Some 18km northwest of Sierra de la Ventana village, and just off the RP76, lies VILLA VENTANA . The village is squeezed between two streams, the Arroyo de Las Piedras and the Arroyo Belisario, and its chief appeal lies in its dense forestation and rambling lanes. Laid-back to the point of lethargy, it makes a relaxing base for a day or two. Though small, the village has an elongated shape which makes a fair bit of walking inevitable. Orientating yourself, however, is fairly straightforward: the main thoroughfare, Avenida Cruz del Sur, runs north-south through the village from the access road and is crossed by secondary lanes which run roughly east to west for several blocks on either side. The village's perimeter is demarcated by calles Belisario and Las Piedras, which run alongside the two streams.

There are plenty of cabañas available for rent in the village, although they tend to be a bit on the expensive side. Cabañas Explorar , Gorrión and De Las Piedras (tel 0291/491-0062; explorar@teletel.com.ar ; $80-100-$100-150) offers luxurious wooden cabins which sleep from two to eight people; all come with television and kitchen. The site also offers excursions into the sierras in jeeps or on horseback. The municipal campsite (tel 0291/491-0014; $4 per person) is located on a pleasant woody spot by the river, where you can fish or bathe, and has good facilities including a grocery store. There are a number of teahouses in the village, including the lovely Heidi (daily 3pm-10pm; tel 0291/491-0020), whose scrumptious home-made cakes are well worth the trek to the southern end of Calle Curumalal. The friendly owner is also a good source of information on the surrounding area. There is a locutorio , the Cedro Azul (tel 0291/491-0074; villaluis@hotmail.com ), at the entrance to the village on the corner of Cruz del Sur and Canario. Internet facilities are available and the owner may be able to provide information on cabañas to rent.