Cascade Circuit

Arroyo Del Medio (Middle Creek) runs alongside Route 40, a few meters away from the City of El Bolsón, and empties its waters into the Quemquemtreu River. It is characterized by its attractive waterfalls, whose strength varies according to the volume they carry at different seasons. Eager to see them, we accessed two of the closest to town: Del Mallín and Escondida. Both of them shared two features: their access trails immersed in a lush natural environment where humidity is high and the need to walk for a while before finding them. The former features a vertical drop of 20 meters in two spectacular falls formed on the rocky bed and used to produce energy. To reach this place, visitors must go across a farmland where hop, fine fruit, cheese, jam and vegetables are produced. It is a pleasant tour indeed.

In order to see Escondida, we bordered Arroyo Del Medio through a forest featuring a wide array of native and introduced species. We went up a trail with wooden rails and as we advanced, the sound of the water became louder and louder. We were getting closer. As we got there, we were astonished to see the water pouring down vertically and hitting the bottom. Then, it began flowing naturally downstream. The most amusing part of the ride was the fact that we could dive into one of the pools. Though the water was really cold, it was a sensation second to none. To one side, we visited INTA's Botanical Garden, where we learned some more details about the plants in the area. In order to cover the whole circuit, it is necessary to reach the cascades called Nahuelpan, De la Virgen and La Catarata. All of them boast great beauty, though they lie farther away from the city. They feature different altitudes but the same vibrations, as the sunlight goes through the crystal-clear waters and gives origin to a magical rainbow.