During this Patagonia Journey, after our Bariloche Patagonia journey, we decided to continue south.
We left behind Bariloche’s blue lakes and majestic mountains with a farewell smile, and surrendered ourselves to the arms of a quieter, deeper and wilder Patagonia. On this Patagonia road route, we visited three towns — Esquel, Trevelin and El Bolson — and Rio Azul, one of the clearest and most innocent rivers we saw along the way.
We are Ozcan and Beni, two hearts on two wheels crossing the endless roads of South America together. If you are curious about who we are and how this dream began, you can read our full story here.
Esquel flowers mountains and the peace of Patagonian villages
This Patagonia road route first took us into the calm embrace of Chubut province, to Esquel.
The city welcomed us with its huge “ESQUEL” sign decorated with colorful flowers; it was as if the town itself was smiling and whispering “welcome.” We walked around the center, ate at a small local restaurant and felt the slow, deep rhythm of inner Patagonia in our hearts.
We climbed to a hill, a viewpoint; below us, all of Esquel stretched out: modest houses, orderly streets, a valley reaching toward the horizon and mountains embracing the city. This was one of those places where silence does not disturb you; instead, it walks beside you like a friend. For many people, Esquel is the gateway to Los Alerces National Park, famous for its ancient forests and emerald-colored lakes. For us, it became a warm doorway into a more sincere and intimate face of Patagonia.
For more practical information about Esquel, you can visit:
Esquel.
Trevelin a soft sunset in the shadow of the mountains
We glided a little farther south and slightly inland from Esquel and reached Trevelin; the name of this small town of Welsh origin means “little mill.” Here, Patagonia showed itself in softer, more pastel tones: endless meadows, simple and proud houses, and purple mountains gently framing the horizon.
We walked through the streets of the town and ended the day in front of the “Trevelin” sign, almost like a prayer. As the sun melted behind the mountains, the sky turned pink, orange and lavender, while the wind gently touched the dry grass in the valley.
In that moment, we did nothing; we simply watched, breathed deeply and let the sunset do its ancient and silent work. Sometimes the essence of travel is exactly this.
Trevelin is also known for its Welsh tea houses and its proximity to Los Alerces National Park; it is ideal for hiking, river trips and getting lost in the depths of local forests. It is the kind of place where nature sets the calendar and time moves according to the speed of falling leaves.
For more information:
Trevelin.
El Bolson art nature and free spirited Patagonia
After Trevelin, we turned the road north toward a slightly more bohemian spirit and arrived in El Bolson, one of Patagonia’s beloved free-spirited towns. Embraced by a valley, mountains, forests and rivers, the atmosphere of the town blends nature, creativity and the philosophy of a calm life.
The white El Bolson sign greeted us; behind us, the Patagonian mountains stretched out in a magnificent harmony of blue and white. We took photos that froze the moment and walked toward the center, where we visited the large handicraft market called Feria Artesanal. It was a colorful and lively place filled with local flavors, regional sweets, the foamy joy of craft beers and the rhythm of live music.
Artists, wandering souls and local people had turned the square into a symphony of colors and sounds; every stall seemed to tell a different life story. Later, we walked toward the pedestrian bridge in the area; we found ourselves in the middle of a calm and peaceful view among a thousand shades of green, the river and the mountains.
Finally, we went to Cascada Escondida, the “Hidden Waterfall”; among short trails and the melody of falling water, it was a place where we touched the purest and most untouched side of Patagonia.
For more activities and hiking routes:
El Bolson.
Rio Azul crystal water trails and the purest side of Patagonia
Very close to El Bolson, Rio Azul was one of the clearest and most innocent rivers we encountered on this route. The water was so transparent, so clean, that every stone and every grain of sand at the bottom seemed to tell a different story; depending on the dance of light, it shifted through a thousand colors, from green to turquoise to glassy blue.
First, we walked along a trail beside the river, filled with the whispers of leaves; we crossed a wooden suspension bridge and filled our lungs with the earthy smell of damp soil and old forest. This bridge became one of the most magical and unforgettable moments of our journey, because it was surrounded by a green tunnel of trees and suspended above water flowing beneath it like turquoise silk.
Later, we reached an area where people were swimming; the water was icy cold — but Beni did not hesitate for even a second and let herself into that crystal coldness — and the sharp, refreshing contrast between the warmth of the summer sun and the freezing coolness of the river made this place feel like a truly magical land.
Afterward, we climbed to a viewpoint; from above, the entire Rio Azul valley spread before our eyes: endless forests, the river winding through the landscape and the silhouette of snowy mountains in the distance. This was where we witnessed Patagonia in its purest, most untouched form: calm nature, intense and living colors, and a deep silence that seemed to have no end.
Rio Azul is part of the network of hiking trails and mountain refuges in the El Bolson region. It is an ideal place for full-day hikes, resting the soul by the river or simply disappearing for a while into the infinity of the landscape.
Rio Azul nature crystal waters and Patagonian peace
What the Patagonia Journey Taught Us
This Patagonia road route taught us that we do not always need the lights of big cities or the shadow of famous monuments. Sometimes getting lost in the streets of a quiet town, listening to the sound of an icy river, wandering through a colorful market or watching the sun melt behind the mountains is enough to feed the soul.
Our Latin America journey continues kilometer by kilometer, story by story, heartbeat by heartbeat. If you would like to continue this journey with us and set sail toward new adventures, you can return to our blog homepage.