Road of the Seven Lakes from San Martin de los Andes

Roads do the sightseeing here. I like the small group of 12 and the chance to see blue lakes, waterfalls, forests, and mountains without worrying about driving. I also like the stop at Correntoso Lake, where the Mapuche community of Quintupurai sells homemade snacks such as fried cakes and cheese. The main drawback is the long day: nine to ten hours in a minivan, with some time spent simply moving between viewpoints.

This tour links San Martin de los Andes with Villa La Angostura along one of Argentina’s most scenic routes. Guide Eduardo has earned special praise for mixing nature with local history, and the hotel pickup makes the morning simple. At $100.96 per person, the price is fair if you value transport, a professional guide, and a small group, but remember that lunch and all snacks cost extra.

Key points at a glance

• Four kilometers beside Lago Lácar: The trip begins with broad views of the lake before entering oak and cypress forest.
• Mapuche-made snacks at Correntoso Lake: Bring cash or budget for fried cakes, homemade cheese, or ham sold by the Quintupurai community.
• A full day on a famous mountain road: You will spend about nine to ten hours out, including scenic stops and the return drive.
• Villa La Angostura for lunch: The three-hour stop gives you time to eat and look around this quiet resort village.
• Views toward Chile: The Espejo Grande viewpoint offers one of the most striking outward views along the route.
• Weather matters in July and August: Snow and poor road conditions can lead to closures or a canceled departure.

Why this road trip is worth your day

The Road of the Seven Lakes is not a single attraction with one grand entrance. It is a chain of changing views, each one arriving through the windshield, around a bend, or beyond a stand of trees.

That makes the guide important. A good guide gives the scenery a sense of place, points out details you might miss, and keeps the drive from becoming a silent transfer between towns. This tour includes a professional guide, and Eduardo is specifically praised for explaining both nature and local history in an engaging way.

I like this balance. You are not only stopping to take pictures. You are also hearing about the area around San Martin de los Andes, the communities connected to it, and the forests and waterways that shape the route.

The minivan format helps, too. With no more than 12 people, the group is small enough for a more personal feel than a full coach tour. You can ask a question without raising your voice across a crowded bus, and the guide has a better chance of keeping the day organized.

Still, this is a road excursion first. You should not expect long hikes or hours at every lake. Much of the experience comes from the changing scenery during the drive, with selected stops to stretch your legs and take photographs.

Leaving San Martin beside Lago Lácar

Pickup begins at about 9:00 a.m., with hotel collection included. Once you are settled in the comfortable minivan, the route follows the edge of Lago Lácar for roughly 4 kilometers, or 2.5 miles.

This opening section gives you an early sense of the region. The lake, forest, and Andean foothills work together to create the visual rhythm of the day. Your guide talks about the surrounding area as the road moves away from town and into older oak and cypress forest.

I would keep your camera ready from the start. The best image may not come at a formal stop. A quick opening view of Lago Lácar, a forest framed by the vehicle window, or a distant snow-dusted peak can be just as memorable as the planned viewpoints.

The forest is part of the appeal. Instead of seeing only open water and mountains, you pass through wooded sections that make each new lake feel like a fresh reveal. The route has variety, even though the basic activity is sitting in a vehicle.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring a jacket or sweater. The day includes outdoor stops, and mountain weather can change. Even if the minivan is warm, you will want an extra layer when you step out beside the water.

Correntoso Lake and the Quintupurai community

One of the key stops is Lago Correntoso, where you can pause beside the lake and buy simple snacks prepared by the Mapuche community of Quintupurai.

The available food includes fried cakes, homemade cheese, and ham. These are not included in the tour price, so set aside money for anything you want to try. You can also bring your own food, which is useful if you have dietary needs or prefer to keep the day inexpensive.

I especially like this part of the experience because it connects the scenery with people who live in the region. A scenic road can easily become a parade of photo stops with no local context. Meeting a Mapuche community, even briefly through its food and roadside presence, adds a human element to the trip.

The stop is listed as lasting about two hours, which gives you time to look around rather than jump out for five rushed minutes. The exact pace can depend on the road and the group, but this is one of the longer pauses of the day.

Correntoso is also a good place to slow down. After the first stretch of driving, you can get out, enjoy the shore, and have a snack before continuing. The lake views are the main attraction, but the food gives the stop a more local character.

Do not assume every scenic stop will offer a shop or café. The food available here is a useful option, but lunch later in Villa La Angostura is still your responsibility.

Small Mirror Lake, rivers, and changing forest views

After Correntoso, the route continues toward Lago Espejo Chico, also known as Small Mirror Lake. The name hints at the kind of view you can expect: calm water reflecting the surrounding trees and mountains when conditions cooperate.

This section includes bridges, quiet rivers, an old inn, and the Ruca Malen winery. The supplied details do not promise a winery visit or tasting, so treat Bodega Ruca Malen as a sight along the route rather than a separate wine experience.

You will also pass through more forest and along waterways that give the drive a slower, more rural feel. The route is not only about large, postcard-ready lakes. Smaller bodies of water, wooden bridges, and stretches of old forest help fill in the picture.

That variety is one reason the trip works well for people who enjoy scenic driving. You are constantly moving through a new combination of water, trees, road, and mountain. The tradeoff is that some views will pass quickly, especially if weather or traffic affects the pace.

The guide’s commentary matters most here. Without explanation, a small lake or old building may register as just another stop. With context, you get a better sense of how the road connects natural features, historic places, and settlements.

Espejo Grande viewpoint and the sight toward Chile

The Espejo Grande viewpoint provides a wider view, with scenery extending as far as Chile. This is the kind of stop where a camera earns its place in your bag.

The viewpoint gives you a chance to see the scale of the region more clearly. From the minivan, the road can feel enclosed by trees. At an open overlook, the water and mountain setting stretch out in front of you.

I would not treat the number seven as a promise that you will spend equal time at seven separate lakes. The day is built around the famous route, with several named lakes and viewpoints along the way. Some are formal stops, while others are part of the drive.

That is not a flaw, but it helps set expectations. If you want to swim, hike around every lake, or spend an hour at each viewpoint, a private self-drive trip would give you more control. If you prefer to let someone else handle the road and select the main sights, this organized version is easier.

The weather can also change the character of the viewpoint. On a clear day, the distant views should be the star. In cloud or rain, the forest and water may become more atmospheric, but visibility toward Chile can be limited.

Three hours in Villa La Angostura

After about 10 kilometers on the approach, the tour reaches Villa La Angostura. This is the main town stop and the place to plan your lunch.

You have about three hours here, enough time for a leisurely meal at one of the village’s restaurants and some independent time around the shopping center. Lunch is not included, so your final cost depends on where you eat and what you order.

Villa La Angostura also includes several notable sights named for the route: El Mesidor, a historic diplomatic residence, and the Bahia Manzano hotel. The tour information does not say that either place includes an interior visit, so view them as local points of interest rather than guaranteed admissions.

I like having a proper town stop in the middle of a nature-heavy day. You can sit down, use a restroom, eat something warm, and take a break from the minivan. Three hours is generous compared with a quick roadside lunch, although some people may find the pause longer than necessary if they mainly came for lakes and forests.

You may want to decide in advance how you will use the time. A slow meal gives the day a relaxed rhythm. If you finish eating early, you can explore the shopping center or take a short walk around the village, though the supplied details do not specify a guided walking tour.

After Villa La Angostura, you return to your hotel in San Martin de los Andes. The return drive is part of the total nine to ten hours, so expect to arrive in the late afternoon or evening rather than early in the day.

What the $100.96 price really covers

At $100.96 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the route, but the price includes the parts that can be costly or inconvenient to arrange independently: hotel pickup, hotel drop-off, a minivan, and a professional guide.

The small group is the strongest value point. A maximum of 12 people gives you more room and a better chance to interact with the guide. You are paying for convenience as much as transport, since you do not need to navigate an unfamiliar mountain road or plan where to stop.

Food is extra. You may buy snacks at Correntoso Lake, pay for lunch in Villa La Angostura, or bring your own lunch. A packed meal can keep the cost down, while a restaurant lunch makes the town stop more comfortable.

I would compare this price with the value of your time. If you have only a short stay in San Martin de los Andes, the tour covers a major regional sight in one organized day. If you have several days and enjoy driving, you may prefer a private vehicle for more freedom over stops and timing.

The tour is also generally suitable for most people, with comfortable clothing and shoes recommended. The main physical demand is getting in and out of the vehicle and spending a long day on the road, not strenuous walking.

Weather, road closures, and planning advice

July and August bring a specific concern: poor weather can close parts of the route. If the tour is canceled, you receive the choice of another date or a full refund.

That policy makes winter booking less risky, but it does not remove the need for flexibility. I would avoid scheduling this as your only possible activity on the final day of your stay. Give yourself another day if the road is important to your plans.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local time.

For the day itself, pack:

• A jacket or sweater
• Comfortable shoes
• Your camera or phone with enough battery
• Money for snacks and lunch
• A packed lunch if you prefer not to buy food

A mobile ticket is accepted, and confirmation is provided at booking. Since pickup is included, check that your hotel details are correct when you reserve.

Who will enjoy this Seven Lakes tour?

I would choose this trip if you want the major scenery without renting a car. It suits first-time visitors to the Lake District, couples who want a full scenic day, and small groups that value a guide and simple transport.

It is also a good fit if local culture matters to you. The Mapuche connection at Correntoso Lake is brief, but it gives the day more substance than a route made only of overlooks and photographs.

Photographers should enjoy the changing conditions and variety of views, though you will need to work with the group’s schedule. The tour is not designed for a private photographer who wants to wait for perfect light at each lake.

I would hesitate if you dislike long drives or want an active day on foot. The route is the attraction, and much of your time is spent in the minivan. Villa La Angostura provides a longer break, but this is not a hiking tour.

The 91 percent recommendation rate and 4.6 rating from 32 published ratings suggest a strong record, while the praise for Eduardo points to the guide as an important part of the experience. A great road can carry a tour only so far. Clear explanations and a good pace make the difference.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an easy, scenic introduction to the Road of the Seven Lakes and prefer someone else to handle the driving. The small-group format, Mapuche food stop, and Villa La Angostura lunch break give it more character than a simple transfer between two towns.

Skip it if you want complete control over timing, long walks, or private photo stops. For everyone else, $100.96 is a sensible price for a nine to ten-hour day that combines transport, scenery, local context, and a visit to one of the region’s best-known villages.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 9:00 a.m. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

How long does the experience last?

Plan on approximately nine to ten hours for the full day, including the return to San Martin de los Andes.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 12 participants.

Is lunch included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You can buy lunch in Villa La Angostura or bring your own.

Can I buy food during the route?

Yes. At Correntoso Lake, the Mapuche community of Quintupurai sells snacks such as fried cakes, homemade cheese, and ham. These purchases cost extra.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring a jacket or sweater for the outdoor stops.

Can the tour be canceled because of weather?

Yes. In July and August, roads may close because of poor weather. If the tour is canceled, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.