Need a break from world class fishing or just don’t angle? River House can easily arrange excursions to three spectacular national parks in the region.

The closest and most convenient is Lanín National Park, which includes lakes, woods and snowy peaks as it stretches all the way from the pampas through Valdivian temperate forest to the rugged High Andes. The country’s third largest national park is named for a 12,293-foot (3,747-meter) stratovolcano that lies astride the border between Argentina and Chile. Fishing, boating, hiking and mountain biking are the park’s most popular activities. From red deer and guanaco to foxes and pumas, Lanín provides a refuge for many native animals.

Around a three-hour drive north of River House Lodge, Laguna Blanca National Park protects a large freshwater lake and its rich birdlife, in particular, the Black-Necked Swan. Ramsar has identified the park as a wetland of international importance. Set amid the rolling pampas, the park also safeguards the rare and endangered Patagonian frog (Atelognathus patagonicus) and prehistoric archaeological sites.

Argentina Highway 40 — the scenic Camino de los Siete Lagos or Road of the Seven Lakes — leads south from San Martín de los Andes to Los Arrayanes National Park. Another gem of the Argentine national park system, it centers around Lake Nahuel Huapi and includes a number of natural wonders including the 300-year-old arrayán trees that give the park its name.

Read More