We are planning to take the lake crossing from Puerta Varas to Bariloche with Cruce Andino. We have read in Fodor's Argentina guide book that "Guides on the Argentina side speak little English...If your Spanish is shaky, do this trip with a tour group."

Has anyone taken this boat and bus trip? Is it really necessary to speak Spanish (which we don't) to make the journey?

Yes, did the Chile to Arg boat bus etc trip last year. In terms of needing to speak Spanish -- Absolutely not. I am floored that Fodors says that in their book. Our TR on May 4 date describes the trip.
http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...-chile-arg.cfm

Boy, I just read this report for the first time, and it is truly SUPER! Yes travel, you are some traveler!, hats off for a great report!

We did it in reverse, Bariloche to Puerto Varas, and I am pretty sure the guide/escort mostly spoke English. The Cruce Andino is essentially a tour anyway, so don't see why you need your own guide on top of the escort provided. It's beautiful so long as the weather is good.

taconictraveler -- thank you! It was a great trip - the first one we every did that long and loved every second of it.

Good point made by traveler318. The people on the boat didn't really talk about anything pertinent in terms of what one was seeing. They told u more directions. where to meet the next boat, bus etc and what was up. So while they spoke English, on our trip they wee rent really tour guides.

I took the boat trip from Puerto Varas to Bariloche in March, 2012, on the Cruce de Lagos ("Lake District Crossing"), which I presume offers an experience comparable to that of Cruce Andino. The guides were excellent and spoke flawless English in a delivery speed easy to understand. You can read more about my journey by looking up my name on this forum. ZZ