Los Antiguos is part of the Corredor del Viento, a tourist route through the Patagonian steppe in the north of the province. The town brings together themes that are easy to distinguish: cherry culture and regional products on the one hand, and water and nature experiences on the other. You can plan your stay around seasonal tastings, a visit to a bird reserve or an exploration of the regional route.
Cherry Culture and Seasonal Tastings
Los Antiguos has hosted the Fiesta Nacional de la Cereza since 1991. It attracts visitors from different parts of Argentina every year. The town is known as the National Capital of Cherries, and cherry production has been established here for more than 50 years. From December to early March, visitors can taste cherries grown for export. If cherry season is important to your plans, check the current harvest period locally.
Orchards and Regional Products
Some orchards in Los Antiguos welcome visitors. There, you can tour the plantings and take part in the harvest; fine sweets, liqueurs and preserves are also available to taste and buy. The owners of Chacra “Don ValentĂn” tend it year-round. Its offerings include homemade bread and tortas fritas, served for tasting with preserves made from apples, apricots, plums and strawberries grown on the property.
Chacra “La Laguna” also offers a glimpse into local food production, with preserves made from apricots, plums, cherries and strawberries, as well as liqueurs and cakes. Wool textiles are the focus at Chacra “La Escondida.” They are made using traditional weaving techniques on the southern loom, the Indigenous loom and the triangular frame. Together, these places showcase different aspects of local crafts and products, so a visit need not be limited to cherries.
Birdwatching and Activities on the Water
The Reserva Natural Urbana Laguna de Los Juncos can be explored on foot or by bicycle. There, you can observe more than 60 resident and migratory bird species. Switching between the two modes of transport gives you a simple choice for exploring: you can visit the reserve on foot or cycle through it. Water sports on and around Lago Buenos Aires are also among the classic activities in Los Antiguos.
Route and Getting Your Bearings
The audio guide for Provincial Route No. 41 accompanies visitors along the approximately 115-kilometer stretch between Los Antiguos and Lago Posadas. The audio-guide route begins at the Mirador del rĂo Jeinimeni. This gives you two distinct points of reference: a specific viewpoint and a longer route accompanied by the audio guide. The approximate distance can help you factor the drive into your plans; it does not indicate walking time.
In the Wider Lago Buenos Aires Department Destination
The wider Lago Buenos Aires Department destination also offers nature and cultural attractions with their own distinct character. At Cueva de las Manos, a 1.5-kilometer walking trail leads to rock overhangs, sheer cliffs and a cave featuring hunting scenes, hand stencils, animal depictions and abstract figures made with mineral pigments. The paintings were created by hunter-gatherers more than 9,000 years ago.
In Reserva Natural Silvestre La AscensiĂłn, an extensive network of trekking trails runs from the shores of Lago Buenos Aires to Meseta del Lago Buenos Aires. The trails pass through coirĂłn grasslands, mallines, scrubland and rocky climbs; along the way are viewpoints, shelters and campsites in the Patagonian steppe. These examples belong to the wider Lago Buenos Aires Department destination and should be distinguished from the offerings in Los Antiguos.
Discover more destinations: El Chalten, Lago Viedma, El Calafate, Charles Fuhr, Lago San MartĂn, Colonia Francisco Perito Moreno.
Back to the wider travel overview: Departamento Lago Argentino.
