Map

Visiting volcanic sands and hot baths See map

Lake Curruhue

The tour begins by taking from Junín de los Andes to the south (towards San Martín de los Andes) by National Route 234. Shortly after crossing the Curruhué river, turn right in Provintial Route 62 (see map) and after about 30 kilometers you reach in lake Curruhué Chico with camping areas on its shores. Five kilometers later, overlooking Lake Curruhué Grande (or narrow), which extends along a valley of 13 kilometers surrounded by impenetrable forest of Nothofagus that in autumn look wonderful colors.

The waters of this lake are transparent, greenish, with small waves caused by winds from the west and southwest. You can also observe an ancient forest of Araucaria (pehuén) with specimen of three thousand years.

Total round journey from Junín de los Andes: 90 km.

Lagoon Verde

Continuing the journey through a beautiful but somewhat dangerous road that goes into deep forests, 55 km of Junin and northwest of Lake Curruhue Grande, you get to Lagoon Verde. It is characterized by its low coasts and vast beaches of volcanic sand, where it is a wild camping.

It can be seen in this area a curious formation known as Escorial, a layer of lava indicted in an ancient glacial valley. The lava on its surface is abraded and has three substantial changes: one of "slab lava", another of large areas of loose slag that are like plowed fields, and finally a cluttered space that look up of "block lava". The length of the slag is about 7.5 km, with a maximum width of 2.5 km and a minimum of 110 meters that dies in the lake Epulafquen. This lake drains, as the lakes Paimún and Carilafquen on Lake Huechulafquen.

Total round journey from Junin de los Andes: 110 km.

Epulafquen Thermal Baths

At the Baths of Lahuen Co or Epulafquen you can access by continuing along Provincial Route 62, after traveling 64 km from Junín de los Andes. For those who enjoy hot baths there are in the place basic facilities and the type of accommodation is an organised camping site.

The baths are in a small glacial cross valley, wet and swampy terrain, through which flows the river Oconi tributary of Lake Carilafquen (Green Lake) and the stream of baths that joins Oconi river, through a marshland area south to north.

22 thermal springs in an area of ​​approximately 5 hectares have been studied. The strands form circular wells with 2 meters in diameter. They come in two groups on both sides of the river Oconi.

A short distance from the hot baths, continuing on Route 62 you get to International Pass Carirriñe (green cane) for summer use only. The closest cities in Chile since there are Liquiñe, Coñaripe and Lican Ray.

Total round journey from Junín de los Andes: 132 km.