Rukalhue Turismo

Rukalhue Turismo is a family-owned agency based in San Martín de los Andes that has operated in inbound tourism and hospitality since 2001. Officially licensed as a travel and tourism company (EVT File 16671), its offering spans both seasons that define the region’s tourism calendar: winter skiing at Cerro Chapelco and the spring-summer season of excursions across the Neuquén Andean Patagonia.

Winter at Chapelco

During the snow season, Rukalhue operates as a full-service provider for travelers who choose San Martín de los Andes as their ski base. The agency offers packages combining half-board accommodation — private rooms, studio apartments, shared hostel, or two-bedroom cabañas — with Chapelco lift passes (3 to 7-day options) and ski and snowboard equipment rental. For guests arriving by air, door-to-door transfers from Chapelco Airport (CPC) are available, as well as connections to Lago Hermoso Ski Resort. A dedicated beginners’ package bundles accommodation, lift pass, equipment, and transfers into a single booking.

Lake and nature excursions

Spring and summer open up the full breadth of Parque Nacional Lanín. Rukalhue runs the classic Seven Lakes Route to Villa La Angostura, a drive through coihue and arrayán forests along a chain of lakes including Espejo, Correntoso, and Villarino. The excursion to Volcán Lanín and Lago Huechulafquen brings travelers to the highest stratovolcano in Argentine Patagonia — 3,776 metres above sea level — and one of the largest lakes in the park. For those prioritizing thermal bathing, the Termas de Queñi outing is among the most sought-after: the natural hot pools sit inside the national park and are only reachable on foot from the shore of the lake, surrounded by Valdivian temperate rainforest. The Hua Hum–Cascada Chachín corridor adds another dimension: the international mountain pass toward Chile and the waterfall of the Hua Hum River at the western end of Lago Lácar. Transfers to Quila Quina — a riverside beach on Lácar with access to native forest — and to Lago Hermoso, one of the quietest lake destinations along the Andean corridor, round out the excursion calendar.

Active adventure

The adventure programme covers some of the most popular activities in the Andean corridor. Rafting on the Chimehuin River runs moderate-grade waters through open valleys with views of the snow-capped cordillera. Kayaking is split between Lago Lácar — the lake that runs along San Martín’s waterfront — and the more remote and calm Lago Machonico to the north. Mountain bikers can choose between two routes: the Vuelta de Trompul circuit and the Laguna Rosales trail, part of the Huella Andina network. The Cerro Colorado trek is a moderate ascent with panoramic views over the Chimehuin valley. The Volcán Lanín summit is the most demanding option in the catalogue: a high-altitude mountaineering expedition that requires Parques Nacionales authorization and appropriate fitness. Horseback riding and fly-fishing outings round off the programme for those who prefer a slower pace in the parkland’s lake and forest setting.

Vehicle rental

The agency also offers car and van rentals for independent exploration, suitable for driving the Lakes Route, reaching Lago Meliquina, or accessing more remote destinations such as the Hua Hum border crossing. This option complements the group excursion programme with a self-drive alternative for travelers who prefer to set their own pace and itinerary.