Villa La Angostura is one of the most beautiful cities in the Patagonia, with about 12.000 inhabitants and one of the most important touristic centers in Argentina.

History of the town

The native inhabitants of the region were the "Mapuches"; they came from the other side of the "Andes" (mountain range) more than five centuries ago.

In the middle of the XIX century the "cacique Sayhueque" had his establishments, he was called "The Lord of the Sheeps" due the great quantity of sheep that he possessed. That area has also been called "The Country of the Apples", due to the great quantity of apple trees brought by the Jesuit at the beginning of that century.

Decades later, little by little, the Europeans, who introduced agriculture and cattle raising in small scale, begun to establish in that area. Their communication and supplies were brought via extensive horse trips from Chile and through the "Peyehue Pass", or from Bariloche, skirting the lake Nahuel Huapi or navigating it in precarious crafts.

Toward 1902, and once the questions of limits with Chile was settled, this whole area stayed under Argentinean sovereignty. In order to foment the establishment of residents and to secure the national sovereignty, the Argentinean government founded the "Nahuel Huapi Pastoral Colony"; granting lands to colonists under certain conditions.

In 1903, an Italian colonist who had a great enthusiasm and vision arrived into town. His name was Primo Capraro and, with time, he would become the main promoter of the regional development. Year after year the village grew, continuing its development pace, until it took an important peak by the time the "Winter Sports Center " and "Bayo Hill Ski Center" were created.

Location

Villa La Angostura is located on the north coast of the Lake Nahuel Huapi, at 800 meters above the level of the sea, in the South end of the Province of Neuquén; between mountains and forests.

Climate

Its climate is defined as cold temperate with dry station. The rain levels are relatively high in Autumn and together with the snow of the Winter, are important for the forestal mass of the Park. In the Winter it has average temperatures of 2º Celcius; in the Summer the levels of humidity range between 15% and 20%, with temperatures that reach near to 30º Celcius (Dry Station).

Activities

Extensive forests and mountains turn Villa La Angostura in a touristic center that features a plethora of touristic activities like: cavalcades, rafting, ski, trekking, trips to the Victoria Island and The Arrayanes Forest, and trout fishing among other activities. The Bayo Hill offers a Ski Center in the winter and it is the epicentre of all winter and snow related activities in the mountains. It possesses outstanding lodgings for tourism in Cabins, Bungalows and Hostels.

International Phone Code: +54 2944