Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake
Traveler rating
3.9/5
Based on 32 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake worth booking?
Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake is a 9-hour experience in Bariloche, Argentina, from $161 per person. It scores 59 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.9/5 rating across 32 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 59 / 100
- Rating
- 3.9/5 (32)
- Duration
- 9 hours
- From
- $161 per person
Take a scenic boat cruise on Nahauel Huapi Lake to Puerto Blest, where you can explore the unique natural landscape on foot and visit Los Cantaros Waterfall. A local guide will show you the sights and history of the area as you navigate Nahauel Huapi Lake, admiring the majestic cypress and coihue trees that grow in the rainforest microclimate of this area. Enjoy this family-friendly boat journey and stroll among the natural wonders of Puerto Blest on this relaxing day trip from Bariloche!
What you get
About this experience
Take a scenic boat cruise on Nahauel Huapi Lake to Puerto Blest, where you can explore the unique natural landscape on foot and visit Los Cantaros Waterfall. A local guide will show you the sights and history of the area as you navigate Nahauel Huapi Lake, admiring the majestic cypress and coihue trees that grow in the rainforest microclimate of this area. Enjoy this family-friendly boat journey and stroll among the natural wonders of Puerto Blest on this relaxing day trip from Bariloche!
What's included
Included
- Local guide
- Meeting point pickup and drop-off
- Lago Frías Extension (if option selected)
- Boat Navigation
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Admission fees
- Embarkment tax, San Carlos de Bariloche
What you'll see and do
San Carlos de Bariloche
We will pick you up at centrally located hotels in Bariloche.
30 minutes here
Puerto Panuelo
Once we arrive at Puerto Pañuelo we will embark and start sailing the Nahuel Huapi lake. Meet your sightseeing boat to Puerto Blest (national park fee and boat tax not included) and cruise over the pristine cobalt waters of Nahuel Huapi Lake.
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Nahuel Huapi Lake
Enjoy the native coihue and Patagonian cypress that line the shores, along with moss, ferns and unique fungi found only in this area.
180 minutes here
Then we will pass Centinela Island, where Dr Francisco Moreno, the national park's founder, is laid to rest. Listen to the proud blast of the boat's horn as you pass his gravesite in salute to his memory.
10 minutes here
We will navigate towards Cántaros Waterfalls, from where we can observe the majestic larch tree, which is believed to be 1,500 years old. Then, we will walk for a while and we will enter into the Valdivian jungle vegetation to reach the Cántaros lake, waterfall birthplace.
30 minutes here
Then we will go back to the boat and sail for only five more minutes to finally arrive at Blest Port, an incredible place visited by many tourists from all over. Arrive in Puerto Blest for lunch at a lakeside restaurant (own expense). After lunch, follow your guide on a leisurely walk up toward the top of Los Cantaros Waterfall. Stroll along the edge of Los Cantaros Lake and enjoy free time to relax or explore the hiking trails in the area.
180 minutes here
Lago Frías Extension: This extended tour departs by bus from Puerto Blest for a 3 km ride to Puerto Alegre (Alegre Port.) The tour continues on a modern boat ride through Lago Frías (Frías Lake.) The peculiar green waters are the result of minuscule particles of pulverized rock, caused by the glacier grinding against the rocky walls of Cerro Tronador, whose striking white summit stands out over the wooded landscape, a sight only available from a boat. After another 20 minutes, you arrive at Puerto Frías (Frías Port,) next to the Chilean border, for a short stop before taking the tour back to Pañuelo Port.
30 minutes here
San Carlos de Bariloche
After that, according to the time prestableshed with your guide, board again your boat for a return to Puerto Pañuelo, where you will meet your coach and return to Bariloche for hotel drop-off.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Bariloche
If your hotel is not among selected ones, we will pick you up at the meeting point.
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.
Ends at
If your hotel is not among selected ones, we will pick you up at the meeting point.
Options you can book
Puerto Blest + Falls 11h30AM
Second Schedule 11:30AM: This option is subject to demand. Return to Puerto Pañuelo 7:30PM aproximately. Pickup included
Puerto Blest+Falls+ Frias Lake
Frias Boat Ride 11.30AM: Pick up transfer from 11:30AM. Departure from Puerto Pañuelo 12AM. Return to Puerto Pañuelo 7.30PM aproximately. Pickup included
Puerto Blest + Falls 8h30AM
First Schedule 8:30AM: Pick up transfer from 8:30AM. Departure from Puerto Pañuelo 10AM. Return to Puerto Pañuelo 5PM aproximately. Pickup included
Puerto Blest+Falls+ Frías Lake
Frias Boat Ride 8.30AM: Pick up transfer from 8:30AM. Departure from Puerto Pañuelo 10AM. Return to Puerto Pañuelo 5PM aproximately. Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- pt, en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 9 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Tangol
Know before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note: the national park fee and embarkment tax are due on the day of travel
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 32 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
The guide
2 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Physical effort
2 mentionsExpect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
Traveler reviews
32 verified traveler reviews for Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great, easy way to see some of the most gorgeous views!
This boat tour was great! It's not a personalized tour like some of the other ones we did on the trip - it seems like a larger company and you go with a pretty big group. But we still had an amazing time. We had my mother-in-law with us who is 70 and has some trouble walking around for long periods of time. She had no issues with this trip though. You get to see some really beautiful spots. And they have a photographer on the trip that will take professional photos for you. Highly recommend the add on to Lagos Frias.
via Tripadvisor
Great trip to start exploring patagonia
This is a really good trip with breathtaking views all day long. Frias lake and the view of the mountain surrounding the lake is hard to describe in words, we saw Tronador glacier from the boat. The views at Puerto Blest, specially from the restaurant while having lunch would stay in our memory lifelong. I highly recommend this trip.
via Viator
Day on the water and on the trails
This was a down day for us and the cruise was the perfect way to relax after many days of hiking. The views were beautiful and the condors were entertaining. The ship was clean as were the ports. This was a good value for the money
via Tripadvisor
Beware!!!
I never give bad reviews. My motto is “ if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. “. However, on this one, I want to give fellow travellers, a warning. I initially booked this trip for the wrong date. I noticed my error within 5 minutes of booking. I tried to cancel the trip, and rebook. . Warning, the trip is a non-refundable. So I immediately sent a message to the tour operator. After not getting a response and sending multiple messages, I called TripAdvisor direct. They changed it immediately to the right date. I sent a total of three different messages about the date change to the tour operator and if they were picking us up from our Airbnb. After not hearing from them, after multiple attempts, I finally called. I was then informed that they would not be picking me up at my Airbnb, and also that the trip I was supposed to take the next morning at 8:30, that I actually had physical tickets in hand for, was sold out and I would have to go at 2pm. If I hadn’t called, I would have been sitting there waiting. They then sent me tickets for the 2pm sailing. I then decided to walk over to their office. Because I wasn’t trusting anything they said. The receptionist there, told me they did have room at 8:30 and give me new tickets. So then I had physical tickets to both the 830 sailing and the 2pm sailing not knowing which I was actually supposed to go on. Horrible, horrible customer service. Make sure you verify everything, including your time and pickup.
Response from the operator: Dear, We appreciate you sharing your experience with us, although we deeply regret that it was unsatisfactory. We value every feedback as it gives us the opportunity to improve our services. We understand your frustration regarding the complications you faced when trying to make changes to the initial reservation. We regret any inconvenience caused by the lack of response and confusion about the pick-up time and trip itinerary. We take your comments very seriously and are reviewing our internal procedures to ensure clearer and more timely communication with our customers, as well as to improve our customer service to avoid similar situations. We appreciate your patience and understanding in this situation. We hope that, despite these setbacks, you were able to enjoy your travel experience. If there is anything else we can help you with or if you have any other concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. We are here to help. Sincerely
via Tripadvisor
Astronomical price compared to the real one
To begin with, the price differences between the same tour, with the same company offered by Viator and local purchases are astronomical. This same tour that cost us USD 194.09 for two people, actually costs USD 102 for two people. Once you buy with Viator, you are left in the hands of a local operator who never responds to the emails sent through the link provided by Viator and you then have to make countless calls to Viator to ask for help. They charged us for transportation from the hotel to the port and back, even though we said countless times that we did not require transportation since our hotel, Llao Llao, was 500 meters from the port and therefore, we did not need the service.
Response from the operator: Hello, Thank you for your comment. We hope you had a good experience in the navigation itself. Per our recordings, you have been refunded not only for the transfer, but for the whole tour. We are glad the situation has been resolved in your favor. Best regards
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $161 to $261
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 11
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Tangol, who run 256 experiences we rank across 22 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 48.8.
See everything Tangol runsWhy this scores 59
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Bariloche.
How much does Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake cost?
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Prices start at $161 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Bariloche usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake take?
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Plan for about 9 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Bariloche is not rushed.
Is Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 59 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.9/5 across 32 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Bariloche, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 9-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake?
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Around 11 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Bariloche can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Bariloche and add a light layer if any part of the 9-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Bariloche within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Bariloche?
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On Outty we rank every Bariloche experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Trekking day in the mountains close to Bariloche, Fly Fishing Bariloche, Fly Fishing Trips in Bariloche. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Bariloche?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Bariloche?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake?
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Included: Local guide; Meeting point pickup and drop-off; Lago Frías Extension (if option selected); and Boat Navigation. Not included: Food and drinks; Admission fees; and Embarkment tax, San Carlos de Bariloche. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 2 listed pickup locations in and around Bariloche. Be ready about 30 minutes before the start time.
What languages is Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake offered in?
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It is offered in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Bariloche. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake?
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Across 32 reviews averaging 3.9 out of 5, recurring themes include photo opportunities, the guide, value for money. The views and photo stops come up again and again. One thing to know: Expect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
What booking options are available for Puerto Blest Cruise & Waterfalls Hike with optional Frias Lake?
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There are 4 options to choose from, including Puerto Blest + Falls 11h30AM, Puerto Blest+Falls+ Frias Lake, Puerto Blest + Falls 8h30AM, Puerto Blest+Falls+ Frías Lake. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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