For a vacation or a stay of several days, the Patagonian city is a dream destination. If you plan to visit it, we have designed the best itinerary in Bariloche in 5 days.
Along with El Calafate and Ushuaia, Bariloche is one of the three favorite cities in Patagonia Argentina to visit. And no wonder, its charm lies in being located at the foot of Lake Nahuel Huapi and being close to turquoise water lakes, forests and hills of the foothills of the Andes.
Although the center of the city is a few hours away, the best attractions to visit in Bariloche are located in the surrounding areas. To access many of them it is necessary to take a catamaran and navigate the Nahuel Huapi lake, others require the use of walk trails and others is simply to ride on a chairlift to reach the best viewpoints of Bariloche from the top, such as the Catedral and Campanario hills.
If you want to know what to see in Bariloche in 5 days, we leave you the perfect itinerary to visit the must-see places.
🔎 Check out our guide to travel to Bariloche: how to get there, best time and tips.
Table of Contents
Itinerary in Bariloche in 5 days
- Day 1: Do the Circuito Chico stopping at Cerro Catedral, Llao Llao Llao Hotel and Colonia Suiza.
- Day 2: Drive along the Seven Lakes circuit to San Martin de los Andes.
- Day 3: Explore Mount Tronador on a hike or by car
- Day 4: sailing across Lake Nahuel Huapi towards Puerto Blest
- Day 5: tour to the Arrayanes forest and Victoria Island and visit downtown Bariloche to buy gifts.
Day 1: Cerro Catedral, Circuito Chico and Colonia Suiza
The first day of the 5-day Bariloche itinerary begins with a tour of one of the most beautiful scenic routes in Patagonia Argentina. The so-called Circuito Chico (Small Circuit) borders Nahuel Huapi Lake and has several interesting stops to make.
Although it is not located within Circuito Chico, the prelude to the route is to climb Cerro Catedral. The town is a mini-city in winter that slowly fades away outside the ski season, but allows you to see the lake and the mountains from above, and to go trekking in the area, such as in the Frey shelter.
📷 Book here the hike through Cerro Catedral to the Frey refuge, a mountain adventure.
After witnessing these fabulous views, it is time to begin the tour of Circuito Chico making several stops:
- Cerro Campanario: you have to go up by chairlift to see the fabulous landscape of hills and lakes. There is also a bar to enjoy a drink and watch the horizon.
- Llao Llao Hotel: a five-star hotel with typical Patagonian architecture where the wood and large windows stand out on the outside. It is strategically located, surrounded by golf courses. You can stay there, a luxury, or simply get to know its interior by having a drink in the cafeteria with a view.
- Trail to Lake Escondido and Bahía Los Troncos: in the Chico circuit there is also time to walk through the forests. These two trails are of low physical difficulty and allow you to reach two sites: the small dock of the small Escondido Lake and the Bahia Los Troncos beach with its mountainous bottom.
- If you want to stop for a meal with a view, two ideal places in Circuito Chico are the Patagonia Brewery and the Punto Panorámico restaurant. Meters away from the latter is the platform to take some good pictures of the Nahuel Huapi lake with the Cordillera behind it.
Before returning to Bariloche, you should make time to visit Colonia Suiza, either to visit the artisans’ fair, buy some wooden handicrafts or to taste the curanto, a typical local dish that consists of cooking meat and vegetables underground with a hot stone.
If you go with children to do the Circuito Chico, one of the recommended stops is Nahuelito Park. It is a tour through the Patagonian forest to discover the figure of more than 20 dinosaurs. Very didactic for the little ones.
📷 The tour of Circuito Chico can be done in your own car, renting a car in Bariloche or hiring an excursion.
For eating in Bariloche the first day one of the recommended places is El Boliche de Alberto, a restaurant to eat homemade pastas and empanadas. Order the lasagna or the ricotta and walnut ravioli.
Day 2: full day tour from Bariloche to the Seven Lakes route
Route 40 between the towns of Villa La Angostura and San Martín de los Andes becomes a panoramic road that borders seven Patagonian lakes: Lácar, Machónico, Falkner, Villarino, Escondido, Correntoso and Espejo.
Each of these lakes has its own viewpoints, and there are even small beaches to stop along the way. There are large surface lakes such as Correntoso and small bodies of water such as Lake Escondido. Each one has its own particular beauty, but always with turquoise water and hills in the background.
📝 Travel tip: The Seven Lakes route is a fully paved road with curves, so be cautious when driving, especially in winter and with the presence of snow.
The route of the Seven Lakes ends in the beautiful town of San Martín de los Andes on the shores of Lake Lacar. Make time to walk along the small coastal promenade, go up to the Bandurrias or Arrayanes viewpoint, and while you’re at it, taste some homemade chocolate or sweet cake with tea or coffee in one of the cafes.
📷 You can do the Seven Lakes and San Martin de los Andes route from Bariloche in your own car, renting a car or with a full day excursion.
The second day in Bariloche you can try eating at Manush, especially for its excellent craft beer and homemade hamburgers.
Day 3: Explore Mount Tronador on a hike or by car
The majestic Mount Tronador, with its imposing peaks always covered with snow, is an essential excursion to do in Bariloche in 5 days. Surrounded by glaciers, it stands out for the thundering of the impact of the ice masses that fall at the foot of Lake Manso.
Near Cerro Tronador there are several attractions to see, among which the following stand out Pampa Linda, a cozy inn ideal for enjoying a meal before or after your adventure in the mountains, the Saltillo de Las Nalcas, an enchanting waterfall and The Devil’s Throat, a kind of natural amphitheater from which spectacular waterfalls cascade.
But the great attraction of the place, besides the hill, is the Ventisquero Negro. This hanging glacier has a blackish hue due to the mixture of the melting of the Manso glacier with the sediment of the ground, staining the ice dark.
You can reach Cerro Tronador by car on a gravel road or by hiring an excursion with transportation and guide from Bariloche.
On the third day in Bariloche we recommend eating at La Fonda del Tío, famous for its giant milanesas a la napolitana, a very Argentinian plan.
Day 4: sailing to Puerto Blest plus optional crossing to Chile
Located on one of the arms of Lake Nahuel Huapi and close to the border with Chile, Puerto Blest is a true Patagonian paradise. In this part of the Nahuel Huapi lake you will be able to observe small masses of ice floating as a result of the melting of the nearby glaciers.
The tonality of the colors mixes the blue of the lake with the green of the Valdivian forest that surrounds its shore. Entering a low-difficulty trekking through the forest you will find stepped waterfalls like the one of the Cantaros.
If you have a more adventurous spirit, you can even go as far as Lake Frias. From here the landscape changes to the greenish water of the lake. There is even a boat that makes a trip on Lake Frias.
If you want to continue on your way, it is possible to cross into Chile and see some of Chilean Patagonia. The closest site at the crossing of the two countries on the Chilean side is the Todos los Santos Lake. Don’t miss the views of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes.
📷 Book here the tour from Bariloche to Puerto Blest and Los Cantaros waterfall. There is also the option of adding navigation on Lake Frias and Lake Todos los Santos, the latter on the Chilean side.
On the fourth day in Bariloche we recommend eating at Alto El Fuego, one of the references in the city when it comes to grilled meat. There are the typical Argentinean beef cuts, but the specialty is grilled lamb.
Day 5: Excursion to the Arrayanes forest and Victoria Island and visit downtown Bariloche.
To start the last day in Bariloche you have to take a catamaran again but this time in the direction of Villa La Angostura.
The boat will stop at two emblematic places on Lake Nahuel Huapi. Victoria Island is a large expanse of land in the middle of the lake, with lush forest vegetation and rock paintings of ancient settlers. Walking through its interior is fascinating.
The second stop is in a protected area, the Arrayanes Park in Villa La Angostura. In this area, where the tall Patagonian trees such as cypress and cohiue stand out, the myrtle trees have been able to intrude into the landscape and coexist with other species.
Its fine cinnamon-colored trunks are an emblem of Patagonia. The tour is guided and walking on wooden platforms.
📷 Book the boat tour from Bariloche to Victoria Island and Arrayanes Forest.
To culminate the itinerary in Bariloche in 5 days, what better than touring the center of the city, starting with the Civic Center, a large square surrounded by beautiful buildings covered with wood.
The Civic Center gives way through arches to Mitre Street, the main street of Bariloche. Shops, restaurants, and above all, very famous artisan chocolate stores in Patagonia such as Rapa Nui, Abuelo Goye and Mamuschka. If we have to recommend any of them, we would choose Rapa Nui.
If you have a little more time, it is advisable to visit the Cathedral Nuestra Señora del Nahuel Huapi with its high tower.
📷 Book the free tour of Bariloche to discover its history and hidden places.
The last day in Bariloche deserves a meal overlooking the lake. One of the best options is Maleza, where you can choose between traditional service with a waiter, or order at the cash register and they will let you know when the food is ready for you to pick it up. If you want to try a Patagonian dish, choose trout.
Where to stay in Bariloche
It is best to base yourself in one place and move around the city by car or on excursions. You have to choose between hotels located in the city center, closer to restaurants, cafés and chocolate shops, or cabins on the shores of the lake cabins on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi, farther from the center farther away from the center but surrounded by nature and tranquility.
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good afternoon we are going to bariloche in september next year for a week it is a good month to go with out been in snow season thank you walter
Hi Walter, September is still snow season in Bariloche. The ski resorts usually remain open until the end of the month. The good thing is that it’s considered mid-season, not high season anymore, so you can enjoy the snow with fewer tourists.