This city is the most visited tourist destination in the Patagonia and the city with the most population of the entire area. It is located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park, in the province of Río Negro near the south shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi.

It has many attractions, from beautiful buildings of European style to impressive natural areas in and around some of the best ski resorts around the country, being considered the second best ski destination in the world.

Besides these attractions, in Bariloche there are 3 golf courses and other places to practice sports. The Cerro Campanario has chairlifts.

Bariloche is one of the most important scientific centers of America, which houses the Bariloche Atomic Center and headquarters of INVAP, an Argentina company that designs nuclear reactors, satellites and radars.

The climate in Bariloche is of High Mountain with abundant rainfall and cool temperatures, even in summer the temperature can reach 30° C.

Tourism is the main activity in San Carlos de Bariloche, offering different activities for summer and winter. As it is located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park, it offers a wealth of natural areas to explore and visit, including Lake Nahuel Huapi, Los Arrayanes National Park, Tronador and Mascardi Lake, among others.

From Bariloche you can make the so-called Cruce de Lagos (Lakes Crossing), an excursion that links Argentina with Chile sailing through the waters of the lakes that are on the border.

History

The first inhabitants of Bariloche were part of the Mapuche people and the first expeditions were missionaries who came from Chile. Subsequently, in 1881 the Argentine military campaign arrived in the territory, but who came to live there were immigrants who established a dynamic economic activity with Chile.

In honor of one of them, Carlos Widerhold, the city was called San Carlos de Bariloche. It was officially founded in 1902. In 1934 with the arrival of the railroad, Bariloche expanded its trade with the rest of Argentina.

Because of the complicated geography of the sector, in Bariloche ranches that supplied agricultural products to the cities including wheat fields were developed.

Also during the early years of the city, the belief of the Nahuelito was established which is a mythological creature believed to inhabit the waters of Lake Nahuel Huapi and was supposed to be a survivor of the dinosaur age, but despite searches performed. It has not been identified.

In 1934 the Nahuel Huapi National Park and the end of that time the Complejo Civico was created as well as the Cathedral church of the city. The first winter activities were also developed in the Otto hill. It is in this period that the tourist development of the city began, which is currently the most important activity in Bariloche.

Where to go

Civic Center:

When you are in Bariloche you must see the set of buildings such as the libraries and the Municipal museum that are found across from the square. They are built with stone, wood and portals. Joining them is the Mitre Street, where the main shops of Bariloche are found, especially chocolate shops which are a classic of the city.

In this square you can also take photos with beautiful St. Bernard dogs, which are emblematic in Bariloche.

Short Circuit:

Travelling through the Exequiel Bustillo Street you can do this trip, which allows you to observe beautiful views of Lake Nahuel Huapi and Lake Perito Moreno. In their viewpoints you can find craft shops, chocolates and meals. You can also take trails that enter the forest by walking them or taking a bike ride.

On this tour you can also see the Escondido Lake, which has a small dock.

Big Circuit:

This route starts in Bariloche by taking the Ruta Nacional 237 and crossing the Limay River. Later you arrive at Rincón Chico, where a natural amphitheater is located. Continuing along the Limay River, you reach the Valle Encantado, an area of ​​very interesting and particular rock formations that you can observe.

After arriving in Confluencia, you take the road through the Traful River, with a landscape that also shows rock formations. Then there is a bridge over the Minero River that must be crossed in order to observe the Mirador del Traful, where you see a complete view of the lake of the same name.

Continuing the tour we find the Villa Traful, a beautiful lakeside town. The road goes into the forest and travels to Ruta 234, also known as Ruta de los 7 Lagos. In the trip we can see the Espejo and Correntoso lakes, and if you take Ruta 231 you will reach Chile.

To complete the circuit, you take the road that leads to Villa La Angostura, a path that also allows you to see Puerto Manzano, with a beautiful beach on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi. The tour ends by taking Ruta 237 once again, which leads back to Bariloche.

Puerto Blest (Blest Port):

This tour starts in Bariloche, opposite the pier of Puerto Pañuelo, where a catamaran crosses the Blest of Lake Nahuel Huapi and is taken amid a beautiful landscape of lush vegetation. While browsing you can see the Centinela Island, where the tomb of Francisco Moreno is  and the famous Perito Moreno discovered Lake Nahuel Huapi and created the National Parks.

Victoria Island and Bosque de Arrayanes:

Also, sailing from Puerto Pañuelo for about 30 minutes you arrive to Puerto Anchorena in Victoria Island. Here you can take the chairlift up the hill Bellavista to observe the landscape from above or do some trekking along the paths of interpretation that exist in the area.

Then the tour continues and you sail to Puerto Quetrihué where the Los Arrayanes National Park is located with trails where you can see the characteristics of these beautiful trees.

Cerro Otto (Otto Hill):

It is 5 kilometers from the city and has the CComplejo Turístico Teleférico Cerro Otto resort with an indoor station that consists of 42 gondolas that arrive to Estacion Superior, where you can see a wonderful view of the surroundings.

At its summit there is an art gallery with original size replicas of works by Michelangelo like El David and La Piedad, sculpted in marble and resin, as well as photographs, sketches and other paintings by the Italian artist.

There is also a small cinema and disco where you can learn the history of the area, with documentary images in high resolution; plus a unique rotating restaurant in and the only one in South America, which allows 360° view of the surroundings while enjoying delicious dishes, sweets and drinks such as the famous hot chocolate.

In Cerro Otto you can also do other activities such as dog sledding in the winter, karting that descends down the mountain, forest walks and a funicular, which takes you up to the summit.

Cerro Catedral (Catedral Hill):

This is one of the best ski resorts in the Patagonia of Argentina. It is 19 kilometers away from Bariloche, in the Nahuel Huapi National Park, surrounded by coihues and lenga forests and beautiful landscapes. It has 600 acres of skiable surface and allows you to practice mountain activities such as climbing.

Cerro Tronado (Tronador Hill):

It is located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park, on the border between Chile and Argentina. It is an active volcano that also has the Ventisquero Negro glacier at its summit. The landscape while ascending to the summit is beautiful with forests, mountains and waterfalls.

Cruce Internacional de Lagos (International Lake Crossing):

This beautiful journey allows you to experience a trip to the Argentine and Chilean lakes and lasts for two days. It begins by sailing in a catamaran from Puerto Pañueo, through the arm of the Blest of Lake Nahuel Huapi until you reach the port Puerto Blest.

Then the journey continues by land bordering Lake Frías to Puerto Alegre. From there it continues by sailing through its waters to Puerto Frías, where the migration procedures are performed.

The bus crosses the Andes to reach the first village in Chile, Peulla. From there the tour moves to Lake Todos los Santos to the town of Petrohue, where you can visit the falls of the same name, a formation of small waterfalls.

The trip continues to Puerto Varas and then ends at the Chilean port of Puerto Montt.

To do

This is one of the most tourist cities of Argentina and has excellent services for all types of visitors. Thus it receives more than 800,000 visitors every year, who consider it one of the most beautiful cities in South America.

While you are in the city you must go to its Civic Center, where the majority of commerce, restaurants, chocolate shops and Craft Fairs are located outdoors.

There are also museums such as the Chocolate Museum, the Museo Geológico y Paleontológico Rosendo Pascual museum, with a great collection of bones of prehistoric animals, collection of crystals and Patagonian birds. Another museum is La Patagonia with its natural and regional history where seasonal exhibitions are held.

Besides this, Bariloche is within the Nahuel Huapi National Park, so outdoor activities are endless. You can walk the trails or take a bike ride to enjoy the view of the the lakes, horseback riding, wildlife watching, to name a few.

In the hills that surround the area, such as the Otto and Tronador volcano, you can enjoy activities such as mountain climbing, trekking and mountaineering; as well as other snow activities like sleigh rides, karting, among others. Besides this, Bariloche has Cerro Catedral, an important ski center which is visited by many in the winter.

This area is also the starting point of the Andean Lakes Crossing, an excursion that lets you navigate to the border of Chile and visit the area lakes shared by both countries. 

Recommendations

Economy:

In Bariloche you can change money at exchange houses or banks that are in the city center. You can change money every day, including weekends and holidays.

There are ATMs and credit cards can be used.

Transportation:

To get around the city there are taxi services and shuttles. For trips to the typical places of the city there are neighborhood buses that take visitors around.

The only public transportation only consists of buses and taxis, vans and trains are not within Bariloche.

Another option is to rent a car or bicycle to move within the city.

Communication:

The code to call Bariloche is 0294. To call from abroad you must dial 54 before the code of Bariloche, which is the international code of Argentina. 

Where and what to eat