Boat Tour of Victoria Island

The Argentinian flag is quite lovely!
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Today my classmates and I arranged to take a boat to Victoria Island on Lake Hupai.  The weather was on and off rainy and then sunny today, but despite this, we took  the chance and went for the ride. We arranged for the tour through a downtown excursion company on 106 Mitre Street, Bariloche.  The cost was 76 pesos (25 USD approx) and 12pesos (approx. 4 USD)to enter the national park.  The tour company seemed to indicate that we could take the boat to the island for 1:30 pm and take it back at 6:15pm giving us ample time to walk the trails.  The boat was an antique, but the ride was sheltered from the wind and warm.  Hot drinks, liquor, sandwiches and sweets are also served on board.  The boat embarks from the naval yard in front of Hotel Llao Llao and can easily be reached from the downtown bus #20 rather than paying for transport through the tour company to save some pesos. After the boat ride the Hotel Llao Llao is an easy walk from the boat launch and has an excellent (although probably expensive) restaurant to eat at for dinner.

Red Tree Bosque
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The Boat ride was very scenic and my classmates and I had fun chatting on the way over.  The boat personell give a history of the island in rapid spanish without interpretation and urge you ¨not to waste your time taking photographs¨ because after all, the average tourist takes aweful photos!  What an insult!  And all to encourage you to buy their staged photographs of your adventure for 30 pesos. What Scheisters!  Let me know what you think of my Â¨unprofessional¨ photos attached!  The most important fact that I must urge you to remember is that the boat, from the early season until summer is in full swing, has no earlier boat in the morning.   Thus, it is not possible to walk around the island on this tour for more than 40-50 minutes, as the boat leaves you there if you don´t promptly return at the appointed time!  Ouch!  Not what we had expected.  Instead of a nice leisurely walk and return at an appointed time the boat makes 2 stops and gives a quick walk through only!  Moo!  It´s like being herded through the sights, how terrible!  Let the buyer beware!  I would not take the tour again unless they offer an earlier boat in the morning.  All in all, it´s a good tour for people who are less inclined to be active.  The red tree forest was quite beautiful.....

Nice Boat ride, but is this Disneyland or somethin´?