishing and sightseeing
- Difficulty level: Easy (boat ride or shoreline kayaking); moderate (long crossings on Lake Mascardi)
- Tip: Book only with operators authorized by Nahuel Huapi National Park, which publishes the official list of licensed lake services; wear a life jacket, and in an emergency on the water call the Coast Guard (Prefectura) at 106. Fishing requires a National Park permit.
