JUNIN DE LOS ANDES

PLACES OF INTEREST

Lake Huechulafquen Circuit - Puerto Canoa - Lake Paimún

Lake Huechulafquen
From Junín de los Andes you go 4 km along National Route N° 234, to reach Provincial Route N° 61 that is graveled and taken care of, accompanying the river Chimehuín northwestwards on its left side.

After doing some 9 km, you will get to the entry gate of CEAN (Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Neuquen ). Its timetable for the public is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays only. This is a center for animal research centred on avoiding negative impact to the environments inhabited by different species.

Progressing the excursion, 22 km from Junín de los Andes one reaches to the eastern tip of Huechulafquen lake and the entrance to Lanín National Park, where one can see the "Boca del Río Chimehuín" (Mouth of the Chimehuín River) that is a prime attraction, world famous as one of the best spots for fly-casting.

Another place to visit in the Huechulafquen ("needlepoint lake", translated) area is the softly undulating Hueyelthue valley, idyllic for long-distance skiing, and accessible on foot or on horseback. Located southwest of Lanín volcano, it contains the stream with the same name, which after receiving waters from its tributary, San Germán, is called Arroyo Blanco, pouring its contents into lake Huechulafquén.

On the northern bank lays the Raquithue (mandola place) Mapuche commune that goes from the Las Coloradas sector to the Raquithue stream. This community belongs to the Cañicul clan.

On the northern and southern lake shores there are also Cañicul settlements, including other native settlers in this area, notably the Paillalafquen, Antín, Figueroa and Barriga families.

On the north shore of Lake Huechulafquen there are many gratis camping grounds that are well signposted, with organized facilities, including barbecues and a thatched eating area where one can have a typical local meal. There are also three hostels that stay open during the fishing season, one of which has a fish restaurant.

The lake is delightfully framed by the Andean massif, including the arresting Lanín volcano.

Puerto Canoa
56 km from Junín de los Andes lies this port, which is the starting point of an educational interpreted circuit called "The Forest", which involves an average walk of 30 minutes through the different species of local flora and their stages of maturity. In Puerto Canoa there is another (daytime) camping ground.
Several Mapuche families have settled here.
The José Julián catamaran leaves from the jetty on excursions to two local lakes: Huechulafquen and Epulafquen.
From Puerto Canoa one can go horse riding or trekking to the Lanín volcano base.

Lake Paimun
From Puerto Canoa, 3 km further on, along Provincial Route N° 61, you will see the imposing Paimún lake, in the La Unión area, a narrow strip of tranquil water joining the lakes Huechulafquen and Paimún. The latter is a 16 km2 lake bordered by snow-capped peaks and leafy forests, occupied by a rich fauna of red deer, foxes, wild boar, hares, otters, etc.
Its shore on the north side is flat, and has fine volcanic sands, ideal for sunbathing, while the eastern shore is cliff-lined.

Mapuche Circuit
First you have to arrive to Aluminé, along Provincial Route Nº 23, going over the Malleo River bridge. From this fork we can reach the Mamuil Malal international mountain pass, and go eastwards to the Painefilú Mapuche Community. The roadway limits the Malleo River, noted for its good fishing.
The local Mapuche native population offers camping facilities, local crafts, fried cakes, home-baked bread and meals of roast kid. You can also practice horse riding and fishing, all in a wild beautiful setting. A good reference point to admire the natural beauty spots is the confluence of the Malleo and Aluminé Rivers, ideal for fishing, river navigation and chatting with the local Mapuche residents.

Lanin Volcano - Lake Tromen Circuit - International Mamuil Malal Pass - Chile
This circuit goes northwest of Junín de los Andes, after jacketing 22 km along Route Nº 234 and Provincial Routes Nº 23 and 60, towards the international pass. On the way, there are two access points to Mapuche communities: Atreico and Chiquilihuín; the first at 23 and the second at 40 km approximately from Junín de los Andes. In these communities you can talk to local craftsmen who mostly work with wood and wool. Likewise, on both sides of Provincial Route Nº 60 there are different estancias and tourists can stay at two inns, one on the bank of the Malleo river, and the other on the shore of Tromen lake, both of these, favorite fishing spots.

Lake Tromen
At a distance of 45 km from Junín de los Andes you can enter Lanín National Park, Tromen area, Río Turbio area, where there is a protected forest of pehuenes (araucarias araucanas), as well as the other flora and fauna species and Tromen lake, which is highly articulated, presenting 5 arms: northwards the Añihueraqui arm, to the east the Huaca-Mamuil arm, to the south the Malleo arm and to the west two arms pointing in a northwesterly direction.
With fjord-type coasts and volcanic sand beaches, this lake has perhaps the choppiest waters of all the Neuquen lakes. Nearby leys the beginning of the best ascent trail to Lanín. Moreover, through the Tromen pass it is possible to get to the Chilean city of Villarrica. Doing all this can take the traveler more than a day's trip, so it is a good idea to spend the night in Junín or at some lakeside inn.
The lake empties itself into the Malleo River on the southwest. Its beaches are volcanic sand and stone pebbles, and its waters are greenishly transparent with strong wave activity. However, the central point of the landscape and the place offering the most exciting experiences is undoubtedly the Lanín volcano, according to skilled mountaineers.

When you get to this border center, you can do the following activities:

• Camping on authorized areas.
• Trekking (Tromen vantage point; the base of the volcano, the lodges, etc.)
• Ascents to the summit of the volcano (with all the required gear and prior authority from the local park ranger).
• Sport fishing in Tromen lake or Malleo river, or simply admiring the spectacular landscape offered by Lanín volcano. Total trip to Lake Tromen and back: 136 km.

Lake Curruhue Tourist Circuit
Having traveled 31 km from Junín de los Andes, you arrive to Curruhue Chico lake, and 5 km further on to Curruhue Grande lake, where you will find a place to camp. The landscape around both the lakes is mountainous, with substantial forests of ñire, roble, raulí, lenga and cypress, among others. Its waters are transparent and greenish in color, with small waves caused by west and southwest winds. You can visit a thousand-year-old forest of araucaria (pehuén), with specimens that are around 3,000 years old. The total excursion distance, from Junín de los Andes there and back, is almost 90 km.

Continuing the circuit, 55 km from Junín and northwest of Curruhue Grande lake, you access to Verde Lagoon, featuring low shores and widespread volcanic sand beaches; there is a wilderness camping ground here, and you can see a questioning rock formation known as El Escorial.

El Escorial: This is a lava configuration produced by the Huilquihué volcano, pouring its contents into a primeval glacier valley. The surface of the lava is deeply grooved and shows three notable variants, one called "paving-stone lava", another one showing large areas of loose slag looking very much like ploughed fields, and finally a higgledy-piggledy arrangement of huge lava rocks, called "block-type lava".
El Escorial covers a 5 km2 plane area. Its length is about 7.5 km, with a maximum width of 2.5 km and a minimum of 110 m. This formation goes to the border of Lake Epulafquen, which empties its entrails, as does Lake Paimún, into Lake Huechulafquen. This magically concealed lake also drinks the waters of Lake Carilafquen.
Total distance of the circuit round trip from Junín de los Andes; 110 km.

Epulafquen Thermal Waters
You get to the Lahuen or Epulafquen Thermal Springs following Provincial Route Nº 62 at 64 km from Junín de los Andes. For those wanting to take pleasure in a warm dip there are rudimentary installations at the site, and the lodging mode is an organized camping ground. The thermal springs are situated in a tiny transversal glacial valley with humid and muddy soil, that contains the Oconi river, a tributary of lake Carilafquen (the green lake) and the thermal spring stream, that feeds the Oconi, going through an area of mallín in a south-north direction.
22 hydro-thermal vents have been found in an area of around 5 hectares.
The vents produce almost 2-meter-diameter circular sinkholes (approx). They are grouped in two clusters, on both sides of the Oconi River.

Carirriñe International Pass:
A short way from the springs, and along Route Nº 62, one arrives to the Carirriñe (green cane) International Pass, used only in summer. The closest Chilean cities are: Liquiñe, Coñaripe and Lican Ray.
The distance from Junín de los Andes (round trip) is: 132 km.

GEAR REQUIRED

Warm clothing, gloves and boots

Spikes

Piolet

Sunglasses

Energy food

First aid kit

Torch (flashlight)

Heater

Sleeping bag

EVENTS AND FESTIVE OCCASIONS IN JUNIN DE LOS ANDES
The Week of Aboriginal Crafts, together with the Provincial Stallholder's Festival and the Rural (Farming) Show are the events that draw the attention of visiting tourists.

Here you may see a wide range of crafts in wood, fabrics and woven items, musical instruments and other items displayed as though they were in a trade fair.

Musical shows and rodeos are also held in Junin.

Another popular religious event is the anniversary of the beatification of Laura Vicuña (1891-1904), who is faithfully worshipped by the local residents.