CROSSING TO CHILE FROM BARILOCHE

BY THE CARDENAL A. SAMORE PASS
If travellers want to cross the border with Chile, all they have to do is take a programmed tour. On this trip they will have the opportunity to go across the fascinating Nahuel Huapi National Park in Argentina, and Puyehue National Park in Chile as well as ride along this three beautiful Lakes: Nahuel Huapi, Espejo and Puyehue.

The expedition starts in Villa La Angostura, where Nahuel Huapi's Ultima Esperanza arm is skirted. At km 11 (NR Nº 231), you turn right to get to a natural balcony on Lake Espejo. Here there is a small but comfortable beach resort featuring a private beach, a hotel and water sports.

If you go around the hill, at km 24 there is a low valley and 2 kms later Puyehue frontier post is found. After a quick Customs check, you follow along the route and at km 31 come to the meeting point of Blanco and Pereyra Rivers, where there is an impressive lenga wood.

At km 43 you reach Cardenal A. Samore International Pass, an almost horizontal volcanic sand pass, 1,314 m a s l. The border is marked with a small image of "Virgen de la Paz" (Our Lady of Peace).

If you continue all along the road to Chile, you will go down through lenga woods. Some kms ahead you will enconter the Customs post called "Complejo Aduanero Los Pajaritos" in the middle of the native forest, where there is a café, and other amenities. Further on, you will find Puyehue thermal waters, featuring a hotel, as well as Ñique Hotel, very close to Lake Puyehue.

In order to get to Osorno, an important tourist center in Chile, you have to go round the Lake for about 23 km and then travel 43 km across the flat valley.

ACROSS THE LAKES
The tour starts at Puerto Pañuelo, where you get aboard to sail across Lake Nahuel Huapi up to the Blest arm of the Lake. At Puerto Blest you leave the boat and may have lunch if you wish. Then, a bus will carry you to Puerto Alegre (a short trip) and once again you will set sail on a catamaran through the greenish waters of Lake Frías to reach Puerto Frias 20 minutes later.

Here you will do a quick Customs check and keep on travelling by bus. At 976 m a s l, surrounded by abundant vegetation, you arrive at Peulla, at around 5 pm. When you have finished the Customs check on the Chilean side, you will be directed to Peulla Hotel.

This German-style hotel built of local wood offers every facility. After checking in, you will have some free time to go for a stroll around the place and get to the "Cascada Velo de la Novia" (Bride's Veil Cascade), where you will enjoy the landscape and commune with the magical beauty of the place.

After taking breakfast on the second day, you will be delivered by bus to Puerto Peulla, where you will embark again and sail across Todos los Santos Lake, also known as Lake Esmeralda. After 2 hours you will arrive to Petrohué.

Petrohué is a town placed on the slopes of the Osorno volcano, by the Lake shore. Travellers will have lunch here and visit the world famous Petrohué Waterfalls. Here you can also visit a museum devoted to volcano topography. The trip continues by bus, bordering a great part of Lake Llanquihue, one of the biggest Lakes in South America. Then, you access to Puerto Varas, the "City of Roses" and 17 kms ahead, along the Pan-American Highway, you arrive to Puerto Montt. If you have to get back to San Carlos de Bariloche you may take a regular bus or plane.