Argentine Patagonia, Argentina

Las Balsas

Price per night from$399.00

Price information

If you haven’t entered any dates, the rate shown is provided directly by the hotel and represents the cheapest double room (inclusive of taxes and fees) available in the next 60 days.

Prices have been converted from the hotel’s local currency (USD399.00), via openexchangerates.org, using today’s exchange rate.

Style

Rugged good looks

Setting

Top of the lake

Like a brooding Argentinian gaucho, Las Balsas stares out across the glacial Nahuel Huapi lake with solipsistic surety, knowing only the surrounding national park can rival its supreme position. This macho, fire-warmed place, with sturdy stone walls and open hearths, is a high-end take on the Argentinian estancia. Behind its rugged good looks though, there’s a softer side to this Patagonian pensión: a restaurant that fills the stomach; a spa that soothes the soul.

Smith Extra

Get this when you book through us:

One spa treatment a room

Facilities

Photos Las Balsas facilities

Need to know

Rooms

20, including six suites and 10 villas.

Check–Out

Noon; check-in, 3pm. Both are flexible, subject to availability.

More details

Rates include à la carte breakfast. Half board also includes lunch or dinner with soft drinks and one 50-minute massage per room; as do full-board stays, which get all meals and return Bariloche Airport transfers on top.

Also

Unfortunately, this Patagonian stay is unsuitable if you have reduced mobility.

Hotel closed

The hotel closes annually from 26 December to 10 January.

At the hotel

Gym, walking trails and free WiFi throughout. In rooms: smart TV, minibar, bathrobes, slippers and organic bath products.

Our favourite rooms

With their earthy ochre-and-clay hues, the Corner Suites show off Las Balsas’s handsome-yet-homey feel. We love the combination of hardwood floors, textured rugs, antique furniture and crisp, white linens, spread over king- or twin-size beds. But you can’t ignore the view: large windows give way onto the lake and the hotel’s quaint waterside dock. Prepare for some ooh-ing and aahing- in a contemporary Lakeview Villa, where panoramic Nahuel Huapi views are as breathtaking as the residence’s slick, sustainable design.

Poolside

After a day out exploring this part of northern Patagonia, the indoor-outdoor pool provides an enticing prospect. It has two areas: a heated section, tucked within the cosseting spa; and an alfresco extension, beside the lake. There’s a deck too, with parasols and loungers (more for relaxing, than working on your Patagonian tan). Between 6pm and 10pm, it’s for adults only, meaning grown-ups can unwind before warming up in the lakefront Jacuzzi.

Spa

In a standalone building beside the lake, the vast Las Balsas Spa is just what the doctor ordered after all that exertion. Two treatment rooms are earmarked for holistic massages, mud-therapy facials, body scrubs and more; jet showers and a toasty sauna cap off the indulgence. Pre and post treatment, there’s also a snug to relax in, with woven Argentinian textiles, a large velvet sofa and a snack menu of trout carpaccio, cheeses and carrot soup. Beyond, the great outdoors is your setting for lake rituals and forest-inspired wellbeing.

Packing tips

Plentiful layers will help you to greet the changeable Patagonian climate.

Also

It may seem strange to be talking about the beach in Patagonia, but Las Balsas is set by one, so vamos a la playa! Head down to the nearby lakeshore for a misty morning stroll or a sunset drink… there are even loungers.

Pet‐friendly

Small pooches are welcome in one of the ground-floor Studio Suites for US$200 (if you’re staying for more than seven nights, it’s US$300), but the hotel’s communal areas are for humans only. See more pet-friendly hotels in Argentine Patagonia.

Children

It’s over-12s only, except between 1 July and 15 August, when all ages are welcome and a kids’ club runs. Babysitting can be arranged on request and there’s a children’s menu at the restaurant.

Sustainability efforts

The hotel is a certified B Corp, thanks to its water- and energy-efficient practices; transparent attitude towards sustainability; birdlife conservation; community outreach, and locally sourced ingredients and materials.

Food and Drink

Photos Las Balsas food and drink

Top Table

Facing towards the lakeshore, all tables have a fantastic view, but we especially love number seven for its window-front position.

Dress Code

Casual and informal: cosy lambs’ wool jumpers and well-worn jeans.

Hotel restaurant

Patagonian classics are cooked with fine-dining flair at Las Balsas Restaurant. Chef Duvan Ochoa turns out refined starters of steak tartare with a wasabi-infused egg yolk, followed by mains of Patagonian trout with creamy, pepper purée. Argentinians are known for their sweet tooth, so make sure you save space for postres (desserts). We’re eyeing the coffee chouquette with chocolate ganache…

Hotel bar

Cosy couches abound in the bar (bag one of the Chesterfields, if you’re quick). It serves a snack-style menu of bruschettas and tapas, as well as trout carpaccio, sandwiches and lamb burgers. But let’s be real: we’re really here for the drinks, which include 150 wines, pisco sours, martinis and negronis. If you get a hankering for a midnight tipple (we’re not judging), there’s also an honesty bar, with single-malt whisky, tequila, cognac and grappa. The hotel also hosts Argentinian gin tastings, where you can sample regional spirits that are infused with local herbs alongside seasonal snack platters and sweat treats.

Last orders

Breakfast is 7.30am–11am; lunch 12.30pm–3pm; dinner 8pm–11pm. Children are only allowed at lunch. One day, skip lunch in favour of afternoon tea.

Room service

You can order dishes from a dedicated menu to your door between 7.30am and 11pm.

Location

Photos Las Balsas location
Address
Las Balsas
Cabellera de la Berenice 445 Villa La Angostura
Neuquén
8407
Argentina

Las Balsas stands on the shore of Nahuel Huapi lake in the picturesque Los Lagos region of Argentina — and at the northern limit of Patagonia.

Planes

Regional connections land at San Carlos de Bariloche airport, which is a one-hour drive from Las Balsas, via paved roads and scenic views. Another option is to fly into San Martín de los Andes, which has flights from Buenos Aires only, and takes two hours to transfer to the hotel. Staff can arrange one-way airport transfers from US$60.

Automobiles

If you hire a set of wheels in Bariloche, you’ll find that driving to Las Balsas is straightforward and takes less than 90 minutes. There’s free on-site parking with valet services and electric-vehicle charging points.

Worth getting out of bed for

Ignacio Centroni wears his ‘Clefs D'Or’ badge proudly, a sign that he’s achieved the international gold standard for concierges. A font of knowledge, he’s on hand to realise day trips and excursions. Highlights include hiking in the Arrayanes Forest; trekking in the Andean cordillera; fly-fishing on the Limay River; and kayaking on Lake Nahuel Huapi. Mountain trails and lakeside paths also make for good cycling and horse-riding territory. In winter, Las Balsas also acts as a base for ski breaks on Cerro Bayo, which opens from mid July until late September. It offers access to several lifts and a clutch of green-to-black runs, plus snowshoeing, snow-tubing and a freestyle snowboard park. Villa La Angostura is your main town: known as the ‘Garden of Patagonia’, it stands between the Lake District hubs of San Martín de los Andes and Bariloche, with a handful of harbouring upmarket restaurants, shops and bars.

Local restaurants

A remote region of large distances, Patagonia keeps things local when it comes to cuisine. Specialities include the cordero al asador (lamb on an open fire), trucha a la parilla (grilled trout) and various jams, sauces and dressings made from local berries. In  Villa La Angostura, there’s La Encantada for stone-baked pizzas, Nicoletto for handmade pastas and Tinto Bistro, which is owned by Martín Zorreguieta, the brother of the Queen of the Netherlands (no less). 

Reviews

Photos Las Balsas reviews
Juliana Rudell di Simone

Anonymous review

By Juliana Rudell di Simone, Two-wheeled trendsetter

Las Balsas is one of those magical places you have to visit once – or, ok, maybe a few times – in a lifetime. Resting at the shore of Lago Nahuel Huapi, it counts nature in its favor – from tranquil mornings by the glassy lake mirroring the mountains, to explosive sunsets night after night. 

And while some would say nature in Patagonia is a given, Las Balsas doesn’t just rest on those laurels. The property and grounds are immaculately kept and superbly private. The main house – where you’ll find yourself spending time reading by the massive stone fireplace, or with feet up on the beautifully crafted outdoor breezeway – is designed with a very cozy flow, from bedroom, to restaurant, to library; all of which offer spectacular views of the lake and mountains beyond.

Our room was particularly spectacular. We stayed at one of the studio suites, which was spacious but snug and felt as if you were a guest in a tasteful cottage. On one side of the room the lake and mountains were framed by gracious windows; the opposite side opened up to deep foliage and flower beds. During the day, it can be a little noisy as the lake frontage is a public beach which always found a handful of locals visiting but, at night, all you can hear are crickets, the sound of lapping water and the breeze. We visited in December and left our windows slightly open every night to enjoy the sounds and fresh air of Patagonia.

The spa and infinity pool were a highlight of which we took full advantage – and getting wrapped in one of the most comfortable robes we’ve ever worn was a treat. Going from the room to the spa also felt very private as the property houses a rear exit to the main house making your walk on slippers not only encouraged, but a well-deserved necessity given our long hikes in the hills during the day. 

As for the restaurant, the produce, fish and meat were very fresh and local to the region – the Patagonia trout and lamb were must-tries. The wine selection is pretty vast and, being new to the Argentinian variety, we looked to the staff for recommendations. They did not disappoint, their recommendations meeting our interests and pairing well with our courses. 

Worried you won’t be finishing your full bottle(s) over dinner? Las Balsas has a policy to keep your wine in their cellar until you are ready to start drinking again – no waste and a small detail that made us feel at home and not worried about indulgently opening a bottle in the middle of the afternoon. 

A little tip for dinner at Las Balsas, the closer you’re dining to sunset, the more memorable your experience will be. Not to keep talking about sunsets, but between sips of Malbec, bites of homemade bread and the view from their restaurant, watching the sun set over the mountains across from the lake cannot be recreated and unfortunately for this review, translated into words.

Last but not least: the people. The team at Las Balsas was clearly not trained by a big hotel corporation, but a true traveler. From check-in to check-out, and all in-between, every interaction with the staff felt like a conversation with a family member or friend eager to hear your story and share theirs. They were clear that there are many choices for lodging when coming to this spectacular region and that they appreciated our interest in staying with them, sharing secrets, itineraries and unique ways to see the northern region of Patagonia. We have traveled across the world and can only count a few locations with the level of respect and care we experienced here. 

Book now

Price per night from $399.00