Argentina🇦🇷 | national parksParque Nacional los AlercesAncient alerce trees, Futalaufquen lake, temperate rainforest | things to do and best time to go

Trails here range from flat forest strolls to steep, rooty climbs, and the terrain often mixes lakeshore gravel with sudden elevation gain through dense lenga and coihue woods. Wildlife sightings include guanacos, foxes, and occasionally the elusive pudú, a small native deer. Condors circle the higher ridges. Most trails see light foot traffic outside January, which makes for quiet walking but also means you should carry your own water and food.

• Cerro Alto El Petiso: 8km round trip, 5-6 hours, moderate to difficult, steep sections with panoramic lake and mountain views at the summit.
• Sendero Lago

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Trails here range from flat forest strolls to steep, rooty climbs, and the terrain often mixes lakeshore gravel with sudden elevation gain through dense lenga and coihue woods. Wildlife sightings include guanacos, foxes, and occasionally the elusive pudú, a small native deer. Condors circle the higher ridges. Most trails see light foot traffic outside January, which makes for quiet walking but also means you should carry your own water and food.

• Cerro Alto El Petiso: 8km round trip, 5-6 hours, moderate to difficult, steep sections with panoramic lake and mountain views at the summit.
• Sendero Lago Verde: 2km one way, 1 hour, easy, flat path through forest ending at a green-water lake.
• Sendero Cascada Los Alerces: 1km loop, 30-40 minutes, easy, leads to a small waterfall and old-growth alerce stand.

Public transport inside the park is sparse; a shuttle bus runs from Esquel in summer, but a rental car gives far more flexibility. The entrance fee runs a few thousand Argentine pesos depending on season, and crowds concentrate around the boat dock and main campgrounds in January.