20 Best Hotels in The Lake District, Argentina

Accommodating up to eight guests, these clean, well-equipped apartments are a practical option for families and for any travelers considering longer stays. What they lack in charm they make up for in convenience, providing all the amenities of home. Being more than 10 blocks from the city center, Apart del Sauco loses some points for location; the upside is that it offers a good base for exploring the surrounding national parks.

Intimate Ruca Lico hits the sweet spot between ranch and resort; the quaint, rustic interiors are very cozy, and you can admire views of Lago Traful from a private balcony or hot tub. Arroyo Blanco is just 100 meters (328 feet) away, so there’s easy access to hiking trails. Guests can also pay a visit Río Minero, a nearby estancia run by the same owners, where condor-watching, cattle rustling, and horseback riding are available.

The waterside Cacique Inacayal has a spectacular spa and swimming pool with views overlooking Lake Nahuel Huapi. There is also a bar and an outdoor patio on the top floor; a fine dining room for hotel guests down one floor; and lakeview rooms on the three floors below. In the middle of it all a glass-covered atrium six stories high allows light into all floors and interior spaces.

Every room at this complex in Puerto Manzano has a lake view; A-frame cabañas (cabins) with decks, kitchens, and outdoor barbecues sleep up to seven, while suites have huge wooden Jacuzzis with views to the water. During high season a one-week minimum stay is required in cabins. A large swimming pool and deck with grill, kayaks, and boats are on the lake.

On a quiet street surrounded by well-tended gardens, this perfectly proportioned Tyrolean villa in Barrio Belgrano (Bariloche’s nicest neighborhood) is only four blocks from the city center, but it feels a world away. The owners are mountaineers and skiers, and their photos decorate the walls of the dining room, where homemade breads and jams are served to guests who gather at breakfast or teatime.

Perched on a hill where the Correntoso River runs into Nahuel Huapi Lake, this landmark hotel is at once cozy and contemporary; from your bedroom window you can see the fish jumping. Old photos, light fixtures made from colihue branches, handwoven Mapuche fabrics, and custom furniture celebrate the hotel’s century-long history. A restaurant ($$$$) overlooking the lake serves Patagonian specialties such as hare, wild boar, lamb, beef, and, of course, fish from local waters. Children under 12 who are not hotel guests aren't allowed in the dining room, but they are welcome in the original fisherman's shack on the lake.

This slick hotel on a busy downtown street in Bariloche has a spacious lobby with a wine bar in one corner and a sit-around fireplace in another; some rooms have a nice view into the neighboring garden. Textured beige wallpaper in the large bedrooms show off the deep oranges of the woven bedspreads and upholstered chairs.

This medium-sized hotel is within walking distance of everything in town and its top-floor rooms have stunning lake views and bay windows. Enjoy fresh flowers cut from the hotel garden. Ski and tour buses, whether arranged through the hotel or other travel agencies, pick up passengers at the front door.

Poised dramatically on a cliff overlooking the lake and forests, this classic stone-and-wood lodge enjoys one of the most beautiful settings on earth: the architecture harmonizes with the natural surroundings, and the tranquil interior—with white walls, pine trim, leather upholstery, and fine Mapuche woven rugs—conveys a sense of peace. The whole property is a labor of love by its owners, who created it using some of the foundations of the original lodge, which was built in 1937 and destroyed by fire in 1982. 

Perched higher than all the other cabin complexes, these modern cottages have plenty of room and all the accoutrements of a vacation home. Mountain views and an opulent garden will soothe your soul while you plan activities.

This masterpiece by architect Alejandro Bustillo, surrounded by three lakes and looking out to cliffs and snow-covered mountains, caters to all tastes; the historic main building has quirky rooms with locally crafted, one-of-a-kind furniture pieces, while those in the newer Lake Moreno wing incorporate a more modern aesthetic. The reading room, bridge room, immaculate Llao Llao Salon, and other public areas are equally appealing. Local wood—alerce, cypress, and hemlock—has been used for the walls along a 91-meter (300-foot) hallway, where paintings by local artists are displayed. A lunch or dinner reservation will also get you in to see one of the world's most beautiful hotels.

Inside Peuma Hue, a sense of rustic luxury prevails (picture pine beams overhead, kilim rugs on wood floors, and guests gathered around the stone fireplace); outside, Lago Gutiérrez shimmers through the trees across the lawn. The combination makes this a great place to simply curl up with a book or lounge in a hammock. If you prefer to expend some energy, there’s no need to study brochures or call tour operators—just sign up in the lobby for the day's activities. Rates are per person, per day, with discounts for children. Note that all meals are included in the standard rate; a full board plan, with select activities is an additional $100 per person.

Stone and wood merge throughout the angular space of this hillside hotel in Puerto Manzano, which has views of the lake and mountains from enormous windows. Every room also has a Jacuzzi and restrained modern art. Enjoy the spa, indoor-outdoor pool, and private beach, plus impeccable service. A few extra pesos get you a private deck.

Taking "off the beaten track" to a whole new level, this homey lodge sits on the banks of the Meliquina River in the middle of Parque Nacional Lanín and is a favorite with both fly fishermen and families. The spacious suites are comfortable, if modestly decorated, and all rooms have river views. Since there's no cell phone reception, guests have no choice but to enjoy the serenity and swap modern tech activities for walking, horseback riding, and kayaking. Homemade meals are prepared by your hosts—the delightful Echavarria clan.

This peaceful complex consists of a grand hotel and older two-story log-and-stucco cottages on the lawns below—the latter have stone chimneys, well-tended gardens, and wooden decks that give them the appearance of private homes. You'll enjoy cypress-plank floors with radiant heat, carved wooden counters, and views of Nahuel Huapi Lake.