Bariloche: What to do in this Alpine town?

Jun 29
11:28

2010

Matthew Barker

Matthew Barker

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The alpine styled town of Bariloche is set in the beautiful mountain region of Patagonia in Argentina. The town offer a lot to do all year round, so have a look at what the town has to offer with the guide from a Argentina Expert from Argentina For Less.

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The town of San Carlos de Bariloche,Bariloche: What to do in this Alpine town? Articles high in the mountains at the heart of Argentine Patagonia, is a little part of the Swiss Alps in South America.

 

The town is famous for its chocolate production and for its nearby Cerro Catedral ski resort, constructed over 60 years ago leading the skiing revolution in South America.

 

The town is ideal for breaks all year round, with lots of activities for the Argentine Summer and the Ski Season. The seasons are the opposite to Europe and the United States.

 

Spectacular views

 

One of the biggest attractions for visitors to the city is the stunning and spectacular natural scenery that exists around the town.

 

Located on the banks of the Nahuel Huapi Lake in the high Andean mountains, the city is graced with view of crystal clear waters, snow capped peaks and thick ever green forests.

 

The best way to get around to all the different sites are destinations around the city is on one of the many organized tours that run from the city. The local tourist office in the main square has a list of all the providers as well as the common circuit tours.

 

The traditional short circuit tour takes you to key sites around the town and up to the peak of Cerro Campanario, which at a height of 1050 meters; you have panoramic 360 degree views over the whole of the area. At the summit there is a café where you can buy cakes and hot cocoa to warm yourself up – especially in the winter months.

 

The larger circuit give your much more time exploring the region and takes you to some interesting sites such as the Enchanted Valley where you can see strange figures that form natural rock shapes such as 'The Finger of God' and 'The Siamese'.

 

On the adventure tour you will visit the Cerro Campanario and reach it's summit. However you will also visit the Llao Llao Municipal Forest and a Craft Beer Factory.

 

Other towns near by

 

San Martin De Los Andes is a town to the north of Bariloche and can be access by road. Often visitors rent a car to explore the region and the town more independently. The town has less of a tourist feel that Bariloche and has a number of local attractions that can explain the town's history in this remote part of the world.

 

It is also possible to visit a nearby black glacier that is at the base of Mount Tronador. The glacier is the only one accessible this far north of the well known glacier resorts of El Chalten and El Calafate.

 

The ski resort of Cerro Catedral is open all year round, however it goes very quiet after the Easter period up to the start of the snow season. The resort town has lots of adventure activities for people, with many of the ski slopes turned into mountain biking tracks.

 

The big attraction is the ski lift that takes you to a height of 3200 meters. At the peak you appreciate the baron and isolating place that you are in. Yet, at the peak is a large house that serves coffee, food and cakes.

 

Moving on

 

From Bariloche it is easy to access all parts of Patagonia, with direct bus transport to all areas. However, if wanting to travel south to El Chalten or El Calafate, a flight is recommended the lack of direct paved roads and such long distance makes the journey over two days long!

 

If going to Chile, you are able to go by boat from Bariloche all the way to Puerto Blest. You get to cross the Argentine, Chilean border in one of the remotest part of the Andes and at a very high height above sea level.

 

The boat journey is more like a cruise, with the option to stop off in towns along the way. From the remote high locations, star gazing is possible as well simply relaxing in this special part of the world.

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