Trekking around Lake Mascardi - Nahuel Huapi National Park, Bariloche

Lake Mascardi represents one of the most famous lakes in the area surrounding San Carlos de Bariloche. It is located in the Nahuel Huapi National Park and is fed by the waters that come mainly from the glaciers of Mount Tronador, through the Manso River. Thanks to this, it has a coloration in its main body and a different one in its west arm (turquoise, due to the minerals that come from the aforementioned glaciers), named arm Tronador as the mountain.

In this trekking circuit, we will start from the north point of the lake and cross towards the Tronador arm through the Laguna Llum. We will reach the western point of the lake, just where the Rio Manso empties. We will return to Bariloche by transportation through the route that goes to Pampa Linda.

VIDEO OF THE TREK: CLICK HERE

What we present here is the planned route for the crossing, but the exact route, the duration of each stage of the march and the choice of alternative itineraries are subject to different factors such as weather conditions and group evaluation by the guides.

Day 0: It is suggested to spend the night before the trek starts in the city of San Carlos de Bariloche

Day 1: Meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, downtown area. Presentation of guides and the group; preparations and loading of backpacks. We travel by private vehicle to the northern headwaters of Lake Mascardi. Initial walk of 2 hours to a beautiful beach, called Leones. Then we continue another hour and a half to Laguna Llum, the place of our first camp. Dinner and overnight.

Walking time: 4 hours

Day 2: On this day we will continue to ascend, after bordering the Llum lagoon, to the first great viewpoint of Tronador, the homonymous arm of Lake Mascardi and Isla Corazón. We will then descend a steep hillside to enter the forest. Finally, we border Lake Mascardi along the mentioned arm until we find another beautiful beach, La Volteada. New camp. Dinner and overnight.

Walking time: 8 hours

Day 3: We continue bordering Lake Mascardi on the Tronador arm, until the end, crossing on foot two important streams, such as Casalata and El Claro. Before crossing the latter, we will visit some pools formed by the stream, finally, we will cross the suspension bridge over the greenish Rio Manso Superior, which brings its waters from Mount Tronador. On the other side is our camp, in Tres Alamos, Los Césares Camp. End of the trek (Stage 1) and transfer back to Bariloche.

Walking time: 5 hours.