A holiday or getaway to Patagonia Argentina in the summer? Here you have all the activities things to do in San Martín de los Andes in summer.
Located on the shores of Lake Lácar, this small town of low houses built in stone and wood has a great charm. Walking through the streets of the centre, strolling along the waterfront or doing some of the activities in contact with nature and surrounded by forests, lakes and mountains are a real attraction.
Below we recommend several places to see in San Martin de los Andes if you visit in summer, with trekking, water sports, sailing and much more.
Table of Contents
Trekking up to the Bandurrias lookout point
On one of the sides of Lake Lácar and at the top of the hill, the Bandurrias viewpoint offers spectacular views of Lake Lácar and the mountains of the Lanín National Park. From here you can even walk down to the shore of the lake, the place known as La Islita and the Bonita beach.
The best way to get there is by trekking from the shore of Lake Lácar. It is a path of about five kilometres, of little physical difficulty and not too steep, walking through woods of coihues and aracuarias. It takes about an hour to get there.
📷 Book the trekking to the Bandurrias viewpoint with guide.
To get to the Bandurrias viewpoint by car from San Martin de los Andes, you have to drive up to the access to Route 48 that leads to the Hua Hum Pass on the Chilean border. When the path forks, take the path to the left towards the Bandurrias viewpoint. It is a total of eight kilometres, but you have to be very careful because the road is narrow and gravel. There is a parking area where the Mapuche charge a minimal fee for leaving the car on site. From the car park it is about a 10 minute walk to the lookout point.
Touring the city centre
Although it is an activity that can be done in San Martin de los Andes all year round, summer is a good time to enjoy the craft breweries, ice cream, handmade chocolates, buy souvenirs and even take a walk along the waterfront of Lake Lácar.
In addition, the centre of San Martin de los Andes has other attractions such as the museum dedicated to Che Guevara, the San Jose parish church whose interior is covered in wood, the artisans’ fair and the Lanin National Park Visitor Centre and Museum.
Closer to the centre, the Arrayanes viewpoint gives a nice view of the city of San Martin de los Andes from above and the shore of Lake Lacar. It can be reached in a short drive on a gravel road or on foot without any problem.
📷 Book here the free tour of San Martin de los Andes and get to know its history and main attractions with a guide.
The beaches of Lake Lácar and the Mapuche communities
The beaches near San Martín de los Andes are characterised by their crystal-clear but cold water and pebbly ground. It is ideal for spending the day or sleeping at the nearby campsites. The beaches are:
Playa Bonita: already mentioned above, it is located near the Bandurrias viewpoint. It has a camping site for sleeping, but with basic facilities.
Playa Catritre: on the opposite side of the beach to Playa Bonita, it is accessed by a detour from Route 40 on the Seven Lakes Road. It is a small beach that also has a campsite and footpaths.
Quila Quina Beach: the most renowned of the beaches near San Martin de los Andes and the longest. It is located within the territory of the Mapuche Churruhuinca community, which allows us to observe their dwellings and way of life. There are stalls selling Mapuche handicrafts, food and camping. It can be reached either by car from the centre of San Martin de los Andes on a gravel road or by catamaran that leaves from the pier at the San Martin de los Andes waterfront.
📷 Book the excursion to Quila Quina beach and the Mapuche communities here.
Adventure sports to do in San Martín de los Andes in summer
Lanín National Park for hiking and cycling
The imposing Lanín National Park covers a large number of hectares, where mountains, lakes and volcanoes predominate. On the trekking or cycling route you will be surrounded by forests and native birds.
There are different trails to choose from according to your fitness level and age. There are easy and short distances, as well as others of demanding physical condition, such as the ascent to the Lanín volcano.
From here you can access the list of trekking trails in the Lanin National Park near San Martin de los Andes.
📷 Do you love cycling? Check out this bike tour through Lanín National Park.
Kayaking in the Patagonian lakes
There is no doubt that one of the activities to do in San Martin de los Andes in summer is to sail across one of the nearby Patagonian lakes and reach deserted beaches.
Both Lake Lácar and other nearby lakes of the 7 Lakes Route offer kayak rentals on the turquoise and crystalline waters of the fresh water mirrors.
📷Book your kayak tour on Lake Lácar or Machónico here. Guide included.
Rafting on the Chimehuin River
Some Patagonian rivers are characterised by the large amount of water flowing down from the mountains. An example of this is the Chimehuin river, close to the Lanín volcano.
If you’re an adrenaline junkie, then what better way to get your adrenaline pumping than by rafting and plunging between waterfalls at high speed in a rubber dinghy.
📷 Book your rafting trip on the Chimehuin River here. Includes transfer from SMA, guide and necessary equipment.
Doing the Seven Lakes Road by car
It is one of the most beautiful scenic roads in the Argentinean Patagonia. It is 100 kilometres of paved road with many zig zags, but above all through some of the best scenery in the south of the country. The route of the 7 lakes owes its name to the number of fresh water mirrors you can visit along the way: Lácar, Machónico, Falkner, Villarino, Escondido, Correntoso and Espejo.
In each of them there are viewpoints to stop the car and enjoy the scenery of crystal clear water, Patagonian forests and mountains in the background. Many have picnic tables and there are plenty of campsites where you can spend one or more nights.
🔎 Take a look at our article on the 7 lakes route.
Summer excursions in San Martín de los Andes
Lanín Volcano
On the border between Argentina and Chile, this imposing dormant volcano at 3,800 metres above sea level always has a snow-capped summit and is one of the most picturesque sights in Argentinean Patagonia.
Summer is the ideal time to do one of the treks, either to the northern base of the volcano or to the refuge area at 2600m. For experts, it can even be a summit.
📷 If you are in San Martin de los Andes, book the day trip with transfers and guide to Huechulafquen Lake and Lanin Volcano.
It is advisable to take suitable footwear, water, sunglasses and warm clothes, as the weather up on the volcano is windy and changeable.
For hiking trails and the ascent of the Lanín volcano it is mandatory registration in the official website of the Lanín National Park. Registration is free of charge.
🔎 Check out this article on how to get to and things to do at the Lanín volcano.
Villa Pehuenia
Another worthwhile visit from San Martin de los Andes is visit Villa Pehuenia, a fairytale village nestled on the shores of Lake Aluminé and Moquehue with the mountains of the Andes in the background.
Surrounded by Patagonian forests, it has several attractions, among which the beautiful Batea Mahuida volcano stands out, an extinct crater with crystal clear water lagoons.
📷 Book your day trip from San Martin de los Andes to Villa Pehuenia here.
Excursion to Hua Hum
Do you want to go deep into the Valdivian forest with its coihue and myrtle forests? So this excursion from San Martín de los Andes is perfect to visit a Mapuche community, to see the Yuco peninsula with its volcanic sand beaches and to go on a short trekking tour to the Chachin waterfall, an imposing waterfall of about 30 metres in the middle of the jungle. A day not to forget.
📷 Book your excursion to the Yuco Peninsula and the Hua Hum area near the Chilean border here.
Villa Traful
100 kilometres south of San Martin de los Andes and accessible by gravel road, Villa Traful is one of the most beautiful Patagonian villages.
Its main attraction is the submerged forest, a natural subsidence of the mountainside that has caused many of the trees to be submerged in the lake. Diving or snorkelling among the trees is the ideal activity.
Villa Traful also has viewpoints over Lake Traful, gastronomic delicacies based on trout and trekking in the surrounding hills.
🔎 Check out this article on how to get to and things to do in Villa Traful. If you’re just looking for a getaway, check out our article on Villa Traful in a day.
Excursion to the Achen Niyeu Volcano
Finally, the Achen Niyeu volcano is perfect for a three-hour trek to the summit of medium difficulty. At 1700 metres above sea level, the views from here of the Lanín volcano and the Epulafquen lake are a dream.
The landscape is more like the moon than our planet, with parts of sand, volcanic rocks and waterfalls along the way.
Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, some light food, water, trekking shoes and warm clothes.
Where to stay in San Martin de los Andes
We have prepared an article with our experience and recommendations of the best hotels in San Martin de los Andes to stay in. Have a look at it.
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