Categories
Neuquén

San Patricio del Chañar

This town, located 50 km north of the provincial capital, on the left bank of the Neuquén River, has undergone an impressive growth in recent years, thanks to the development of the wine industry and, in general, the fruit and vegetable activity. It has become a  must stop on the Wine Route in the province of Neuquén.

Toneles de vino en una bodega de El ChañarThe first settlers were Italians. They worshiped San Patricio, the patron of the town of Campo Filone, where they came from, and for that reason they named San Patricio the town as soon as they settled in 1898. “Chañar”, on the other hand, comes from the Quechua term “chical”, a thorny tree of wood that grows in the area.

In Chañar, several wineries have been established that have generated a wine and gastronomic circuit for lovers of the Patagonian fruit flavors. Thanks to the application of cutting-edge techniques in the wine production process, they have covered thousands of hectares of vines of different varietals such as Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. The high quality of its products, sold to the domestic and international markets, is because of  the climatic and geological characteristics of the region. The sandy and stony soils, the great thermal amplitude and the dry climate with constant moderate winds provide the right conditions for the development of crops and an adequate level of acidity.

Plaza de San Patricio del ChañarThe wineries offer guided tours, tastings, direct sale of their products, and some, the option of ordering exquisite dishes in their gourmet restaurants.

Every year in February, San Patricio del Chañar celebrates the provincial fiesta of Pelón. The production of this stone fruit is very important in the fields of the town, like that of the apple and the pear. During the party, sports competitions, folkloric shows, the designation of the Provincial Queen of Pelón and the presentation of regional artists take place.

If you take the route to Los Barreales, you can visit the paleontological museum, in which it is possible to observe the excavations that are made to extract fossils of dinosaurs. There, the Lake Barreales Paleontological Center (dependent on the National University of Cuyo) operates, a center for research and training of future paleontologists.

Bodega en El ChañarOn the way to the museum, you can see from the route the Lake “Mari Menucó”. In summer, this lake is ideal for water sports or sunbathing.

To get to El Chañar from Neuquén, it is necessary to take the motorway to Centenario. Then you have to continue towards Vista Alegre, cross the Engineer Ballester Dike (over the Neuquén River) to the neighboring province of Río Negro, and continue north to Villa El Manzano. To get to El Chañar, you must continue 5 km and cross again to the province of Neuquén. There will be signs announcing your arrival to the Route of the Wine, Apples and Dinosaurs.

  • Absolute Argentina

    Absolute Argentina
    A 13-day journey across landscapes so distinct they appear drawn from different worlds: the vibrant rhythm of cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, the timeless ice of the Perito Moreno Glacier, the remote stillness of Ushuaia — known as the End of the World — and the lush vastness of Iguazú...
  • Adventures in Patagonia

    Adventures in Patagonia
    A trip crafted for active travelers and those in search of genuine adventure. It connects two of Patagonia’s most emblematic destinations: the Perito Moreno Glacier, icon of the southern ice fields, and Tierra del Fuego, the legendary archipelago at the end of the world. In each location, the...
  • Bariloche, the Lakes Capital

    a large body of water surrounded by trees and mountains
    Bariloche is at the heart of the Andean Lakes District. This tour explores its most iconic routes—from the serenity of the Circuito Chico to the sweeping views atop Cerro Campanario, and the ever-changing scenery along the famous Seven Lakes Road. Between outings, there’s time to enjoy regional cuisine,...
  • Buenos Aires, Essential City

    Buenos Aires, Essential City
    This three-night journey offers a first approach to Buenos Aires, a capital with a distinctly European sensibility. The experience weaves together the contrasting layers of the city: from the colorful façades and working-class spirit of La Boca to the bustling streets and leafy parks of Palermo, a neighborhood...
  • Walking with penguins

    Walking with penguins
    A brief yet immersive journey through one of Patagonia’s most emblematic natural sanctuaries. On the Valdés Peninsula—UNESCO World Heritage Site—wildlife thrives across stark, wind-swept plains. Further south, Punta Tombo welcomes nearly a million Magellanic penguins each season. Along narrow paths etched into the steppe, one walks among them—an...
  • Iguazu Falls, water magic

    Iguazu Falls, water magic
    Staggeringly beautiful and a sensory jolt like no other, Iguazú Falls in northeastern Argentina offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Set amid lush subtropical rainforest, these thundering cascades defy description—raw, cinematic, and unforgettable.
  • W Circuit – Hiking Torres del Paine

    W Circuit - Hiking Torres del Paine
    An in-depth exploration of Torres del Paine National Park awaits, through one of Patagonia’s most iconic hiking experiences. The journey follows the famed W Circuit, named for the shape it traces across the map. Designed for those drawn to remote landscapes and long treks, this 43.5-mile (70 km)...
  • ”The spirit of the Glaciers” Cruise

    "The spirit of the Glaciers" Cruise
    Towering walls more than 50 meters high, deep blue ancient ice, majestic icebergs, and long Patagonian sunsets that set the sky ablaze—followed by nights so clear the Milky Way reflects on the lake. “Spirit of the Glaciers” is a luxury cruise aboard the exclusive Santa Cruz, offering two...
  • Australis Cruise: Ushuaia – Punta Arenas

    Australis Cruise: Ushuaia - Punta Arenas
    Cruising the fjords aboard the Mare Australis offers a rare exploration of Patagonia’s far south, through the wild archipelagos of Tierra del Fuego, following routes navigable only by Australis Cruises. The journey retraces the history of Cape Horn and Wulaia Bay—sites shaped by early exploration, indigenous presence, and...
  • El Calafate and El Chaltén Express

    El Calafate and El Chaltén Express
    A four-day journey that moves between silence and motion in the southern reaches of Patagonia. At Los Glaciares National Park, the Perito Moreno Glacier stands in full view from the walkways, vast and shifting. Aboard the Gourmet Glaciers Experience, the landscape opens further—revealing distant walls of ice, fractured...
  • Deep El Calafate and El Chaltén

    Deep El Calafate and El Chaltén
    Six days in southern Patagonia, shaped by two distinct experiences. In El Calafate, the journey includes a guided trek on the ancient ice of the Perito Moreno Glacier — a physical encounter with one of Nature’s most iconic landmarks. In contrast, El Chaltén offers two full days of...
  • El Calafate and Torres del Paine Express

    a man standing on top of a mountain next to a lake
    This cross-border itinerary links two extraordinary landscapes in southern Patagonia: the compact, crevassed surface of the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park, and the weathered granite towers of Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, rising above a mosaic of lakes and plains. From the glacier’s...
  • Deep El Calafate & Torres del Paine National Park

    Deep El Calafate & Torres del Paine National Park
    A remarkable journey that brings together the highlights of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia. It begins with a visit to Los Glaciares National Park, home to the striking Perito Moreno Glacier. The experience culminates deep within Torres del Paine National Park, with two nights at an exclusive all-inclusive lodge—an...
  • The Glaciers: Heavenly Ices

    The Glaciers: Heavenly Ices
    This itinerary includes a journey into Los Glaciares National Park to reach the renowned Perito Moreno Glacier, with time to explore the walkways and viewpoints that offer sweeping perspectives of the ice. A direct encounter with vastness, where the sheer size of the glacier speaks for itself. The...
  • Iguazu Falls & Patagonia: Glaciers and Waterfalls

    Iguazu Falls & Patagonia: Glaciers and Waterfalls
    Argentina’s two most iconic natural landmarks—both UNESCO World Heritage Sites—unfold across six unforgettable days. The colossal glaciers of Patagonia and the thundering Iguazú Falls in the country’s northeast overwhelm the senses with scale, power, and untamed beauty.
  • Valdes Peninsula, whales paradise

    Navegación de avistaje de ballenas - Puerto Madryn
    An exceptional stretch of Atlantic Patagonia, where raw nature and cultural legacy converge. At Valdés Peninsula—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—native wildlife thrives in its purest form. The journey peaks with a navigation offering a close encounter with Southern Right Whales, as they surface and glide beside the boat....
  • Deep Patagonia

    Deep Patagonia
    An itinerary that weaves together three essential Patagonian landscapes. It begins on the Atlantic coast, between Puerto Madryn and the Valdés Peninsula—home to sea lions, elephant seals, and a vast colony of Magellanic penguins spread along the rugged shoreline. The journey then continues inland to Los Glaciares National...
  • Puerto Madryn, penguins and whales paradise

    Puerto Madryn, penguins and whales paradise
    A compact journey into one of Patagonia’s most remarkable natural regions. At Valdés Peninsula—UNESCO World Heritage Site—native wildlife flourishes in raw, untamed landscapes. A boat navigation brings close encounters with Southern Right Whales—gentle giants that glide silently through the open sea. The following day unfolds at Punta Tombo,...
  • Wine Roads in Mendoza

    Wine Roads in Mendoza
    Mendoza stretches out beneath the Andes, where vineyards meet desert light and the rhythm of mountain life prevails. This tour explores both sides of the region: the calm elegance of the city—shaded squares, ordered groves, and a deep connection to water—and the vastness beyond, where the mountain roads...
  • Land of Glaciers and Seven Lakes

    Land of Glaciers and Seven Lakes
    An itinerary that connects two of Patagonia’s most iconic regions. It begins in the south, at Los Glaciares National Park, where Perito Moreno's vast walls of shifting blue ice—recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site—define the landscape. The journey then turns north to Bariloche, where the Andean Lakes...
  • Perito Moreno Glacier Trekking

    Perito Moreno Glacier Trekking
    An unforgettable experience in El Calafate: two days that lead deep into the glacial landscape. It begins atop the ice of Perito Moreno, with a minitrekking across crevasses and deep blues, followed by the famous walkways, where the glacier reveals its full scale. The next day, a navigation...
  • A week at the End of the World

    A week at the End of the World
    A journey linking the glacial vastness of the Andes with the southern edge of Tierra del Fuego. It begins in El Calafate, with time to explore the Perito Moreno Glacier, sail among drifting icebergs, and take in the stillness of the steppe. Then comes Ushuaia: crossing the Andes...
  • Tierra del Fuego: the End of the World

    Tierra del Fuego: the End of the World
    Surrounded by mountains and the waters of the Beagle Channel, Ushuaia is the gateway to Tierra del Fuego and the closest city to Antarctica. Over the course of a three day tour led by expert guides, it’s possible to explore and navigate its striking geography, learn about its...