Ruta de los 7 Lagos: Epic Road Trip to the 7 Lakes in Patagonia

If you’re looking for a grand adventure in Patagonia, then look no further than the Ruta de los 7 Lagos. Rent a car and dive into the nature around Bariloche.

One of Argentina’s best road trips is the Ruta de los 7 Lagos in Patagonia. It sits along the famous Ruta 40 that runs the entire length of Argentina. The section between Villa La Angostura and San Martin de los Andes is particularly gorgeous. This is one of the best things to do in Patagonia.

If you’re in Bariloche, taking this trip is an activity worth doing. I rented a car in Bariloche and did a road trip along the Ruta de los 7 Lagos in 48 hours. In this blog post, I’ll teach you how to do the same including how to rent a car in Bariloche, how many days you need, where to stay in San Martin de los Andes, etc.

The official 7 Lakes

Officially, there are seven lakes along this route. However, there are several more stops just off the main road, from extra lakes to waterfalls and hikes. Puerto Madryn is the best place to see wildlife, but this area around Bariloche has stunning landscapes in Patagonia.

These are the main 7 lakes:

1. Lago Nahuel Huapi

2. Lago Correntoso

3. Lago Espejo Grande

4. Lago Escondido

5. Lago Villarino

6. Lago Falkner

7. Lago Machónico

The ‘extra’ stops along this route

There are several other stops you can make on this trip. Make sure to mark all of these on your map between Bariloche and San Martin de los Andes:

Map of the Ruta de los 7 Lagos

Going to Argentina soon? Get Ready at a glance:

Get travel medical insurance with SafetyWing.
Book your stay with Booking.com.
Check Flights with Skyscanner or Hopper.
Rent a car with RentalCars.com or Discover Cars.
Download the Airalo app and get an Argentine eSIM.
Purchase the Ultimate Buenos Aires guidebook.
See all my Argentina guides on the Thatch app.
Take a tour with GetYourGuide or Viator.
Have a 1:1 consultation with me in advance!

How to see the Ruta de los 7 Lagos

There are two main ways to go about seeing the lakes: booking a tour & renting a car. I opted for the car rental route.

Book a Tour for the Route of the 7 Lakes

If you prefer to see the Route of the 7 Lakes in a group tour, there are several options. The majority of these group tours last about 10 hours. They start and end in Bariloche with several stops along the way to San Martin de los Andes. You’ll have some time there before you turn around and back south.

Rent a Car from Bariloche

You can rent a car in advance online, or you can contact a local car rental company. If it is a busy season, I suggest renting in advance to avoid any last-minute issues. I prefer the site RentalCars.com as I’ve had positive experiences with them in the past.

In Bariloche, I used Rucaco Rental Cars, as it is in the center of town.
Rucaco whatsapp number: +54 9 2944 89 8934

If you have the time, I suggest renting a car for several days around Bariloche so that you can also visit the Circuito Chico and El Bolsón. Renting a car to fully see the area is one of the best things to do in Patagonia.

What it’s like to rent a car in Bariloche

If you want to rent a car, you’ll need to show your passport, driver’s license, and a valid credit card. You can still pay in cash at the counter, but you’ll need to show a credit card for security.

Each ‘day’ is a 24-hour period, so you’ll need to drop off the car the following day at the same time. I picked the car up at 2 pm on the first day, and dropped it off at 2 pm on the third day, for a total of 48 hours (2 full days).

You’ll also need to return the car with a full gas tank. There are several gas stations around Bariloche, so this shouldn’t present a problem. Also, gas tends to be more affordable in Patagonia than in the rest of Argentina.

The benefit of renting a car is that you can make as many stops as you want, for as long as possible. Many tours will stop only at the official 7 lakes, Cascada Villugnanco, and San Martin de los Andes. Many of the stops are only for a few minutes.

How Many Days for the Ruta de los Siete Lagos?

If you drive from Bariloche directly to San Martin de los Andes with no stops, it will take just over 3 hours. Therefore, a round trip will take 6 hours without stopping. Add a few more hours for stops. Add an hour for lunch. That brings you up to about 8-10 hours.

Technically, you could do this in one day. But do you really want a 10-hour day of rushing to fit everything in? My answer to that question was a resounding NO. But if you don’t mind the long day, if you’re crunched for time, or you only want to rent a car for half a day, then it is certainly possible.

Ruta de los 7 Lagos Itinerary

Needless to say, there are several options for arranging your time around this adventure. I chose to rent a car for 48 hours, over 3 days.

Day 1

We picked the car up at 2 pm in Bariloche. We then made our way up north with stops at:

• Villa La Angostura
• Lago Nahuel Huapi viewpoints
• Mirador Inalco
• Playa Lago Espejo
• Lago Correntoso

After those stops, we headed directly to San Martin de los Andes to check into our accommodation and go to dinner.

Day 2

Our second day was dedicated to seeing the area around San Martin de los Andes. We hiked at Cerro Colorado, cooled off at Playa Yuco, and had dinner at a hip indoor food market back in San Martin de los Andes. Hiking in this area is not exactly like hiking in El Chalten, but you can find some pretty great spots!

Day 3

We got up early to head back south, and stopped at all the places we missed on the way up:

• Lago Machónico
• Lago Hermoso
• Cascada Villugnanco
• Lago Falkner
• Lago Villarino
• Lago Escondido
• Lago Espejo Chico
• Puerto La Angostura

We made it back to Bariloche just in time to drop off the car again by 2 pm.

My Thoughts on the 48-hour 7 Lagos Itinerary

Personally, this amount of time worked for me. I saw what I wanted to see. If you aren’t interested in the area around San Martin de los Andes, you can easily complete the route in two days: one day up, one night in San Martin, and one day down.

If you have more time and want to see more, of course, your itinerary can be easily expanded. There are campsites all along the route of the seven lakes. You can also spend time north of San Martin de los Andes visiting other lakes, such as Lago Lolog and the town of Junin de los Andes.

Where to stay in San Martin de los Andes

A-Frame Cabin

I stayed just outside of San Martin in a shared A-frame cabin. It was quiet, cozy, and affordable. There was a shared kitchen.

Stay in the A-frame cabin in San Martin De los Andes

Apart Hotel Orilla Mansa by Visionnaire

These are cozy hotel apartments right in the center of town with a great view of the lake. Breakfast is included.

Book NOW and stay in this beautiful apartment with lakefront views.

Other suggested places to stay in San Martin de los Andes

• Cabañas Lago Soñado de los Andes
• Puerto Lacar Lodge SMARG
• Cabaña frente al lago
• Alhue Patagonia Hostel

What’s the best time to visit Patagonia?

The answer to this question depends entirely on what you want to see. It is beautiful all year, but it changes dramatically depending on the season. The high seasons for the area are winter and summer.

Regardless of the season, however, I suggest booking your accommodations in advance because they fill up very quickly.

The 4 Seasons in Patagonia

In Argentina’s winter (July and August), there will be snow. This area is famous for skiing, and you’ll see several ski resorts along the route, and just outside Bariloche. Lots of people come to the area in these months for winter sports. You should take more precautions and drive slower during this period. However, snow-covered lakes are also stunning.

In Argentina’s summer (January and February), you’ll find the most tourists. Of course, seeing the surrounding nature will be stunning, though you might run into more cars on the road and more people at all the stops. The weather will also be much warmer, so you can take advantage of the heat and jump into the lakes to cool off.

Shoulder seasons are generally the best time to travel, especially in Argentina. You’ll find fewer people and more affordable prices.

Fall in Argentina (March, April, and May) is a nice time to visit, but the weather will definitely be getting cooler down south. However, you will also be treated to amazing colors as the leaves begin to change.

Spring in Argentina (November and December) is a perfect time to visit the area. It’s warm during the day, but chilly at night. There are fewer people around, and prices have not yet soared for accommodation.

If you like old classic cars, you may consider planning your trip around the 1000 Millas. This occurs every spring (in November) and is a classic car race of 1000 miles around Patagonia. I’m not so into cars, but it was very cool to see all the old cars passing us by along the route.

Is the Route of the 7 Lakes trip worth it?

Yes, 100 times yes. Patagonia is incredibly beautiful, but the Ruta de los 7 Lagos is one step up. Every view will astound you, every lake will take your breath away, and you’ll be overwhelmed by the number of photos you’ll have by the end.

Is Patagonia Safe?

Yes, Patagonia is very safe. There were more tourists in this area of Argentina than I have seen in other cities. I never felt unsafe in any part of Patagonia that I visited including Bariloche, El Bolsón, El Calafate, El Chalten, Ushuaia, or Puerto Madryn.

The most important things to be aware of when traveling in Patagonia are in regard to nature, isolation, and infrastructure (or lack thereof). There are fewer gas stations down here, so make sure you fill up your tank as much as possible. Because of the dirt roads, it is also more possible to get a flat tire, so make sure you have a spare.

Final Thoughts on the Ruta de los 7 Lagos

I spent two weeks around Bariloche, and driving the route of the seven lakes was easily one of my favorite activities. Whenever you decide to take this trip, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. I hope this guide to the 7 Lagos has helped you to understand what you will see and how to get around.

TRAVELING SOON?

INSURANCE: Cover yourself with travel medical insurance by SafetyWing.

FLIGHTS: Get the best flight deals with Skyscanner and set flight alerts with Hopper.

STAYS: Check out hotels and apartments with Booking.com and Vrbo.

RENTAL CARS: Get the best deal on rental cars with Discover Cars or RentalCars.

GOING HIKING? Get a 30% discount off your yearly AllTrails+ Account (code: nickiposts30)

eSIM: Get an international eSim with Airalo.

CITY GUIDES: Save time and purchase pre-made city guides with Thatch.

CITY TOURS: Book your tour with GetYourGuide and Viator

LUGGAGE: Get the best carry-on suitcase here.

CREDIT CARD: Start earning travel points with the best travel credit card.

BUENOS AIRES GUIDE: Purchase my Buenos Aires travel companion here.

CONSULTATION: Book a 1:1 travel consultation with Nicki here.

SUBSCRIBE: Get the Nicki Posts Travel Stuff newsletter every month.

TRAVEL BETTER: Check out my Travel Tips and best Travel Resources pages.

MORE? Check out more on my LINKS page to find me in more places!