Victoria Island

Information

It is a 31 km² island, making it the largest island in Lake Nahuel Huapi. It belongs to the national park of the same name (Nahuel Huapi). It is part of Neuquén Province, with its southern end very close to what is considered the border with Río Negro. Its shoreline is irregular with rocky areas and sandy beaches alternating along the shore, as well as numerous inlets and protrusions with bays and small peninsulas.

Boats leave from Puerto Pañuelo in San Carlos de Bariloche to visit the island. The typical excursion they offer combines a visit to the "arrayán" forest on the Quetrihué Peninsula followed by a visit to Victoria Island, with options for a half-day or full-day trip. Keep in mind that the excursion ticket normally does not include the boarding fee or the national park entrance fee, which must be paid separately before boarding.

Visitors usually arrive on the island through Puerto Anchorena. It has restrooms and usually a café that sells drinks and food. There are a variety of attractions to see including beaches, rock paintings associated with Indigenous peoples who inhabited the region, viewpoints and forests. These can be explored on foot thanks to several available trails, which have different levels of difficulty and allow visitors to learn about the history, nature and geography of each place. One feature worth highlighting is that native plant species from the Andean-Patagonian forest coexist on the island with exotic species introduced through former forestry projects.