Argentina
Bariloche is the Patagonian town that Swiss and German settlers, Italian chocolate makers and ski-mad Argentines turned into the capital of the Andean lake district.
It sits on the southern shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi, a vast glacial lake whose long fjord-like arms run deep into the mountains of Nahuel Huapi National Park, and almost everything you come for is on the water or above it. This guide covers the Circuito Chico scenic loop and the chairlift at Cerro Campanario, a boat day to Isla Victoria and the cinnamon-barked arrayán forest, the crossing to Puerto Blest and the Cántaros waterfall, a gondola ride to the revolving cafe on Cerro Otto, skiing and summer lifts at Cerro Catedral, the Swiss village of Colonia Suiza, a tasting walk along Mitre street's chocolate shops, a kayak on Nahuel Huapi and the Route of the Seven Lakes as a single day trip to San Martin de los Andes. November is spring here, with full lakes and thin crowds, and the ski season runs from June to September. Then it matches you to a hotel in Bariloche itself, from the Llao Llao resort on its peninsula to a budget stay beside the Civic Centre.
Cerro Campanario Chairlift
A seven-minute chairlift ride through the forest to the summit viewpoint that travel writers keep ranking among the best in the world. From the top, the whole lake district unrolls at once: Nahuel Huapi, Lake Moreno, the Llao Llao peninsula, Victoria Island and a ring of peaks.
Circuito Chico Scenic Drive
Bariloche's classic loop along the lake: Avenida Bustillo winds west past bays, forest and the Llao Llao peninsula, with viewpoints, a chapel, a lakeside park and the Campanario hill on the way. A guided half-day is the easiest way to see it all.
Isla Victoria and Bosque de Arrayanes Boat Trip
A full-day boat trip across Lake Nahuel Huapi from Puerto Pañuelo to Isla Victoria and the myrtle forest of Los Arrayanes, with cinnamon-barked trees, forest walks and constant lake and mountain views from the deck.
Cerro Catedral
The biggest ski area in the southern hemisphere in winter and a lift-served mountain playground in summer. From a base around 1,000 metres, lifts rise to about 2,000 metres, with lake and Andes views, mountain restaurants and a bike park.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
A seven-minute chairlift ride through the forest to the summit viewpoint that travel writers keep ranking among the best in the world. From the top, the whole lake district unrolls at once: Nahuel Huapi, Lake Moreno, the Llao Llao peninsula, Victoria Island and a ring of peaks.
Bariloche's classic loop along the lake: Avenida Bustillo winds west past bays, forest and the Llao Llao peninsula, with viewpoints, a chapel, a lakeside park and the Campanario hill on the way. A guided half-day is the easiest way to see it all.
The biggest ski area in the southern hemisphere in winter and a lift-served mountain playground in summer. From a base around 1,000 metres, lifts rise to about 2,000 metres, with lake and Andes views, mountain restaurants and a bike park.
A 12-minute gondola ride from the edge of town up to a summit at about 1,405 metres, where a revolving cafe turns a full circle every twenty minutes and a deck looks out over Nahuel Huapi and the steppe. The easiest mountain view you can reach from downtown.
A full-day boat trip across Lake Nahuel Huapi from Puerto Pañuelo to Isla Victoria and the myrtle forest of Los Arrayanes, with cinnamon-barked trees, forest walks and constant lake and mountain views from the deck.
A boat crossing of Nahuel Huapi to Puerto Blest, deep in the lake's western arm, then a forest walk to the stepped cascades of Los Cántaros. Remote, green and quiet, with a limited small-group departure from Bariloche.
A small Swiss-settled village about 25 kilometres from Bariloche, with farms, tea houses, berry preserves and a Wednesday and Sunday artisan fair. Come for the curanto cooked in a pit, stay for tea and homemade pastries.
Bariloche's chocolate tradition lives on Mitre street, the main downtown strip, where family makers such as Rapanui and Mamuschka sell bars, truffles and the famous chocolate-covered raspberries. A free, delicious walk with tastings along the way.
A half-day guided paddle along the rugged shoreline of Lake Nahuel Huapi, with bays, beaches, islands and mountain views, in a stable double kayak with all gear provided. A calm, close-up way to see the lake that shapes Bariloche.
A full-day guided drive along Argentina's most famous scenic road, Ruta 40 through the Seven Lakes, from Bariloche to the lakeside town of San Martin de los Andes, with Villa La Angostura on the way and free time at the end.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$$Llao Llao Peninsula
Bariloche's grand lakeside resort on the Llao Llao peninsula, opened in 1940 and set between Lake Moreno and Nahuel Huapi with mountains on every side. Golf, a spa, a marina, restaurants and a 15-hectare park make it a destination in itself.
Check rates →Golondrinas (Avenida Bustillo km 11.5)
A lakefront boutique hotel on Avenida Bustillo with original artworks in every room, lake-view studios, indoor and outdoor pools, a spa and free breakfast and parking. Quieter than downtown, closer to the Circuito Chico sights.
Check rates →Downtown Bariloche
A four-star downtown hotel steps from the Civic Centre and the lake, with 95 rooms, a top-floor indoor pool with views, a 24-hour gym and an Argentine restaurant. The easy base for walking to shops, restaurants and excursion pickups.
Check rates →Los Cipresales (Avenida Bustillo km 2.6)
A four-star lakeside hotel about 2 kilometres from downtown at the start of Avenida Bustillo, with an indoor pool, a spa, lake-view rooms, free breakfast buffet and free parking. A good-value base between the city and the Circuito Chico.
Check rates →Downtown Bariloche
A friendly three-star hotel on Libertad street behind the Civic Centre, with 33 rooms, about 20 with lake views, a homemade breakfast buffet and 24-hour reception. The walkable budget pick in the middle of town.
Check rates →A first-timer's plan for Bariloche and the Nahuel Huapi lake district: the seasons, what to reserve ahead, how to move around, how many days to stay and where the headline sights fit.
Choose your Bariloche base: the downtown streets by the Civic Centre, the lakeside hotels along Avenida Bustillo and the resort on the Llao Llao peninsula, with five hotels matched to each.
