Nahuel Huapi Lake Catamaran Cruise to Victoria Island & Arrayán Forest

Set sail for an hour-long ride on beautiful Nahuel Huapi Lake – located within Nahuel Huapi National Park – and admire the scenic views from every angle as you enjoy a lunch break aboard the boat (available for purchase or bring your own).

First, head to Victoria Island, the largest island on Nahuel Huapi Lake, and disembark at Puerto Anchorena. Enjoy a guided walk along several trails through the lush coniferous forest; your guide will show you a variety of trees – both native and introduced – including sequoias, birches, firs, aromos and pines. If you visit during summer months, dip into the lake at Toro Beach if you’d like, or take the chair lift up Cerro Bella Vista (Bella Vista Hill), situated 2,950 feet (900 meters) above sea level and flanked by enormous coihue and cypress trees. Enjoy panoramic views of Victoria Island and magnificent Nahuel Huapi Lake, followed by a break at an island snack bar (own expense).

Next, disembark at Quetrihué Peninsula for a guided walk through the arrayán forest in Los Arrayanes National Park – a unique forest growing on the southern tip of the peninsula. A narrow isthmus to the mainland, in which the picturesque town of Villa Angostura resides, joins 2,470 acres (1,000 hectares) that comprise the Quetrihué Peninsula – the only place in the world where the arrayáns grow into full-sized trees. Stroll along 2,000 feet (600 meters) of walkway and admire the singular beauty of the hundred-year-old arrayán trees, whose cinnamon-colored bark is cold to the touch and peels off in flakes, giving the trunk its unique appearance. Depending on the season, keep an eye out for their white flowers and pleasant-tasting purple fruit, popular in Argentina and Chile. Your guide will point out a small cabin built in the middle of the forest, where you might also glimpse the pudú (a miniature species of South American deer) that inhabit the area. The world’s smallest deer, they are said to have inspired the famous Walt Disney character Bambi.