7 LAKES BY ARRAYANES FOREST

GUIDED OR SELF-GUIDED 4 DAYS

7 LAKES BY ARRAYANES FOREST

GUIDED OR SELF-GUIDED 4 DAYS

Distance:

196,4 Km

Estimated time:

4 Dias

Difficulty:

3

HOW TO RATE THE DIFFICULTY OF A ROUTE OR A BICYCLE CIRCUIT?

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY:

1- Very easy: A very easy circuit, is suitable for people who can ride a bike on flat asphalt roads and then stop without stumbling. You must have basic notions of braking and shifting. You must have sufficient balance to ride the bike in a straight line without making sudden involuntary maneuvers to the sides.

2- Easy: to pedal on an easy circuit you need to have fluid shifting management that allows you to climb an asphalt slope or pedal on a flat surface without making greater effort, optimizing the energy of your legs at all times. You must also know how to differentiate and use both brakes correctly, the front and the rear.

3- Intermediate: to pedal a circuit of intermediate difficulty, you must master the skills mentioned above, both on asphalt and gravel roads and on low difficulty trails. You must also have an understanding of the correct body position on different terrains and braking precision on slippery terrain and on descents. It is important that you skillfully handle the gear change, both the plates and the sprockets.

4- Difficult: a difficult circuit is suitable for experienced cyclists who know how to pedal on uneven terrain with obstacles, climbs, descents and adverse conditions, such as mud, sand or stones. The cyclist must have good control and control the bicycle at all times, optimizing performance through precise use of gears. It is also necessary to understand how to take advantage of the acceleration of descents to successfully overcome dirt climbs and obstacles such as logs or loose rock.

5- Expert: to master an expert level circuit, it is necessary to train regularly and have physical strength. The pilot must be able to perform jumps and maneuvers at high speed without losing control at any time. It is necessary to master all pedaling, turning and braking techniques on narrow trails with steep slopes of more than 30%, and know how to avoid obstacles such as steps, rocks, roots and slippery ground with mud or dust.

 

PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY:
We cannot rate the physical difficulty of a bike route, since it strictly depends on the level of training that each person has. As a reference we can say that 35 kilometers by bike is approximately equivalent to 10 kilometers on foot. Circuits with many meters of ascent and gravel surface are more demanding from a physical point of view. In conclusion, we can affirm that a person with an average training, can pedal a distance of 35 to 45 kilometers without major inconvenience, during a period of 4 to 5 hours including rest stops.

If you opt for an e-bike, the physical effort decreases considerably, up to 60% less depending on your riding and pedaling skills.

Unevenness:

2.685 mts

Asphalt:

62 %

Gravel:

26 %

Ferry:

12 %

For Ebikes:

si

A fantastic way to complete the 7 lakes journey is to do it by combining pedaling with the traditional catamaran boat tour around Victoria Island and the Arrayanes forest.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This trip is only possible during the months of December, January, February, and March. During the off-season, boat departure times and the opening and closing times of Los Arrayanes National Park make it difficult to coordinate the trip smoothly.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Depart from our base and head west towards Colonia Suiza. After lunch in the village, you can tour the Circuito Chico and spend the night near Puerto Pañuelo in the Llao-Llao area. Camping is not allowed in this area, so you will need to stay in a cabin or inn.

Day 2: You must board the catamaran for the Arrayanes Forest. The boat takes approximately 2 hours to reach the Quetrihué Peninsula. Disembark on the peninsula and pedal 11 km along the Arrayanes Trail to reach the town of Villa la Angostura. Continue pedaling 25 kilometers north along the 7 Lakes route to either Lake Espejo Chico or Lake Correntoso. You will spend the night there. You can sleep in your tent or rent a dome.

Day 3: Pedal along the paved road along the 7 Lakes to either Lake Villarino or Lake Hermoso. It is possible to spend the night in your tent. Cabins are also available.

Day 4: The final leg along the 7 Lakes Route to San Martín de los Andes. About 15 km before San Martín, you have two roads to choose from: a gravel road through the Arrayan viewpoint, or the paved Route 40.

CATAMARAN

You can purchase lake excursions with CAU CAU or TURISUR. In January and February, boat tickets must be purchased five days in advance.

Buy your ticket on the website: Catamaran CAU CAU

Buy your ticket on the website: Catamaran Turisur

DROP OFF

Upon arrival in San Martin de los Andes, you can return your rental equipment at PUMA HOSTEL. St. Asunción Fosbery 535. Landline: 02972 42 2443

7 LAKES GUIDED TOUR THROUGH ARRAYANES

If you prefer to take this excursion with a guide and an organized group, ask about our 7 lakes through Arrayanes guided tour.

SUGGESTED ITINERARY AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ROUTE OF THE 7 LAKES

MAPS AND GPS

To view the route on your cell phone, you must first download Maps.me application from GPS APPLICATIONS. Then download the route in .KML format with DOWNLOAD ROUTE button and open it with the application. You will be able to see the route and your relative position without data connection anytime, anywhere.