Las Balsas

Cradled within the soaring peaks of the Andes, among Argentine Patagonia’s most enchanting and tranquil landscapes, just outside the mountain village of Villa La Angostura, is Las Balsas. If you’re searching for a scenic location, they don’t come much better than this.

Built in 1988, this Relais & Chateaux property sits on the shores of Lake Huapi, in the heart of Nahuel Huapi National Park. Its iconic blue facade cuts a striking figure across the verdant landscapes, reflecting onto the serene lake water below.

Each of the 20 rooms and villas enjoys panoramic views of Lake Huapi. Interiors prioritise comfort and cosiness, full of warming woods and soft furnishings. As you’d expect from a Relais & Chateaux property, service is top notch and the culinary offering is exceptional. Dishes represent the hotel’s dedication to Slow Food, combining simple, fresh and local ingredients with regional gastronomy and cooking techniques.

Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner in the restaurant along with a glass of wine from the hotel cellar which holds around 150 bottles of Argentinian wine. There is also a heated indoor/outdoor swimming pool as well as a Jacuzzi, sauna, small gym and massage room, although one might argue that the hotel’s greatest appeal is in exploration of the infinite outdoors around it.