Lake Gutierrez

The basics

The lake is surrounded by the Otto, Catedral, and Ventana mountains, and several beaches lie along its shores. Villa Los Cohiues beach is on the northern shore and, as it’s the closest to the city, the most popular. From the West Shore beach you can follow a short, easy trail to the Cascada de los Duendes waterfall. Swimming, kayaking, and sport fishing are popular on the lake itself, while the surrounding forests can be explored by hiking and horseback riding.

Fishing is best at the southern end of Lake Guttiérrez, where the Torrontegui river flows into the lake. Declining fish populations led the national park service to restock the lake, so rainbow, brown, and brook trout are plentiful once again. Two seabirds, the kelp gull and blue-eyed cormorant, typically found on the ocean, also live on Lake Gutiérrez and throughout Nahuel Huapi National Park. Several Bariloche operators offer kayaking tours on the lake with included transportation.

Things to know before you go

• Lifeguards watch over swimmers at Villa Los Cohiues beach.

• Take care on the lake. Swimmers run the risk of hypothermia while in the chilly glacial water.

• There is a paleontological museum at Villa Los Cohiues, with exhibits on Patagonia’s geological evolution.

• There are several campsites around the lake where you can spend the night.

How to get there

Villa Los Coihues, on the northern shore, is the most frequently used access point to the lake. To get there, follow route 40 for around 9 miles (15 kilometers) from downtown Bariloche. Turn right and cross an old wooden bridge to reach the beach. If you’re staying overnight, you’ll find most accommodations, including Los Baqueanos campsite, on the southern shore, which you can reach by continuing along route 40.

When to get there

Lake Gutiérrez is at its best, and its busiest, during the summer months (between December and February), when there are opportunities for kayaking, swimming, and hiking. The beaches and campsites can get crowded during the warmer season, so make arrangements in advance and avoid weekends and holidays, if possible.

The Gutiérrez Balcony route

For one of the best views of the lake, you can follow the 6-mile (10-kilometer) Gutiérrez Balcony route by car, bicycle, or foot. This route connects the lake to the town of Villa Catedral via an inclining mountain trail, with many curves, that leads to an incredible panoramic view.