Puerto Manzano and Manzano Bay

Leaving Villa La Angostura on Route 40 toward Bariloche, about 7 kilometers from the town center, the road reaches Puerto Manzano. It is a neighborhood of the town set around an inlet of Lake Nahuel Huapi, Bahía Manzano, where hotels, cabins and summer houses have gradually filled the space between the forest and the shore.

The outing itself is simple: walk down to the water and linger. From the shore you see wooden docks, motorboats and sailboats at anchor, and across the bay the forested slopes dropping straight into the lake. On windless mornings the surface turns into a mirror that repeats every hill; in the late afternoon, the low light turns treetops and water gold.

It helps to know which lake you are standing by. Nahuel Huapi covers about 557 km², sits 764 meters above sea level and has a recorded maximum depth of 464 meters. Its shoreline is deeply indented, with peninsulas and long arms, and Puerto Manzano is one of those corners where the lake reaches into the land.

The place has its own history, too. Around 1920, and for a few years, two Swiss immigrants ran a general store here, back when the area was reached mostly by boat. Today the mood is quiet and residential, a good spot for a short walk, a break by the water or a stop on the way back from other outings in the area.

Much of the shore is taken up by private properties and lodges, so use the public access points and respect private docks. The reward is the same from any spot: the hush of the forest, the soft hum of boats and the lake opening out toward the mountains.

• Tour type: Sightseeing and leisure
• Difficulty level: Easy
• Tip: Go early in the morning or at sunset, when the water tends to be calmer and the light is best for photos; bring a warm layer, since it cools down quickly by the lake.