Hotels in San Martín de los Andes

San Martín de los Andes: Patagonian Lake Town at 640 m

San Martín de los Andes sits at the eastern shore of Lago Lácar in Neuquén Province, 1,640 km south of Buenos Aires. Founded in 1898 as a military outpost, the town of roughly 35,000 residents retains a low-rise alpine streetscape regulated by a strict building code that caps structures at two storeys. The Lanín National Park, established in 1937, wraps around the town and centres on Volcán Lanín, a 3,776 m symmetrical stratovolcano visible from the main square.

Where to Stay

Most hotels concentrate along Avenida San Martín and in the Barrio Chapelco sector east of the centre, near the base of Cerro Chapelco ski resort (ski lifts operate June–October, summit at 1,980 m). Budget hostels line Calle Rivadavia; mid-range cabañas cluster along Costanera del Lago. Properties fill quickly in July (ski peak) and January (summer trekking season).

Practical Tips

• Getting there: The nearest airport is Chapelco Airport (CPC), 23 km from town; flights connect to Buenos Aires Aeroparque in under 2 hours.
• Currency: Pay in Argentine pesos; ATMs on Avenida San Martín accept international cards but carry cash for rural lodges.
• Season: July draws skiers; December–February suits trekking and kayaking on Lago Lácar.
• Ruta de los Siete Lagos: The 110 km scenic road north to Villa La Angostura is paved and driveable year-round.