Ruta de los Siete Lagos - A dream of lakes, mountains and Argentinian hospitality
After an exciting border crossing from Chile to Argentina, our first stop was Villa La Angostura – the gateway to the famous Ruta de los Siete Lagos. This fantastic route along the Argentinian Ruta Nacional 40 connects San Martín de los Andes with Villa La Angostura and leads through one of the most beautiful landscapes in Patagonia.
With its 107 kilometers of spectacular lakes, dense forests and snow-capped mountains, this route is an absolute highlight for nature and road trip lovers. But before we set off, we first had to arrive in Argentina.
First stop: Villa La Angostura - shopping, money exchange & beef
As always, going shopping and changing money in a new country is a bit of an adventure. Our first port of call was the Anónima supermarket to replenish our supplies.
And what can we say? Argentina keeps its promises – especially when it comes to beef! The quality was incredibly good, but we were also surprised by the prices: our weekly shop cost the equivalent of around 180 euros – more than expected, as the peso has recently been revalued and is therefore no longer quite so cheap for tourists. If you want to know more about this, just follow this link, we have created a page about shopping in Argentina.
Especially important for Monika: good coffee was available! However, we discovered that coffee filters are in short supply here. Fortunately, other travelers assured us that this would change in Brazil at the latest.
The Ruta de los Siete Lagos - A dreamlike journey through Patagonia
Our next few days were spent on the famous Ruta de los Siete Lagos – and what can we say? This landscape is simply a dream.
We passed a total of seven beautiful lakes on the route:
- Lago Lácar
- Lago Machónico
- Lago Falkner
- Lago Villarino
- Lago Escondido
- Lago Correntoso
- Lago Espejo
We met relatively few international overlanders here, but all the more Argentinian campers – and they really are on the road with some automotive treasures. Old, well-maintained vehicles, often restored by themselves – simply beautiful to see!
And what we quickly learned:
- In Argentina, people help each other.
- A meal that is not „asado“ (barbecue) does not count.
- Mate tea is more than just a drink, it is an expression of friendship and conviviality
San Martín de los Andes - Break, cake & salsa
At the end of the route, in San Martín de los Andes, we took a short break. And then came the surprise:
We found a totally lovely salsa community!
We have often been to festivals, but we have never received such a warm welcome as here. We were introduced to everyone and we were looked after very warmly – a genuine Argentinian warmth that left a deep impression on us.
And of course we had to try another important thing: Argentinian cakes! Conclusion: You can also eat excellent cakes in Argentina!