Bariloche in Patagonia South America

BARILOCHE GENERAL INFORMATION

On the shores of Nahuel Huapi lake, in the heartland of the National Park by the same name and in the middle of the Andes mountains, San Carlos de Bariloche town welcomes people from all over the world and opens the gates to Argentine Patagonia.

Bariloche is located in the west of the province of Rio Negro. It is a place where time seems to have stopped for visitors to enjoy this exceptional environment, a natural Andean scenario that provides warmth and sheltering attraction with its eternally ever-changing beauty.

Bariloche stands out for its architectural features and because it is surrounded by hills, woods, mountains covered with eternal snow, lakes and rivers. It offers the widest range of options for tourism, both conventional and adventure, and may be enjoyed in every season of the year.

You breathe fresh air in the streets, and the immense Nahuel Huapi lake can be seen from any part of the town. Walking along the woodland trails is a marvelous experience of being by yourself and in harmony with nature, far away from the pollution and stress of large cities.

Compared with the crowded metropolis, Bariloche, with its hundred thousand or so inhabitants, still lives the life of a mountain village. This place not only offers its population panoramic vistas and a constant contact with natural beauty, but also serves as a melting pot of different cultures and races, aptly reflected in the indigenous origin of its name and its German influence.

San Carlos de Bariloche started out as a village settled by mountain people, most of whose inhabitants descended from Swiss, German, Austrian and Italian pioneers. They came from Europe to settle this land bringing with them their own customs and lifestyles, and even originating a variety of regional products that still characterizes Bariloche.

The definitive settlement of the region started in 1881. Two years later Chacabuco Fort was built, near the stream estuary by the same name, on the Limay river. At first it consisted of only three huts made of mud and straw, a "mangrullo" (watch tower) and a defensive moat.

In 1889 Jarred Augustus Jones settled next to the fort (already abandoned) with 1500 cows, and in 1893, José Tauschek with his family settled next to the lake.

However, the first white man to settle in what is today the urban center of Bariloche was Carlos Wiederhold.

The son of Germans arriving from Chile, he built his house and later his business premises near the present "Centro Cívico". He did business with wool and other goods and after a time his shop, called "La Alemana", became a meeting place for the people living in the region.

It is believed that Wiederhold received a letter wrongly addressed to "San Carlos" instead of Mr. Carlos or "Don Carlos", this becoming the origin of the name of the town, that was officially christened on May 3, 1902, the date of its foundation

To the name San Carlos, Bariloche was added, being the Spanish distortion of the native name Vuriloche, a word from the "tehuelche" language meaning "different people, from the other side".

This was originally an agricultural area but, as time went by, it became a tourist attraction because of its scenery and the possibility of practicing skiing. As a result, the whole village changed the direction of its economic development.

Bariloche is the gate to the Patagonian lakes. It has been a tourist attraction for eighty years, and there is a wide variety of services based on an important infrastructure of all-category hotels and an annual movement of 650,000 tourists that visit the town.

There are few places in the world where the seasons are so well marked as in Bariloche. The snow changes the landscape abruptly in winter time, spring is full of colors, long and warm days in summer and spectacular color shades in the fall, and all these changes permanently accompanied by the welcoming friendliness of the people.

If you decide to visit Bariloche, remember to leave behind you the frantic rush of the "big city". And above all, do not forget that a host of unforgettable experiences are awaiting you.

HISTORY OF BARILOCHE

THE CITY

The founding of San Carlos de Bariloche on May 3, 1902 can be considered also as the starting point of receptive tourism in this region - the watershed point signaling the transformation of a mountain village into a top world-class mountain resort.

That year of 1902, the brand-new town growing in the shadow of the "Sociedad Ganadera y Comercial Chile-Argentina" (which was formed from the firm created by Mr. Carlos Wiederholdt), received a visit from three VIP guests from the city of Chubut.

These were Aarón Anchorena, Esteban Lavallol and Carlos Lamarca, who published their opinions in a travel booklet, thus signaling the start of the interest in this area shown by the country's elite families.

Years later, in 1913, the US ex-president Theodore Roosevelt arrived in Bariloche from Chile; in 1916 it was the turn of adventuress traveler Ada M. Elflein, who visited the lakes with the sponsorship of the La Prensa newspaper and published a book of her impressions; in 1930 the Prince of Wales visited the area.

Already in 1913 the firm "Andina del Sud", belonging to Ricardo Roth Schutz (1883-1947), had opened up tourist traffic towards Chile. This "world citizen" ten years before had brought a group of Frenchmen from Buenos Aires to San Carlos de Bariloche, and from there to Puerto Montt.

Roth Schutz was a real sponsor for Central Argentine Patagonian tourism. He brought vessels to sail on the Nahuel Huapi, Frías and Todos los Santos lakes; he also built hotels in Puerto Blest and Lake Frías in Argentina, and on the Chilean side in Peulla and Ensenada.

BARILOCHE : WHEN TO GO

In Bariloche, each season of the year has its own "life". All four seasons are great to visit its lakes, mountains, woods and valleys, as well as to practice different sports or simply to rest among the amazing landscapes of the region.

During winter, you will feel that the white blanket of snow extends over you, transforming the whole landscape. You will also discover the delightful frenzy of skiing, in the June to September season. Besides, you will enjoy one of the most important celebrations in the city: the "National Snow Festival" in August, which includes special competitions and events.

In early July one can also enjoy the "Fiesta de las Comunidades" (Ethnic Community Festival), in which numerous groups formed by the descendants of immigrants parade in their national costumes and offer their regional cooking specialties.

In September, flowering trees, red tulips and yellow broom announce the arrival of all the flowers in a symphony of light and perfume that spreads over the roads and hillsides. In November, fishing rods, hooks and "flies" and their owners gather together on the rivers and lakeshores. Besides, the long days give one the opportunity to relax and enjoy a long walk in a place where the Patagonian mountains and lakes offer one incomparable peace.

In summer, the blueness of Lake Nahuel Huapi, the wide range of woodland greens and the colorful palette of the wildflowers regales one's sight on hot afternoons.

The sun and the pleasant temperature are the perfect excuse to wander along paths and around lakes. You can practice a wide range of sports such as trekking, nautical disciplines (either kayak or rafting), diving, or simply experience something different by going on adventurous tours.

In January and February the Festival of Summer Music is held. It covers events such as the Festival of Chamber Music, the Festival of Bronzes and the Festival of Ancient Music.

As fall approaches, there is an explosion of colors and shapes in the woods, and the first snowfalls make it possible to combine some summer activities with skiing or snowboarding. When fall finally arrives, the poplars acquire sun-bronzed hues and the red-suffused lengas blend with the intense new colors of the native trees. This may be the best time of year in Bariloche's forests.

As you can see, San Carlos de Bariloche is in high season throughout the year.

WHEATHER IN BARILOCHE

The area where San Carlos de Bariloche is located enjoys a temperate mountain-type climate, although it belongs to the continental cold weather zone with a dry season.

December 21 is the longest day in the year. The sun rises around 5:30 a.m. and sets at 9:30 p.m. However, in mid-winter, it rises at 8.30 a.m. and sets at 6.30 p.m. approximately.

In this area temperatures tend to be quite variable, independently of the season of the year. Something to be borne in mind is the temperature variance between night and day. At this latitude, the difference between maximum and minimum temperatures tends to be quite wide. So you should be aware that temperature forecasting in Patagonia tends to be very difficult.

On the Mt Catedral ski center, temperatures are always lower than in the city because of the higher altitude. The wind is another factor influencing the "thermal sensation" or sensation of temperature as we ascend.

Lake waters are always cold, fluctuating between 12 and 15 ºCelsius. The deeper the lake, the harder it is for the sun to heat the water up. Some small lakes get frozen over during very cold winters, just like the lakes we can find on high mountain territory.

RAINFALL IN BARILOCHE

Precipitation occurs the whole year round in Bariloche, especially in the May-August period, which totals over 150 mm whereas the rest of the year accounts for less than 50 mm. Median rainfall is 1.6 mm, and the lowest is after February.

An important change in rainfall occurs as we go from west to east. The rainfall gradient goes from 4,000 mm annually in the Cordillera area, such as Puerto Blest, to only 600 mm a year in the Limay River area.

Fro example, on the steppes that are east of Bariloche, there is always good weather, and it only rains 300 mm a year. However, if you travel westwards towards the Chilean border, you will find it rains much more. In the Lake Frías area, near Puerto Blest and on the Chilean border, it rains 3,500 mm. a year.

These climatic variances, plus the differences in soil and relief, produce significant changes from region to region in the flora and fauna.

WINDS

The dominant winds are from the west and are usually strong, especially in springtime. October and November are usually very windy months, with gusts that sometimes are higher than 100 kilometers an hour, although this rarely happens.

However, it is a fact that permanent winds are usually found over the whole area to a greater or lesser extent. One very rarely gets an absolutely calm day, even in summer.

An effect to bear in mind is the influence of the wind on the sensation of temperature: the strong gusts play havoc with the readings from thermometers.

WEATHER IN NAHUEL HUAPI NATIONAL PARK

The weather in the Park is temperate to cold with clear differences between the seasons. The summers are dry, with average temperature ranging from 14 to 16° Celsius, and maximums of 30°C in January. Winters are humid and it snows often. July temperatures average 2 to 4°C and minimum temperature averages -15°C.

THE SEASONS IN BARILOCHE

An important fact is that the weather does not vary strictly in accordance with the calendar seasons, and sometimes one has low temperatures and rainy weather in summer as well.

Winter in Bariloche ... snow and skiing Winter days may be cold and snowy, or bright and sunny. Daylight extends from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Temperatures average between 2 and -10° Celsius. Snowfall in San Carlos de Bariloche city can vary from 10 up to 50 centimeters in the harshest winters.

Spring in Bariloche ... flowers and fishing This is the time that days get longer and temperature begins to rise slowly. At the same time, the rainfall starts to diminish very gradually. The nights are cold. During the daytime, temperatures vary between 7 and 20° Celsius. Towards the end of the season, during the months of October and November, strong west winds appear, with gusts during the night that can be of over 100 km/hr.

Summer in Bariloche ... the lake and the mountains This is the season of warm, sunny days and cool nights, little rainfall and dominant southwest winds. Due to the low latitude of the city, daylight extends from 6 a.m. up to around 10 p.m. Temperatures con reach 32° Celsius during the day, dropping to 18° C at night. Occasionally the temperature drops very steeply and the peaks of the mounts appear powdered with snow in the morning.

Fall in Bariloche ... a riot of color The days are cool to temperate, and the nights are cold. Average temperatures vary between 4° and 13° Celsius. This is the season of cold, luminous and dry days, although now and then there are intense rains, and some early snowstorms, especially on the mountaintops

HOW TO GET INTO BARILOCHE

BY LAND

BY CAR

There are two possible routes from Buenos Aires:

Via La Pampa: Total length: 1585 kilometers. From Buenos Aires to Santa Rosa, in the province of La Pampa, (National Route Nº 5), from there to General Acha and Neuquén across the "Travesía del Desierto" ("Desert Crossing"), and from Neuquén to Bariloche (along Route Nº 237).

Via Bahía Blanca: Total length: 1691 kilometers. From Buenos Aires, along Route Nº 3 up to Bahía Blanca. From there, going past Río Colorado and Río Negro Valley (Route Nº 22) up to Neuquén, and along Route Nº 237 up to Bariloche.

INTERNATIONAL PASSES

Perez Rosales Pass
From Laguna Frías, west of Lake Nahuel Huapí, a few kilometers ahead Perez Rosales Pass connects with Peulla -30 km- in Chile, from where one takes the route and then the raft across Lake Todos Los Santos, finally reaching Puerto Varas, 120 kilometers away. The average temperature in summer is 25° C and in winter -16° C.

Manso River Pass
This pass is west of Lake Steffen. There is no access road for cars, but rather a track for horses and mountain bikes. There is no car access on the Chilean side either. Nearby one can find Lake Vidal Gormaz and Mt Torrecillas, 2164 meters high.

Vuriloche Pass
Merely a pedestrian pass. There is no road for car access on the Chilean side. There is a temporary "Gendarmería" post, from November to April.

Cardenal Samoré Pass (ex Puyehué)
79 kilometers from Bariloche is Villa La Angostura, from where you will only have to follow the road signals to reach this border pass. It is open all the year round due to its comercial relevance and it is at 1314 meters above sea level. It is considered the second in importance in Argentina. Along "Carretera Austral de Chile" (Chilean Southern Road), one may reach Puerto Montt directly (220 km.) as well as Osorno (117 km.) and the rest of Chilean Patagonia.

BY BUS

Bariloche is one of the most popular destinations in the country, therefore there is a wide range of offers for land transportation. Travelers from the main cities in the country reach the city all throughout the day.

AIR SERVICES

Due to the size of the country, the plane is the most suitable means of transport to cover long distance. It may even be combined with land services. Bariloche airport hosts flights from numerous spots in the country, and even from neighboring countries. In some cases they are direct flights, and in others with a stopover in Neuquén. Foreign visitors arriving at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, need to get to jorge Newbery Airport to get there the domestic flight to Bariloche.

Distances from Bariloche to:

Bahía Blanca 1076 Km
Buenos Aires 1640 Km
25 de Mayo 572 Km
Cipolletti 421 Km
Comodoro Rivadavia 868 Km
El Bolsón 131 Km
Esquel 300 Km
General Roca 416 Km
Las Grutas 1015 Km
Neuquén 416 Km
Osorno 250 km
Piedra del Aguila 185 Km
Puerto Montt 390 Km
Rawson 894 Km
Río Gallegos 1667 Km
San Martín de los Andes 158 Km (via Córdoba Pass)
San Martín de los Andes 190 Km (via Seven Lakes )
San Martín de los Andes 260 Km (via Rinconada)
Santa Rosa 1011 Km
Temuco (via Mamuil Malal ) 479 Km
Temuco (via Puyehue) 489 Km
Viedma 845 Km
Villa La Angostura 83 Km
Villa Traful 100 Km

BARILOCHE: PLACES THAT YOU CAN’T MISS

San Carlos de Bariloche is a small but striking Alpine city, provided with all the services that a first-class tourist city can offer enabling one to enjoy a deserved rest at any time of the year.

At the foot of Lake Nahuel Huapi and surrounded by a series of landscapes which are absolutely irresistible, visiting the city of Bariloche is in itself an adventure for the traveler.

This city, one of the largest in Patagonia, has a varied infrastructure for gastronomy, lodging and entertainment, including hotels, bungalows, and even casinos and discos.

Besides being famous for its international ski slopes and its fine chocolate, Bariloche is located in an unbeatable geographical setting: it has a mild climate, unlike the rest of Southern Patagonia. There are four well-marked seasons permitting one to take advantage of each activity at the appropriate moment. Moreover, it affords one easy access to the mountain heights, where there are a large number of lodges enabling excursions that last several days.

BARILOCHE – VILLA LA ANGOSTURA

You can make your dream come true by walking in the fallen leaves and the snow among flowers like amancays and mutisias, with the eternal company of coihues and ñires and the sweet cooing of diucas and bandurrias.
The magic dwarfs of the forest will lead you through pleasure towards a reality that will satisfy all your expectations

More information …

BARILOCHE - ESQUEL

It is situated 320 km (200 miles) south from Bariloche, and it is the head of the Parque Nacional Los Alerces (Larch-tree National Park). It is the perfect place for wildlife and ecology lovers. The city is sheltered by an amphitheater of mountains that surround it. The area offers several paths that are worth hiking. Esquel is a land of legends and where nature never fails to impress the visitor with its landscape of lakes, woods and rivers.

More information …

Places and Excursions that you can not miss

The City

In the "town" as it is familiarly known by its inhabitants, the tourism area lies around the Centro Cívico. A main shopping road is Mitre, to a lesser extent Moreno and the streets that intersect with them.

On these streets you will find a large number of chocolate factories, places where you can buy smoked meats and fish, textiles, etc., as well as restaurants, fast food eateries, travel agencies and theaters.

The area, internationally famous for its ski runs and its fine chocolate possesses a highly developed hotel infrastructure for visitors' comfort, ranging from hotels and bungalows to casinos and discotheques.

The Centro Cívico (Civic Center)

This is one of the most characteristic places in the city. It was the first are to be built in the country, and is now a National Historical Monument. It was officially inaugurated on March 17, 1940.

Its buildings are mediaeval in style, and cluster around the small and picturesque "Expedicionarios del Desierto" Square. It was built with cypress and larch wood and piedra toba stone (a dark greenish-gray rock) that was quarried in Mt Carbón, on the south side of the current Nahuel Huapi National Reserve.

At the center of the plaza stands the monument to Julio A. Roca. Around it lie the following local government and public buildings: the Municipality, the Municipal Tourism Secretariat, the Police Station, the Patagonian Museum and the Sarmiento Public Library, the former Post Office building (now an exhibition hall) and the former Customs building.

On the Municipality clock tower, twice a day at noon and 6 p.m. the large theme clock displays a parade of four figures representing the local pioneers: an Indian, a missionary, a "conquistador" and a farm laborer.

Mitre Street

It starts from one of the arcades of the Centro Cívico. It is the city's main business thoroughfare and is therefore the most popular strolling area for tourists. It contains a wide variety of places of interest and entertainment options. A number of regional crafts stores and all kinds of shops are found along this important shopping road.

Port of San Carlos de Bariloche

In 1989 construction of the tourist pier and its adjacent building was begun, in order to recover the port on the lake that was destroyed by the Chilean earthquake in Valdivia in 1960. This is an embarkation port for lake excursions. There is a restaurant and fast--food area as well as children's games.

Cathedral Church

Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi has been declared a National Historical Monument. Its construction was begun in 1946 but never finished. From the lakefront its façade and main entrance can be seen. This is the only part of the building that was finished, and it is now a chapel. It is a handsome neo-Gothic building designed by architect Alejandro Bustillo. The stone crafting is very interesting. Inside one finds over 45 stained-glass windows or vitraux showing religious and historical events related to Patagonia. Every year in December, the Christmas Choir Festival is held here, featuring the "Coro de Niños y Jóvenes Cantores de Bariloche" (Bariloche Youth Choir), accompanied by other choirs and local musicians and ensembles.

Bariloche Andean (Mountaineering) Club

This prestigious club was founded in 1935 by a group of pioneers including Dr. Juan Neumeyer, Emilio Frey, and Otto Meiling. It is a reflection of its Alpine Club counterparts. This is a landmark building in the town, and a reference point in San Carlos de Bariloche.

La Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception Chapel)

Built of wood in 1905, this is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city. It is on Moreno street and was designed by Primo Capraro at the request of Padre Zacarías Genghini. It is in beautiful surroundings, including a lookout point with a view on downtown and the Cathedral. In 1973 it was transported on rails to its present location. Its exterior is covered with wooden tiles and the interior is lined with paneling.

Paleontology Museum

The exhibits include interesting samples of material from different geological periods, as well as giant spiders and other curiosities.

"Francisco P. Moreno" Patagonian Museum

It was inaugurated by National Parks in 1940 and is house d in the east wing of the Civic Center. It is named after the famous explorer of the Andes and the Patagonian rivers, who donated the lands that were later transformed by the government into the first National Park in Argentina. It has halls specializing in natural science, ethnography, pre-history and local and regional history. It also has a library and a bookstore.

Isla Victoria and Arrayanes Forest

This trip begins at Puerto Pañuelo located on the Lao llao Peninsula on lake Nahuel Huapi’s watefront. You can reach Puerto Panuelo by car, bus or tourism vans that leave the city of San Carlos de Bariloche periodically. The island is 11 kilometers away and the boat makes this distance in about 30 minutes. All the way to Puerto Anchorena you will be awed by the colour of the water, the Andean peaks and the abundant vegetation. This landscape was transformed by diverse geological phenomena along the course of millions of years.

Once on the island, our suggestion is to spend time trekking it. The place must have been inhabited for thousands of years. Proof of this, are the smoke stained caves and the rupestrian paintings. There is also a noticeable mêlée of fauna and flora. The native species such as cypresses coihues and ñires cohabit with huge sequoias, thujas, eucalyptus, oak and pinecones. Something similar happens with the fauna. Such species as the native “pudu pudu” or dwarf deer cohabits with the wild boar or jabalí, European deer, pheasant and a variety of birds. Don’t be surprised if a vigilant imperial cormorant accompanies you. This island is 20 kilometers long and 4 kilometers wide with a total surface of 3.710 hectares. It is divided into three sections, two of which have been declared intangible zones. The one that can be visited is the central one with such places as Playa del Toro, Puerto Radales, Puerto Gross and Piedras Blancas.

From Isla Victoria you can continue the trip by boat towards Puerto Quetrihue located to the south of the peninsula that bares the same name. This trip also takes 30 minutes and the most outstanding feature is that you land at a pure and dense arrayán forest. The arrayán is a tree that has a cinnamon brown bark. This bark detaches itself in strips revealing lighter layers of the same hue.

The arrayán tree has round small dark green leaves. Near the end of the summer the trees cover themselves with small white flowers which later turn into round black brilliant fruit. This, together with the fact that it is almost the only tree specimen in the area, gives the surroundings a strange coloring. These trees have thrived thanks to the dampness of the habitat. You can find specimens that grow up to 15 meters tall and are 650 years old.

Lake Crossing

The crossing can be done both from Puerto Montt in Chile or from San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina. Any time of the year is appropriate to go across the Andes and discover one of the most important ecological reserves in South America. The trip by ship is enormously interesting. It starts al Lake Frías, which is navigated for about 20 minutes. At Puerto Frías there is an obliged stop for migration and customs paper work on the Argentine side. At this point you are immersed in the Valdivian jungle. This area receives 3.500 mm of rain per year resembling thus a subtropical forest. In this region huge specimens of larch, guaiteca cypress, pellin oak and other local species form the forest.

Four kilometers from Puerto Frías is the international boarder at a pass called Perez Rosales. The trip continues for 28 kilometers by bus along the jungle up to a rural locality called Peulla. At Peulla you will have to stop at the Chilean Customs and Migration offices. You will also find hotel and restaurant facilities and not more than 800 inhabitants at 976 m.a.s.l.\

At Peulla one usually stays the night to continue the following day for a 2-hour navigation leg on Lake De Todos los Santos, also called Lake Esmeralda. You will be impressed by the emerald green of its waters, the snow covered top of the Puntiagudo volcano (2493 meters), Mount Techado, the Margarita island and the other surrounding snow covered peaks which include the Osorno Volcano (2652 meters).

At the end of this leg you will reach Port Petrohue located within the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park, the oldest Chilean park with a surphace of 251.000 hectares. From here on a vehicle takes you to the Petrohue Falls. These are 7 waterfalls formed by the Petrohue River before it sends its waters into Lake de Todos los Santos. All the area used to be covered by glaciers, which as they melted away have formed steep cliffs, carved and pushed sediments and rocks forming thus the capricious formations before your eyes. The trip continues to a locality called Ensenada. This is small rural settlement on the sides of the Osorno volcano where you can find fine cabaña complexes, restaurants and open-air activities

From here on you travel along a paved road which boarders lake Llanquihue. This lake has a surface of 877 square kilometers. You will notice how the landscape transforms itself into fields of all the imaginable hews of green and wooden constructions with wooden shingled roofs. After 64 kilometers you reach the city of Puerto Varas. Different local trees such as olivillos, ulmos and tiacas protect its beaches.

SMALL CIRCUIT

This circuit is a traditional option that takes only half a day. Generally it is the first excursion one does and thus, the first contact with the landscape of the region. It is approximately 60 kilometers long and it begins and ends in San Carlos de Bariloche, following lake Nahuel Huapi’s waterfront along a paved road called Avenida Ezequiel Bustillo. Lake Nahuel Huapi is the biggest lake of the whole region. It has a surface of 55.700 hectares. All along the way, you will be accompanied by it as well as by the Andean peaks and the opposite shores in the distance.

As you begin this circuit you will notice well-kept gardens and the typical construction style consisting mainly of wood and local stone. Some belong to pioneers and some to institutions such as the nautical club. Neighborhoods are identified by the kilometers that have passed since you started the trip. As you go along, the landscape offers different aspects of the lake, the type of forest begins to vary intermingled with cypress and maitén trees and in the summer time these colors are accentuated by the flowers of wild rose, wild berries, Spanish broom and other wild species. At kilometer 8 the neighborhood is called Playa Bonita and the island you’ll see is called Isla Huemul. Further on, at kilometer 12,300 you will reach Bahía Serena, which is a protected beach area, which also allows access to boats. Thus and as you advance, you will discover places of uncommon beauty product of the combination of mountain, lake and forest.

At kilometer 17 you can make a stop at the chairlift of Cerro Campanario, which will let you have a magnificent view from 1050 m.a.s.l. As you continue you will reach the entrance to the San Pedro Peninsula and at kilometer 24, you will be at the Llao Llao peninsula. Here your attention will be drawn to the St. Eduard’s Chapel, Puerto Pañuelo and the link grounds of the Llao Llao Hotel strategically located between lakes Moreno and Nahuel Huapi. At this point the landscape is a conjunction of colors and shapes that give the Nahuel Huapi National Park its well-deserved fame.

Surrounding the hotel’s grounds is a municipal park created to protect a zone of species such as coihue trees, colihue canes, creepers and shrubs. It is worthwhile to walk the interior paths in order to reach places where not even the sun can penetrate. Back on the road, you reach a beach area called Villa Tacul and Lago Escondido, hidden yet easy to find. Finally you will reach the jointure of lakes Nahuel Huapi with Perito Moreno. The road goes across the Angostura River which is only 150 meters long and which offers cobbled beaches at both sides.

Further on is Mount Lopez, the burial place chosen for all those who lost their lives mountain climbing and who dedicated part of their lives to this activity. Then come the orchards of the Swiss settlers, the panoramic or lookout point on lake Moreno, and Laguna El Trebol. A few kilometers further the road links again with Avenida Bustillo and you will be heading back to the city of San Carlos de Bariloche.

Puerto Blest

This trip also begins at Pto. Pañuelo on the Llao Llao peninsula. The boat navigates along the long and narrow Blest Arm. From the start and all along the way the landscape is spectacular: thick forest, imposing mountain peaks, transparent glacial waters.

The entrance to the Blest arm is guarded by mounts Capilla and Millaqueo and the Centinela island. On this island rest the remains of Francisco Pascacio Moreno, the creator of the Argentine National Parks.

A few minutes after starting the navigation within the arm and near Islas Mellizas the maximum known depth is reached: 464 meters. A few minutes before arriving at Puerto Blest you will see Playa de las Arañas and Cascada Blanca

After sailing for an hour, the boat reaches Pto. Cántaros at Bahía Blest. You are now within the Valdivian Jungle due to the fact that it is one of the places, which receives heavier rainfalls: 3000 mm per year. Enormous trees like the coihue and alerce or larch inhabit this jungle; a bushy grove crowded with creepers and liana and, thanks to the dampness, a proliferation of herbs, ferns, moss and fungi.

Don’t miss the timber-lined path, which takes you to Laguna and Cascada Los Cántaros. From this point the opposite side of Puerto Blest can be seen. This last one is the starting point towards the international pass Perez Rosales

At Puerto Blest you can visit or stay at the hostería . There is also an area designed to help you interpret how the local species grow. You will probably hear the roar of Río Frías. This river begins at Lago Frias and carries its milky waters into the Nahuel Huapi lake creating and emerald green hue in all the surrounding area. If you are in the mood for walking around an extra hour and a half you can reach Pto. Alegre, on lake Frias, distant 3 kilometers away. This lake can be navigated for 40 minutes to arrive in Puerto Frias where the road towards the international pass begins.

Here you may choose to continue to Chile across the Perez Rosales Pass, reach the Peulla locality and start a trip visiting the Chilean Lake territory

ACTIVITIES IN BARILOCHE

San Carlos de Bariloche is the ideal place to practice adventure sports. Its majestic and snow-white Andean mountain range as well as its vast woods and sparkling blue rivers, streams and lakes provide the perfect setting for sports.

In this town the traveler does not such a risk of succumbing to the vagaries of weather as he does in Southern Patagonia. On the contrary, he will feel how the seasons change smoothly and how he has the chance of taking full advantage of each of the activities that he has chosen to do.

Bariloche is an easy access point to the high mountains, where the availability of a number of refuges enables tourists to go on excursions lasting several days.

Here the tourist can admire the scenery or walk along the pathways through the woods, a fantastic experience of finding oneself and one's inner emotional balance.

A "must" for those who visit Bariloche at any season of the year is Mt Catedral. In winter it is the best and largest skiing resort in the area, while in summer it is a sports and recreational activity center for all tastes.

Rafting on "gomones", provided with every safety device, the Water Safari on the Limay river is a family excursion ranging from Rincón Chico to Villa Llanquín.

One of the most thrilling ingredients of this amazing "menu" is the chance to admire spectacular rocky formations, such as the natural auditorium ("El Anfiteatro"), at the starting point of the beautiful Valle Encantado.

Moreover, the tourist can enjoy different horse riding activities, lasting one or more days, having the chance of visiting different locations in the vicinity of Bariloche.

For an interesting fishing trip, Bariloche also offers the traveler cruises and full or half-day equipment rental, with sailboats, motor boats, and different size cruisers provided with cabin, cooker and other facilities, plus a crew trained in lake sailing and the chance of being accompanied by expert fishing guides.

Other activities: trekking, skiing, hang-gliding, fishing or just the contemplation of nature.

In conclusion, Bariloche offers a large number of activities in an incredible selection of places, enabling you to fully enjoy your visit to this magnificent Andean mountain town.

If you aim to enjoy yourself and have a wonderful time, Bariloche is the place for you.