Cerro Tronador

Cerro Tronador is the highest mountain in the National Park Nahuel Huapi with three picks in its summit - one Chilean, one international, and one Argentinean. To arrive at its base from San Carlos de Bariloche it is necessary to take the national route #258 heading for El Bolsón and then, to arrive at the south part of Lake Mascardi, take the route #254 toward the right until arriving to Pampa Linda, a small village that has a hostel with a restaurant, camping site, park guard, and a section of Gendarmería Nacional. From here, you will see several paths for trips by foot or by horse that will allow you to discover places of an extraordinary beauty. You can admire, for example, the Manso Glacier or the snowdrift Negro, which together birth the Manso Superior River that ends in Lake Mascardi after traveling through the Valley of the Vuriloches. You could also head to Otto Meiling refuge, located 2,000 meters high, from where the ascent to the summits of the Tronador begins (experts only). Tronador is 3450 meters high and owes its name to the impressive noise that is made by large detachments of ice. Explore its surroundings on this tour with roundtrip transportation.

Cerro Tronador is located in the southern part of the Andes mountain range, on the border between Argentina and Chile. It separates two national parks: Nahuel Huapi, in the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén, Argentina; and the Vicente Pérez Rosales in the province of Llanquihue, Chile. The name of the hill is due to the noise that is produced by the frequent detachments of ice in the glaciers, similar to that of thunder. El Tronador has a total of seven glaciers which are currently in remission due to global warming. The tour departs from Bariloche, taking National Route 40 South, about 45 km, to cross the Pampa de Huenuleo and border Lake Gutiérrez, to cross the Pilmayen and Melgarejo streams. After passing through the "water divide", you will travel along the banks of Lake Mascardi until you reach the detour where the road to Tronador (gravel) emerges. During this tour, Lake Mascardi is bordered again along its west coast, until reaching the Isla Corazón viewpoint. Further on, you will pass in front of Cerro Los Emparedados and border the upper Manso River until you reach Pampa Linda, from where you have one of the best views of Cerro Tronador. Then you cross part of the Vuriloches valley and finally, passing through a shady forest, you reach the Ventisquero Negro. The tour ends a little further on at the foot of Cerro Tronador. The hill, with its 3,454 meters above sea level, is the highest point in the Nahuel Huapi National Park, and has three peaks (International, Argentine and Chilean).

On this full-day excursion you’ll take in some of the most breathtaking features of the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Visit lakes, beaches, mountains, and waterfalls, and admire the highest mountain in the Patagonia. Mount Tronador, 3,478 meters high, forms a natural border between Chile and Argentina. From the viewpoint at its base you can see the incredible glacier that feeds the Manso River. See the Ventisquero Negro (Black Glacier) that consists of huge brownish-gray blocks formed by avalanches of ice and mud. Visit La Garganta del Diablo (The Devil’s Throat), a waterfall created by melted glacial ice, surrounded by high rock walls, and see the Saltillo de las Nalcas, a hidden waterfall in the middle of the forest. This mountain’s name, Tronador, comes from the thunderous sounds produced by the massive falling blocks of ice.

Discover the imposing Cerro Tronador and the majestic Ventisquero Negro, a unique experience in Nahuel Huapi National Park. The trip departs from Bariloche along National Route 40 South, crossing landscapes such as Pampa de Huenuleo and bordering Lake Gutierrez. The road continues crossing streams such as Pilmayen and Melgarejo, until reaching the turnoff to the Tronador. Continuing along gravel roads, you will border Lake Mascardi and arrive at the Isla Corazón viewpoint. The route offers views of Cerro Los Emparedados and continues along the upper Manso River until you reach Pampa Linda, from where you have a privileged view of Cerro Tronador. The last stretch will take you through the Vuriloches Valley and a shady forest, ending at the impressive Ventisquero Negro, an emblematic glacier with its striking black ice formations. Cerro Tronador, at 3,454 meters above sea level, dominates the landscape with its three peaks (International, Argentine and Chilean), offering an unforgettable experience that captures the natural grandeur of Patagonia.

We will pick you up around 09:00 hrs. We remind you that the schedule is estimated, but we will make sure to contact you days before to provide you with the exact time and guarantee a smooth experience. We depart from Bariloche, driving along the picturesque Onelli Street and National Route 258, enjoying the panoramic views along the Gutierrez and Mascardi lakes. The imposing Cerro Tronador, known as Anon by the indigenous people, stands as the highest peak of the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Our trip takes us along well-marked gravel roads, crossing the bridge over the Manso River and bordering Lake Mascardi along its western shore. We will cross the Vuriloches Valley and a shady forest before arriving at Ventisquero Negro, a black glacier that rises from the immaculate summit of Cerro Tronador. Here, you will witness the source of the Manso River, which descends from the mountain to the Atlantic Ocean. The tour will reveal the three characteristic peaks of Tronador: Argentino (3410 m), Internacional (3554 m) and Chileno (3474 m), creating a breathtaking view that captures the essence of natural majesty. But the adventure does not end here; you also have the option to explore the remarkable Los Alerces Waterfall. Continuing along the main road, you will border Lake Los Moscos and the Manso River until you reach Lake Hess.

Leaving Bariloche we head south on Route 40 (which goes to El Bolsón), after passing Lake Gutierrez and Lake Mascardi we turn right onto the road to Tronador. This road leads to the Manso Medio River, where it forks. There, instead of crossing the bridge over the river, we continue along the road passing by Los Moscos and Hess lakes. Then we cross the bridge over the Roca River and arrive at a parking lot, from here the tour continues on foot and after a short walk we reach the Mirador de la Cascada los Alerces. This is a beautiful 20-meter high waterfall that the Manso River makes on its way shortly after leaving Lake Hess. This river of cold and crystalline waters has the particularity of flowing into the Pacific Ocean, in Chile. The waterfall can be appreciated from a wide viewpoint, surrounded by a dense forest of tall coihues and humid walls full of ferns and mosses. In this sector, the forest has the particularity of having some specimens of larches, hence the name of the waterfall. Then we continue the tour to Pampa Linda, a mandatory stop for lunch. After lunch we continue the tour to the end of the road and arrive at the foot of the highest mountain in the National Park, the Cerro Tronador, so named because of the sound produced by the breaking and detachment of the glaciers housed in its summits. From this point we can see the Manso River Glacier, commonly called "Ventisquero Negro", reaching the end of the tour. From here we return to Bariloche.

Discover the natural majesty of Puerto Blest and the Cascada de los Cántaros on this exciting excursion on Lake Nahuel Huapi. From Puerto Pañuelo, we will sail west, passing by the Centinela islet, where the remains of the illustrious Perito Moreno, pioneer of the Argentine National Parks, rest. Continue the journey to the imposing Cascada de los Cántaros, located in the lush Valdivian rainforest. Walk among ancient larch trees and lush vegetation until you reach the Cantaros Lake, where this spectacular waterfall is born, fed by the pure waters of the region. Then, we will sail briefly to Puerto Blest, from where you can explore the picturesque bay and the shores of Lake Frias, whose emerald green waters come from the glaciers of the imposing Cerro Tronador, marking the natural border between Argentina and Chile. Let yourself be captivated by the history, natural beauty and tranquility of this unique corner of the world, guided by our National Park experts who will enrich your experience with invaluable information. Experience unforgettable moments at every stage of this extraordinary journey.

Embark on a full-day tour to Cerro Tronador and Ventisquero Negro. Admire the views of the glaciers and eternal snow on the mountain. Stop at Lake Mascardi, Playa Negra, and the rapids Mirador de la Isla Corazón. Depart from the center of the city and take route 40 to the south. Border Lake Gutierrez and see Cerro Ventana and Cerro Catedral. Continue to Lake Mascardi, a beautiful lake with a variety of colors depending on the sunlight. Arrive at the entrance of the Nahuel Huapi National Park and start a curvy ride on a mountain road. See the vegetation among coihues and cañas colihues. Make short stops on Lake Mascardi, visit Playa Negra, the rapids Mirador de la Isla Corazón, and Pampa Linda. Arrive at a glacier plain and have the first view of Mount Tronador. The name of this mountain comes from the Mapuche language and it is due to the frequent noise produced by the ice. Cerro Tronador serves as the border between Argentina and Chile and is the highest peak of the Patagonian region in this mountain range sector of the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Arrive at the base of the mountain and appreciate its eternal snow on the summit, the glacial ice called Ventisquero Negro, and the lagoon formed by the melting of the glaciers.

We invite you to experience the Circuito Chico, a 60-kilometer round trip that immerses you in the stunning natural landscapes of San Carlos de Bariloche. Throughout the journey, you'll be accompanied by our specialized guide, who will provide fascinating insights into the history and curiosities of Bariloche and its surroundings. The circuit follows the shores of the Nahuel Huapi and Moreno lakes, offering breathtaking views at every turn. We start from the city center along Avenida Ezequiel Bustillo, heading towards Playa Bonita, where you'll get a chance to admire Isla Huemul. At kilometer 17, we’ll stop at Cerro Campanario, where you can take the chairlift up and enjoy an unparalleled panoramic view of the lakes and mountains that frame the region. Continuing on at kilometer 25, you'll discover the iconic Hotel Llao Llao, along with the picturesque Capilla San Eduardo and Puerto Pañuelo, the starting point for boat tours on Lake Nahuel Huapi. The tour continues through the Llao Llao Municipal Park, crossing the Puente Angostura, where the Moreno and Nahuel Huapi lakes meet. Here, you will also enjoy unique views of Bahía López and the imposing Cerro Capilla. Further ahead, we’ll arrive at one of the most spectacular viewpoints of the circuit, where you can admire the Llao Llao Peninsula surrounded by the lakes, one of Bariloche's classic postcards. To finish, we cross the bridge over Lago Moreno and pass by Laguna El Trébol before rejoining Avenida Bustillo, which will take us back to the city. An unforgettable tour to discover the most iconic landscapes of Bariloche! In order to book this tour, you must reserve at least 48 hours in advance. Otherwise, we will not be able to confirm your reservation.

Embark on a Bariloche to Puerto Varas journey, starting in downtown Bariloche. A scenic bus ride takes us to Puerto Pañuelo, where a catamaran awaits for a picturesque sail across Lake Nahuel Huapi. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenery and surrounding forests. Disembarking at Puerto Blest, we board a bus to the Frias River border, journeying to Puerto Alegre. Another boat ride across Lake Frias brings us to Puerto Frias, marking our Chilean entry. Our bus traverses Perez Rosales National Park, showcasing the Andes Mountains' impressive vegetation. If the tour is from Bariloche to Puerto Varas, lunch will be at Puerto Blest, but if it's from Puerto Varas to Bariloche, lunch will be at Peulla. Post-lunch, our adventure continues with a scenic voyage across Todos los Santos Lake to Petrohué. Weather permitting, enjoy stunning views of Osorno, Tronador volcanoes, and Puntiagudo Hill. Our route takes us through Petrohué waterfalls, along Llanquihue Lake, concluding our journey in Puerto Varas city center.