Puerto Blest

Extreme natural beauty

The historic Puerto Blest hotel is located in the bay of the same name, on the western arm of Lake Nahuel Huapi. It can only be reached by sailing past Centinela Island, the eternal resting place of Perito Francisco Moreno, thanks to whom Patagonia is mostly under Argentine sovereignty.  

In high season it is impossible to avoid the noisy and crowded transfer to the hotel, in the company of groups of tourists who in the same catamaran make the excursion of the day.

But once there, by the time those fleeting visitors leave to return to Puerto Pañuelo de Bariloche, the paradise of the Valdivian rainforest unfolds to your senses; either to walk the path to Cascada de los Cántaros, with its almost seven hundred well-maintained steps on wooden walkways; Whether to walk in serenity along the bay and admire the emerald green of the water; or to make the journey to Puerto Alegre on Lake Frias, bordering the river of the same name with its clear aquamarine tone, due to the volcanic particles that are transported from the heights of Cerro Tronador. At the other end of the lake is already the border with Chile and has an impressive view of the Tronador itself, the source of these melt waters.

From the hotel it is only a three-kilometer walk, along the same route that the tourist buses coordinated with each catamaran take and that ends at the international pass. It is highly recommended to find out the schedules to avoid the invasive tours, in order to avoid the hustle and bustle to disrupt the experience. The vegetation on the sides of the road is really beautiful; it is worth discovering the different circuits, the shortcuts to sit on the banks of the particular river and the small wild flowers that abound; even some wild fruit, such as those delicious raspberries that surprised us on the trail, which we did not hesitate to taste.  

The fauna of the area is also very varied because it is really a cold jungle with tropical characteristics, as the climate is temperate but very humid, being Puerto Blest the second rainiest point in Argentina, with an average annual rainfall of 3 thousand millimeters. The characteristic animal is the huillín; although we could not see it, many birds approached during the walk, allowing us to observe them at close range and witness their songs. Over the giant trees, with some luck, condors can also be spotted.

As for the hotel, it has a dozen rooms, very comfortable and with very good bathrooms. We had a room with a great view of the lake, facing Cerro Tres Hermanos, so that at night we could even enjoy the incredibly starry Patagonian sky from our bed.

The heated swimming pool on the second floor offers a remarkable view, guaranteeing a respite for the muscles after the hikes.

For dinner, the restaurant offers homemade food. It is abundant, made as if the cook followed grandma's recipe book. The menu offers pastas and meats, all the dishes are very well served and the wine selection is more than good.

It is worth mentioning Mauricio's attention, who affectionately treats the diners as his "children". His history in that lonely corner allows us to understand the familiar treatment he offers to all those who stay there.

Some generous gnocchi, a grilled roast with potatoes and an imposing flan with cream and dulce de leche crowned that memorable evening, before a placid rest in the serenity of the beautiful Puerto Blest.

In the morning there was only room for more relaxation, amazed by the incomparable green of the waters, hoping that the catamaran would never arrive to return us to the turbulent Bariloche.