To the south of Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi in a beautiful valley flanked by mountains is the incredibly tranquil, distinctly Bohemish town of El Bolson, meaning large bag. It's full of vegetarian restaurants, small boutique breweries, ice-cream parlours, bars and cafes, and several times a week an arts and crafts market spreads across Plaza Pagano. El Bolson is a great place to relax for a few days or go trekking in the surrounding mountains, one of which is Cerro Piltriquitron, a so-called energy centre that emits positive ions.

Not far from El Bolson is the small Parque Nacional Lago Puelo and the tiny settlement of Cholila close to where bank robbers Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hauled up for a few years on the run from the American authorities.