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Bariloche

Patagonian lakes, Andes and chocolate

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Best time to visit: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec
Currency: ARS
Time zone: UTC-3
Country: Argentina

Photo: Pepe Robles, Public domain

San Carlos de Bariloche is a lakeside city in the Patagonian Andes, on the shore of Nahuel Huapi Lake and inside the Nahuel Huapi National Park area. People come for mountain scenery, hiking and lake beaches in summer, skiing at Cerro Catedral in winter, and its alpine-style centre with chocolate shops and breweries.

Largest cities

Buenos Aires
Córdoba
Rosario
Mendoza
La Plata

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Argentina
Capital: Buenos Aires
City population: 136,381
Population of Argentina: 47.3M
Country area: 2,780,400 km²
Official language: Spanish
Currency: Argentine Peso (ARS) · 1 USD ≈ 1,516 ARS
Time zone: UTC-3
Calling code: +54
Drives on the: Left
Elevation: 866 m
Plugs: C / I · 220V
Emergency numbers: 911 · 100 (fire) · 107 (ambulance)
Best time to visit: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	23°	23°	18°	13°	8°	6°	6°	7°	9°	13°	17°	21°
Low	10°	11°	8°	6°	3°	1°	0°	1°	1°	3°	6°	9°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$37
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$95
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$250

Plan a trip to Bariloche

Top things to do

Free
Museo de la Patagonia
Housed in the Civic Centre, it shows native wildlife and the region's indigenous pre-Hispanic history, with entry by voluntary donation; check the limited morning and afternoon opening hours before going.
- Half day
- Centro Cívico and city centre
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- Closed: Sunday and Monday
Free
Centro Cívico and chocolate shops
Walk the 1940s stone and wood civic square with its library, museum and cathedral nearby, then browse the chocolate boutiques along the main streets; it is a good first-evening stroll.
- Half day
- Centro Cívico and city centre
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Playa Bonita
A lake beach on the Circuito Chico road for sunbathing and cold-water swims, with views across Nahuel Huapi; the water stays around 14°C even in summer, so swimming is brief.
- Half day
- Nahuel Huapi lakefront and Playa Bonita
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $60
Cerro Catedral skiing
South America's largest ski resort, 19 km from the city, with over 100 km of runs and a huge lift capacity; in winter check snow and road conditions and rent gear in town.
- Full day
- Cerro Catedral ski area
- Good for kids
Free
Frey refugio hike
A trail from the far corner of the Cerro Catedral parking lot climbs to the Frey refugio in about 4 hours up and 2.5 hours down; carry water, food and windproof layers.
- Full day
- Cerro Catedral ski area
Free
Circuito Chico viewpoints
A classic half-day loop of viewpoints over lakes Moreno and Nahuel Huapi, passing near the Llao Llao Hotel; a car, taxi or organised tour makes the scattered stops easier.
- Half day
- Circuito Chico and Llao Llao
- Good for kids
≈ $90
Isla Victoria and Arrayanes forest boat trip
A full-day lake crossing from Puerto Pañuelo to Isla Victoria and the Arrayanes forest, with walks among native trees; book ahead in high season and take sun and wind protection.
- Full day
- Isla Victoria and Arrayanes forest
- Good for kids
≈ $40
Huemul Island and Huemul Project ruins
Boat out to the island where an Austrian scientist tried to build a fusion reactor in the 1950s; the ruins can be visited and are also visible from parts of the coast, so confirm access locally.
- Half day
- Nahuel Huapi lakefront and Playa Bonita

Before you go

Entry and visas

Many visitors, including British citizens, can enter Argentina visa-free for tourism for up to 90 days, but rules depend on nationality and some nationalities pay a reciprocity fee on arrival at Ezeiza. Passports must be valid for the planned stay, and immigration no longer stamps passports, so contact the Argentine Migration Office if you need proof of entry or exit. Check the official Argentine migration site or your nearest Argentine consulate before travelling.

Official website

From the airport

San Carlos de Bariloche International Airport (BRC) sits about 15 km east of the centre; local bus 72 runs to the central bus station and El Centro in roughly 30-40 minutes, and minibuses drop passengers at their hotels. Long-distance buses from Buenos Aires take about 19-22 hours, and buses from Chile (Osorno, Puerto Montt) take 6-8 hours.

Getting around

The city has a good public bus network run by one company, paid with a contactless card or the Sube card, with cheap local fares and higher fares on the airport line.

Local tips

Summer days are sunny and windy but nights are cold, so bring a warm layer even in January; winter (June-September) is wet and snowy.
Carry some cash in Argentine pesos for buses, small shops and refugios, and keep small notes for tips.
Book Cerro Catedral ski passes, lake excursions and popular restaurants ahead in July and during the January-February high season.
Distances between attractions are long and trails are exposed to fast weather changes, so tell someone your route and start hikes early.