Villa La Angostura is a beautiful town in the Neuquen province of Argentina, situated not far from the Chile border in the northwestern part of the Patagonia region. It is an incredible spot to get away for a weekend no matter where on Earth you are from, and the views are unbeatable. I even know a guy from Germany that vacations here!

So here is a guide to (hopefully) help you plan your next trip to this amazing city.

What to do

Explore the Main Drag

Villa La Angostura’s main drag is full of nice little shops and restaurants with tons of small cultural aspects from the region. You never know what you’ll find, and all of the shop owners are super nice.

Hit The Beach

The beach in Villa La Angostura has an incredible view of the mountains and across Lake Nahuel Huapi. It’s a great place to chill, bathe in the sun, and enjoy a nice maté. But beware – the lake gets super cold! It’s not exactly the place to swim, but if it gets too hot on the beach it feels great to take a quick dip.

Parque Nacional De Los Arrayanes

Right next to the beach is an incredible national park that immediately rises high above its surroundings, giving you an amazing view of Villa La Angostura. There’s a hiking path that will take you multiple kilometers through the national park, that unfortunately I didn’t have the time to do, but there are a few really good scenic viewpoints even within the first kilometer of the hike.

Where to Eat

I don’t have a whole lot of food recommendations since we cooked at the cabin most of the time, but the following places are fantastic choices:

Antibes

Antibes is an absolutely incredible cafe/brunch spot on the main drag of Villa La Angostura, and it makes for an amazing breakfast to start the day.

El Capricho Pueblo

A delicious restaurant on the north side of Villa La Angostura, El Capricho Pueblo is a great spot for a nice dinner with an amazing view on the patio. Nicely priced, with a wide selection of food, this is the spot to be. Personally, I recommend any of the pizzas. My stomach is rumbling right now just thinking about them.

(I would upload photos of the food from these restaurants but my pictures don’t do the food justice lol)

Where to Stay

There is no shortage of cabins, hotels and hostels available for rent in Villa La Angostura, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding a nice place to stay. However, the place I can personally recommend is Cabañas Quime Quipan. They are a group of four (they may have built more by now) beautiful cabins in a quiet part of town, but not far from the city center. They’re super clean, complete with a kitchen, living area, two bedrooms, back patios and great views. The owners are also delightful!

Nearby Places to Visit

Seeing as most places are situated along the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi and most of the roads in the region are unpaved, the time it may take to get to these places may be fluid and take much longer than expected. However, they’re worth the drive nonetheless.

Bariloche

Bariloche is a larger city 1.5-2 hours from Villa La Angostura. It’s more well-known, probably with much more to do, but my time spent there was limited to only a few hours so unfortunately I don’t have many recommendations.

Cascadas Ñivinco

This beautiful set of waterfalls is about a 1-2 hour drive from Villa La Angostura and about another 30-45 minute hike through the forest, but it is so worth it. The water feels great on a hot day and the waterfalls basically feed into a little remote watering hole. The hike through the forest also has some great views and isn’t terribly strenuous, just bring hiking shoes!

Colonia Suiza

About a 90-minute drive (minimum) from Villa La Angostura is a nice quaint Swiss colony area called the Colonia Suiza. It’s a tiny spot filled with little Swiss shops and restaurants, and it makes for a nice day of exploring.

Patagonia Brewing Company

The biggest brewer in Argentina, Patagonia Brewing Company’s main brewery is about a 2-3 hour drive from Villa La Angostura. It has a great view, and the vibes in the summertime are always amazing. The brewery overlooks a chain of lakes and, if you’re a people watcher like I am, it’s a great place to people watch.

Villa Traful

Villa Traful is a beautiful little town located on the shores of Lago Traful, one of the prettiest lakes I’ve ever seen. There’s a small beach you can relax on, but once again the water gets pretty cold. I highly recommend the Mirador del Viento, it’s a fantastic viewing spot with views you won’t find anywhere else.

Traveller’s Tips

Stay on Top of Fuel Levels

Coming from the United States, the Argentinian gas station situation is much different than what we’re used to. That is, at least, when I was there. The gas stations had lines dozens of cars long, and getting gas was a constant pain. So, try to stay on top of your fuel levels and try to aim for times where the line isn’t so long. The line is almost unavoidable but just wanted to give you a heads up.

Stop and Take in the Views!

This region is one of the most incredible places I’ve ever travelled to. The mountains, the lakes, the valleys… all are unbeatable views. So make sure you stop every once in a while, whether it’s pulling over on the side of the road or looking out your cabin window. Take a deep breath and enjoy the views!

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Villa La Angostura is one of the prettiest cities I’ve ever been to. The people are great, the food is delicious, and I couldn’t recommend it more. In my opinion, exploring a country’s big cities is fun, but I think it’s even more fun to explore a country’s smaller, lesser-known cities. I had a blast in Villa La Angostura, and I know you will too.

Have fun!