Where to Go on Summer Holidays in Patagonia

Planning your getaway? We list the best places to go on summer holidays in Patagonia. Don’t miss them!

Surely you are looking forward to the long-awaited summer holidays and what better than doing it in complete harmony with nature. Patagonia Argentina offers that ideal mix of relaxation, outdoor activities, incredible landscapes and tranquility.

Although the possibilities are endless, either on the Andes or the Argentinean sea side, we have prepared a list of the best places to go on holidays in Patagonia in summer. Let’s discover them!

1. Villa Pehuenia, pure nature

This small town nestled between the Aluminé and Moquehue lakes is ideal for complete relaxation. The peace you breathe in the place is absolute, just take a walk along one of the two lakes to feel completely amazed by the turquoise water, the cypress forests and the mountains in the background.

In addition, the activities There are several activities to do in the area: mountain biking, rafting on the Aluminé River, and trekking to the summit of the extinct Batea Mahuida volcano. You will be able to see a lagoon and even the high snow-capped mountains of the Cordillera, and the Lanin volcano if the weather allows it.

2. Bariloche, a Patagonian classic

Bariloche is one of the great cities of Patagonia. There are many reasons to visit it in summer: there are viewpoints such as Catedral Hill, Otto or Campanario which can be accessed by chairlift, many excursions that navigate the Nahuel Huapi Lake, trekking for all tastes and nearby lakes.

📷 Book here the tour to Victoria Island and Arrayanes Forest from Bariloche. Includes: transfers and guide.

A stroll through the city is also the perfect excuse to taste artisanal chocolate, beer and regional gastronomy. Do not forget to visit the Civic Center with its typical stone and wood architecture. Finally, touring the small circuit by car or excursion allows you to contemplate the fabulous Llao Llao hotel, viewpoints over the lake and visit the mythical town of Colonia Suiza.

📷 Book here the excursion to Circuito Chico.

🔝 Check out these articles about things to do in Bariloche in summer and the best options where to stay in Bariloche.

3. The charm of San Martín de los Andes

On the shore of Lake Lacar, San Martin de los Andes is one of the perfect destinations for a summer holidays in Patagonia. The city of low houses built in stone and wood enchants everyone from beginning to end. Among its attractions are the Bandurrias and Arrayanes viewpoints, the lakeside beaches where you can swim in summer and the Chapelco mountain.

Leaving the city, the mythical route of the 7 lakes takes you for 100 kilometers along the shores of seven lakes until you reach the town of Villa La Angostura. It is a scenic road where it is worth stopping at each of the lakes, enjoy nature and take lots of pictures.

📷 Book here the tour along the route of the 7 lakes. Includes: transfers and guide. You can also get to know the city with this free tour around San Martín de los Andes.

Check out these articles on things to do in San Martin de los Andes and where to stay in San Martin de los Andes.

4. Villa Traful, an ideal destination for a summer holidays in Patagonia

Accessible by a gravel road along Lake Traful, the small village is ideal for those who want to avoid the large crowds of tourists. Its main attraction is the submerged forest, where a large number of trees sank into the lake thanks to the movement of tectonic plates, forming this natural wonder that can be visited by boat and even diving.

Villa Traful is also a destination for trekking through the surrounding hills and to see the lake from above. The Mirador del Nazo trail, of low physical difficulty, allows you to contemplate the landscape of lakes and mountains from above. You can also visit beautiful waterfalls surrounded by forests such as the Coa Co, Blanco and Co Lemu waterfalls.

5. Villa La Angostura and the Arrayanes Forest

On the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi and close to Bariloche, Villa La Angostura offers unique places to visit in Patagonia such as the myrtle forest on the Quetrihué peninsula, which can be accessed by boat or by trekking through the forest. These trees are characterized by their cinnamon-colored trunks and their ability to blend in with other species of the Patagonian forest.

If you want to cool off in the waters of Lake Nahuel Huapi, the beaches of Bahía Mansa or Bahía Brava are perfect. A tour of the city should not miss Los Arrayanes Avenue with its chocolate shops, restaurants, shops and artisan ice cream parlors and Puerto Manzano, a small bay full of hotels and where there are also beaches. Villa La Angostura is the beginning or end of the route of the 7 lakes, which we explained above in the section on San Martín de los Andes.

📷 Book here the tour to visit Villa la Angostura and Villa Traful from Bariloche.

🔝 Check out these articles about things to do in Villa La Angostura and the best places to stay in Villa La Angostura.

6. El Bolsón and Lake Puelo

At 120 kilometers from Bariloche along Route 40, El Bolsón emerged as a small redoubt surrounded by Patagonian forests where many artisans settled. Currently, it maintains those visible vestiges is its handicraft market located in the main square, but also has natural beauties that surround it as the Piltriquitron hill with its carved forest, the Indian head viewpoint and the imposing Blue River.

20 kilometers from El Bolsón, Lago Puelo National Park is one of the places worth visiting if you are vacationing in Patagonia. In this area you can take lake excursions to the Chilean border, hike around the lake or just sit on the shore and be amazed by the backdrop of the high mountains that surround it.

🔝 Looking for more places to see? Check out this article about things to do in and around El Bolsón.

7. Esquel and Trevelin and Los Alerces Park

Esquel and La Trochita are synonymous. The famous 75 cm wide narrow gauge train, the only one in the world in operation, travels 20 kilometers from Esquel station to the town of Nahuel Pan in a tourist route that takes you back to the past.

But not only Esquel is the Trochita. Los Alerces National Park, located a few kilometers away, offers incredible landscapes with Lake Futalaufquen and this tree species as the protagonist. There are many trails within the park and you can even drive along the lake on a gravel road.

Also close to the city there are three attractions that you can not miss on vacation in Patagonia in summer: Trevelin and its Welsh heritage, the Futaleufú Hydroelectric Complex and the famous ice tunnels on La Torta hill, the latter can only be visited during the month of January and early February.

📷 Book here the tour to Los Alerces National Park and the excursion to Trevelin and Futaleufu from Esquel. Includes: transfers and guide.

🔝 Check out this article about things to do in Esquel, Trevelín and Los Alerces Park.

8. El Chaltén, the national capital of trekking

Close to the town of El Calafate and on the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, El Chaltén is the national capital of trekking and there is no shortage of reasons for this. The hiking trails are the habitués of the place, bordering lagoons and high hills such as Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.

Among the most renowned treks are Los Tres Lagoon, Cerro Torre viewpoint, Chorillo del Salto, Lago del Desierto and Loma del Pliegue Tumbado. Some require considerable physical effort but many are suitable even for children. If you don’t dare to trek, there are many easily accessible viewpoints with fabulous views.

📷 Book here some of the trekking to do in El Chaltén. Guide included.

🔝 Planning trekking? Check out this article with the best trekking to do in El Chaltén.

9. El Calafate and the glaciers

To name El Calafate is to say Perito Moreno Glacier. This imposing ice wall on Lake Argentino is one of the tourist icons of the country that can be seen from the wooden walkways, by boat on the lake and even, during the summer, you can walk on the ice, a fascinating adventure.

But El Calafate also has other attractions such as navigation through Los Glaciares National Park to see the Upsala, Spegazzini and Onelli glaciers and see huge ice floes floating. Apart from the glaciers, there are many museums in the center of the city and you can visit Patagonian ranches to taste regional gastronomy.

📷 Book here the tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier to observe the imposing mass of ice and the boat ride through Los Glaciares National Park.

🔝 Check out this article on things to do and how to get to the Perito Moreno Glacier. We also have recommendations on where to stay in El Calafate.

10. Ushuaia, the end of the world

The southernmost city in Argentina and on the shores of the Beagle Channel is another perfect place for a summer vacation in Patagonia. It is at this time of the year that the navigation through the channel towards Les Eclaireurs lighthouse, known as the end of the world, and Martillo Island to see penguins is most enjoyable.

And since everything has to do with the End of the WorldIn the surroundings of Ushuaia you can visit the post office of the End of the World inside the Tierra del Fuego National Park, the prison at the end of the World and the End of the World train, which connected the prison with the national park. In addition, there are outdoor activities such as kayaking and trekking to lakes and hills.

📷 Book here the navigation through the Beagle Channel to Les Éclaireurs lighthouse and the visit to the Tierra del Fuego National Park. Transfer and guide included.

🔝 Looking for more ideas? Check out this article on things to do in Ushuaia and recommendations on where to stay in Ushuaia.

11. Puerto Madryn and Peninsula Valdes

On the eastern side of the country, the beaches of Patagonia Argentina attract many tourists in summer. Puerto Madryn is an example of this, and although in the middle of the summer season you cannot see whales, there are other places of interest near the city such as Peninsula Valdes to see penguins, sea lions, rheas and guanacos. The promenade in the center of the city is another of the highlights, along with the extensive stone beaches in the outskirts such as El Doradillo or Paraná beach.

In the surroundings, it is worth a trip to Trelew and its impressive Paleontological Museum, ideal to go with children, and the small town of Gaiman with its Welsh tea houses. Finally, summer is the perfect time to go to the Punta Tombo reserve to see the Magellanic penguins up close.

📷 Book here the tour to Punta Tombo and the tour to Gaiman and the Paleontological Museum of Trelew. Both depart from Puerto Madryn. Includes: transfers and guide.

🔝 Looking for more places to see in the surrounding area? Check out this article about things to do in Puerto Madryn.

12. Las Grutas, a beach to go on holidays in Patagonia during the summer.

Las Grutas has become one of the most popular summer resortsand a favorite beach resort in Patagonia. The mixture of high cliffs, the difference in tides during the day that leave natural pools and the ideal water temperature made it the favorite of many Argentines.

Although most people only go to enjoy the sun and the beach, there are several excursions to do in the surroundings: the Gualicho salt flats , the Valcheta petrified forest, the Piedras Coloradas spa, dolphin, penguin and seabird watching from a boat, and diving.

📷 Book here the Las Grutas tour and snorkel in Punta Perdices, a fascinating adventure. Transfers and guide included.

🔝 There are many places to visit in Las Grutas besides the beach. Therefore, we made an article about things to do in Las Grutas.

13. Other beaches in Patagonia Argentina

The coastal geography of the Argentinean Patagonia on its eastern side generates a large number of extensive and solitary beaches that stretch from the north of the province of Río Negro to the south of the province of Chubut.

In addition to the already mentioned Puerto Madryn and Las Grutas, we can mention the quiet Playas Doradas near Sierra Grande and Playa Unión near Rawson. Further south and not so much for swimming but rather for fishing and watching marine fauna, there is Camarones beach and Caleta Olivia, without forgetting the coquettish Rada Tilly in the vicinity of Comodoro Rivadavia.

📷 Book here the tour to visit Camarones from Comodoro Rivadavia.

The coasts of the Argentinean sea offer different types of beaches. You can learn more in our article about the best beaches in Patagonia Argentina.