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The trip starts on the road

Getting to Villa Pehuenia and Moquehue means starting to disconnect from the car window — that's where nature begins.

Explore the map below to pick your best route in. If you're flying in or would rather not bring your own vehicle, we can arrange a rental car pickup from Neuquén city or San Martín de los Andes, so you start your trip with everything sorted.

In the last stretch, pavement gives way to gravel and the horizon blends into araucaria forest and mountain. It's the exact point where the city falls behind and everywhere you look is a postcard — the moment to shift down a gear, roll the window down, and drive at the pace of the scenery.

Route guide Villa Pehuenia and Moquehue

Choose your route from Zapala:
  • From Zapala · RP 13 (Primeros Pinos) — 120 km, 55 km gravel — the most direct
  • From Zapala · RP 23 (Pino Hachado) — 155 km, only 35 km gravel
  • From Zapala · RP 46 (El Rahue) — 210 km via Aluminé — winter alternative when the other two close
  • From Aluminé · RP 23 — 61 km
  • Icalma Pass (Chile) — international crossing, minutes from Villa Pehuenia
  • From Neuquén city — 310 km
  • From Caviahue — approx. 210 km
  • From San Martín de los Andes — 209 km via Aluminé, approx. 4:35 hs
  • From Temuco (Chile) — approx. 145 km, crossing at Icalma
Gravel road heading toward Villa Pehuenia, with the Andes in the background
Gravel road along the river, surrounded by araucaria trees, on the way to Villa Pehuenia

If you're not driving yourself

By plane

The nearest airports are Neuquén (Presidente Perón, NQN) and San Martín de los Andes (Chapelco, CPC). Aerolíneas Argentinas, Flybondi and JetSmart fly to Neuquén from Buenos Aires (~2 hour flight); Aerolíneas Argentinas and Austral fly to Chapelco. From either one, the last stretch is by car or bus.

If you'd like, we can help arrange a rental car or transfer.

By bus

Campana Dos connects Villa Pehuenia with San Martín de los Andes on Tuesdays and Thursdays (departs San Martín 17:30, arrives here 22:10 via Aluminé; the return leaves here at 5:00 AM), and also runs Zapala–Neuquén city daily.

Albus runs a daily Neuquén → Aluminé → Villa Pehuenia service (departs Neuquén 6:30 AM, arrives here 12:00 PM; the return leaves here 3:40 PM) that also stops in Zapala along the way — the most direct option if you're coming from there.

Schedules change by season — confirm before buying your ticket: Campana Dos ( campanados.com.ar / call 0299-4890083) or Albus ( albus.com.ar).

Special mention: the Circuito Pehuenia. Once you've settled in, this is the must-do drive of the area: a roughly 124 km loop along Provincial Route 11 that winds past Lake Aluminé, Lake Moquehue, Lake Ñorquinco, Lake Nompehuén and Lake Pulmarí, through ancient araucaria forests and lookout points that will leave you speechless. Plan for a full day (5 to 7 hours with stops), mostly well-maintained gravel, and fill up your tank before setting out — there are no gas stations along the way. It's doable from November to April; in winter the circuit closes due to snow.

See the full circuit on Google Maps → See prices and packages →
Vista aérea del lago y la cordillera nevadaVista aérea de la península de Villa Pehuenia sobre el lagoCordillera nevada y bosque de araucariasKayaks recorriendo el lago entre araucarias en veranoMesa junto al ventanal con vista al lagoVehículo 4x4 en un camino nevadoPersona contemplando el lago y la cordillera nevadaVista aérea del lago con la meseta de fondo

Questions about the road?

Tell us where you're coming from and we'll tell you the best route depending on weather and season.

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