All the things to do in Villa Traful are described in this article. Diving, viewpoints, waterfalls, trekking and more.
Villa Traful is a small town on the shores of the lake of the same name. The natural environment where it is located is perfect, surrounded by forests and mountains.
While most people have heard of the town because of the submerged forest, there are many things to do in Villa Traful besides visiting this wonder of nature.
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How to get to Villa Traful
The only access road to Villa Traful is route 65, which connects with Route 40 at one end and with route 237 at the other end. The 60-kilometre long Route 65 is entirely gravel, so care must be taken when driving. The road is really wonderful, surrounded by forests and bordering the lake in many parts of the way.
The closest town to Villa Traful is Villa La Angostura, 57 kilometres away, 27 kilometres of which are gravel roads. You must take route 40 towards the city of San Martin de los Andes and after 30 kilometres take the detour to route 65 to Villa Traful.
📷 Book a day trip from San Martín de los Andes to Villa La Angostura and Villa Traful. Transfers and guide included. You can also do the excursión to Villa Traful from Villa La Angostura.
To get to Villa Traful from Bariloche, about 100 kilometres away, the best way is to take route 237 up to the confluence of the Limay River with the Traful River, and then take the detour to route 65 towards Villa Traful. In total there are 66 kilometres on paved road and 34 on gravel.
📷 Book a day trip from Bariloche to Villa La Angostura and Villa Traful. Transfers and guide included.
Apart from going to Villa Traful through route 40 or route 237, what we recommend you to do is to travel along route 65 in its entirety, even if you have to travel more kilometres, since the landscapes are really amazing. In this way you will make a circuit in the shape of a circle.
How to get to Villa Traful by bus
The company La Araucania is the one that makes the trip from Villa La Angostura and San Martín de los Andes to Villa Traful with a daily departure in both cases and intermediate stops. Check out the round trip schedules from Villa La Angostura and from San Martín de los Andes.
If you are looking for a bus from Bariloche to Villa Traful, the company Vía Bariloche makes the trip on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00 in summer. The rest of the year, the frequency is reduced to Fridays and Sundays with the same schedule. From Villa Traful to Bariloche by bus, it has the same frequencies as the outbound, leaving at 17:00.
Things to do in Villa Traful
1) Submerged Forest
The submerged forest is a natural phenomenon that has taken place over the lake, on the opposite shore to where the village is located, thanks to the movement of the tectonic plates, which causes the forest on the mountainside to sink into the lake.
In this way, more than 60 trees of the ancient forest can be seen completely submerged in the crystal clear water of Lake Traful. The view from the semi-rigid is perfect, although you can also snorkel or dive in the area and appreciate this phenomenon even more.
The visit to the submerged forest is made exclusively with an excursion in a semi-rigid boat and with a guide. In case you want to dive, the necessary equipment is provided.
2) Del Viento viewpoint
About five kilometres from Villa Traful and on route 65 on the way to route 237, you will find the imposing viewpoint of El Viento, which is worth a stop.
On a high cliff that can be reached by a stairway along wooden footbridges, the views of Lake Traful and the surrounding hills are breathtaking. From the footbridge you can feel the strength of the wind, which is almost constant, and which gives the viewpoint its name.
3) Touring the centre and eating trout
Although it is very small, it is worth a walk around the village. One of the attractions to visit in Villa Traful is the Nuestra Señora De Villa Traful Chapel, located on a hill and built entirely of wood.
From the dock, you have nice views of the lake and it is where the excursion to the submerged forest starts. To buy regional products, we recommend the local Del Montañés, which has the best alfajores in all Patagonia.
Finally, you must taste authentic local dishes such as trout or deer. Ñancu lahuen is a nice restaurant next to the pier with a family atmosphere and good prices. A bit more expensive but with excellent food is Peumawe, located on the shore of the lake and with a large garden, ideal for eating with a view.
4) Trekkings in Villa Traful
There are many treks to do in Villa Traful. If you go with small children we recommend the trail to the waterfalls. The best views of the lake are from the Nazo viewpoint or the Cerro Negro.
Mirador del Nazo viewpoint: the trek to the viewpoint is of low-medium difficulty and is done along a path marked with colours on stones and trees, which is somewhat steep. It takes about two and a half hours in total between the ascent and descent. The reward is the spectacular views of the lake.
Negro Hill: The ascent to Cerro Negro is of high difficulty and is only recommended if you are in very good physical condition. After the one and a half hour trail to reach the lookout point, the path is no longer marked to the top of the hill and there are no trees. It takes at least four hours to complete.
Coa Co and Blanco Waterfall: ideal for the whole family. There are two small waterfalls that can be accessed from a path through the forest of little physical difficulty. There are benches where you can sit and contemplate the surroundings. It is not possible to get to the bottom of the waterfall, but you can see them from a few metres away.
Co Lemu Waterfall: about 8 kilometres from Villa Traful along Route 64 towards Villa La Angostura, you have to leave the car in the car park after passing the Arroya Cataratas camping site. The trail is 950 metres to the waterfall. The path goes along the stream until you reach the waterfall. You can ev
Where to stay in Villa Traful
If you want to sleep cheaply, there are many campsites on the shores of Lake Traful, such as Traful Lauquen or Arroyo Cataratas. As for hotels, we recommend the following options:
- Marinas Puerto Traful: comfortable and overlooking the lake. Surrounded by a garden and with an excellent restaurant.
- Alto Traful by DOT Boutique: this modern four-star hotel offers rooms, cabins and flats with lake views. It also has a swimming pool, restaurant and spa. If you can afford it, it’s exceptional.
🏨 Look here where to stay in Villa Traful and get your ideal accommodation.
¡Pinealo!
