The main square of stone and wood buildings designed by Ezequiel Bustillo (1940), facing the lake. Famous for the Saint Bernard dogs you can take photos with.
Price: free · Tip: visit the Museo de la Patagonia inside.
Bariloche Travel Guide 2026: Lakes, Chocolate & Circuito Chico
Argentina · July 2025
Overview
First Impressions
Bariloche looks like a little Switzerland in Patagonia: wooden and stone chalets, chocolate shops on every corner and blue lakes surrounded by snowy mountains. In summer it is a paradise for hiking, cycling and lakes; in winter it is Argentina's ski capital. The town centre can feel touristy, but the views around Lake Nahuel Huapi are unforgettable.
History & How Long to Stay
The Mapuche and Tehuelche peoples lived here first. San Carlos de Bariloche was founded in 1902, mostly by German, Swiss and Austrian settlers, which explains the alpine style and chocolate tradition. Nahuel Huapi National Park, created in 1934, was the first national park in Argentina. In the 1930s and 1940s the architect Ezequiel Bustillo designed the Centro Cívico and the Llao Llao Hotel, which shaped the town's image.
How long to stay: 3 to 5 days.
Last updated: October 2026
Quick Facts
Everything at a glance
- Fact
- Detail
- Airport
- San Carlos de Bariloche International (BRC), 14 km east
- Currency
- Argentine peso (ARS)
- Best time
- December to March for lakes and hiking; July to September for skiing
- Getting around
- City buses with SUBE card, taxis/remises, rental car, bikes
- Safety
- Very safe
Location
On the map
In Río Negro province, northern Patagonia, on the southern shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi in the Andes, near the Chilean border.
Budget
What a day actually costs
Per person, per day.
| Backpacker | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | ARS 30,000–55,000 ($19–35) | ARS 120,000–220,000 ($77–142) | ARS 450,000+ ($290+) |
| Food | ARS 30,000–50,000 ($19–32) | ARS 70,000–120,000 ($45–77) | ARS 200,000+ ($129+) |
| Activities | ARS 10,000–30,000 | ARS 40,000–100,000 | ARS 200,000+ |
| Daily total | ARS 70,000–135,000 ($45–87) | ARS 230,000–440,000 ($148–284) | ARS 850,000+ ($548+) |
Winter (ski season) and January are the most expensive.
Things to Do
What earned its place
Bariloche's main street, Mitre, is full of chocolate makers like Rapa Nui, Mamuschka and Del Turista. Try chocolate en rama (thin flakes).
Price: about ARS 20,000–40,000 for a box.
A 60 km scenic loop west of town, past Lake Moreno, Bahía López and the Llao Llao peninsula. Many people do it by rented bike in a day.
Price: bike rental about ARS 25,000–45,000 a day · Tip: start from km 18 to skip the busy road.
A chairlift to a viewpoint that National Geographic once included among the best views in the world, overlooking lakes and islands.
Price: chairlift about ARS 20,000–30,000 return.
A famous mountain hotel from 1939 between two lakes, with a small chapel and a beautiful forest trail (Sendero Llao Llao) nearby.
Price: free to see the outside; café open to visitors.
A boat trip from Puerto Pañuelo across the lake to Isla Victoria and the Arrayanes Forest, with cinnamon-coloured myrtle trees, some hundreds of years old.
Price: boat tours about ARS 60,000–100,000 plus park fee.
The largest ski resort in South America, with more than 100 km of slopes; in summer, it has hiking and mountain biking.
Price: ski passes vary a lot by season.
A small village founded by Swiss families, with a Sunday market and curanto, a dish cooked underground on hot stones.
A famous road trip north to San Martín de los Andes through seven lakes and Villa La Angostura.
Time needed: a full day.
Transit Tips
Getting around
Getting there
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By air: flights from Buenos Aires (about 2 hours) and El Calafate.
From the airport: shuttle or remise to town (about 20 minutes).
By bus: from Buenos Aires (about 20 hours) or from Chile (Puerto Varas and Osorno, about 6 to 7 hours).
Getting around
City buses: with a SUBE card; line 20 follows the lake towards Llao Llao and Circuito Chico.
Rental car: best for the Seven Lakes Route.
Taxis and remises: Uber coverage is limited.
Good to know
Keep in mind that January and July (school holidays) are very busy with Argentine students; book ahead.
Helpful Words
Useful words in the local language
A few basics in Spanish can make everyday conversations much easier.
- Hola
- Hello
- Por favor
- Please
- Gracias
- Thank you
- Disculpe
- Excuse me
- ¿Cuánto cuesta?
- How much is it?
- ¿Dónde está…?
- Where is…?
Where to Stay
Where to Stay
- Town centre: best for first-timers, restaurants and chocolate shops.
- Avenida Bustillo (km 1–10): best for lake views and quieter nights.
- Llao Llao area: best for luxury and nature.
- Cerro Catedral: best for skiers.
Plan & Book
Browse hotels in Bariloche
Explore accommodation options and open hotel details directly from the map.
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