Visiting Arrayanes Forest and Victoria Island is one of the activities to do from Bariloche or Villa La Angostura. It can be done, partially, on your own or in a catamaran that sails the waters of Lake Nahuel Huapi.
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Visiting Arrayanes forest and Victoria Island
There are many ways to visit the Arrayanes Forest:
- On your own in a trekking through the Quetrihué Peninsula, although partially, because you would not visit Victoria Island, only the Arrayanes Forest.
- By catamaran from Villa La Angostura (on your own), but also partially because you would not visit Victoria Island either.
- On an excursion from Bariloche by catamaran, in which the Bosque de Arrayanes and also Victoria Island are visited.
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Walking on your own
Starting from Villa La Angostura, you have to walk (or take a local bus) to Puerto Angostura and the Quetrihué isthmus, which divides Playa Mansa from Playa Brava. There is the National Park post where you have to pay the entrance fee and get a map.
From there you can walk 12 km to the Arrayanes Forest. It is of medium difficulty. To return, you can choose between undoing the trail also walking or returning in catamaran. You can also do it the other way around, go by catamaran and come back walking.
On your own in a catamaran
If you find the walk exhausting just thinking about it, you can go and return by catamaran which is taken from the Bahia Brava pier. Find out the schedules at the Villa La Angostura tourist office.
Excursion from Bariloche to visit the Arrayanes Forest and Victoria Island
There are many agencies in Bariloche’s downtown that offer the excursion to visit the Arrayanes forest and Victoria Island. It is, together with Circuito Chico, one of the essential activities to do in Bariloche.
If you are going to travel to Bariloche in high season (summer) it is advisable to make a reservation online through some agency, since catamarans are usually full.
Depending on the agency, they usually have one or two daily departures and include the round trip transfer from downtown Bariloche to Puerto Pañuelo.
What is not included is the entrance to the Nahuel Huapi National Park, where the Arrayanes forest and Victoria Island are located, nor the boarding fee charged at Puerto Pañuelo.
📷 Take a look at the Isla Victoria and Arrayanes Forest tour from Bariloche with a local agency. Book your place!
Guides on board the catamaran tell you the history of the place, the origin of the lake and the arrayanes (myrtles) and other interesting facts.
It is advisable to bring warm clothes, not only in winter, since temperatures are cold and the weather is very changeable in this area.
Regarding food or drinks, you can take food on the catamaran, since it won’t be included in the excursion. Also, you can order food or drinks in the bar of the boat or directly eat in the small restaurant enabled in the Arrayanes forest.
– Where does the excursion start to visit the Arrayanes forest and Victoria Island?
If you make the excursion to visit the Arrayanes forest and Victoria Island from Bariloche, the catamarans depart from the Puerto Pañuelo pier, in the Circuito Chico and a few meters away from the Llao Llao hotel.
– How to get to Puerto Pañuelo?
By car, taking from Bariloche downtown Bustillo Avenue and then the route of Circuito Chico to the Llao Llao Hotel. It is about 25 km away. If you choose to get to Puerto Pañuelo by public transport, the bus number 20 leaves you at the hotel Llao Llao stop and from there it is less than 100 meters walking to Puerto Pañuelo.
Visiting Arrayanes forest
Upon arriving at the Arrayanes forest, on the Quetrihue peninsula, the park ranger welcomes the place, who is in charge of watching over the care of the place. In the visiting area there are public restrooms and a place where you can have a drink or eat something.
The tour usually lasts about 30 minutes and is done by specially designed wooden walkways, where the arrayanes trees are on either side of the path. The particularity of the arrayán is that it is a saffron-colored shrub with white flowers, very eye-catching.
Visiting Victoria Island
On the other hand, the visit to Victoria Island lasts 90 minutes. The catamaran takes you to Puerto Anchorena and then goes along an internal path of the island until you reach Playa del Toro, where you will find cave paintings made by the original inhabitants of the area. In addition, this beach is of volcanic origin, which gives it a spectacular environment.
Best time for visiting Arrayanes forest and Victoria Island
All year round. Catamaran excursions to Victoria Island and the Arrayanes Forest are made from Bariloche, even if it snows or rains. In winter there is usually only one trip a day.
Admission to Nahuel Huapi or Arrayanes National Park (2026)
If you are going to make the excursion from Bariloche, you will be paying the entrance to the Nahuel Huapi National Park. If you are making the excursion or visit from Villa La Angostura, you will be paying the entrance to Los Arrayanes National Park. Anyway, the price is the same and it is valid daily.
| FOREIGNERS | NATIONALS | PROVINCE |
| Over 6 years old AR$ 20.000 | Over 6 years old AR$ 7.000 | Over 6 years old AR$ 5.000 |
There are also promotional passes for 3 days (you pay the value of 2 days and save one day) and for 7 days (you pay the value of 3.5 days and save 3.5 days). Multi-day passes must be used within 6 months of purchase, consecutively or alternately and within the same protected area.
You can buy your ticket online from the official website of the national parks.
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