Expert Guides and Geographic Insights for Los Alerces National Park in Argentina

Patagonian wilderness protecting ancient alerce forests and pristine lake chains

Los Alerces National Park

Los Alerces National Park occupies a remarkable position in the Argentine Patagonia, spanning the transition between the Andes and the Patagonian steppe. The park's western boundary follows the Chilean border through a landscape shaped by glacial activity over millennia, creating a distinctive terrain of u-shaped valleys, terminal moraines, and dramatic cirques. The park is organized around a hydrological system of nine major lakes connected by rivers and streams, beginning at Lake Rivadavia and flowing through Green Lake, the Arrayanes River, Lake Menéndez, Futalaufquen Lake, and Kruger Lake before reaching the Amutui Quimey Reservoir and ultimately the Futaleufú River, which exits the park into Chile. This chain of lakes and rivers forms the entire drainage basin within the park boundaries. The park consists of two management zones: a strictly protected national park covering 187,379 hectares and an adjoining national reserve of 71,443 hectares where most visitor facilities and infrastructure are located. Villa Futalaufquen, the park's administrative center, sits within the protected area and serves as the hub for visitor information and park management operations.