Isla Victoria and Bosque de Arrayanes

The Isla Victoria and Arrayanes trip is the classic Nahuel Huapi boat day. The boat leaves from Puerto Pañuelo on the Llao Llao peninsula and crosses the lake for roughly six hours in total, passing forested shores and snow-topped peaks. One stop is the Bosque de Arrayanes, a grove of arrayán trees, a native myrtle with smooth, cinnamon-coloured trunks that feel cool to the touch, on a walkway through the forest, with about two hours on the itinerary. The other is Isla Victoria, the largest island in the lake, where visitors walk forest trails and see species planted over the past century alongside native trees, with about three hours on the island. The boat ride itself is half the point, with deck seating for views of the lake and the Andes, and a chance to spot waterbirds. It is a relaxed day for anyone who likes landscapes and nature without strenuous hiking. In spring, November, the forest is fresh and the lake is calm on good days, while crowds are far smaller than in January and February.

The arrayán forest is unusual. These trees grow slowly in cool, damp ground, and the oldest are many decades old, with twisted trunks the colour of cinnamon that look orange when wet. The forest here is protected within Nahuel Huapi National Park, and visitors keep to a marked walkway. The effect is quiet and slightly magical, with a green light under the canopy and the smell of damp earth.

Guided groups hear about the ecology, but you can also simply walk and look. Isla Victoria, in contrast, is open and varied, with beaches, viewpoints and forest tracks, and a century of tree planting explains the unusual mix of species.

Logistics are worth understanding. Departures leave from Puerto Pañuelo in the morning, hotel pickup is available on some tour options, and the trip lasts most of the day. Park entrance and port fees can be separate from the boat fare depending on the departure, so read what your fare covers. Bring a warm layer and a rain jacket, because weather on the lake changes fast, and wear shoes that suit forest paths.

Food is generally not included, so pack snacks or a picnic, though a cafe is available on parts of the route. The trip operates in most weather, but strong wind can change the schedule, so be flexible.

There are several operators and boat sizes, and reviews vary by day and by crew, so choose a departure with a guide in your preferred language and check the stop times. For children, the walkway and the island beaches are easy, and the boat deck is large. Combine the day with an early evening at the chocolate shops downtown, or do it the day after the Circuito Chico so the two lake views complement each other.

If you only have time for one boat trip, choose between this and the Puerto Blest crossing: Isla Victoria is gentler and more varied, while Puerto Blest offers a waterfall hike and a longer, more remote crossing.