Violets and Volcanoes - Argentina

Smoking cones are beset with the alpine jewels, including the treasured Andean or rosular violets, along with other wonderful alpine plants such as lovely pink oxalis, porcelain orchids and stately monkey puzzle forests. The surrounding steppes also harbour many special plants with many showy junellias.A constant companion is the fabulous scenery of snowy volcanos, mirrored lakes and spectacular high passes. The tour also features areas in neighbouring Chile, with its own share of impressive sights.

With Marcela Ferreyra

Day 1    Arrival in Bariloche & Cerro Otto (24 November)

Following our arrival in Bariloche if we have time we will visit Cerro Otto, a small mountain just at the center of Bariloche driving to a viewpoint with a breathtaking  view of the magnificent Andean Range to the west and  the Nahuel Huapi Lake and  Bariloche city on its south shore. The forest in the top is dominated by ancient Nothofagus pumilio, the southern beech that forms the altitudinal forest until the tree line. Overnight Bariloche.

Day 2    Cerro Catedral (25 November)

Cerro Catedral is a beautiful granite mountain the largest ski center in South America. We will  ascend to the top of the mountain, at 2100 metres, using chairlifts. Catedral mountain is very rich in alpines and the view from the summit is magnificent. Some of the highlight species of the day are: Viola sacculus and Viola petraea, Calceolaria lagunae-blancae,  Oxalis erythrorhiza, Escallonia alpina, Pinnasa nana, among several species of Nassauvia, Perezia, Leucheria and Senecio. Hopefully we can find some gorgeous Callianthemoides semiverticillata in flower too. Overnight Bariloche.

Day 3.    To Pilcaniyeu (26 November)

After an early breakfast we will travel to the east through the lower mountains and steppe habitats, on to the little town of Pilcaniyeu. The steppe is one of the richest ecosystems in Patagonia. Various stops during the day will bring the amazing  Viola volcanica, fragrant Oreopolus glacialis and Oxalis adenophylla together with several orchid species including Chloraea alpina, C. cylindrostachya and Gavilea odoratissima, the cacti  Austrocactus coxii and Maihuenia patagonica, several species of Junellia such as Junellia succulentifolia, J. tonini, J. patagonica and J tridactylites, and even the strange Viola escondidaensis. This day we will also try to find the rosettes of Viola columnaris. Overnight Bariloche.

Day 4.    To San Martín de los Andes (27 November)

After breakfast  we will leave Bariloche to San Martín de los Andes by Route 40. The distance between these two cities is about 124 mi (200 km).  At the beginning the route runs through We begin out journey in the steppe but this will change to very lush rain forest dominated by the giant Nothofagus dombeyi with a dense undergrowth of bamboos, ferns, the giant Gunnera tinctoria, and much more. There are many view points along the route, we will stop in some of them and for a hike following one of the multiple trails that the region offer seeing five species of Nothofagus as well as Azara lanceolata, Ovidia andina, Rhaphythamnus spinosus, Berberis darwinii and orange B. trigona. Overnight San Martín de los Andes

Day 5.    Cerro Chapelco (28 November)

A active day of alpine plants on Cerro Chapelco. After hiking to just above the treeline we should find a large population of very floriferous and variable Viola dasyphylla. Those that can continue to the top can see the amazing valley behind and the rare Menonvillea rigida, Combera paradoxa, Calandrinia skottsbergii, and a big population of the gorgeous Callianthemoides semiverticillata. Overnight San Martín de los Andes

Day 6.    To Villa Pehuenia (29 November)

Our first stop is to see a population of Austrocactus coxii, but expect a diverse day that includes Schizanthus hookeri, Adesmia obovata and Haplopappus glutinosus. Reaching the foot of the Batea Mahuida Volcano there is an amazing forest dominated by Araucaria araucana, the monkey puzzle tree. Overnight Villa Pehuenia.

Day 7.    Cerro Batea Mahuida (30 November)

We will drive up following a very special volcanic ash route that runs through groves of monkey puzzle trees in an alpine environment with breathtaking views. We follow a trekking trail to a large population of Viola cotyledon that grows among Rhodolirion andicola, Oxalis adenophylla,  Gamocarpha dentata, Nassauvia argentea, Nassauvia lagascae, Pozoa volcanica, Valeriana philippiana, Calceolaria pennellii, and many more. Overnight Villa Pehuenia

Day 8.    To Zapala (1 December)

Following a route that runs along the Litrán River and a large population of Viola coronifera, one of the rarest and most spectacular rosulate violas (hopefully in flower). Further down we are going to see the rare Viola pachysoma and Viola trochlearis. Overnight Zapala

Day 9.    To Laguna Blanca and Caviahue (2 December)

Today we head to Laguna Blanca National Park that protects a good example of Patagonian Steppe with many interesting plants including the mimetic Pterocactus neuquensis and Viola tectiflora,  the micro-endemic  Senecio steparius and Mulguraea cedroides and many species of Junellia like J. micranta, J. toninii, J. caespitosa that convert the steppe into a blue and violet showy field during the springtime. After that we to move to Caviahue stopping along the route for very showy plants such as Argylia bustillosii, Tropaeolum incisum, Mimulus luteus cupreus and much more.  Caviahue is a beautiful and quiet place located in the Araucaria araucana forest.Overnight Caviahue.

Day 10.    Copahue Volcano and Agrio Waterfall (3 December)

Copahue Village,is nestled among many fumaroles, thermal ponds with a strong smell of sulphur. The  Copahue volcano is still active and some days we could see it smoking. We will explore the old crater that is the most incredible garden with flowers everywhere. Here there is a dense population of Viola pachysoma (ex Viola copahuensis) the same colour of the rocks, V. cotyledon, Viola blaxlandii (the hybrid between the previous ones), The only population in Argentina of Viola rosulata growing with Viola farkasiana and the hybrids between both of them. Other interesting species are Olsynium frigidum, Ourisia ruelloides, Calandrinia colchahuensis, Gamocarpha dentata, Euphrasia meaiantha and E. chrysantha among a long list of beauties. Overnight Caviahue

Day 11.    Salto del Agrio & San Martín de los Andes (4 December)

Today we visit Salto del Agrio, a waterfall that emerges from a wall made of volcanic columns. The landscape is magnificent. Many interesting species grow here, including Rhodophiala araucana, Chuquiraga oppositifolia, Senna arnottiana, and Ephedra ochreata. We will keep driving to find the incredible Ourisia microphylla hanging on the walls. After that we are going back  to San Martín  by the  Rahue Pass and its incredible view of the Andean Range and towering Volcán Lanín. Overnight San Martín de los Andes. 

Day 12.    Return flights (5 December)

Return flights from San Martin de los Andes