The Llao Llao Hotel & Resort is located in the lake district of Nahuel Huapi National Park, near Bariloche in south west Argentina. Surrounded by the majestic Nahuel Huapi and Morena Lakes, and the magnificent Andes mountains, this deluxe hotel is 2 km from Puerto Pañuelo boat port and 28 km from Catedral Alta ski resort.
And for the fully-fledged golf traveller, there can be fewer more rewarding places to visit than the hotel’s golf resort. Its 18 holes are absolutely unique, offering 360º views while you play. Amidst a stunning scenery of mountains and lakes, the course creates a charming contrast, inviting the golfer to enjoy an unforgettable experience.
The course is heavily undulating, as you would expect from one built in the foothills of this mountainous terrain, and has been built sympathetically into the beautiful surroundings. It has a par of 72, measuring just over 6000 yards, providing a great test of golf for all abilities and a decent challenge. The greens are fast and are framed by well-placed bunkers – and there is some skill in plotting your way around the course with many of the fairways sloping severely, not making for the most straightforward of shots.
During the winter months, the course is often covered in snow and the temperatures will make golf far less appealing. However, the ski season would then be in full flow, with a free shuttle service from the hotel to the Catedral Alta ski resort nearby. But in the summer months in the southern hemisphere – December to April – the area comes alive.
Llao Llao Resort is an up-market hotel and golf complex, with the hotel itself designed as a huge ski chalet with pine lined walls and a huge central area which serves as the lounge and restaurant. The terrace spills forward towards the Nahuel Huapi Lake and provides stunning views across the forests and lakes to the Andes. There is a well-positioned heated in-out infinity swimming pool that looks out towards the snowcapped mountains. There are three great restaurants and two bars for the complete après-golf experience. With an extensive range of Argentinian wine and all the spirits you could possibly imagine, the bar is well stocked.
The luxurious hotel also provides extensive spa facilities with sauna and jacuzzi, along with a gym which offers yoga and spinning classes. The country-style rooms offer great views and are beautifully appointed: part of the hotel is currently undergoing a total refurbishment which will promise even greater luxury when work is complete. There are also studios with additional seating, some with balconies and whirlpool tubs. Larger suites offer living rooms, some with fireplaces, along with magnificent bathrooms and glorious views.
The hotel has its own boat which can deliver guests from surrounding towns and provide day trips across the lake to various other tourist points. Electric bike hire and, for the fittest, traditional bike hire is also available nearby.
The nearby Moreno Lake also offers a number of water activities for all ages, including kayaking, windsurfing, paddle boarding and fly-casting, so there is plenty to do when not playing golf.
The nearby town of Bariloche is a pretty, bustling town, brimming full of bars, shops and restaurants, with a feel very similar to Queenstown in New Zealand. The town is surrounded by picturesque lakes pushed up against the Andes which sprawl for hundreds of miles on the western side of Argentina. The scenery is beyond compare with huge mountains, some of them covered in year-round snow, rising majestically beyond stunning, deep lakes and near-deserted forested areas. It is a breathtaking vista.
In high season, the hotel costs in the region of £150 per night with discounts for hotel residents wishing to play the golf course. Many visitors will not have brought golf equipment with them and so there is a plentiful supply of hire clubs available, but the clubs are not all of the finest pedigree: some of them are a little dated! Buggy hire is available, and a very good idea for all but the fittest.
Also in the area there is a charming par three course which is part of an elegant hotel complex close to Villa La Angostura. The course comprises of nine short, but challenging and charming, par three holes which measure from 90 to 145 yards and have different tees for the front and back lines. It won’t enchant the highly competitive golfers who wish to hit a full array of shots, however it’s a nice distraction and very easy on the eye.
There is also another course in Bariloche. This course is heavily guarded and you need an appointment to get in. Quite what they are guarding is beyond me as the course is not a patch on Llao Llao and despite it being exclusive, it isn’t quite the challenge nor does it enjoy the beauty that is on display at Llao Llao Golf Resort.
For those that wish to play golf in a picture postcard location, there are few finer examples than Llao Llao Golf Resort.
For more details visit the website: llaollao.com