Exploring the Buenos Aires Province - Carlos keen

Carlos keen is located in the "Partido de Lujan"at less than 100 clicks away from Buenos Aires

It is also far from its former glory, but is still quite interesting to visit for a day and enjoy some of its country restaurants.

Also very calm and quiet for a day far from the big city.

Exploring the Buenos Aires Province - Villa Ruiz

 

Villa Ruiz, is a very small town in the "San Andres de Giles" county or Partido as they are called here.

One of the many forgotten places that used to be connected by the railroads and whose only purpose was to load the produce from the fertile pampas onto the train a and bring them to the port in Buenos Aires.

It is a charming but basically abandoned place where it is even hard to find a place to eat.

Never the less I had lunch a place called "La Pulpería" where I had some home made empanadas that were very good.

Exploring the Buenos Aires Province - Chacras San Andres - Villa Ruiz

 In the province of Buenos Aires there are thousands of Estancias and private estates that can be visited.

I had the opportunity to visit one called Chacras San Andres which is a hybrid of private homes and horse riding school and stables.

A fine sample of the Pampas nature and typical scenery of a Buenos Aires farm.

 

Trip to Bariloche in Autumn - Biking the Seven Lakes - San Martin de los Andes - Mirador Bandurrias

Deinitelly Mirador Bandurrias is worth visitng, no more than 10 clicks away from the city walking or biking.

Besides having a great view of Lake Lacar you can also see the the city from a vantage point.

Trip to Bariloche in Autumn - Biking the Seven Lakes - San Martin de los Andes - Ruta 48

There are plenty of beautiful places to visit hiking or biking around San Martin de los Andes, one of the least exiting but still nice to see is the "Ruta 48" .I found it by taking a wrong turn to go to Mirador Bandurrias.

I went by bike but it can be hiked, It was one of the most dusty and rough rabble roads I have ridded on
but it was still challenging and it will take you "the long way" to Mirador Bandurrias.

Trip to Bariloche in Autumn - Biking the Seven Lakes - San Martin de los Andes - What to eat

While in San Martin I recommend indulging in its local delicacies, such as cheese, smoked meats, trout and Lamb.

Not like the pampas where Meat and dairy products are abundant and cheap, In Patagonia Cows are rare since they lack the fertile lands full of luscious grass from the Pampas. Here most livestock consists of sheep. So I picked up some at the local butcher and cooked it myself at the hostel, but of course its served at most restos.

There are plenty of well stocked delicatessens in town that have a wide variety of cold cuts and cheese and even a store that only does smoked meat.

 

Trip to Bariloche in Autumn - Biking the Seven Lakes - San Martin de los Andes- where to stay

I was referred to the Puma Hostel back in Villa La Angostura,  located at Asunción Fosbery 535 in walking distance from the downtown area and the bus terminal

The premises are clean and it has a great kitchen, but I was more satisfied with the one in La Angostura.

The city can be toured walking and if you need to catch a bus or take a tour you can walk there from this place.

They overdid the signs on washing dishes, basically in every language unles you speack arameic  or some ancient dialect.

Trip to Bariloche in Autumn - Biking the Seven Lakes - San Martin de los Andes

 

So, if you ever go to Bariloche, you must and you probably will visit "San Martin de los Andes" a charming city located at the foot of the Andes and at the shores of Lake Lacar.

With its 30.000 inhabitants it is the province of Neuquén most important tourist destination being just close enough to Bariloche which is on another province.

It is quite temperate in Summer and early fall, but spring always is delayed and winter is also good for snow sports and activities.

Trip to Bariloche in Autumn - Biking the Seven Lakes - Villa La Angostura to San Martin de los Andes III

 

After "Cascada Vullinanco" there were another three "Miradores" before Lago Lacar, but its literally down hill for the last 20 clicks before arriving in San Martin.

So enjoy the ride cuz literally you don't have to pedal the last 20 clicks so you can actually count 108 minus twenty on this part of the trip.

When you finally see "Lago Lacar" you will rejoice and be glad you made the trip, the acces to San Martin de los Andes brings you right there.

Trip to Bariloche in Autumn - Biking the Seven Lakes - Villa La Angostura to San Martin de los Andes II

Without describing each stop of the seven lakes route I have to tell you that the trip is extremely entertaining even though it takes from 6 to 8 hours, having reached Pichi Traful wich is more or less half way in between both cities.

After stoping at Lake Falkner Y moved on to Cascada Vulliñanco where I had lunch.

 

Trip to Bariloche in Autumn - Biking the Seven Lakes - Villa La Angostura to San Martin de los Andes

So, after resting for a day (sort of) in Villa La Angosture I departed to my next destiantion on the seven lakes route, which is San Martin de los Andes, a larger city compared to La Angostura.

I left La Angostura at first light and found the road covered in a beautiful morning mist.

First stop was Lago Espejo (Mirror Lake) which greeted me with all its morning splendor, there would be 10 sight seeing other stops with equal beauty to complete the 106 km trip.

Next stop was Lago correntoso which also seems so calm in spite of its name (current lake).