Bandurrias Viewpoint

Few hikes start this close to downtown. From the Lácar lakefront, the trail sets off behind the wastewater treatment plant at the end of Juez del Valle street, and within minutes the town noise fades as you climb the slope that closes off the bay to the west.

The route crosses land belonging to the Curruhuinca Mapuche community, settled here since before Lanín National Park was created. You walk through an oak forest that carpets the path with copper leaves in autumn, the lake flashing between the trunks, with the clear sense of moving through a place with its own history.

At the top waits the balcony. On one side lies the whole of San Martín de los Andes, tucked into the valley floor, with the beach and the pier below you. On the other, Lake Lácar stretches west: it covers some 49 square kilometres, reaches a maximum depth of around 277 metres and is one of the few lakes in the southern Andes that drain into the Pacific, via the Hua Hum river.

The full outing takes roughly half a day and covers about 5 kilometres. If you want more, carry on to La Islita, a small hidden beach on the lake; on that stretch the community runs a booth where it charges for access.

This is a real mountain trail: some sections run along the edge of the slope, and in recent years park rangers and community members have had to help injured hikers near Rincón de Urrutia. Nothing that should keep you away, just good reasons to take it slow and wear proper footwear.

• Tour type: Trekking and sightseeing
• Difficulty level: Moderate: mountain trail with exposed sections along the slope
• Tip: Hiking in Lanín National Park requires mandatory registration, so sign up before you go, stay on the marked trail and bring cash if you plan to continue to La Islita.