JUNIN DE LOS ANDES

Departmental head city of Huiliches, in the province of Neuquen , Junín de los Andes was founded on February 15, 1883 by Sergeant Miguel Vidal, on the banks of the Chimehuin River. Early in its history, it was a fortress used by the army in its campaign against the natives, for which reason it was declared to be a historic building in 1943. A monolith at the spot remembers both its foundation and the Andes Campaign.

This is the oldest village in the province, and is 385 km southwest from the provincial capital. A typical mountain toen, it combines peace and calm, tradition and mountain sports, in a privileged natural setting. With its roughly 9,000 inhabitants, Junín defends the attitude of respect for nature shared by its original native inhabitants.

Junín de Los Andes provides a vast range of facilities, such as hotels, bungalows and camping grounds, as well as the chance of tasting delicious regional food.

Within the luxuriant woods, resides a rich fauna consisting of red deer, foxes, wild boars, hares and otters that will suddenly appear, or may easily be discovered by eager naturalists.

A variety of tours takes the visitor to Paimún, Curruhé Grande and Chico lakes, as well as Termas de Epulafquen, El Escorial and Hueyeltue Valley, where long distance skiing is practiced during the winter months.

The arresting Lanín volcano, 3,776 masl, with its conical shape, defies both local and foreign mountaineers. Making it to the summit by the north or south face is a risky challenge even for experts. The catamaran excursion on Huechulafquen and Epulafquen crystalline lakes, with transparently green and glassy waters promises to be worthwhile.

Considered to be one of Neuquen 's most important tourist centers, Junín de los Andes proudly boasts of being the province's first city, founded on February 15, 1883, as a fortress to be used on a forgettable Indian Desert Campaign. It is known as the "trout capital of Argentina" and is a forceful venue for all fishing and hunting enthusiasts. In its surroundings one can obtain major game trophies such as red deer and European wild boar, while the fly-fishing on the mouth of the Chimehuín is famous. Travelers can blissfully return from a day's fishing there with their oversized trout and pejerrey tucked under their arms. Junín is the right choice spot for those that shun "mass tourism" thanks to its peace and quiet. It is a good spot to stay for those who which to practice winter sports in the nearby Chapelco.

A few km away lays the entrance to LANIN NATIONAL PARK, with its area of 379,000 hectares, created to protect the pehuen forests and the Andean and Patagonian nature. The National Park is an attraction itself and, based in Junín de los Andes, one can take different excursions within it.

In Lanín National Park, you can go to places such as Tromen, Huechulafquen, Paimún, Curruhue Grande and Curruhue Chico, Verde, and Escorial lakes, the Achen Ñiyeu volcano, or you can go to Termas de Epulafquen or the valley of Hueyelthué - a place to practice long-distance skiing during the winter months, or lastly, go on a visit to Lanín Volcano (3,776 masl), that looks over the whole countryside and is continually being challenged on its northern face (access from Tromen) or the southern one (access from lake Paimún).

ADVENTURE TOURISM
Junín offers an assortment of opportunities to practice so-called "action and sporting tourism".

SPORT FISHING
In its three modes: spinning, fly casting and trolling, may be practiced from mid-November to the end of May in Junín de los Andes. Exotic species such as rainbow and brown trout, fontinalis and salmon make fishing one of the great attractions of Junin de los Andes. Other recreational activities such as mountaineering, horse riding, trekking, water rafting and boating, big and small game hunting, long-distance skiing and lake navigation expeditions are included in the recreational offer. There is a wide offer of lodgings, including hotels, inns and bungalows, as well as excellent gastronomy with superb regional cuisine (smoked and pickled trout, venison and boar meat are among the specialties). A special advantage is Junín de los Andes's closeness to other important tourism centers in the "Corredor de los Lagos" (Lake Belt) and Chile through the Mamuil Malal pass, which is open during daytime, enabling half-day and full-day excursions.
Trout fishermen have their paradise in the superb possibilities offered by the famous fishing areas here: Malleo, Chimehuin, Quilquihue, Aluminé and Collon Cura rivers, and Curruhue Grande, Paimún and Epulafquen lakes.

HUNTING
Huntsmen can access private big game preserves (deer and wild boar) or small game preserves (hares, ducks and copetonas), within the provincial area. Consult at Nahuel Mapi refuge. Tel.: 27220.

TREKKING
Trekking and mountaineering fans have ideal options on the slopes of Lanín Volcano (3,776 m), being able to stay overnight in three different refuges: Coronel Bediya (2,450 m), Beba Alvarez, belonging to the Club Andino de Junín de los Andes (2,600 m) and the new refuge RIM 26, located on the Mule Track (2,350 masl)
Finally, nautical sports fans can have fun doing kayaking and rafting on the roaring waters of the Chimehuin and Aluminé.