In Esquel, railway history and city life meet trails and activities in the surrounding area. When choosing accommodation, you can consider whether you mainly want to explore the city’s culture, enjoy outdoor activities, or plan excursions to destinations nearby.

Railway History and Culture in Esquel

The original section of the La Trochita railway connects Ingeniero Jacobacci in the province of Río Negro with El Maitén and Esquel in Chubut. Smaller stations and stops lie between these places. The railway gives a visit a tangible historical connection without requiring you to combine its different stops into a single destination.

The Museo Histórico Municipal Esquel features the interactive exhibition “Aquí Esquel,” which covers the city’s past, present and future. Images, objects, stories and sounds convey different aspects of its identity. Those interested in local history and cultural perspectives will find a different experience here than on the trails and at the viewpoints around the city.

The Centro Cultural Melipal is also one of Esquel’s cultural destinations. It is located in the former bus station and exhibits works by various artists from the region and across the country. Casa Los Vascos is another part of the city’s history: the historic general store was founded in 1936 and has operated as a civil-law partnership since 1969. It is one of the few stores of its kind in the country and the only one of its kind in Patagonia.

Trails and Activities Around Esquel

There are various ways to get active outdoors. The Sendero A La Zeta, accessed via a dirt road, is suitable for hiking, motorcycling, horseback riding and mountain biking. The hills around Esquel are also ideal for trekking and mountain biking excursions. Their slopes, natural viewpoints and summits offer panoramic views of Esquel and its surroundings.

Laguna La Zeta is four kilometers from Esquel and is suitable for kayaking. It has been designated a municipal nature reserve since 2013 and is managed in a way comparable to the “protected landscape” category. The so-called “Rincón de las Aves” is home to a birdwatching observatory. Kayaking and birdwatching are therefore two different ways to enjoy the area around the reserve.

Rafting trips on the Río Corcovado depart from Esquel and are offered with guides and suitable equipment. Class II and III rafting is possible without prior experience. Operations may vary by season. Another activity is offered at the Centro de Actividades de Montaña La Hoya, 12 kilometers from Esquel: it has 30 ski runs for skiers of all ability levels. Operations and trail availability may vary by season.

Your choice also depends on the activity you have in mind: the trail and hills offer options on foot, on horseback or by mountain bike, while the lagoon offers kayaking and birdwatching. Rafting trips depart from Esquel, while La Hoya, with its ski runs, is another destination outside the city. These differences can help you choose where to stay without combining the various excursion destinations into a single itinerary.

Departamento Futaleufú: Parque Nacional Los Alerces

Parque Nacional Los Alerces is located in the wider travel destination of Departamento Futaleufú. It was established in 1937 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017. From Esquel, the park can be reached via Ruta Nacional 259 and Ruta Provincial 71 to Villa Futalaufquen. From Esquel, the southern part of the protected area can be reached via Ruta Nacional 259, Trevelin and the road to Complejo Hidroeléctrico Futaleufú; this road is 45 kilometers long.

Departamento Futaleufú is also crossed by a moderately difficult trail from Villa Futalaufquen to Puerto Limonao, following the shore of Lago Futalaufquen. The route is four kilometers each way. This distinguishes the park trails described here from the options near Esquel: a specific starting point, destination and route length are given.

Discover more destinations: Playa Unión, Punta Delgada, Trevelín, Puerto Pirámides, Cholila, Comodoro Rivadavia, Trelew.

Return to the broader travel overview: Chubut.