In this article we will show you a complete guide on best things to do in Bariloche, from the most emblematic places such as Cerro Catedral and Nahuel Huapi Lake, to the most exciting activities such as skiing, trekking and rafting.
Bariloche is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Argentine Patagonia, and for good reason. With its breathtaking mountain scenery, crystal clear lakes and forests of lenga and coihue it has much to offer.
🔎 Check out our essential guide to travel to Bariloche. If you are traveling with children, check out our article on things to do in Bariloche with kids.
Table of Contents
1) Tour Bariloche’s Civic Center
Get to know the heart of the city of Bariloche from Plaza de los Pioneros. This square is surrounded by historic buildings such as the Secretary of Tourism, the Museum of Patagonia and the Sarmiento Library.
Be sure to take a picture of this classic postcard of Bariloche. I continued along Mitre Street to get to know the commercial center of the city. You will find souvenir stores, clothing and of course, the best chocolate shops in town.
📷 See here the Bariloche city tour. Includes: Pick up at centrally located hotels and return transfer, transportation by car and English speaking guide.
🔎 Take a look at our articles to visit the Civic Center of Bariloche and its surroundings.
2) Walk along the famous small circuit in Bariloche.
The Circuito Chico takes you through some of the most beautiful places in Bariloche, bordering Nahuel Huapi Lake, Campanario Hill and Lopez Hill. Ideal to enjoy incredible panoramic views of the lakes and mountains at the different viewpoints.
You can also visit the historic Llao Llao Llao hotel, hike through the Arrayanes Forest or stop at the beach of Moreno Lake. Enjoy a tour among the trees and discover the wonders that Bariloche has to offer.
📷 Book here the panoramic tour of Bariloche through Circuito Chico.
🔎 Take a look at our article to do the small circuit of Bariloche.
3) Enjoy Lopez Hill
Cerro Lopez is 2075 meters high and from its summit you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the lakes and mountains of the region. It is also crossed by the Lopez stream, which takes meltwater from the hill and flows down its northern slope. On the upper edge you can visit the Refugio Lopez, a mountain refuge located at 1620 meters above sea level with a capacity for 100 people.
It is an ideal place for outdoor activities such as hiking, trekking, climbing and mountain biking. Also to make a 4×4 excursion to get to the top. At Cerro Lopez you can enjoy nature in its purest form and appreciate the flora and fauna of the region.
📷 Enjoy adventure activities in Cerro López
4) Visit the picturesque Colonia Suiza
This is a small colony that was founded in the 1800s, when Swiss immigrants settled in the area to produce timber. The mountain and the alpine style houses make this corner of Bariloche a unique place.
Colonia Suiza has two important craft fairs and is well known for its gastronomy, especially curanto. In this dish, meats and vegetables are cooked in a pit in the ground where hot stones are placed and the food is covered with blankets and earth so that it cooks with that heat. Try this delicacy on Wednesdays and Sundays throughout the year.
📷 Book here the private excursion to Colonia Suiza.
🔎 Learn how to Visit Colonia Suiza
5) Climb Campanario Hill
Do not miss in your list of things to do in Bariloche to visit the Campanario Hill. It ascends by its trekking path or with chairlift to the viewpoint at 1049 meters above sea level. At the top there is an incredible panoramic viewpoint where you can see Nahuel Huapi, Moreno and Gutiérrez lakes, El Trébol lagoon, Catedral, López and Capilla hills, just to mention a few. The Llao-Llao Hotel, the San Pedro peninsula and part of the National Park can also be seen.
6) Things to do in Bariloche Taste the best regional products: beer and chocolate.
Bariloche’s climate is excellent for the production of beer varieties, and very close by, in El Bolsón, very good quality hops are produced. You will find a great variety of brands and small enterprises that make their beer productions in this area with local products. We encourage you to approve the different varieties offered by the producers, you will not be disappointed.
If you are a chocolate lover, in Bariloche you will find several factories where you can enjoy chocolate bars, chocolates and truffles mixed with fruit, nuts, among many others. Some of the factories have production on view so that you can see how the different products are molded.
7) Take the Cerro Otto cable car ride.
Cerro Otto is a small hill 1405 meters high, named after Otto Meiling, a German climber and mountaineer who ascended it for the first time in 1934. You can take the Cerro Otto cable car, which takes you from the base of the hill to the top, to enjoy the panoramic views of the lakes and mountains. At the top is the revolving cafeteria, ideal for a meal or a drink while enjoying the views.
It is also an ideal place for outdoor activities such as hiking, trekking, climbing and mountain biking. There is also a zip line that allows you to fly over the forest and enjoy the adrenaline.
📷 Book here the hike up the Otto Hill to the Berghof hut.
8) Climb Cerro Catedral
Only 20 kilometers from Bariloche, you will find Catedral Hill with its 1,030 meters of altitude. Its name is due to its needle-shaped peaks that resemble the roofs of a church. Cerro Catedral has 39 means of elevation and its values change according to the sections to be climbed. These sections open and close according to the seasons and the weather.
Once you reach the first high altitude base you will enjoy an incredible landscape with an amazing panoramic view of the city. It also has a restaurant and shelters (open during the winter season).
During the winter months you can ski at Cerro Catedral. In case you only want to go up to see the panoramic view, there is the possibility of doing a single stretch, up to where the restaurant is and where the ski slopes begin.
📷 Don’t forget to book some of the treks around Cerro Catedral.
9) Dazzle yourself with the Nahuel Huapi Lake.
This incredible lake of glacial origin accompanies Bariloche along its coast. Its intense blue color is due to its almost 550 meters deep. One of the best ways to enjoy Nahuel Huapi Lake is aboard a boat or sailboat, to enjoy the surroundings of the lake and the mountains, while sailing through its crystal clear waters.
Lake Nahuel Huapi has a wide variety of beaches, some of the most popular are Bonita, Playa Serena and Villa Tacul.
📷 Book here a sailboat ride on the Nahuel Huapi Lake.
10) Excursion to the Arrayanes Forest and Victoria Island.
It is undoubtedly one of the essential excursions to do in Bariloche. Leaving from Puerto Pañuelo, in front of the Llao Llao Llao hotel, you will travel by catamaran along part of the Nahuel Huapi Lake to Victoria Island and the Arrayanes Forest.
The excursion lasts approximately three hours and the star of the show is the tour that takes you through the Arrayanes forest, part of the National Park. Myrtles are large shrubs, whose characteristic is the cinnamon color of the trunk and the green leaves, when touched they are very cold even in summer. The visit is guided by a park ranger and is done through wooden walkways.
📝 Travel tip: The walkways are not long and have no major difficulties, but there are several steps, which can be complex for people with reduced mobility or strollers.
🔎 Read our article on how to visit Arrayanes forest and Victoria Island.
📷 Check out this excursion to visit Victoria Island and Arrayanes Forest from Bariloche with a local agency and make your reservation.
11) Sail to Puerto Blest and Los Cantaros Waterfall
One of the best excursions in Bariloche is to Puerto Blest and Cascada de los Cántaros. Leaving from Puerto Pañuelo, we travel along the Llao Llao peninsula to pass very close to Centinela Island, where the remains of the scientist Francisco Pascasio Moreno rest. After an hour of navigation, you will descend to the Cascada de los Cántaros trail, a waterfall located on the Los Cántaros River.
Then we continue our trip to Puerto Blest to visit Bles Bay and Lake Frias. Its green waters come from one of the glaciers of Mount Tronador, the natural boundary between Argentina and Chile.
📝 Travel tip: To reach the waterfall there is a path with many steps, do it at a slow pace.
📷 Book here the excursion to Puerto Blest and Cascada de los Cántaros.
12) Get to know Lake Gutierrez and the Duendes waterfall.
Lake Gutiérrez, 15 kilometers from downtown Bariloche, is a lake of glacial origin surrounded by the Otto, Ventana and Catedral mountains. It has a stone coastline ideal to enjoy a relaxing time or to do activities such as kayaking.
Very close to it is Villa Los Coihues, where the trail to the Cascada de los Duendes (Elves Waterfall) is located. A low difficulty trail that takes you to a beautiful waterfall in the forest. An ideal activity to do in Bariloche with children.
⛵ Book the kayak excursion to enjoy the Gutierrez Lake.
13) Be amazed by the Guillelmo and Mascardi lakes.
Lakes Guillelmo and Mascardi are part of Nahuel Huapi National Park. The Guillelmo Lake runs along the shore of Route 40 and owes its name to one of the first Jesuits in the area, Juan José Guillelmo.
Mascardi is the gateway to Tronador Hill and Pampa Linda. It is a navigable lake 23 kilometers long and famous for trout, rainbow and brown trout fishing. Both are of glacial origin and have blue and green tones that is accompanied by the unique frame that gives the mountain and the lenga forest. It is a must if you are on your way to El Bolsón.
📷 Book here the excursion to Gutierrez, Guillelmo and Mascardi lakes.
14) Visit the imposing Tronador Mountain
Mount Tronador, with a height of 3491 meters, is one of the highest peaks in Patagonia. Its name is due to the sound it produces when glaciers and avalanches break off at its summit, which sounds like thunder. It is also surrounded by impressive glaciers and waterfalls, such as the Manso Glacier, the Frías Glacier and the Los Alerces Waterfall.
Besides its natural beauty, Mount Tronador is also an ideal place to visit if you are looking for outdoor things to do in Bariloche such as hiking, trekking, skiing and snowboarding, which makes it perfect if you are an adventure and adrenaline lover. There are also excursions to climb to the summit and spend the night in their shelters.
🗻 Visit Mount Tronador with this unmissable excursion.
15) Visit the Manso River
The Manso River is known for its crystal clear and cool waters, and for its rapids and waterfalls that make it ideal for water sports such as rafting and kayaking. Its waters are formed by the melting glaciers of Mount Tronador.
The river is approximately 120 kilometers long and is divided into two main sections: the Upper Manso River and the Lower Manso River. The Upper Manso River is the part dedicated to the practice of water sports, because it has exciting rapids and crystalline waters. The Lower Manso River, on the other hand, is quieter and more relaxed, ideal for enjoying a day of fishing or a picnic by the river.
📷 Things to do in Bariloche Experience the adrenaline of rafting on the Manso River.
16) Enjoy sport fishing
If you love sport fishing, this is undoubtedly one of the things to do in Bariloche that you cannot miss. The Limay River is one of the most important rivers in the region and offers excellent fly fishing opportunities for trout and salmon. Lake Nahuel Huapi is home to trout and salmon, among other fish.
It is possible to rent fishing equipment and hire a fishing guide for an unforgettable fishing experience. The Traful River is also another place to fish for brown and rainbow trout, among other fish. The Pichi Leufú River is another popular place for sport fishing in Bariloche. This river offers excellent opportunities for trout and salmon fishing, and is also an ideal place for trekking and hiking.
17) Snack at Llao Llao Hotel
In a privileged spot in Bariloche, in front of Nahue Huapi Lake, the Llao Llao Llao Hotel was born at the beginning of the 20th century, when the German businessman Frederick Fuchs purchased the land with the objective of building a luxury hotel that would become a first class tourist destination in Argentina.
Swiss architect Alejandro Bustillo designed a building that combined elements of Patagonian and Swiss architecture. The hotel was inaugurated in 1938, in a ceremony attended by the then president of Argentina, Roberto Ortiz.
Its opening was a success from the beginning and has welcomed many illustrious visitors in its history, such as Walt Disney, Hillary Clinton and King Juan Carlos of Spain, among many others. Throughout its history, the Llao Llao Llao Hotel has been remodeled and expanded several times, always maintaining its original style and reputation as one of the best luxury hotels in Argentina.
At the hotel, you can enjoy a first class snack in its lounges open to the general public, or if the season allows it, in its gardens. It is a unique experience to do in Bariloche and enjoy a first class gastronomy.
18) Excursion to the 7 lakes route
The Route of the 7 Lakes is a 100-kilometer route that connects the towns of Villa La Angostura and San Martín de los Andes and crosses two national parks, the Nahuel Huapi and Lanín. This is one of the most popular and impressive excursions in Bariloche.
Its name is due to the number of lakes that border the route, these are: Lácar, Machónico, Falkner, Villarino, Escondido, Correntoso and Espejo. It is a scenic drive through the mountains and stops at the most important panoramic viewpoints to enjoy destrong , a beauty of each lake with its color mixture of turquoise and greenish, with the mountains in the background.
📷 Book today the excursion to San Martin de los Andes with the 7 Lakes Route.
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Well written article. Travel to this area sounds appealing.
Thanks!