Let’s Sail towards Quila Quina

However hard to believe, once we made up our minds to go on this lake tour, the traditional pier of San Martín de los Andes on the shores of Lake Lácar instantly changed its name into Port Lácar.

The sign reads the boat leaves Port Lácar at 12.30 pm sharp. Therefore, we had to be punctual. It comes back at approximately 8 pm. This outing is an invitation to see Lakes Lácar and Nonthue, immersed in the most dazzling scenes in the area.

Searching for Hua Hum

The lake tour to Hua Hum is a guided tour around Lakes Lácar and Nonthue, up to the mouth of the Hua Hum River, one of the most amazing sites in the surroundings of San Martín de los Andes. Exactly 28 kilometers stand between the pier and the farthest point in the tour across the water. Several stops let passengers get off the boat and enjoy some time for lunch, go for a walk, buy local products and handicraftsjust relish the Andean scenery made up by woods, lakes and rivers. One stop is at Quila Quina, where passengers may disembark and enjoy this spectacular beach and its small restaurant at a very close distance from San Martín de los Andes. The next stop is at Port Chachín, on the south-western margin of Lake Nonthué. The watercraft must go across a narrowness that separates Lake Lácar from Lake Nonthué. This tour boasts an unusual kind of beauty, as the water color changes from one lake to the other. The deep blue hue of Lake Lácar mingles into a similar more turquoise shade in Lake Nonthué. Once in Chachín, tourists are amazed by the main visual attraction: the cascade on the Chachín River. This 30-meter- high waterfall goes across the rainforest. To reach this view, we ventured ourselves in a not so difficult hiking experience that took approximately 30 minutes. As we left Chachín, we headed for Hua Hum, located a few meters from the mouth of the Hua Hum River. This river crosses the border into Chile. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out all the necessary proceedings to continue traveling over land. The milestone marking the frontier lies just 4 kilometers away and curiously enough, it is the lowest pass on the Andes Mountain Range, lying just 640 meters above sea level.

Santa Teresita Island, Before the End

As we sailed back to San Martín de los Andes, the last stop was on Santa Teresita Island, on Lake Lácar. This formation features rocky coasts and is covered by the typical vegetation of the Andean Patagonian forest. On the island, there is a small chapel with the image of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, after which the island has been named. This site is the perfect finale for the outing, which ends at the pier of San Martín de los Andes at the end of the day.

Tips

This tour is subject to favorable weather conditions and a minimum number of passengers. Access to Lanín National Park is not included in the rate and children under 5 years old are not charged.

Another excursion available at Naviera Lácar & Nonthue is the shuttle to Quila Quina. This small tourist destination is visited at all seasons due to its proximity to San Martín de los Andes and its scenic beauty. Formed in the 1940s by a resolution passed by National Parks Administration, this residential village co-exists in perfect harmony with the Mapuche Curruhuinca Community that has occupied these lands for centuries.