Villa Traful is one of the youngest and smallest villages in Patagonia, but the Traful valley has thousands of years of human history.
Where the name comes from
Traful is a word of Mapuche origin usually translated as “confluence” or “meeting of two rivers”, referring to where the Traful River meets the Limay.
A 10,000-year history
Next to the Traful River lies Cueva Traful I (Traful Cave I), an archaeological site inhabited about 10,000 years ago. The rock paintings at the Las Mellizas lagoons are another trace of the region’s Indigenous peoples.
The founding of the village
Villa Traful was founded on November 30, 1936 by decree, promoted by Exequiel Bustillo, then president of the National Parks Administration. That date is celebrated as its anniversary. The village was born inside Nahuel Huapi National Park, created in 1934 and considered the country’s first, and it remains inside it.
In 1969 the Comisión de Fomento (local council) that governs the village was created. According to the 2022 census, Villa Traful has 761 inhabitants.
Culture and celebrations
- Village anniversary: November 30.
- Mapuche New Year (Wiñoy Tripantu): celebrated around June 24, with the winter solstice.
- Artisans’ trail: workshops of local artisans working with wood and other traditional techniques.
- Nuestra Señora de Villa Traful chapel: in the village center.
[TO COMPLETE: season events calendar].