Why the Road of the 7 Lakes suits hostel travelers
Wind in your face on Ruta Nacional 40, a deep blue lake suddenly opening between coihue trees, and a low-key hostel terrace where hikers compare trails over Malbec. This is the rhythm of Argentina’s Road of the 7 Lakes, the stretch between San Martín de los Andes and Villa La Angostura that turns a simple road trip into a sequence of lakeside stopovers. For hostel-focused travelers, it is not just a scenic drive ; it is one of Patagonia’s most sociable corridors.
The route links the northern edge of Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi with Parque Nacional Lanín, passing a chain of lakes such as Lago Lácar, Lago Espejo and Lago Correntoso. Hostels cluster at both ends of the road, in San Martín de los Andes to the north and around Bariloche and Villa La Angostura to the south, with a few quieter options in between. You sleep in town, then spend the day on the road of the 7 lakes, returning to a shared kitchen and a familiar common room.
Compared with staying in a remote cabin, hostels along this route offer something crucial : flexibility. You can decide at breakfast whether to hike a forest trail, rent a car for a full day loop, or join others for a cycle ride along the lakeshore. The atmosphere is relaxed but not chaotic, more Patagonia trekking base than party strip. If you want late-night bars, you stay closer to central San Carlos de Bariloche ; if you prefer early starts and quiet nights, you gravitate toward San Martín or Villa La Angostura.
Mapping the route: where hostels actually are
Hostel beds do not line the asphalt of the Road of the 7 Lakes itself. They anchor the three main hubs : San Martín de los Andes in the north, Villa La Angostura midway, and San Carlos de Bariloche further south on the shore of Nahuel Huapi Lake. This matters when you plan, because you will sleep in town and treat the road as a day excursion rather than a place to stay every few kilometres.
San Martín de los Andes, set at the eastern end of Lago Lácar, feels compact and walkable. From a hostel near Avenida San Martín, you can reach the bus terminal on foot in about 10 minutes, then take public transport towards the national park or the start of a trail. Many travelers base themselves here for two or three nights, using one full day for the classic Road of the 7 Lakes drive and another for hiking or kayaking on the lake.
Villa La Angostura sits closer to the middle of the route, on the northern arm of Nahuel Huapi. Hostels here tend to be smaller, often in chalet-style houses set back from Ruta Nacional 40, with forest around and a short walk down to Bahía Brava or Bahía Mansa. It is a good compromise if you want to be near Lago Espejo and Lago Correntoso without the busier feel of Bariloche popular districts.
Bariloche vs San Martín vs Villa La Angostura
Choosing your base along the Road of the 7 Lakes is less about distance and more about personality. San Carlos de Bariloche, on the south shore of Nahuel Huapi, is the largest city in the region and the most connected. Hostels here range from simple dorm houses near Calle Mitre to more design-conscious properties overlooking the lake, with easy access to Cerro Otto and the surrounding national park. Expect a broader mix of guests, from long-haul backpackers to short-break visitors from Buenos Aires and the United States.
San Martín de los Andes feels more intimate. Streets like Rivadavia and Villegas are lined with low-rise wooden façades, gear shops and cafés where hikers linger over late breakfasts. Hostels here tend to attract walkers and cyclists planning multi-day routes north towards Junín de los Andes or south along the Road of the 7 Lakes. Evenings are quieter, with more talk of the next trail than of the next bar.
Villa La Angostura sits between the two, both geographically and in mood. It is closer to Bariloche by road, yet the pace is slower, with easy access to Lago Espejo, Lago Correntoso and the forested peninsula that stretches into Nahuel Huapi. For travelers who want hostel sociability but prefer a small-town setting, this is often the sweet spot. If you plan to spend more time on the road lakes viewpoints than in city streets, Villa La Angostura makes sense.
How to travel the Road of the 7 Lakes from a hostel base
Most hostel guests experience the Road of the 7 Lakes as a loop or one-way journey between San Martín de los Andes and Villa La Angostura, sometimes continuing to Bariloche. Renting a car for a day remains the most flexible option. With your own car, you can stop at smaller miradores, detour to gravel tracks leading down to a hidden beach on Lago Villarino, or linger when the light turns golden over Lago Falkner without watching the clock.
Public transport exists but shapes the day differently. Buses run along Ruta Nacional 40, connecting the main towns and some intermediate points, yet they are not designed as hop-on, hop-off sightseeing services. If you rely on buses, you will likely choose one or two key stops and then explore on foot, perhaps following a marked trail from the road down to the shore of a lake. It is workable, but less spontaneous.
Cycling the route appeals to more athletic travelers. Some hostels can help arrange bike rental, and the idea of a free, self-paced ride between lakes is seductive. In practice, the road has traffic, the distances are significant for a single day, and weather in the Andes can shift quickly. A hybrid approach often works best : use a car or bus for the main road, then cycle shorter sections near your base, for example around Villa La Angostura or along the quieter stretches near Lago Espejo.
What to expect from hostels along the lakes
Inside, hostels on Argentina’s Road of the 7 Lakes lean into wood, stone and large windows rather than neon and noise. Common rooms often frame a view of a lake or of the surrounding hills, with long tables where guests spread maps of the national park and compare notes on the best time to start a particular trail. The atmosphere is practical and outdoorsy ; you are more likely to find a rack of hiking boots drying by the door than a DJ booth.
Dorms usually come in standard configurations, from four to eight beds, with a growing number of properties offering private rooms for couples or friends who want hostel energy but more privacy. Bathrooms tend to be shared, though some higher-end hostels now include en-suite options. Kitchens are central : this is where a traveler from San Martín de los Andes might share tips with someone heading south to Bariloche, or where a group plans a full day circuit of the Road of the 7 Lakes over late-night pasta.
Outside, expect gardens, decks or small terraces rather than extensive resort grounds. In San Carlos de Bariloche, some hostels sit up the hill from the centre, trading a short climb for a wider view of Nahuel Huapi Lake. In Villa La Angostura, others hide among lenga trees, a few minutes’ walk from the main route but close enough to reach the bus stop on foot. The luxury here is not marble ; it is waking up, stepping outside, and seeing the light change over the water.
Planning your stay: timing, weather and profiles
Season shapes everything on the Road of the 7 Lakes. The best time for most hostel travelers runs from late spring to early autumn in the southern hemisphere, roughly November to March, when trails are open, days are long and the lakes invite at least a quick swim. In January and February, the route becomes more popular with Argentine holidaymakers, so you share the viewpoints but also gain a livelier hostel common room.
Outside high summer, the mood shifts. In shoulder seasons like November or March, you may have more space at the miradores along the road and on paths within the national park, but evenings cool quickly and some seasonal services reduce their hours. Winter brings snow to the surrounding Andes and turns Bariloche into a ski hub ; hostels stay open, yet the Road of the 7 Lakes itself becomes more about dramatic views than about lakeside picnics.
This corridor suits certain traveler profiles particularly well. Solo travelers find it easy to meet others planning similar routes, whether continuing north towards Junín de los Andes or south deeper into Patagonia. Couples who enjoy shared kitchens and informal spaces but still want a calm night can choose smaller hostels in San Martín or Villa La Angostura. If your priority is nightlife, you will likely prefer staying closer to central Bariloche and treating the lakes as a daytime escape.
Key checks before you book a hostel on the Road of the 7 Lakes
Location within each town matters more than it first appears. In San Carlos de Bariloche, a hostel on or near Calle Mitre places you close to bus stops for the national park and to services for renting a car, while a property higher up the hill offers better views of Nahuel Huapi but a steeper walk back at night. In San Martín de los Andes, staying within a few blocks of Avenida San Martín keeps you near both the lakefront and the bus terminal.
Access to the Road of the 7 Lakes itself is another filter. Some hostels can help arrange car rental or connect you with small-group excursions that cover the full day circuit, stopping at key lakes such as Lago Espejo, Lago Correntoso and the viewpoints over Lago Villarino and Lago Machónico. If you plan to rely on public transport, verify how far you must walk to the nearest bus stop on Ruta Nacional 40 and how often services run at the time of year you are visiting.
Finally, consider the balance between social energy and rest. A larger, centrally located hostel in Bariloche popular areas will naturally attract a more diverse, sometimes noisier crowd, including short-stay visitors from the United States and Europe. Smaller properties in Villa La Angostura or San Martín often feel more like shared mountain houses, with evenings spent around a single table. Neither is objectively better ; it depends whether you want to trade a quiet night’s sleep for a busier common room and more spontaneous plans for the next day on the road.
Are hostels on the Road of the 7 Lakes a good choice for first-time visitors to Patagonia?
Yes, hostels along the Road of the 7 Lakes work very well for first-time visitors because they combine easy access to iconic Patagonian scenery with a straightforward travel structure. You can base yourself in San Martín de los Andes, Villa La Angostura or Bariloche, join others for a full day drive along the lakes, and still return to a familiar bed and a shared kitchen. The area is well set up for day hikes, scenic stops and simple logistics, so you experience the Andes without needing complex planning.
Can I visit the Road of the 7 Lakes without renting a car?
It is possible to experience the Road of the 7 Lakes without a car, but you will need to accept some limits. Regular buses run along Ruta Nacional 40 between San Martín de los Andes, Villa La Angostura and Bariloche, and some excursions operate from hostels or local agencies. However, public transport does not stop at every viewpoint, so you will see fewer lakes up close and have less flexibility with timing. If you want to stop often and explore side trails, renting a car for at least one day is more practical.
How many days should I stay to enjoy the Road of the 7 Lakes from a hostel?
A minimum of two nights in one base town is advisable, giving you one full day for the Road of the 7 Lakes and another for local hikes or lake activities. Many travelers choose three or four nights, especially if they split their time between San Martín de los Andes and Bariloche or Villa La Angostura. This slower pace allows you to enjoy hostel life, adjust plans to the weather and explore both the road and nearby national park trails without rushing.
Is the Road of the 7 Lakes suitable for solo travelers staying in hostels?
The Road of the 7 Lakes is particularly friendly to solo travelers, and hostels amplify that. Common rooms and shared kitchens make it easy to meet others planning similar routes, whether for a shared car rental, a hike near Lago Lácar or a cycle ride around Villa La Angostura. The towns along the route feel manageable in size, and the typical activities are group-friendly, so you rarely feel isolated even if you arrive alone.
What is the best time of year to stay in hostels on the Road of the 7 Lakes?
The best time to stay in hostels along the Road of the 7 Lakes is during the southern hemisphere spring and summer, from November to March. During these months, days are longer, most trails in the surrounding national parks are accessible, and the lakes are at their most inviting. High summer in January and February brings more visitors and a livelier hostel atmosphere, while November and March offer slightly quieter roads and cooler evenings with fewer crowds.
Sources: Administración de Parques Nacionales Argentina, Secretaría de Turismo de Neuquén, Municipalidad de San Carlos de Bariloche.