Introduction:

The city of San Carlos de Bariloche is located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park, in the province of Río Negro, 1.680 kilometres away from Buenos Aires.

You can visit Bariloche at any time of the year and enjoy its landscape full with lakes, rivers and mountains; it is one of the most visited destinations in Patagonia. During winter, ski is one of the main attractives at Bariloche.

¿What to vivit?

I have four words to answer this question: activities, gastronomy, landscapes and nightlife.

When you visit Bariloche you can’t miss the civic center, the main avenue and the beaches over the edge of Lake Nahuel Huapi.

For those who love snow, Catedral Hill and Piedras Blancas are the main ski centers. Both of them have great infraestructure and variety of activities, for children as well as for adults: ski, snowboard, sleigh ride, trekking, 4x4 journeys and guided snowmobiling.

Otto Hill and Campanario Hill are must-visit locations. In my personal opinion, it’s better to visit them during summer because there’s no fog or snow so you can really enjoy the views. Otto Hill is well-known because of its rotary café; Campanario Hill, on the other side, is known as a viewpoint.

Here are some tours you can’t miss when you visit Bariloche:

Victoria Island and Arrayanes Forest: Departing from Pañuelo Port, after an hour of navigation, you arrive at Quetrihue Peninsula, where the Arrayanes Forest is located, within the Los Arrayanes National Park – There, 12 kilometres of paths with unique landscapes will be waiting for you. Then, the navigation continues towards Anchorena Port at Victoria Island, characterised by its beautiful flora. Going through the paths of Victoria Island you arrive at Bull’s Beach, where you can appreciate cave paintings.

Puerto Blest and Cascade of the Jugs: Departing from Pañuelo Port and after an hour of navigation you pass by Centinela Island, the place where the rests of Francisco Pascasio Moreno remain – “Perito Moreno” is known as “the father of Argentinian national parks”. Then, the navigation continues towards the Cascade of the Jugs – After that, following a road up, you reach Lake Cántaros, where the cascade is born. At this place you can also appreciate a larch which is more tan 1.500 years old. After another 5 minutes of navigation, you reach Puerto Blest, a place that has marvelled tourists for years. At Puerto Blest you can visit the bay and Lake Frías, a lake of unique green waters that proceed from Tronador Hill, a natural limit between Argentina and Chile.

Circuito Chico: This is a route you can do on a tour or by yourself, using a bike or a car. Circuito Chico guides you towards different Bariloche’s emblematic locations, such as San Pedro Peninsula and Port Bueno, where you will be able to enjoy a viewpoint and a cave. After visiting San Pedro Peninsula, the tour takes you to Llao Llao Village, with its outstanding viewpoint and another attractives of the area: the Llao Llao Hotel, surrounded by an impressive natural environment; and the Llao Llao Communal Park, where you can take a walk through the forest towards the San Eduardo Chapel. Port Pañuelo, where lacustrine activities begin, is very near from that place. Passing by Villa Tacul, over the Llao Llao Bay, and following the route towards Lake Escondido, you achieve the Tourist Information Office. Leaving the Peninsula, the path crosses a bridge over Stream Angostura and takes you to the area of López Bay, where López Hill and Capilla Hill are located. If you continue to follow the route, you achieve another viewpoint with excelent views of Lake Moreno and Llao Llao Peninsula. Going over the edge of Lake Moreno, there’s a bridge that goes from the east side to the west side of the lake. At that point you can take a detour and meet Colonia Suiza, an area of farms, campings and tea houses.

Route of the Seven Lakes: This route is 195 kilometres long, totally paved, surrounded by lakes, forests and impressive mountains, and it connects Bariloche with Villa La Angostura and San Martín de los Andes.

The route of the Seven Lakes goes through two National Parks: Lanin National Park and Nahuel Huapi National Park. From south to north, the Seven Lakes are: Nahuel Huapi, Correntoso, Espejo, Escondido, Falkner, Villarino and Machónico.

You can book this tour at Bariloche, Villa La Angostura or San Martín de los Andes, or you can follow the route by yourself using a car or a bike. This is a tour you can do at any time of the year, although there might be some restrictions during winter because of the snow.

Weather and when to travel:

Bariloche is a destination you can visit at any time of the year, depending on the kind of landscapes and activities you want to enjoy during your holidays.

Winter is really cold, with minimum temperatures of 10°C below zero. Winter season goes from June to September and it’s great for those who enjoy snow activities. In summer Bariloche counts with pleasant temperatures, but the temperature range is wide: during the day the temperatures might reach 29°C, but nights are really cold.

¿How to get there?

By plane: Bariloche’s Airport is 13 kilometres away from the city center.

By bus.

By car.

¿Where to sleep?

Bariloche is a destination with a huge accommodation offer, since it receives tourists from all over the world at any time of the year. You can choose between hotels (3, 4 or 5 stars), hostels, cottages and apart hotels.

For those who travel without a vehicle (own or rented car), the best place to lodge is near the civic center – This is where the main commercial street and the bus stops are located.

Those who travel with a vehicle can also lodge at beautiful neighbourhoods near the city center, such as Belgrano, Playa Bonita or Melipal.

Gastronomy and nightlife:

Craft beer is one of the main gastronomic products – Bariloche has its own Beer Route and a lot of beer styles. The most important brewery at the city is called Cervecería Patagónica, characterised by its beautiful panoramic view. On the other hand, there are a lot of bars near the Civic Center.

Chocolate is another remarkable product – In fact, Bariloche is known as the National Capital of Chocolate. There are lots of chocolate shops where you can also see how they elaborate the product. Besides, there’s a museum dedicated to chocolate.

Lamb, trout and smoked food are local gastronomic specialities, well-known because of their flavor and quality – These products are great for those who want to taste new flavors.

Bariloche offers a large variety of options to enjoy the night time:

• Discos: The main nightclubs (Grisú, Cerebro, Genux, By Pass and Rocket) are located at the city center. During the season of graduation trips (June to September) this clubs are crowded with students.
• Ice Bariloche: This is an icebar, located at the city center. It opens from Monday to Saturday night – Admissions include a drink (served in a glass made of ice), a thermal coat and gloves. The bar counts with two areas: one with room temperatura and another one with temperatures below zero.
• Casino, theater and cinema.

¿How to move?

Public transport is a reliable and confortable option. The Tourist Information Office provides maps that show the timetable and route of each bus line. Buses reach every touristic location – One thing to consider is that you pay by card, a special kind of card called “SUBE”; besides, the frequency of public transport is not the same during winter than during summer. You can also use taxis, rented cars or your own vehicle.

Personal review:

Bariloche is a recommended destination for families and couples. You can visit Bariloche at any time of the year, showing different landscapes during each season. I recommend winter season if you want to enjoy the snow or practice activities like snowboard or ski, and summer season if you like architecture, tours and beaches. You shouldn’t miss the opportunity to taste Bariloche’s gastronomy – Visit a craft brewery, taste the Patagonian lamb and drink hot chocolate. Would I choose Bariloche for my holidays once again? Yes, without any doubt.