Nos Aventures
When we walked the road of the 7 lakes since Bariloche , we decided to continue a little further to the lanin national park then to Caviahue-Copahue. We tell you about our short stay in the towns of Caviahue – Copahue. Where did we stay? What can we do there? Where are the thermal baths? We went there at the end of spring when the two cities are impatiently awaiting the first tourists of the season. In spring and summer, the resort becomes a thermal center in its own right, while in winter, skis are essential. We really wanted to show you this volcanic landscape and the atmosphere that emanates from these two small towns in the middle of nowhere. What a surprise to see the active volcano, spewing a smokescreen over the town of Caviahue!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CAVIAHUE AND COPAHUE
It's hard to talk about Copahue without mentioning the nearby town of Caviahue. A road of about twenty kilometers, part of which is on track and the other on asphalt, connects these two cities. In each of these two towns there is a spa centre. A brief description of these two cities is necessary to be able to distinguish them a little more …
Copahue
Copahue is a small “tourist” village annexed to Caviahue. There are no year-round residents. The place is located at the foot of the volcano bearing the same name. Its key attraction is its thermal center which opens between mid-November and early December. It has several outdoor pools (2 pools) as well as jacuzzis and other indoor relaxation areas. The center is at the foot of the Copahue volcano with a great view from the pools. Access to the village in winter is difficult.
caviahue
The village borders Lake Caviahue, and has a slightly more distant view of the Copahue volcano compared to the village of Copahue. These two villages have less than 700 inhabitants. There is a more modest thermal center with only indoor pools.
In winter and autumn, winter sports fans have, among other things, the possibility of practicing "snow kiting", skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing or even traveling to see one of the surrounding sites ( notably the crater of the Copahue volcano). By here, winter activities to do in Caviahue and Copahue .
We had chosen to sleep in Caviahue on the advice of other travellers. The idea was to enjoy a day at the thermal baths and in the end, to be closer to any hikes to be carried out which are more from Caviahue.
WARM UP IN THE THERMAL WATERS OF COPAHUE
At 1980 meters above sea level, at the foot of the Copahue volcano, lies the city of Copahue. Its geographical location allows it to take advantage of volcanic activity, that is to say in a concrete way to benefit from the heat produced by the volcano (steam), but also from the quality of the water and these minerals. (mud, algae). Immersion in the various baths helps to respond to several health issues: osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, post-fracture rehabilitation, chronic bronchitis and sinusitis, asthma, psoriasis….In short, the ideal place to perk up during the trip. The center operates only in summer-autumn, that is to say from December (see a little before in November) until April. While in winter, the center is covered with 4 meters of snow and the village is only accessible by snowmobile.
TAKE ON ADVENTURERS BETWEEN FUMEROLLES AND LAKE
“Las Maquinitas”
After the thermal waters, we hit the road again to go to Caviahue. We stop after a few minutes (500 meters), to visit the site called “Las Maquinitas”
We park on the side of the road, and we follow a path for about ten minutes. We begin to perceive smoke there, installations make it possible to overhang the fumaroles by two to three meters. Given the state of the half-wobbly platforms and with some missing parts, we prefer to go straight down to the field. You can see fumaroles, steam, boiling water streaming from all sides. I filmed like a little pig, but it gives a little insight. It was unexpected, we didn't expect to see so much activity, what a pleasant surprise!
OUR PRACTICAL ADVICE
What to do in Caviahue-Copahue?
Arriving from the Argentinian side, the road first leads to Caviahue. At the entrance to the town is the tourist office.
From Caviahue, different walks are possible in winter with or without tourist agencies: Volcano crater (3 to 4 hours), Snow city (including the Cascada del Agrio and the viewpoint), Laguna Escondida (1 hour and a half), Cascada de Jara (40 minutes), Hito Pucon Mahuida (2 hours)….sleigh ride. See the leaflet concerning the sites of interest in Caviahue at the bottom of the article 🙂
The wind can also blow very hard, be prepared to face the Patagonian wind 🙂
Where to sleep in Caviahue?
We slept in the village of Caviahue, nicer for my taste. We treated ourselves to a great apartment just for us. The accommodation is called Laderas Blancas .
How to get to Caviahue?
Getting to Copahue and Caviahue at the start of winter can be complicated due to the accumulation of snow on the road. Find out beforehand before you go there.
Useful links
Tourist information of the municipality Caviahue-Copahue
Website of the thermal baths of Caviahue – Cophahue
Neuquen Region Tourist Information
