Argentina Lakes District
 

We are planning our first trip to Argentina for late December/early January. We have a possible total of 21 days. We are thinking of:
Buenos Aires - 4 or 5 days
Iguassu Falls - 2 days
Argentina's Lake District - 13 or 14 days

Our thinking is this: we prefer to see a small region in depth, that is the reason for the 13-14 days in the Lake District. We are hikers, not big on long days car-based sight-seeing and we like small, nice lodging. We really enjoy the beauty of nature. We'd like time for hiking as well as sitting in a pretty spot and reading. We love lakes, old trees, streams/rivers, mountains, waterfalls! (We really like the Canadian Rockies as well as the lushness of the Appalachian Mountains landscape). In the past several years, we've spent some time in Canada each summer. We didn't get our Canadian fix this summer, so we thought we'd go to Argentina's Lake District at the end of the year!

So, we were thinking of Parque National Lanin, Nahuel Huapi National Park, El Bolson, Parque Nacional Arrayanes, Parque Nacional Los Alerces. Most trips to this area that I've seen on the internet are a few days or a week at most - is 13-14 days too much? HOW WOULD YOU PACE A TRIP LIKE THIS IF YOU HAD THIS NUMBER OF DAYS? Is it too much time in this district?

I had also been thinking of Torres del Paine - but, it's a lot of travel time to do it as well as the Lake District. I thought we might leave that for our 2nd trip to Argentina so that we could spend maybe a week there and combine it with Fitz Roy.

Thanks for your suggestions!

I already answered in another forum.

What other forum, Avrooster? I've looked through this forum for a similar request and found 1 question/response, but it didn't have response from you.
Thanks!

Journeyer: you asked the same question not in another thread, but in another forum, tripadvisor.com and I already answered there at least part of your question.

I don't think it is too many days if what you like is hiking, pretty spots and lakes. Both sides of the Andes are full of great national parks but if you want to start in Argentina, then you can do Lanin from San Martin de los Andes, a nice destination in itself with plenty of small, pleasant lodgings. There are lots of hikes around Bariloche although Bariloche itself is more of a small city but you can stay out Av. Bustillo if you want to be out of town. All the hikes will be slightly different and you want to have free days for travelling and doing laundry. I don't think it is too much at all and will give you a real feel for the area. It is also the sort of trip which is very flexible as you can extend your stay in an area or cut it short depending on weather or how much you like it.
Next time do the Andes from the other side and see TDP and the lake district of Chile.
I think it could be a wonderful trip!

Hello there
I think 2 weeks at the lakes will be wonderfull, there is a route called the 7 lakes, is wonderful.

If you like hiking you choosed the right place on earth. Few people, well prepared for tourist, great food and awesome nature.

I did that trip few years ago, 10 days and I would like to stay one more week.

Have a great vacation!
Marcos