A GUIDE FOR TRAVELING THE 7 LAKES ROAD BY BIKE AND NOT FAILING IN THE ATTEMPT
Recommendations and tips for self-guided cycling along Argentina´s famous 7 Lakes road. Day-by-day itineraries with suggested stops at campsites, dorms or lodgings to enjoy the most wonderful Patagonian route.
Follow the steps below and enjoy the trip!
Traveling by plane with your bike is stressful. Forget about logistical issues, breakages, or lost equipment. The easiest way is to rent a bike at the starting point of your trip and return it at the end. Simple, right?
Our bikes include all the accessories you need to travel safely and comfortably. Cycling helmet, hand pump, special travel seat, multi-tool, chain tool, patches, handlebar cell phone holder, water bottle, and spare inner tube. Our bikes are all 29-inch wheels, available in sizes S, M, L, and XL. Hydraulic disc brakes, a choice of 27- or 18-speeds, and Shimano Alivio components.
You’ll need to carry some gear for the journey. It’s important to choose waterproof and durable cargo gear and a good-quality rack.
You can opt for rear panniers, a trailer, or bikepacking setup. Rear panniers are generally the most practical and lightweight gear for this type of bikepacking trip.
Rent Halawa 50-liter pannier kit that’s 100% waterproof, a 5-liter handlebar bag, and a reinforced luggage rack.
Remember to travel light. You should only carry what you need for 4 or 5 days of biking.
Here we have an important question to answer. Where do we sleep, in a tent or in a hostel?
If you like to camp and plan to travel in December, January, February, or March, don’t hesitate. Rent a tent and a sleeping bag, or you can bring your camping gear. You won’t regret it.
If you’re traveling in October, November, or April, you should consider sleeping indoors. During the months of May, June, July, August, and September, it’s not recommended to travel by bike in Patagonia. We also don’t operate during those months.
We invite you to read this comparison so you can decide where to sleep.
TRAFUL
CLASSIC
ARRAYANES
7 LAKES CLASSIC The best months to travel this route are: the second half of November, December, February, March and early April.
7 LAKES BY MYRTLES FOREST The best months to travel this route are: Second half of November, December, January, February and March.
7 LAKES BY TRAFUL The best months to travel this route are: October, November, December, March and April.
Recommendations are based on many variables and our personal experience. Factors such as prevailing winds, campsite or lodging availability, vehicle traffic, soil quality, catamaran schedules, temperature, and average monthly rainfall are generally taken into account.
TRAFUL
CLASSIC
ARRAYANES
Keep reading, and below we’ll tell you exactly where you should stop sleep night depending on the route you choose, the type of accommodation you’ve chosen, and the number of days you’ll be traveling. Take note of this valuable information!
Don’t forget these 4 tips, they are the ABCs of bicycle touring
Pack the essentials, calculating the number of days you’ll be cycling. Travel light.
Don’t push your body to the limit, or you won’t be able to continue the next day.
Everyone has their own travel pace; 40 to 50 km per day is a good distance.
If you dedicate more days to a route, the cycling sections will be shorter and the journey will be easier.
Pros: The 7 Lakes Classic Route is 100% paved. It’s a fast route and has a very good selection of campsites, all with lakefront and wonderful beaches. Ideal for road cycling enthusiasts. Beautiful views of the lakes throughout the trip. Suitable for touring with a tent and camping gear.
Cons: Chances of head winds on stage 1, especially during spring. Heavy traffic during the summer season. There are no hotels or cabins from Dina Huapi to Bahía Manzano, so coordinating a hotel or cabin for night one is very difficult.
Pros: Variety of landscapes, terrain, and vegetation. Beautiful gravel roads. Three distinct geographical zones are crossed: the steppe, the transition forest, and the Andean forest. You can see the large rivers flowing from the mountain range. It’s easy to arrange stops in cabins or tents.
Cons: The gravel road from Confluencia to Ruta 7 Lagos is very busy during January and February. There’s a lot of dirt and dust during those months. There’s a chance of headwind between Confluencia and Villa Traful, especially during spring. Long climbs and steep gradients on stages one and two.
Pros: Bike and boat tour, with a boat crossing across the majestic Nahuel Huapi Lake. In addition to the 7-lake route, you’ll also cycle along the famous Bariloche small circuit and the myrtle forest trail on the Quetrihué Peninsula. You’ll see extraordinary landscapes that can only be spotted from a boat.
Cons: The boat ride is expensive, and the schedules during october, november and April are not convenient. Stormy days can close the Arrayanes Trail due to the risk of falling trees. This is rare, but it can happen. The windiest months are October and November. Camping is not allowed on day 1, so you’ll have to pay for accommodation. The Arrayanes Trail is difficult if you’re traveling with a heavy load. We recommend stopping at accommodations on this route.
Cost: $ VERY CHEAP
Day 1: Bariloche Camping Los Cipreses – 50km
Day 2: Camping Los Cipreses Free camping Espejo Grande – 49km
Day 3: Free camping Espejo Grande Free camping lake Villarino – 51km
Day 4: Free camping lake Villarino San Martín de los Andes. Puma Hostel – 56km
S.M de los Andes: bike drop-off and lodging at Puma Hostel
Cost: $$ CHEAP
Day 1: Bariloche Camping Don Horacio – 51km
Day 2: Camping Don Horacio Lago Espejo Chico. Camping Espejo Chico – 56km
Day 3: Camping Espejo chico Lago Falkner. Camping nuevo Falkner – 44km
Day 4: Camping nuevo Falkner San Martín de los Andes. Puma Hostel – 55km
S.M de los Andes: bike drop-off and lodging at Puma Hostel
Cost: $$ CHEAP
Day 1: Bariloche Camping Mañke Ruca – 43km
Day 2: Camping Mañke Ruca V. Angostura. Camping Rosenda – 43km
Day 3: V. Angostura Lago Correntoso. Camping 7 lagos – 30km
Day 4: Lago Correntoso Lago Hermoso. Camping Lago Hermoso – 51km
Day 5: Lago Hermoso S.M de los Andes. Puma Hostel – 40km
S.M de los Andes: bike drop-off and lodging at Puma Hostel
Cost: $$$ MODERATE
Day 1: Bariloche Dina Huapi. Cabañas Clarita – Short stage – 17 km
Day 2: Dina Huapi Bahia Manzano. El Bosque DOT – Long stage – 60km
Day 3: Bahía Manzano Lago Correntoso. Hostería 7 lagos – 42km
Day 4: Lago Correntoso Lago Hermoso. Villa Pudu Pudu – 52km
Day 5: Lago Hermoso San Martín de los Andes. Puma Hostel – 40km
S.M de los Andes: bike drop-off and lodging at Puma Hostel
Cost: $$ CHEAP
Day 1: Bariloche Villa Llanquín. Camping Don jacinto – 43km
Day 2: Villa Llanquín Villa Traful. Camping Traful Lauquen – 58km
Day 3: Villa traful Lago Falkner. Camping Lago Falkner – 65km
Day 4: Lago Falkner San Martín. Puma Hostel – 55km
S.M de los Andes: bike drop-off and lodging at Puma Hostel
Cost: $$ CHEAP
Day 1: Bariloche Villa Llanquin. Camping Don Jacinto – 43km
Day 2: Villa Llanquín Villa Traful. Camping Paloma Araucana – 55km
Day 3: Villa Traful Lago Correntoso. Camping 7 lagos – 30km
Day 4: Lago Correntoso Lago Hermoso. Camping Lago Hermoso – 52km
Day 5: Lago Hermoso San Martín. Puma Hostel – 40km
S.M de los Andes: bike drop-off and lodging at Puma Hostel
Cost: $$$ MODERATE
Day 1: Bariloche Villa Llanquín. Cabañas Orillas del Limay – 43km
Day 2: Villa Llanquín Villa Traful. Domos Vulcanche – 55km
Day 3: Villa Traful Lago Villarino. Hostería Villarino – 60km
Day 4: Lago Villarino San Martín. Puma Hostel – 56km
S.M de los Andes: bike drop-off and lodging at Puma Hostel
Day 1: Bariloche Villa Llanquín. Hostería la Maroma – 43km
Day 2: Villa Llanquín Villa Traful. Costa Traful – 55km
Day 3: Villa Traful Lago Correntoso. Los Radales – 30km
Day 4: Lago Correntoso Lago Hermoso. Villa Pudú Pudú – 50km
Day 5: Lago Hermoso San Martín. Puma Hostel – 40km
S.M de los Andes: drop-off de bicicletas y hospedaje en Puma Hostel
Cost: $$$$ HIGH
Day 1: Bariloche Llao Llao. Gran Hotel Panamericano – 47km
Day 2: Llao Llao Lago Correntoso. Hostería 7 lagos – 43km
Day 3: Lago Correntoso Lago Hermoso. Villa Pudú Pudú – 47km
Day 4: Lago Hermoso San Martín. Puma Hostel – 40km
S.M de los Andes: bike drop-off and lodging at Puma Hostel
