Keys to spend a day in Lake Barreales, the classic with summer wave
A good song when you go to the beach always has Luis Miguel as the main character. It doesn't matter if you're a rocker, heavy metal or cumbiero, going along route 7 with “when the sun heats up” at full volume, can be the prologue to an unforgettable day. But if you don't agree, put on the song that you like the most and speed off towards Los Barreales, near Neuquén, the lake always puts the seal of water on summer.
Simón and Silvina met early in Neuquén with Darío and Tamara, their little son, and Rocío, a friend of the couple who joined the trip. They got into the four-by-four truck like every weekend and left before anyone else to enjoy the day that promised sunshine.
They passed the village, turned at the abandoned house, and after two kilometers they turned onto a path that opens to the right. The way to recognize it is that there is a stick stuck, where you have to double (look at the photo below). Upon arrival, on the coast they set up a red gazebo with strong windproof iron.
“We always come. Sunday fills up. At 10 o'clock people start to drop in to grab a place and they stay until nine at night. They bring jet skis, boats, kayaks”, Silvina spoke from the deck chair. They had brought some Milanese sandwiches to share and at noon on a Saturday without crowds, he was resting in the shade, with his feet in the water.
There is no hostel, nor a market nearby, therefore, those who go must bring everything they will consume in the day and then take their garbage.
A few meters away Maxi, Franco and Gabriel were honest and said that they always go from Neuquén, they like it when it's empty, but also when it's a world of people. “The water is calm, warm, the only bad thing is that there is a bit of wind, and it feels a lot”, Gaby recounted while preparing a few drinks.
The night before in the WhatsApp group of friends, the messages organized what to bring, the departure time. Escape from the city and the cement was the mission.
“It’s a beautiful day”, Maty shouted energetically and without hesitation, she grabbed the kayak, the oars and as she passed Mike and Germán, she splashed her friends who, standing in knee-deep water, chatted with a glass of Campari and orange juice in hand.
The sun beat down on the reddish earth and some breeze, from time to time, gave some hot caresses. Nicolás was sitting in the water with Baltasar, his three-year-old son, who was filling a plastic watering can to wet him. A few meters away, Rayén with her cell phone captured the moment in a photo.
They came from Centenario and it was the first time they were going to spend the day. “We got lost, we passed by, we reached the bridge but we asked someone who passed by and they told us that this is the most well-known descent. We laughed when we thought how close we are, I was born and raised here and I had never been here, it is a very beautiful place”, she said.
Those who were there as a family, with small children, celebrated that the lake is shallow on that beach, so there is no risk for the children.
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Three friends, protected each other and assured that to go you cannot miss shade, water to drink and desire to have a good time.
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From the center of Neuquén, it had taken an hour in the car and they had left it upstairs. Many times they witnessed how some who try to leave the vehicle near the water, get stuck and have to be helped to get out, so they prefer to walk a little, with their things on their backs.
Another smaller group had left early but from Cinco Saltos. In their case, they organized to spend Saturday and Sunday. They loaded up the tents, something to eat, a change of clothes, and plenty to drink.
“We saw that the days were going to be beautiful and we came. We are at the campsite 10 kilometers from here. They charge us 600 pesos each and 300 for the tent”, said Daniel, sitting in the curator with red eyes, while the midday sun went down on his back.
Three gazebos were the refuge of about twenty friends from Neuquén, Cabildo, Buenos Aires, Bahía, Cipolletti. They all spoke together shouting, while Maluma sounded at full volume on a speaker.
“We have shared a friendship for years, some work and when we get together, we come to spend the day”, said Pablo with the harangue of his friends in the background.
A few meters away, the smoke and the embers began to perfume the atmosphere, hunger arrived but was calmed down with chips and peanuts. On a grill, the little goat with its legs open was frozen to death, "but he was not in a hurry," the relaxed boys maintained.
How to get there: record these two places that show you where to turn
– Take Route 7, pass Centenario and connect with Route 51. 45.5 kilometers away there is a sign for “Gerencia Sierra Colorada” (YPF). On the left, there is an abandoned house.
– You must turn where the house is and take a passable gravel road. Do two kilometers and on the right is the entrance, you will distinguish it by that standing stick. It is before arriving at the Yacht Club Neuquen. If you advance and pass the Yatch, or get to the bridge, go back because you missed it.
– When you see the lake, leave the car upstairs and walk down if you don't have a 4×4.
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