Essential Travel Info for Bariloche, Argentina
Amid Lakes and Mountains, Bariloche is the Gateway to Patagonia
Jul 11, 2009
The Gateway to Patagonia, Bariloche, easily lives up to expectations. Located on the southeast shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi, the city’s international reputation of endless scenery, outdoor adventure, mixed Argentine and Swiss cuisine, and until-the-early-morning nightlife is well founded.
Although winter attracts skiers to the slopes of Cerro Cathedral, the city is situated below the normal freezing line, providing mild temperatures throughout the year. Just remember, Patagonia is known for unpredictable weather. Temperatures can soar, or plummet, in summer and winter alike.
Bariloche's City Life
Unlike most concrete and stucco build Argentine cities, Bariloche took advantage of local resources and imported design to build its city center. Swiss-like log and stone building abound, highlighted by the Centro Civico – the city’s central square and local government buildings.
Both chocolate shops and fondue restaurants highlight the gastronomical scene in town. The downtown area is surprisingly small, spanning only four blocks wide by about 10 blocks long, making walking an easy option. However, several restaurants are located outside the city along F. Bustillo Avenue, requiring a short taxi ride.
With three separate locations, El Boliche de Albertos might be the best parrilla in Argentina. While all dishes are surprisingly tasty, the half order of bife de lomo tops most dinners’ lists. El Boliche de Albertos offers a separate pasta restaurant as well.
Well after sundown, the countless pubs and bars come alive with a dangerous combination of foreigners, locals, and visiting Argentines. Most bars and nightclubs are within easy walking distance, allowing for the greatest drinking tradition of all: the pub-crawl. Start the night off at the dingy, yet pleasant, South Bar, before heading down P. Moreno Avenue to several livelier locales.
Sightseeing Around Bariloche
Jagged peaks line the horizon, while Nahuel Huapi highlights the foreground around Bariloche, making sightseeing as simple as looking around. Within walking distance of the city, the Cerro Otto Gondola takes visitors to 1405m providing spectacular views over the lake.
Further along F. Bustillo Avenue is Cerro Campanario. A charilift takes visitors to the summit, where the scenery takes over. After gazing out at the surrounding mountain peaks, LLao LLao resort, and five different lakes, its easy to understand why National Geographic once nominated this location as one of the world’s top 10 views.
A day trip to Pampa Linda provides up-close-and-personal encounters with Cerro Tronodor. The name comes from the thunderous sound of Avalanches that regularly crash down the mountain’s glaciated surface.
Adventurous Activities in Bariloche
Adventure is synonymous with both Bariloche and Patagonia. The local Club Andino Bariloche offers maps and plenty of local knowledge of hiking, climbing and ski routes within Nahuel Huapi National Park.
A trip to Refugio Frey, either as an over-night hike from Cerro Cathedral, or as part of the multi-day Nahuel Huapi Traverse is essential. The lakeside refugio sits at the natural tree line on Cerro Cathedral’s southern flank and offers a remarkable setting to watch the sunrise on the mountain’s granite rock. The refugio is also home base for rock climbers during the summer months, while housing ski tourers throughout the winter.
Cerro Cathedral offers fantastic skiing from June to August. The slopes are mostly intermediate, but endless opportunities for off-piste skiing offers experts the opportunity for quality powder turns.
During the summer, paragliding is common from both Cerro Cathedral and Cerro Otto and whitewater rafting on both the Limay and Manso Rivers provides an exciting way to escape the heat.
How to get to Bariloche by Plane
Bariloche’s Airport is a busy hub for both southbound and northbound travelers. Both Lan and Aerolineas Argentinas offers daily flights from Buenos Aires. Prices for the round-trip journey range from US$350.00 and US$700.00 depending on availability and season.
The economical Lade airline offers flights from Ushuaia in the south, with a mandatory connection in El Calafate. Flights average around US$100.00 per direction.
How to get to Bariloche by Bus
Via Bariloche and Andesmar, along with a host of other companies, offer the 22-hour service from Buenos Aires, while Andesmar and Tramat provide the only southbound service from Mendoza. The overnight services takes 19 hours.
If heading north from nearby Esquel or El Bolson, Via Bariloche is the simplest option. However, if you are traveling from El Calafate, a marathon 24-28 hour ride via Rio Gallegos and Comodoro Rividavia is required unless you plan to travel by the more scenic and expensive mini-bus along Ruta 40, which takes 2 days.
Guests arriving from Chile need to make a connection in Osorno, before crossing the pass into Rio Negro province.
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