Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi

Created in 1934, Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi is the oldest national park in Argentina. It’s also one of the largest, encompassing more than 7,050 square km (2,720 square miles) along the eastern side of the Andes in the provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro, on the frontier with Chile. Since much of the park is covered by lakes—Lago Nahuel Huapi being the most sizable one—some of your exploration will be by boat to islands, down narrow fjords, or to distant shores on organized excursions. Multiple hiking trails also wind through the park, leading visitors from the thick undergrowth to open lakeside beaches. Nearby destinations such as the Circuito Chico, Circuito Grande, Tronadór, or the ski area at Catedral can be done in a day.