A well-marked trail amidst the changing forest and large rocky formations leads to panoramic points of high visual value.
Panoramic points are usually highly appreciated by those who admire beauty and magnitude from an elevated spot. On Quetrihué Peninsula, very close to the port of Villa La Angostura, three viewpoints were waiting for us. After our mild effort, they offered a splendid view of Lake Nahuel Huapi and the city.
We started hiking at the area from where catamarans leave towards Victoria Island and the Myrtle-Tree Forest. A huge wooden arch showed us the beginning of the trail that after 12 kilometers reaches Arrayanes National Park. It may be covered either on foot or by bike.
But this time we would cover only a part of the circuit. Two of the viewpoints, located on Bahía Mansa, would show us part of the residential area of Villa La Angostura. The third one featured Bahía Brava and its beach.
Lake Nahuel HuapiSupported by a wooden railA huge wall of rockWe set out early in the morning and perceived the mist that usually covers the water body. Shortly afterwards, that moist layer rose in the shape of an almost transparent cloud that seemed to touch us. The surface of the lake was dead calm as there was no wind.
Once in a while, some duck would cross the lake surface and leave a soft wake visible from the top. This added some magic to the tour which required a dose of effort at the beginning.
The trail was supported by a wooden rail on the lake’s side and a huge wall of rock right opposite. It was broad and comfortable and there were some extra steps to secure our pace. We took some deep breaths to let the new air into our lungs.
As we reached the first viewpoint, we fulfilled our wish to see the village from the heights. We spotted the old pier with its boats and a large green blanket with colorful spots, where forest and buildings got mingled.
In front, the enigmatic Lake Nahuel Huapi with its islands here and there. Above, Bayo Hill with its foothills.
We went on without haste and taking several shots to immortalize the details before our sight, for instance: El Messidor, a French-style castle and official residence of the government of the Province of Neuquén, seen in a brochure.
Thanks to a sign established by the national park authorities, we discovered that there was a very narrow thick trail that led to the other side of the peninsula and, as a result, to the viewpoint on Bahía Brava. As we took it, we had the chance to enjoy the Patagonian forest from the inside.
We appreciated the tall trees, some shrubs with flowers and the sound of the branches rocking in the wind. We were grateful for that fresh air, as the hike in the sunshine had forced us to take off our coats and was already making our cheeks red.
A little farther ahead, we could see a light at the end of the trail. It was the lake shore again, this time on Brava Beach. The last stretch was keeping a surprise for us: an important slope. We gave some extra strength to our legs to reach the wooden observation deck.
You Climb, You Get There
We had reached the windiest of the three viewpoints, the one getting the winds from the West.
We stayed there for a few minutes beholding everything in front of us. We were speechless, thinking that the small effort we had made had been well rewarded.
A sign showed us each of the geographical features before our eyes. We could clearly make out the huge mountains, the forests and several islands and arms in Lake Nahuel Huapi.
We went down carefully choosing our steps. “Hi! How nice! Is it a long way to the viewpoint?”, some German guys asked enthusiastically in our language.
With our eyes on the lake, we saw the different shades in the water according to depth. Below, we could hardly see a group of people walking in a single file to the catamaran that would take them down on a lake tour. In the meantime, we exchanged the silence of the forest for the murmur of the port, as we walked on the plain soil again.
