Lago Baguilt, a Tranquil Haven in the Heart of Patagonia

To the south of Los Areces National Park, near the Argentine city of Esquel, lies the Lago Baguilt Protected Natural Area, created to preserve a dense Andean forest consisting of lenga, ñire, and coihue trees, showcasing a unique beauty to visitors.

This area is located in the heart of Argentine Patagonia and spans 15 square kilometers, where the contrast of the eternal white snow at the summit meets the green of the forests blooming in spring, along with other colors contributed by the sediments of the glacier that nourishes it.

As for the lake itself, it sits at over 1,000 meters elevation and is part of the Futaleufú River basin, which flows into the Pacific Ocean through the Yelcho River, already within Chilean territory. Measuring 2.5 kilometers long and 350 meters wide, it is often a regular stop for experienced hikers and climbers aiming for the summit of Cerro Cónico. Less experienced adventurers can reach it by 4x4, mountain bike, on horseback, or by foot through a more than 7-hour hike that rewards with views of the snowy slopes of the glacier it feeds.

Indeed, Baguilt is the last access point on the Huella Andina Patagonia trail, which starts in Neuquén and traverses the Andino Norpatagonico Biosphere Reserve, incorporated by UNESCO into the network of trails in this territory in 2007.