Page 246 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

244  ARGENTINA REGION B Y REGION

Landscape just south of the sleepy town of El Bolsón
k El Bolsón area. It offers great opportunities today, these workshops can
for adventure sport. Mirador be visi ted on the old station
Road map B4. 75 miles (120 km) S
of Bariloche. * 20,000. @ n Ave Plataforma is a lookout point grounds, where a small, efficient
San Martín y Roca, (0294) 449-2604. offering vistas of the Andean work force hand-manufactures
( Tue, Thu, & Sat. _ La Fiesta mountains and Lago Puelo. A locomotive parts from old
Nacional del Lúpulo (Mar). further 40-minute walk away is machi nery to rebuild coaches.
∑ turismoelbolson.gob.ar the Bosque Tallado, a carved La Trochita is believed to be
forest comprising sculptures the world’s oldest functioning
Gaining its reputation as a hippy worked from the trunks of trees steam train. It was built in
retreat in the 1970s, El Bolsón is burned by a forest fire in the 1922 to trans port local wool
a laid-back town, where a early 1980s. A 3-hour trek and timber. Also on the station
relaxed atmosphere leads hikers to the grounds is Museo Ferroviario,
lingers to this day. mountain’s summit. a small museum dedicated
Buskers, backpackers, to the town’s railroad heritage.
and street vendors all Environs La Trochita departs from
converge in this town Around 10 miles El Maitén six times a week
during summer, joined (16 km) from El Bolsón, in summer.
by an increas ing num- Parque Nacional Lago
ber of families seeking Puelo was created to E Museo Ferroviario
a quieter alter native to protect trees such as Estación El Maitén. Tel (02945) 495-
Bariloche in the north. Spinning tops at Feria the hazel and the ulmo 190. Open Dec−Mar: 8am−8pm daily;
Although tourism is Artesanal native to Chile. The Apr−Nov: 9am−5pm daily. & 8
growing in El Bolsón, the local short Bosque de las Sombras on request.
economy has traditionally relied nature trail is popu lar, and rafting,
on forestry and hops grown on horse riding, and fly-fishing are
small farms called chacras. also possible in the park.
These chacras also produce
excellent organic honey, jams, } Parque Nacional Lago Puelo
and soft fruits, and can be n Oficina de Informes, (02944) 499-
visited through the year. 232. &  ∑ parquesnacionales.
Good beers made from local gob.ar
harvests can be sampled at the
well-known brewery nearby,
Cervecería El Bolsón. The l El Maitén
town’s popular market Road map B4. 43 miles (70 km) N of
place, Feria Artesanal, sells El Bolson. * 5,000. @ n Ave San
an assortment of woolen Martín y Guido, (02945) 495-016. _
and leather products, jewelry, Fiesta Nacional del Tren a Vapor (Feb).
and ceramics, all made by ∑ turismoelmaiten.com.ar
local craftspeople.
Offering great walks and An old railroad town, El Maitén
views is the nearby Cerro is where the workshops for the
Piltriquitrón. Towering over El La Trochita (Little Gauge) steam
Bolsón, this summit, at 7,415 ft trains are located. First built in La Trochita steam train halted at
(2,260 m), is the highest in the the early 1940s and still in use El Maitén station
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp282–3 and pp296–8

244-245_EW_Argentina.indd 244 05/08/16 10:42 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm