The Correntoso Lake & River Small Luxury Hotel (SLH) is located at the mouth of Lake Nahuel Huapi with expansive unobstructed lake/mountain views. It is a historic hotel which is over a 100 years old (opened in 1917) with beautiful wooden construction and design. I always wanted to stay at this hotel which is the single reason I traveled the long way from Spain to Argentina (review).
Finding the Award Space at Correntoso Lake & River Hotel
I used Rooms.aero Hyatt search 6 months ago and found the award space for my travel dates (see image below)
Award Booking Correntoso Lake & River Hotel
I used 152K Hyatt points to book 7 nights at this hotel in a Lake Superior Room. Cash value for the 7-night stay in the summer months is typically around $4000 (Booking.com) and I was happy to get a decent value for the Hyatt points.
Bariloche airport (BRC) to Correntoso Lake & River Hotel
It is an easy 1hr and 30min drive from the BRC airport to the Correntoso Lake & River Hotel, which has a separate entrance and exit (clearly marked) from the main road. There are 5-6 parking spots next to the reception and another large parking lot towards the property exit.
Correntoso Lake & River Hotel Exterior Views
Drive from Bariloche airport passing Nahuel Huapi Park is picture perfect with lake/mountain views. The breathtaking lake and mountain views behind the hotel reminded us of Norwegian fjords.
Correntoso Lake & River Hotel Lobby & Check-in
The hotel informed us that we have been upgraded to Lake Superior with Deck for being a Hyatt member.
Lake Superior Room with Deck
The room has two twin beds placed together (very comfortable to sleep in) and has a sofa bed that can be made into a bed as needed. The deck has a great view and the bathroom has all the needed amenities. The only thing missing from the bathroom is a magnifying mirror. Hot water in the tub takes a full two minutes to begin showering. There is no air conditioner (which is usual in Bariloche), but the property kindly provided us with a nice table fan upon request.
Hotel Customer Service
The customer service at this hotel is unbelievably fast and they bring the requested item in less than a minute. They bring free bottled water during the daily room cleaning service and there are distilled water stations in the lobby, spa and gym. The hotel front desk has a stack of US power adapters at the front desk if needed. Every single person we encountered in the restaurant, spa and front desk has been very polite, friendly and eager to help.
Heated Pool & Spa
The hotel has a generously heated indoor pool that extends to an outdoor infinity pool with unbelievable mountain and lake views. There are very few SLH properties with similar infinity pool views around the world (e.g., lake Como and Dolomites), but they are very expensive. This particular pool is so well heated that you will not hesitate to use it during any weather conditions (we used it when it was raining). The pool is only 4 feet at the deepest end and I was able to do 30 laps every day with 12-14 strokes each way. It felt great to do weights in the morning followed by breakfast, 4-8 mile hikes, swim in the pool and use the dry sauna every day.
Sauna
There are two sauna rooms (small dry sauna and a larger steam room) that are free to use without any additional fees. The property turns them on between 5-9pm and earlier if requested.
Fitness Center
There is a small fitness center with a vertical weight rack and an elliptical, bike and treadmill. It has a beautiful lake/mountain view as expected. I wish there was a bench to do chest compressions.
Kids Play Room
Wi-Fi Speed
Belluno Restaurant
Breakfast is served between 7.30-10.30AM which is wonderful with a great view. Freestyle eggs (e.g., scrambled or sunny side up) can be ordered without extra charge. Cappuccino and Earl Grey tea are satisfactory and there are several fresh fruits, muesli along with several breads and sweet assortments.
Nearby Dining
Despite having similar fjord views, this location differs from Norway by having access to world class restaurants that make very tasty meals for reasonable prices.
On the first night, we went to a nearby “El Capricho” restaurant and enjoyed a delicious pizza (see images). This restaurant is on a hill with a unique construction and a nice outdoor bar along with several fire pits/seating.
For lunch, we went to Villa La Angostura town (a busy place with several restaurants and shops) and had steak and chicken at Al Alba Parilla restaurant. This is the best steak we ever had in Argentina so far (our last best steak was in El Chalten). Their garlic bread loaf was very tasty and they also provided a great assortment of chutneys (see images below).
Nearby Hikes
Mirador Belvedere – Sendero Filo Falso Belvedere (Alltrails.com) – This is a difficult trail with a steep ascent & descent, but you will remember the view for the rest of your life.
Conclusion
The Correntoso Lake & River Hotel is the best SLH properties in Argentina (probably in the world) with breathtaking views of Lake Nahuel Huapi. This hotel goes head to head with the other SLH property I reviewed as the best in the world (review) due to a direct location on the lake. We have been fortunate to experience this place with Hyatt points before their relationship with SLH comes to an end in 2024. Without utilizing points, we would not be able to afford staying 7 nights at this hotel, since the cash prices are expensive.