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 But on the outskirts of Bariloche on its own tranquil peninsula between two lakes, is the Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, a grand rustic lodge that looks like a transplant from a North American national park. The interior contains great rooms with soaring beams, antler chandeliers, stone walls, roaring fireplaces, and huge windows that look out on stands of cypress and mountains reflected in its crystal lakes. Now considered a Leading Hotel of the World with 149 rooms, 12 suites, and a private lakeside cabin, it was built in 1940, and refurbished in 1993 with local cherry and pine furniture in the bedrooms, Argentinean ranch-style furniture in the halls, and local crafts throughout.
The Llao Llao (pronounced show-show, to rhyme with wow), is a full-scale resort, with an 18-hole golf course, tennis and paddle tennis courts, a marina, solarium, a private beach, heated indoor and outdoor pools, and 37 acres of gardens. And if that isn't enough, there is archery, and classes in salsa, tango, and painting. The health club has a sauna, whirlpool, a room for aerobics, another for weights, Body Pump and Body Balance classes, and instructors for Yoga, Pilates, and Gym and Stretch classes. For less energetic guests, the Spa offers a wide range of treatments, plus diet counseling, that have a vaguely medical cast to them, perhaps reflecting the region's Swiss heritage.
Facial programs include basic facial cleansing and skin preparation with exfoliation or peeling, steam bath, oxygenation and toning, and what's called an Excellence Program intended to inhibit aging, renew dead cells, and achieve firmness and softness in tissue texture (both $57). A special facial for teens is $32.
A wide variety of body programs include:
-Ionozone Bath and "Excellence" Herbs that eliminates toxins, relaxes, tones up and produces a sense of well-being ($50)
 -Aroma Therapy in a relaxation massage and body toning-up with essential oils ($34)
-Body Polishing, a soft brushing process using skin polishing and removing salts to remove dead cells, plus revitalizing hydrating creams or herbal lotions ($34)
-Seaweed or Mountain-Lake Algae Bath, rich in minerals, proteins and vitamins to stimulate circulation and eliminate toxins ($34)
-Volcanic Mud Bath from shallow soil layers rich in oligoelements and mineral salts to improve skin and body tissue.($34)
-Traditional Relaxation Massage ($30)
-Parafin Bath for hands and feet ($23).
Some interesting special treatments include:
-Parafango, which is a mixture of dehydrated mud ("fango" means "mud" in Italian), containing healing minerals and herbal components, and various paraffins. The combination of the thermal properties of paraffin and the detoxifying effects of the fango is effective for inch loss and cellulite control. The warm parafango stimulates the lymphatic flow in the body and draws out toxins from around the fat cells ($50).
-Hydrostretching, a special massage program designed for muscle problems in sports people, combines traditonal techniques of hydrotherapy, body wraps, and stretching and relaxing exercises to relieve pain, increase flexibility, and prevent lesions ($32).
-Special programs for lymphatic circulation of body and face ($32), and of the face alone ($28).
-Tired legs therapy to stimulate the circulatory system ($32).
-Antistress treatment that combines hydrotherapy and massages and, as Llao Llao winsomely suggests, "perhaps the uniquely exquisite surroundings of lakes and mountains" ($37).
For a nice sampler of several treatments I tried the Llao Llao Golden Program ($54). It started with a body polish using algae salt and oil, then a relaxing massage with oil, followed by a basic facial that included gommage for exfoliation, cleaning foam, lotions, a mud mask, hydrite lotion and cream, and warm citrus aromatics. It couldn't have been more therapeutic in Switzerland.
For serious spa therapy, Llao Llao offers two, four, and six-day programs for $114, $165, and $219, respectively.
Rates start at $221 per room, Jan 4 through February, and from $173 in March; rates include airport transfers, buffet breakfast, daily happy hour, activities, health club but not VAT.
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now capped peaks, forested mountains, and steep-roofed wooden chalets.... How did this Swiss landscape find itself in the midst of the Argentine Andes?
