Things To Do in Villa La Angostura

Parque Nacional Los Arrayanes -- The Parque Nacional Los Arrayanes is home to the only two arrayán forests in the world (although the arrayán can be found throughout this region, including in Chile), one of which can be visited at the tip of Península Quetrihué. This fascinating bush grows as high as 20m (66 ft.) and looks to the untrained eye like a tree, with slick cinnamon-colored trunks that are cool to the touch. They are especially beautiful in the spring when in bloom.

The peninsula itself offers a pleasant 24km (15-mile) round-trip moderate hiking and biking trail to the arrayán forest. Most visitors either walk (2-3 hr.) or bike (1-2 hr.) half the trail and then boat to or back from the park; you can also take the boat both ways (trip time: 2 1/2 hr.). From the interior side of the port at Bahía Mansa, the Catamaran Futaleufú (tel. 02944/494004, or 02944/494405 at the dock; www.bosquelosarrayanes.com.ar) departs daily at 2pm, and in high season at 10:30am, 2pm, and 5:30pm. The return trip costs $32 (£22) per person; one-way costs $18 (£12). Bettanso Excursiones has a 50-person boat with daily departures at 2:30pm, and six to seven trips during the summer for the same price as Paisano (tel. 02944/495024). Bettanso also offers excursions to Isla Victoria and Puerto Blest.

Villa La Angostura is a main stop on the popular Ruta de los Siete Lagos from Bariloche. It's also the last stop on the road to the border with Chile. That, unfortunately, means the main street is a thoroughfare for tractor-trailer trucks making their way south from Puerto Montt to southern Chile (there is no road through southern Chile, so all transport has to come through Argentina).