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Characteristics of the area |
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Our cottages and “the Piltri” (Piltriquitrón mountain)
Our cottages are located at the foot of the road leading up to Mount Piltriquitrón, in grounds with woods and flowerbeds filled with seasonal flowers or plants. We are within walking distance of the center of El Bolsón where you can do your shopping or just wander about the town or browse through the great arts and crafts fair.
The Piltriquitrón mountain (“hanging from the clouds” in Mapuche language)
“The Piltri” (2,260 meters over sea level) is said to have strong positive energy which deeply influences the inhabitants of the area. Its forests of cypresses and cohiues, together with the buckthorns and a variety of bushes and wild flowers, profusely cover the mountainside. In the fall, the ochre, golden and orange tones contrast with the wide range of greens found in the summer. In winter the snow covered mountain tops and in spring/fall the burst of colors from the flowerbeds make this one of the most visited places in the area. There is a way up leading off from route 40, 3 km from El Bolsón’s ACA. It’s a gravel road which skirts the mountain until it arrives at the mountain shelter, passing through the “carved wood” and the “pampita” (small plain) where the paragliders jump from.
El Bolsón
El Bolsón is the most important center of the Andean Region of Parallel 42, made up by villages in Rio Negro and Chubut provinces. It is located in Rio Negro, 126 km from Bariloche. Apart from its typical Patagonian architecture, vast number of trees and flowers, El Bolsón has various banks, supermarkets and all types of shops. It is internationally known for its arts and crafts fair which can be found right in the center of the town.
PLACES OF INTEREST NEAR THE BOLSÓN
Cerro Amigo (Friendly Hill)
Three hundred meters from our cottages there is a viewpoint, surrounded by autochthonous vegetation, which may be easily accessed by foot or by car until very close to this panoramic viewpoint. From here you can get a good idea of the size of the valley and find the farms which surround the urban center. You can climb Cerro Amigo either following easy paths up, or, for those braver souls, there are short climbs up rocks.
Camino de Los Nogales
Cabeza de Indio (Indian Head)
This is another “must” place to visit and does not take more than half a day. It is a course in the valley made by the old bed of the Azul river which carved out the faces of the native people in the rocks. A peaceful walk in this circuit allows you to fully appreciate the thick mantle of autochthonous vegetation and the rocks worn by the river.
Bosque Tallado (Carved Forest) in Mount Piltriquitrón
A different wood, where the experienced hands of local craftsmen have carved out the dried trunks of native “lenga” trees, and created beautiful sculptures Skiing and snowboard slopes on Mount Perito Moreno Twenty kilometers away from the center of El Bolsón, going towards Mallín Ahogado, there is a skiing center which includes a shelter and ski lifts. There are slopes for all kinds of skiers from beginners up to the highly experienced, with the possibility of skiing through a breathtaking forest. There is a view of the valley and you can enjoy it summer and winter as the shelter remains open all year round. You can rent skiing equipment, sledges, skis and snowboards.
Lago Puelo (Lake Puelo)
One of the most beautiful lakes in Patagonia. Its shores are made up of stone or sand, interpretative pathways (Bosque de las Sombras (Shadow Wood), Pitranto Grande and Pitranto Chico) and the most amazingly transparent water. On board the Juana de Arco it is possible to reach the point which marks the boundary with Chile as well as visit exceptional places. By this means one reaches one of the three places in the world where you can appreciate the “Valdivian jungle” with its unique characteristics. Its strange flora and fauna include marsupials (miniature monkeys) and vegetation which includes giant ferns in the lowest pass of the southern mountain range.
Refugio Hielo Azul (Hielo Azul shelter)
This is another “must” outing. Of the mountains near El Bolsón, the Hielo Azul has the most important glacier.
Horseback Riding
There are fine horses which you can rent with or without a riding guide. This kind of outing offers the possibility of visiting the beautiful places which can be found in the outskirts of El Bolsón.
Parapente (Paragliding)
Soaring the sky over El Bolsón with a paraglider becomes an unforgettable experience. Gliding through the air, we imagine we are imitating birds |
Ingreso a Cabañas Las Grullas
Camino interior a nuestras cabañas. Al fondo, el cerro Piltriquitrón
Cerro Piltriquitrón en verano
Refugio del "Piltri" en pleno invierno
Río Azul, pasa por El Bolsón y desemboca en el Lago Puelo
Pistas de esquí y snowboard en el Cerro Perito Moreno
Buenos caballos pueden ser contratados con o sin "baqueano"
Parapente sobre el cerro Piltriquitrón (Foto tomada desde nuestras cabañas) |
