Estancia Peuma Hue

A luxurious lakeside country house, steeped in unspoilt nature in the heart of Argentina’s Lake District

It's hard to improve on the splendours of Argentina's lake district, but in creating Peuma Hue, Evelyn Hoter has done just that. First, she chose the spectacular setting, isolated on the shore of the indigo Lake Gutiérrez, with jagged mountains soaring up behind the lodge, thickly forested with virgin beech woods and filled with wildlife. All the major trails of the area lie nearby, but you’ll have Peuma Hue's own 500 acres to yourself: walk up to crystalline waterfalls, take a kayak onto the calm waters of the lake or ride with the resident horse whisperer to secret places no car could reach. It's paradise.

But Evelyn's vision extends further: guests feel so perfectly at home here, in the beautifully comfortable lodge or cabins, with huge windows, roaring fires and lovely quiet spots to sit and contemplate, that they don’t want to leave. Many find themselves transformed by the blissful contact with nature (even the baths have views of the stars) and Evelyn and her staff have special qualities: deeply connected with this place and warmly welcoming. Peuma Hue means ‘place of dreams’ in the native Mapuche language and, whatever brought you here, you know you were meant to come. It’s an utterly magical place.

Highs

• The location is unparalleled anywhere in the Lake District: it’s steeped in nature, but close enough to the tourist centre of Bariloche for visits
• Evelyn and her staff offer boundless care for guests, creating a wonderful atmosphere
• The food and wine is superb
• The suites are luxurious in a rustic way, very spacious and calming
• There are excellent activities on offer, including riding, kayaking and hiking
• The Mountain Cabin is perfect for blissful isolation or romantic retreats
• The resident masseur, Ronnie, gave me the best massage I’ve ever had

Lows

• If you’re after noise and nightlife, this is not the place. But the atmosphere is warm and lively (depending on the other guests), and wine and conversation flow freely in the evenings. And you can be in Bariloche in 35 minutes, if you’re missing the crowds
• This isn’t a hotel in the conventional sense, so you won’t be anonymous. But you can sit around and do nothing, or eat on your own, if that’s what you feel like