When I arrived in the city of Esquel I had nothing exactly planned, but I knew that the options for walks would not be long in coming. In my opinion, it always ends up being best to ask the locals for recommendations, because they know more than any internet forum. Luckily, the owners of the hostel where I worked this autumn were very knowledgeable about the city, so they recommended a visit to La Zeta Lagoon as my first trip. I had the option of taking a taxi, but as it was close by, I thought it would be more fun to walk there .

From where the flat where I lived with my roommates was located, it was about 6 km to the lagoon. This distance may sound like a lot, but it is fun if you go with someone else. That day I was able to organise with guests from the hostel to go together to the lagoon, so the journey to the lagoon was not so tiring. The path was very easy, all on the vehicle path, so it was impossible to get lost .

The La Zeta Lagoon area is a nature reserve with a few trails around it. Unless there is usually a special event, we were told that this area is always quiet and that was the case when we were there. The day we were there was beautiful: the weather was inviting to be outside so we spread out our day to do everything we wanted to do. This included a little rest on the shores of the lagoon, but also stretching our legs a bit more to complete some of the trails in the area .

The shore of the lagoon seemed to me a good place to rest and spend the afternoon. These waters did not look very deep, but it is said that some people still go there to cool off in the summer. You might think that in the south of Argentina it is always cold, but in places like Esquel, the summers are very hot and the winters are snowy. This autumn we had an in-between climate, with just the right temperature to be outside enjoying the day without suffering from either extreme .

The postcard of Esquel from the Laguna La Zeta is one of the most beautiful you can have of this place. I recommend visiting this place around sunset, when the sun starts to go down and form a mirror on the water. The combination of mountains and lagoon with some green around is beautiful, creating a unique landscape all day long. I quite enjoyed visiting this place, it was so peaceful and quiet that it didn't even seem to be that close to the city .

Of course, if we had taken a taxi the journey would only have taken about 20 minutes, but I think walking also had its magic. The part I like the most about volunteering in different hostels in my country is the social part, like that day when we had the opportunity to share an extra moment with the guests. Visiting Laguna La Zeta for the first time was great, and I liked it so much that I took the trouble to go a few more times to spend my free afternoons. A place as beautiful and peaceful as this deserves to be visited several times, and that's exactly what I did ❤️.

source

Loop around Chascomus Lagoon

The entire route is paved. In the morning, it was peaceful with almost no traffic. In the afternoon, closer to the city, there was more traffic, but there are paths alongside the road to avoid the cars.

The road is generally in very good condition, and the views of the lagoon are almost constant. There are no major ascents or descents, making it an easy ride.

The only thing to consider is the wind, which will depend on the day. We had a windy day from the southeast, and it was noticeable in some sections.

Cycling around the Laguna de Chascomús is one of the ultimate classics for a bike ride in the Province of Buenos Aires.

It is a very welcoming route, ideal both for beginners getting into cycle tourism and for anyone looking for a relaxed ride while enjoying the pampas landscape, wetlands, and local history.

The Classic Coastal Circuit

• Distance: Around 30 to 32 kilometers (approx. 18–20 miles) for the full loop around the entire lagoon.

• Terrain: Mostly paved (the traditional Costanera Avenue and ring roads), making it very accessible for any type of bicycle (city, hybrid, MTB, or road).

• Difficulty: Low. The route is entirely flat with no steep climbs, making it easy to set your own pace and stop as often as you like.

Highlights Along the Route

1. The Downtown Costanera: This is the most common starting and ending point. Beginning near the historic district or the yacht clubs lets you start off with wide-open views of the water.

2. Docks and Reed Beds: As you advance, the path winds through wetland areas rich in local birdlife (black-necked swans, herons, and coots). There are several wooden walkways and small docks where you can stop for a break, enjoy some mate, or take photos.

3. Paradors and Countryside Canteens: Along various stretches of the route, you'll find rural general stores, snack bars, and roadside cafes where you can refill your water bottle, grab a pastry, or enjoy a cold drink with direct views of the water.

4. Architecture and History: If you detour just a few blocks into the town center, you can add some culture to your ride by visiting Independence Plaza, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Los Remedios, and the iconic Casa de Casco.

Practical Tips for the Ride

• The Wind: Because the terrain is wide-open and flat, the Pampas wind can really pick up. It's always a good idea to check the forecast beforehand to see which way the wind is blowing, which can help you decide whether to ride clockwise or counter-clockwise.

• Sun Protection: The reflection off the water intensifies the sun, so sunglasses and sunscreen are essential, even on cooler days.

• Hydration and Gear: Although there are plenty of spots to grab supplies along the way, it never hurts to carry an extra water bottle and a basic flat-tire kit (spare tube and mini-pump).

If you like the cold, Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego is one of the ideal places to go and enjoy it. In this destination, it's not common to find temperatures above 18°C even in the middle of summer, so during your visit you may see some snow even if it's on the highest peaks. This can be quite picturesque, although when it comes to trekking, sometimes the snow is not as beautiful as when the landscape is thawed. With this in mind, you should plan your outings well to enjoy nature at its best ❤️.

As I had already been to Ushuaia in the year 2023, I had already done many of the most touristy treks, thinking that I might not visit Ushuaia again. But as fate would have it, so on my second trip, I had to look for other treks that were a bit longer and more demanding. Beautiful scenery is what is in abundance in this part of my country, so I just had to choose one, find some companions and go.

Luckily, Couchsurfing helped me a lot with that, so finding trekking partners was no problem. The thing was that those treks I was missing were the ones that took you to beautiful lagoons. According to the pictures on the internet, these landscapes included very blue and beautiful bodies of water, but if they were frozen and covered with snow, they could not be well appreciated. At the time of this walk, it was mid-December and summer was just beginning, so there was a good chance that the ice was still lingering in these areas.

After putting together a small trekking group via CS, I told my occasional friends of my intention to visit the Cinco Hermanos Lagoon, but that it might be frozen and we would not see much. They were very adventurous and decided that we should go anyway, as at worst, we would see beautiful frozen mountains. This trek was a medium difficulty trek, so completing it would be a good challenge and off we went for the adventure.

This hike started 2.5 km from the exit of the city of Ushuaia and after visiting the Bridal Veil Waterfall, which we were passing by, we continued towards the lagoon. This hike was 8 km long and had most of the trail inside the forest, except for the last kilometre when we came out into the clearing and had to climb the steepest slope of all. As I always say, this stretch was quite tiring on the legs, but nothing that couldn't be done with patience and the desire to see the reward.

Three hours after we started, we finally reached the beautiful lagoon. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that it was already 75% thawed, showing the beautiful blue colour we had seen in photos. Its entire shore was covered with snow, so it was necessary to pass carefully, but as there were already footprints of other people, it was not difficult to follow the path.

We stayed for a while at the lagoon, having a quiet lunch until the weather reminded us that we were in the middle of a mountain surrounded by ice and snow. I can't explain the freezing wind that began to blow, so much so that it invited us to retreat if we wanted to keep our body temperature at the right level. On our return hike, which was much easier than the ascent, we took a different path on the last part, which led us to what looked like the premises of an abandoned campsite. It would have been great if it had worked, as we really needed a hot drink at that point.

The trek to the Laguna Cinco Hermanos was one of the treks I had left pending on my first trip and finally being able to do it was a good experience. I was glad to be able to see the lagoon somewhat thawed, because the mixture of melted water and ice parts created a unique landscape. Throughout my stay in Ushuaia I never ceased to be amazed by all that beauty: it always ends up being much more beautiful than what you can see in a photo ❤️.

Source.