Belvedere Viewpoint and Inacayal Cascade

Whenever we get to a tourist destination, it is usual for us to walk around for walking is one of the means that let us reach those sites we wish to see. In turn, it is a fantastic exercise we seldom practice.

Once at Villa La Angostura, we resolved to reach Belvedere Viewpoint and Inacayal Cascade, both located in the Mapuche territory. On the arranged day, right after breakfast, we packed a bottle of water, sodas and some cereal bars and set off.

We parked the car and were amazed at the thick forest in front of us. It was amazingly tall and mixed.

The trail was broad and inexplicably beautiful. A mattress of leaves would cushion our step and tinge the area with a golden hue. We were surprised by the steep slope. At first, we chatted and laughed with the group. Later on, the conversation died out because we needed all the air we could take in order to climb. We went up to an open wild area. It was a kind of platform towards the sky. We took a while to check the view against the map we carried. The vastness of the Northern arm of Lake Nahuel Huapi, the short Correntoso River with its bridge on Route 231 and the partial view of Lake Correntoso stood out. In the background, we could see the mountain range that represents the Chilean border. Below, we observed the old Hotel Correntoso and the shores of both lakes, where anglers enjoy an excellent fishing environment to catch salmonidae. We sat on the root of a huge radal tree to have a snack. It was not until then that we made our visual reading of what nature was presenting altogether. We all agreed that the effort we had just made to climb up there was completely worthwhile. In Its Own Handwriting An old sign set up by the Nahuel Huapi National Park Administration showed us how to get to Inacayal Cascade. From that point and on our way down, we realized that we had not crossed a single soul on the way. The sunshine was getting more and more intense but the shade provided good shelter. Following the same trail we had used to go up, we reached a fork and followed the signs towards the creek. In a very humid area, we saw a hamlet with greenhouses and domestic animals. We were encouraged by the sound of the water running in the creek in the distance. The forest became thicker. Many trees had fallen down due to the lack of space to get enough light and air. We saw the logs resting on the ground. We made out the tree species represented by a wide range of Nothofagus. The timid birds did not appear before us but let us hear their stifled voices. The mountain creek was quite narrow, flowing over grey and very white stones, as if they had been bleached by the sunshine. The water looked turquoise, maybe because it was the result of meltdown. We followed the trails near Las Piedritas Creek towards its source and faced the ravine and the spectacular cascade we were looking for. We were astonished to see the water circles and the gushes of foam that emerged from the very spot where the water fell into the pool. Music without Instruments The noise was deafening and the magnetism, huge. There was low, glossy vegetation, teeming with ferns. We sat there for a moment, enjoying the view. Afterwards, we retraced our steps. Finally, we got to our vehicle. It was then that we felt the tour had been demanding but also the perfect excuse to wander about the native species and their exquisite aromas.

Find here hotels and accommodations in Villa La Angostura

• Difficulty: Intermediate, due to the steep slopes.

Tips

Hiking shoes are essential.
No fire or camping allowed.
Carry some water because there are no creeks in the first part of the tour.
There are few signs to identify a precise location.
The trails are inside the Mapuche territory and at certain seasons, admittance is charged.
It is not advisable to do this tour in the winter, as there is much snow.

Take the so-called 7-Lake Road at the crossroads and turn right 800 meters ahead into the Epulafquen neighborhood up to the sign post. An information stall and the parking will set the start of the path and of the Mapuche territory.