Argentina’s lake district is an area that lies at the foot of the Cordillera de los Andes south of the city of Neuquen. It‘s full of vast glacial lakes, pristine blue rivers, native forests and volcanoes.

The alpine-style town of Bariloche on the shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi is a popular destination in winter, when it serves as a base for Argentina’s most established ski resort, Cerro Catedral. The city is full of restaurants, cafes, bars and countless chocolate shops.

South of Bariloche is the bohemian-style village of El Bolson flanked on either side by craggy mountains. Farther south still is the original little Patagonian town of Esquel, from where La Trochita, Paul Theroux’s Old Patagonian Express departs. Nearby is the ski resort of La Hoya, the pretty Welsh town of Trevelin and the Parque Nacional Los Alerces.

To the north a long and winding road passes along seven lake shores to the town of San Martin de los Andes beyond which is Volcan Lanin. Further north on a level with the city of Neuquen is the tiny lakeside village of Pehuenia alongside Lago Alumine. It is surrounded by a much more arid landscape and some of the most amazing monkey-puzzle (araucaria) forests.

To the east is Neuquen which marks Patagonia’s most northern limits. It is around here where some of Argentina’s most significant dinosaur fossils have been uncovered at El Chocon and near Plaza Huincal.