Bariloche, Seven Lakes and the Dinosaurs (From 19th to 26th February)

A mere 36 hour bus journey from Ushuaia is the lake district town of Bariloche, where we'd base ourselves for there about two weeks before heading to the wine festival in Mendoza.

What can we say about Bariloche – urban planning gone oh so wrong. Gorgeous lakeside setting, though with no lake access and a busy road at the lake font, totally misuses it. Come on guys, tear up the road and develop the lake front!!!

Hired a VW Gol. No, not a Golf, a Gol. And kind of like reject Golf – rattly and decidedly un-VW like. But it works and is suitable transport for out week's camping expedition in the lake district. Yes, it's tent time again, and in search of adventure!

The trip to Neuquen and the Dino-Project

Argentina is a huge, huge country. The centre is filled with rolling plains, and not much else. Really, the country is vast, and the all day drive, mostly in a straight line to Villa Chocon really emphasized that! We were in search of dinosaur remains that the area is famous for, including the fabled Megasaurus, which makes Tyrannosaurus look like a a pet iguana.

Villa Chocon is a wonderfully downbeat middle of the nowhere place which has the rather unlikely attraction of an excellent museum on dinosaurs, funded by the national hydro-electric company. Stayed for two nights in the town campsite as he following day we visited the Dino-Project, a sort of student run excavation site in the middle of native South American country, filled with the occasional oil wells and dirt roads. With virtually no funding, a group of volunteers hacks through the rock in the search of fossils – the whole area is littered with them.

Parque Nacional Lanin and the Seven Lakes road

Back into the Andes and the less visited Parque Nacional Lanin, which is dominated by Volcan Lanin, standing tall over all other mountains. It's a really beautiful mixture of lakes and mountains and simple campsites.

Ahhh, camping in Argentina... a camp fire and Parilla – grill. Steaks and potatoes cooked over the fire, what more could you want?!

Spent the rest of the week leisurely touring, camping and enjoying the occasional day hike (there very few hiking trails in any of the parks, and free access is not allowed). Back to Bariloche and an exploration of the mountains surrounding the town... up a ski-lift and cable car for an aborted attempt at a rough mountain crossing, and two more days camping before a quick 17 hour bus trip to Mendoza... and the wine!

And all the pics are here!