Aluminé. Photo: S. Landoni

This city with 4.500 inhabitants was founded on 20th octubre 1915. It actually exists, according to tradition, since 23rd february 1884, when first settlers arrived at fort De los Andes pass or Pulmarí, after the "desert conquest" turned out the natives community of cacique Reuque Curá (Calfucurá's brother), who had got the control of all this territory.
Today, it is a services center of Pehuenia tour. It possesses lodging, restaurants, gas station and supermarkets. On the right shore of Aluminé river (born in Alumine lake), at 850 m.o.s.l and surrounded by mountains, it is a gate for the Pehuen district, mapuche communities and ten lakes: Quillén, Hui Hui, Rucachoroi, Pulmarí, Nonpehuén, Pilhue, Ñorquinco, Polcahue, Moquehue and Aluminé.
Besides Aigo community, at Rucachoroi lake, there are four more in the region: Currumil at Quillén lake, Zalazar at Carrilil place, Puel at La Angostura, and Catalán at Aluminé lake.
Working on living cultivation, selling firewood and breeding sheeps and goats, they go on with their traditions, with knitting and crafts, but under a great influence of not mapuche culture. Their craft can be found at Culture House, in Artisan Parade and in other shops of the city.
Aluminé also has alternatives for not conventional tourism: riding, walking, trekking, rafting, mountain bike, 4x4, mountaineering and sport fishing, besides the typical outing and recreational activities.
A few years ago, Batea Mahuida ski center (only 65 km from Alumine) added a new option for white sports lovers. Aluminé river, in its upper river-bed, has rapids of four grade, being five the maximum possible for navigation in "white waters".
Since several years it takes part - between october and december- the Kayak championship in White waters.
Between january and february is the Rafting championship, tourist category, and every visitor can take part on it.
On the first fortnight of march is the Pehuen Provincial party, when there is a show of local, provincial and national artists. It ends with the selection of the queen of Pehuen and the "Pichi Malén Pehuén".
In the outskirts of Aluminé lived the Croat linguist Juan Benigar, maybe the best analyst of mapuche culture in the country. The public library has his name.
There are tourist information offices in Rahue (by the bridge over Alumine river), and in front of the main square.

Argentina: Norte Neuquino, Caviahue y Copahue, Villa Pehuenia, Aluminé,

Junín de los Andes, San Martín de los Andes, Villa Traful, Villa La Angostura,

Bariloche, El Bolsón, Lago Puelo, El Hoyo, Esquel, Trevelin.

Chile: Pucón, Villarrica, Temuco, Valdivia, Puerto Montt y Puerto Varas.