Laguna Blanca National Park

Information

It is a natural area of 11250 hectares, part of which is protected as a national park and part as a reserve. It preserves its fauna, steppe environment, and the Laguna Blanca (like a lake), which covers some 1700 hectares and most of it falls within the park's boundaries. The best time to visit this place is from November to March.

To get there, it is a 35 km paved road from Zapala. This route crosses the park and allows access to its different sites:
- There is the Laguna viewpoint, from where there are views of the main body of water and its steppe environment. From there the El Escorial geological trail starts, which is about 680 metres long and lasts about 50 minutes, and is a volcanic sand path that crosses a scoria. It is common to see many lizards in this area in the midday hours during the summer (December to March).
- When you reach the vicinity of the laguna, a short dirt road opens up to a parking area. From there you can access the shore.
- Nearby there is a picnic and camping site with tables and benches called El Chimango. There is also a descent down to the shore.
- It has a visitor centre with information and toilets. From the car park, the low-difficulty, 30-minute one-way trail Paseo de la Laguna leads to a bird lookout point. From this viewpoint you can take the El Resguardo trail, which tells the original history of the area.

Remember that it is forbidden to sail in the laguna.