Lago Escondido
Location
Lago Escondido is c. 25km west of San Carlos de Bariloche in Rio Negro province. As with Lago y Montanas (below) you can get a bus from Bariloche (takes about an hour) or you could stay in the rather posh Hotel Llao-Llao. You can follow a forest walk and signs although it does have a car park near (ish).
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Features
Plenty of shade. So many surrounding trees that you may struggle to find what is the only way into the water a boardwalk!! I guess this is why its called the Hidden Lake in Spanish. The wooden boardwalk provides an excellent way to jump in (in fact there isn’t really any other way of getting in).
Hazards
Once you have jumped in bear in mind it is a bit tricky to get out!
Date of swim
26th February 2015
Lago Lakar
Location
Lago Laker is adjacent to the town of San Martin de los Andes in Neuquén province c. 25km from the border with Chile. There is a town “beach” (see photo above) which is a good place to go in.
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Features
Easy access, shade provided by trees, the main part of the town “beach” is clean, and what can I say about the views…………………
Hazards
The only ones I can think of is “silly” buoys marking a too shallow swimming area and a band of sea weed. Once you get beyond these its a great spot for a swim. Oh, on some days it can get a bit choppy!!
Date of swim
27th & 28th February 2015
Lago y Montanas
Location
Lago y Montanas is c. 25km west of San Carlos de Bariloche in Rio Negro province. You can get a bus from Bariloche (takes about an hour) or you could stay in the rather posh Hotel Llao-Llao (the later, incidentally, was the only place on our trip where we saw a Union Jack flying). You can follow a forest walk which brings you down to some magical places to swim.
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Features
Easy access, shade provided by trees and what can I say about the views…………………
Hazards
Not really a hazard but it was a bit muddy and reedy around the edge of the lake.
Date of swim
26th February 2015
Lago y Montanas
Location
Lago y Montanas is c. 25km west of San Carlos de Bariloche in Rio Negro province. You can get a bus from Bariloche (takes about an hour) or you could stay in the rather posh Hotel Llao-Llao (the later, incidentally, was the only place on our trip where we saw a Union Jack flying). You can follow a forest walk which brings you down to some magical places to swim.
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Features
Easy access, shade provided by trees and what can I say about the views…………………
Hazards
Not really a hazard but it was a bit muddy and reedy around the edge of the lake.
Date of swim
26th February 2015
Lago Puelo
Location
Lago Puelo is to the south of a settlement of the same name and near the better known El Bolson. The lake is at the very northern border of Chubut province. The easiest swimming spot is almost a beach and goes by the name of Muello I think
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Features
Easy access, shade provided by trees and campsites nearby (some with bars!). Its within the Parque Nacional of the same name so a lovely spot.
Hazards
The only possible thing I can think of is that a strange mist/fog develops over the lake in late afternoon.
Date of swim
23rd February 2015
Rio Percy/Afon Percy
Location
Rio Percy (also known in Welsh as Afon Percy) is located adjacent to the “Welsh” town of Trevelin in Chubut province. The best/only spot suitable for a swim is by Puente Viejo (too shallow at the other bridge in the town)
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Features
Easy access, shade provided by the road bridge or trees. There were some people having a picnic/rave in the trees while I swam.
Hazards
I don’t think there can be any or the nice woman at the Tourist Office who pointed us this way would surely have said (of course we don’t really understand Spanish!)
Date of swim
22nd February 2015
