Argentina Tours & Travel | Los Alerces National Park
Los Alerces National Park was established in 1937 to protect the humid temperate forests of ancient Fitzroya cupressoides (similar to the giant redwoods) on the Patagonian Andean steppe. It is located in western Chubut Province along the Chilean border and open to visit on Patagonia tours.
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As with ancient forests elsewhere, the park's namesake tree has been threatened because of its high timber value coupled with heavy grazing. It has been a protected species in Argentina since 1945. The Alerce grows over two feet a year to a height of 220 feet, and its distinctive deep red bark, along with its leaves and resin, have medicinal qualities. The dense Alerce forests are located in the far western area of the park where some trees are between 2,500 and 3,500 years old, a memorable sight when you travel Patagonia on Argentina tours. The 650,000-acre park also contains forests of southern beech, lenga and bamboo, as well as limited areas of Chilean incense cedar and Guaiteca cypress. It has mountains, marshes, water mirrors, many lakes, rivers and streams. Its wildlife includes two deer species, huemul and the miniature puda, grey wolves and a variety of bird species.
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The park offers ample tourist facilities for visitors on Argentina tours, including a visitors' center on the shores of Lake Futalaufquen. Its accommodations range from the famed lakefront Hotel Futalafquen, to cabins and camp sites for those who prefer a more rustic adventure when they travel to Argentina. Fishing is allowed. There are marked trails for hikes of various distances as well as routes for mountain bikes and horses. The most interesting of the hikes is the Circuito Lacustre, a lake circuit that entails navigating through the Futalaufquen, Verde and Menendez lakes and the Arrayanes River to get to the magnificent Alerce forest to view its oldest specimen, the 4,000 year old El Abuelo.
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The park is located near the Futaleufu River where across the border in Chile, Southern Explorations offers three Patagonia tours, its thirteen-day Adventure Patagonia trip and its six-day and nine-day Futaleufu River Rafting trips.
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Summer weather is mild. Photographers on Argentina tours prefer to visit in autumn when the park is most stunning. It snows a good deal during the winter months. The nearest town to the park headquarters is Esquel.
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For additional information about visiting Los Alerces National Park when you travel Patagonia on Argentina tours, email infoalerces@apn.gov.ar
