Puerto Blest & Los Cántaros Waterfall Day Trip from Bariloche

Seven hours on the lake and in the rainforest, with the choice of how far to walk

A full-day tour from Bariloche sails across Nahuel Huapi Lake to Los Cántaros Waterfall, where you walk a wooden trail through Valdivian rainforest, then continues to Puerto Blest for free time to explore or rest. The defining trait is flexibility: you choose your walking distance on the rainforest trail, and you can add an optional Lake Frías extension for glacier views. A live guide in Spanish and English narrates the boat sections. Pickup from Bariloche is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Nahuel Huapi Lake and Waterfalls

• Travel from Bariloche to Puerto Pañuelo
• Sail across Nahuel Huapi Lake
• View Centinela Island from boat
• Explore Valdivian rainforest trail
• Visit Cántaros Waterfall and lake
• Boat cruise to Puerto Blest
• Free time at Puerto Blest
• Optional bus and boat to Lake Frías
• Cruise back to Puerto Pañuelo
• Return to Bariloche drop-off points

The experience

The tour starts with a drive from your Bariloche pickup point to Puerto Pañuelo on the Llao Llao Peninsula, then a one-hour boat cruise across Nahuel Huapi Lake. During the sail, you pass Centinela Island (a panoramic stop where Francisco Pascasio Moreno, founder of Argentina's national parks, is buried) surrounded by Andean mountains and Patagonian forest. The boat then reaches Los Cántaros Waterfall, where you disembark to walk a wooden stepped trail with four viewpoints and covered rest areas through the lush Valdivian rainforest. The full trail has roughly 700 steps, but you decide how far to go: some travelers walk only to the first viewpoint, others continue to Cántaros Lake and a 1,500-year-old larch tree at the source of the waterfall.

After the waterfall, a short boat ride takes you to Puerto Blest, where you have about an hour and a half of free time. Most travelers use it to walk nearby trails, photograph the green waters of the Frías River, or buy lunch. This is where the optional Lake Frías extension branches off: if you choose it, you travel by bus about 3 kilometers to Puerto Alegre, then take a 20-minute boat ride across emerald Lake Frías to Puerto Frías near the Chilean border before returning the same way. The tour ends with a final cruise back across Nahuel Huapi Lake and a return drive to your Bariloche drop-off point. Total time is about 8.5 hours from pickup to return.

The boat tour includes an audio guide in Spanish and English. A live guide in Spanish is also present. Children under 3 years old don't require a seat on land excursions. Meals are optional and available for purchase. The Lake Frías extension is a paid add-on at checkout.

What’s included

• Boat tour on Nahuel Huapi Lake with audio guide in Spanish and English.
• guided walk through Valdivian rainforest to Los Cántaros Waterfall with wooden trail and viewpoints.
• free time at Puerto Blest to explore trails or rest.
• pickup from Bariloche hotels and return drop-off.

Options for this experience

2 options

Puerto Blest and Cántaros FallsGuide in Spanish · 09:00Frías Lake not included, pickup is included

Tour with Frías LakeGuide in Spanish · 09:00Frías Lake included, includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 100

Live guideSpanish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 28

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by ParaViajantes Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want the flexibility to walk as much or as little as you're comfortable with in the rainforest. The trail has four stopping points, so you control the pace and distance. The Lake Frías extension works if you have the energy and want to see the emerald lake and glacier views near the Chilean border, but it's optional and doesn't cut into the Puerto Blest free time unless you book it.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).

How much walking is involved in the rainforest at Los Cántaros Waterfall?

The wooden trail has approximately 700 steps with four viewpoints and covered rest areas, but you choose how far to walk. Some travelers stop at the first viewpoint, while others continue to Cántaros Lake and the ancient larch tree at the top. The operator notes that moderate physical fitness is recommended for the full experience.

What happens at Puerto Blest, and how long do we stay there?

Puerto Blest gives you roughly an hour and a half of free time to explore nearby trails, photograph the Frías River, rest, or purchase lunch. If you book the Lake Frías extension, some of that time is used for the bus and boat ride to Lake Frías instead.

Is the Lake Frías extension worth adding, and what does it include?

Lake Frías is an optional add-on you choose at checkout. It involves a 3-kilometer bus ride from Puerto Blest to Puerto Alegre, then a 20-minute boat crossing of emerald Lake Frías to Puerto Frías near the Chilean border, with a few minutes to spend there before returning. It adds glacier and border views to the day.

What's included in the tour price, and what costs extra?

The boat tour on Nahuel Huapi Lake, the guided rainforest walk at Los Cántaros Waterfall, and pickup from Bariloche are included. Meals are optional and available for purchase. The Lake Frías extension is a paid option you add at checkout. National Park admission and any boarding fees are separate.

Does the tour operate in bad weather, and what time does pickup start?

Pickup begins 1 hour and 30 minutes before the tour departs. The itinerary notes that return times may vary depending on weather and navigation conditions on the lake, so plan flexibility into your day.