Ñorquín Department
Accommodation in Ñorquín Department
Ñorquín Department reveals itself in different ways through its volcanic landscapes, thermal attractions, and trails through forests and to waterfalls. Caviahue-Copahue is located in Parque Provincial Copahue. Reserva Provincial Copahue is also one of the region’s defining natural areas: its 28,500 hectares were shaped by volcanic and glacial processes. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, start by considering the two service centres, Caviahue and Copahue. Both offer accommodation and dining options.
Skiing and thermal attractions
The Cerro Caviahue ski area has 13 lifts, 22 runs, and 325 hectares of skiable terrain. Its base station is 1,650 metres above sea level; the ski area is located in a protected area with ancient araucaria trees. The ski school offers private and group lessons for all ages and ability levels. Group lessons are available for groups of five or more. This means you can tailor a day on the slopes in different ways: with individual instruction or a group lesson, provided at least five people take part.
Termas de Copahue offer a different kind of stay. Treatments include hydrokinesiotherapy, mud and algae treatments, immersion baths, and hydromassage. Natural mineral waters, therapeutic muds, vapours, and algae come together in one place. If you want to include thermal attractions in your holiday plans alongside active days, you’ll find concrete options here that are quite different from skiing and nature trails.
Waterfalls, forests, and trails
Cascadas del Agrio were shaped by volcanic processes and glaciation. A circular route leads to four waterfalls: Cascada del Basalto, Cascada de la Cabellera de la Virgen, Cascada de la Culebra, and Cascada del Gigante. The trail is marked. In summer, you can hike it as a trekking route; in winter, it can be explored on a guided snowshoe or ski touring excursion. This gives you the choice between a summer trek and a guided winter experience when planning your activities.
Another nature experience is Cascada Escondida. The 1,800-metre footpath runs through a forest of lenga, araucaria, and ñire trees. In summer, you can hike the route; in winter, you can explore it on snowshoes. Laguna Escondida lies beyond the town. This small natural lagoon offers views of Lago Caviahue and Volcán Copahue; in summer, it can be reached by trekking, and in winter, on snowshoes, touring skis, or snowmobiles.
At Laguna Hualcupen, you can kayak, fly-fish, and take raft trips. The freshwater lagoon is about 20 metres deep and is fed by streams from the snowmelt in the surrounding mountains. During the summer grazing season, it lies on land belonging to the Millain Currical Mapuche community. This is as much a part of getting to know the area as its waterside nature experiences.
Puente de Piedra is a natural bridge made of volcanic rock, shaped by several processes of erosion. It is located among steep cliffs on the southern shore of the peninsula in Lago Caviahue. To reach it, take Ruta Provincial 26 from the tourist information office in the direction of Loncopué. After about five kilometres, a small yellow sign at a junction points to the dirt road and the trail.
Landscape, tradition, and regional cuisine
Reserva Provincial Copahue is home to araucaria forests and endemic species. Animals found there include condors, pumas, and the rare Tuco tuco del Maule. Volcán Copahue also defines the landscape: its easternmost of nine craters contains an acidic lake and has persistent fumarolic activity.
Caviahue-Copahue is surrounded by small rural settlements where Mapuche and Criollo communities live and practise transhumance. Regional cuisine includes dishes made with piñón, the fruit of the pehuén tree, and trout. Chivito al asador is also associated with the region: the dish is usually marinated with flour, beer, or ñaco and has been granted a national designation of origin. Nature, living traditions, and cuisine therefore offer different starting points for planning a trip to Ñorquín Department.
For the overall travel guide: Neuquén.
More destinations
More places within the same destination:
