Seven Lakes Road

The Seven Lakes Route (Ruta de los Siete Lagos) is the stretch of National Route 40 that links San Martín de los Andes with Villa La Angostura, in southern Neuquén. It is about 107 kilometers long according to Villa La Angostura's distance chart (the Neuquén Tourism brochure says 110). Until 2012 the road was part of National Route 234; that year it became part of RN 40. If you start in Bariloche, the road runs through Dina Huapi and along the north shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi: it is 184 km to San Martín de los Andes, and 370 km there and back on the same road, all of it paved.

The route has been fully paved since 2015. The section between the RN 231 junction and the Villa Traful turnoff opened in 2013. The last 25 km of gravel, between Lake Villarino and the Traful turnoff, were finished in April 2015 and officially opened in June of that year.

The seven lakes named by the province are Lácar, Machónico, Falkner, Villarino, Escondido, Correntoso and Espejo. Other lists, such as Villa La Angostura's, count Lake Hermoso instead of Lácar. Along the way you also see Lake Nahuel Huapi as you reach Villa La Angostura, and short detours take you to Hermoso, Espejo Chico and Traful. Lake Meliquina is about 40 km from San Martín de los Andes.

Leaving San Martín de los Andes, the Pil Pil viewpoint gives you a panoramic view from above, and the Lake Machónico viewpoint is the first big lookout over the water. At the turnoff to Lake Hermoso, Lanín National Park ends and Nahuel Huapi National Park begins: the route crosses both. Further on, you can see the Vuliñanco waterfall from the road itself, and then come Lake Falkner, with sandy beaches, and Lake Villarino, joined by a short river. The road then drops to Pichi Traful, the northern arm of Lake Traful, with picnic areas by the river. Further south, Provincial Route 65 branches off to Villa Traful. Past Lake Correntoso, the bridge over the Ruca Malén stream gives access to Espejo Chico, and from there a natural viewpoint opens over Lake Espejo before the road drops down to Villa La Angostura.

Without stops the drive takes about two hours, but it is worth taking the whole day: tours from Bariloche take 10 to 11 hours. The route can be driven in any season. In summer, autumn and spring there are beaches, fishing, kayaking and campsites, and from June to August temperatures drop and it snows. In winter, carry snow chains, drive slower with your low beams on, and watch out for ice in shaded areas.

The road can be closed by snow or rockfalls, as happened in July 2026 at km 2208.7. Before you set off, check Vialidad Nacional's road conditions page (argentina.gob.ar/rutasnacionales, 0800-222-6272) and the tourist information or National Parks offices.

Ruta de los Siete Lagos in old photos