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A timber lodge and wooden jetty on the shore of Nahuel Huapi lake near Bariloche, snow-capped Andes behind, at sunrise
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Patagonia living: lakes, mountains and four towns

Northern Patagonia's lake district offers alpine scenery, skiing and fishing a domestic flight from Buenos Aires. Here is how its main towns compare for a family home, and what to check before you buy.

Updated 8 min readSourced from official announcements

Key facts

  • Bariloche had 135,755 residents in the 2022 census and is the gateway to Nahuel Huapi, Argentina's oldest national park.
  • Cerro Catedral, 19 km from Bariloche, has about 600 hectares of skiable terrain and 39 lifts.
  • Bariloche airport handled about 2.4 million passengers in 2024.
  • Villa La Angostura (about 11,000 residents) and San Martín de los Andes are smaller lake towns in Neuquén.
  • Foreign buyers need prior approval for property inside border security zones.

Patagonia’s northern lake district looks more like the Alps or British Columbia than the image most people have of Argentina. Deep blue lakes sit between forested mountains, and small towns of wood and stone serve skiers in winter and walkers, sailors and fly-fishers in summer. The lakes are a popular second-home region for Argentine families.

This guide compares four destinations: Bariloche, Villa La Angostura, San Martín de los Andes and, in the far south, El Calafate. It closes with the legal points a foreign buyer must check.

The four towns at a glance

Town Province Best for Airport
San Carlos de Bariloche Río Negro Services, skiing at Cerro Catedral, year-round life Bariloche (BRC), 13 km east
Villa La Angostura Neuquén A quieter lakeside retreat, Cerro Bayo Usually via Bariloche
San Martín de los Andes Neuquén Small-town life, Chapelco, Lanín National Park Chapelco (CPC), about 22 km
El Calafate Santa Cruz Glaciers, summer visits El Calafate (FTE), about 20 km east

Bariloche: the capital of the lakes

San Carlos de Bariloche sits at 893 metres on the southern shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi. With 135,755 residents in the 2022 census, it is the main town of the lake district and has hospitals, private schools, shops and restaurants.

The town grew around tourism and the national park. Nahuel Huapi National Park, first protected in 1922 and reorganised in 1934, is Argentina’s oldest national park and covers about 7,050 km² across Río Negro and Neuquén. Much of Bariloche’s character comes from the architect Alejandro Bustillo, who designed the Llao Llao Hotel. The present building, of stone and concrete, opened on 15 December 1940 on a hill between Lake Moreno and Lake Nahuel Huapi.

Cerro Catedral, 19 km from town, is described as one of the largest ski areas in South America. It has about 600 hectares of skiable terrain, 39 lifts and some 48 km of runs. The heaviest snow falls between June and August.

Residential choices range from apartments in the town centre, many with lake views, to houses along the scenic Circuito Chico road and near Llao Llao. We could not find a reliable 2025–2026 source for property prices by area, so ask several local agents and compare.

Access. Bariloche airport (BRC) handled about 2.37 million passengers in 2024. Aerolíneas Argentinas, Flybondi and JetSMART fly from Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza and other cities. Seasonal international flights link Bariloche with São Paulo and Santiago de Chile in winter.

Villa La Angostura: the garden of Patagonia

Villa La Angostura, in Neuquén, lies on the north-west shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi, inside the national park. It has about 11,000 residents and a quieter, more exclusive feel than Bariloche. Behind the town, Cerro Bayo (1,782 m) has a small ski resort. On the Quetrihue peninsula, the Los Arrayanes National Park protects a rare forest of cinnamon-barked arrayán trees.

The town is close to the Cardenal Antonio Samoré pass into Chile. Most visitors arrive through Bariloche airport and drive around the lake. Families choose Villa La Angostura for lakefront houses, fishing in the Correntoso river and lake, and a slower pace.

San Martín de los Andes: small-town life

San Martín de los Andes sits at the eastern end of Lake Lácar in southern Neuquén. It began as a military outpost in 1898 and turned to tourism after Lanín National Park was created in 1937. The park covers about 379,000 hectares and is known for its lakes, araucaria and lenga forests, and trout and salmon fishing.

In winter the Chapelco ski resort is the main draw. The town’s airport, Aviador Carlos Campos (often called Chapelco), is about 22 km away. National Route 40 links San Martín to Villa La Angostura through the lakes, a drive often called the Seven Lakes Route.

El Calafate: the glacier town

El Calafate, in Santa Cruz province far to the south, is a different proposition. It sits on the shore of Lake Argentino and grew from 6,410 residents in 2001 to 22,844 in 2022, driven by tourism. The Perito Moreno Glacier, about 80 km away in Los Glaciares National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981), is the most accessible of the park’s large glaciers, reachable by road.

El Calafate has an international airport (FTE) about 20 km east of town. Winters are harsh, with temperatures that can fall below −17 °C. For most families it is a place to visit or to own a lodge investment, rather than a year-round home.

The seasons

  • Winter (June to September). Ski season at Catedral, Chapelco and Cerro Bayo. Snow conditions vary each year.
  • Spring (October to November). Quiet, with wildflowers and fewer visitors.
  • Summer (December to March). Long days for sailing, hiking, fishing and cycling. The busiest time in El Calafate.
  • Autumn (April to May). Forests turn red and gold.

Some owners use their houses in two seasons, ski in winter and lake in summer, and rent them out in between. If you plan to rent, check local rules and tax treatment.

Buying property: what to check

Border security zones

The Andean lakes run along the border with Chile. Under Argentine law, foreigners need prior approval (previa conformidad) from the Ministry of the Interior’s frontier directorate to buy, lease or take possession of property inside a Zona de Seguridad de Fronteras. The rule covers both urban and rural property. The application can be filed online or through the notary.

We could not confirm from an official source which parts of Bariloche, Villa La Angostura or San Martín de los Andes lie inside the zone. The national geographic institute (IGN) publishes a map tool to check each plot. Ask your notary to run this check before you sign.

Rural land

Larger plots and estancias count as rural land. The 2011 Rural Lands Law banned foreign ownership of land containing significant bodies of water, which affected many lakeside properties. That law was repealed by DNU 70/2023. A court restored it in 2024, but on 29 September 2026 the Supreme Court revoked that ruling on standing grounds, without deciding the constitutional question. The opposition is still trying to reject the decree in Congress. Take specialist advice before buying rural or lakefront land; see our guide to buying property in Argentina as a foreigner.

National parks

Much of the lake district lies inside or next to national parks. Building and use rules in and near the parks can be strict. Check planning rules, access and services with the municipality and the park authority before you buy.

Patagonia and citizenship

A house in Patagonia does not give residence or citizenship. Families who want an Argentine passport may consider the Argentina citizenship by investment programme announced on 2 October 2026. Its legal basis, DNU 366/2025, was ruled against by the Cámara Nacional Electoral in June 2026 and is under appeal to the Supreme Court; read our legal status update. Compare Patagonia with Mendoza wine country, and for a confidential discussion, request a private briefing.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best town in Patagonia for a second home?

Bariloche offers the most services, the busiest airport and Cerro Catedral. Villa La Angostura is smaller and quieter, on the north shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi. San Martín de los Andes suits families who want a small town with skiing at Chapelco. El Calafate is a glacier destination rather than a year-round base for most families.

When is the ski season in Bariloche?

Winter runs from June to September, and the heaviest snowfall at Cerro Catedral usually comes from June to August. Exact opening and closing dates depend on snow each year.

Can foreigners buy property in Bariloche or Villa La Angostura?

Yes, foreigners can buy property in Argentina, but parts of the Andes near Chile fall within border security zones, where foreign buyers need prior approval from the Ministry of the Interior. Check each plot with your notary and the national geographic institute's map tool.

Are there international flights to Bariloche?

Bariloche airport (BRC) has seasonal international flights, including to São Paulo and Santiago de Chile in winter. Most visitors connect through Buenos Aires.

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