The Circuito Chico panoramic tour in Bariloche is a beautiful road that runs along the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi and continues between mountains and typical Patagonian forests.
This is one of the must-do activities in Bariloche, as along the way you will have some of the best panoramic views of the Nahuel Huapi Lake and the mountains in the background.
In addition, you will visit several emblematic places in Bariloche, such as the Llao Llao Llao hotel, the charming village of Colonia Suiza, and trails of low and medium difficulty between forests and lakes.
Here you will find all the information you need to plan your tour around Circuito Chico.
🔎 Check here our San Carlos de Bariloche travel guide.
Table of Contents
How many kilometers does the Circuito Chico in Bariloche have?
The Circuito Chico is a circular route that begins and ends in the city of Bariloche and is approximately 60 kilometers long.
If you want to do it fast, stopping only at the viewpoints, visiting Colonia Suiza and eating at one of the panoramic restaurants, it will take you about four hours to do the whole tour.
If you are also going to hike through the forest and along trails up to panoramic points, and go on chairlifts to some of the hills, and have a drink at the Llao Llao Llao hotel, it will probably take you the whole day to do the Circuito Chico.
Map, what does the Circuito Chico panoramic tour include
This is the map of the route that makes a Circuito Chico Panoramic Tour from Bariloche. In total there are about 60 km.
What to see and do in Circuito Chico Panoramic Tour, kilometer by kilometer
To do the Circuito Chico Panoramic Tour, the road begins on Bustillo Avenue, which borders Lake Nahuel Huapi, heading west the city. From downtown Bariloche, these are the most important places you have to keep in mind to travel Circuito Chico:
- Km 8 – Playa Bonita: beautiful beach on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi, with pebbles. Here you can enjoy the outdoors, do sports such as kayaking and windsurfing and visit from this point Huemul island, which is right opposite. In summer it is usually frequented, but it is necessary to bear in mind that the temperature of the water is still cold to bathe in the lake.
- Km 17 – Cerro Campanario: one of the most important hills in Bariloche. With a little more than 1,000 meters of altitude, you can reach the highest part by chairlift, doing a trekking of little difficulty or by car. The best that the place has are the views, among which the lakes Nahuel Huapi and Moreno stand out, the lagoon El Trébol, the peninsula of San Pedro, the hotel Llao Llao and the island Victoria. It has a parador where you can eat or have a drink.
- Km 20 – San Pedro Peninsula: When you reach kilometer 20, you will find the Regatta Club and access to San Pedro Peninsula. Here there is a lookout point where you can stop to take pictures and enjoy the scenery.
- Km 23 – Llao Llao: in this place you can find the famous hotel Llao Llao, the chapel San Eduardo and Puerto Pañuelo. Here starts the navigation towards the Arrayanes forest and Isla Victoria and also excursion to Puerto Blest. The hotel Llao Llao is a high category lodging, and one of the symbols of Bariloche, built with wood and stone and with a fine decoration in its interior, added to that it is located in a privileged place. To access the hotel, you have to pay the high rate to stay, or just sit in the cafeteria sector and have a drink enjoying the beautiful views of the environment.
- Km 25 – Parque Municipal Llao Llao: from this kilometre onwards the route enters a leafy forest and it is time to stop several times to enjoy the viewpoints and to do some of the hiking routes. Further on, there is a Tourist Information stand, in case you want to ask about anything. Among the hiking trails include the ascent of Mount Llao Llao and the walk to reach the pier of Lake Escondido and Los Troncos Bay.
- Km 33 – Angostura Stream Bridge: panoramic bridge that connects López Bay with Perito Moreno Lake. In the surroundings there are beaches on the shores of the lake and picnic area. From here you can get to the Lopez Bay pier.
- Km 34 – Montañés Cemetery: leave the car at one side of the road and walk along a kilometer path. You will arrive at this small cemetery in homage to all the mountaineers who died in their expeditions and crossings.
- Km 35 – Arroyo López and detour to Colonia Suiza: here you can make a path along the arroyo López, among forests, and enjoy the views of a waterfall. In addition, there is one of the detours to Colonia Suiza, one of the most beautiful and typical towns near Bariloche.
- Km 40 – Punto Panorámico: in this area there are several artisan breweries such as Patagonia and Gilbert, Nahuelito Park, but the main attraction is the Punto Panorámico over km 40. After that, you can enjoy a drink or a meal at the parador, or simply enjoy a viewpoint of the breathtaking views of Lake Moreno and the peninsula of Llao Llao. It is worth stopping for several minutes to take pictures and enjoy the scenery.
- Km 42 – Perito Moreno Lake Bridge: another panoramic bridge that divides the western and eastern arm of Perito Moreno Lake, ideal to stop with the car and enjoy the scenery. Here, you will also find another of the detours to Colonia Suiza.
- Km 44 – Laguna El Trébol: In this stretch, the route borders the small lagoon El Trébol, and later returns to the center of Bariloche.
How to do Circuito Chico?
– Circuito Chico by car
The easiest is to do it in your own car or for rent. In order to stop at all the places along the route and stay as long as you want in each spot. If the tour is done slowly, stopping at several places, it usually takes more than half a day.
🚗 Check here if you want to rent a car in Bariloche.
– Excursions to do the Circuito Chico Panoramic Tour
The other way is to do a half-day panoramic tour to Circuito Chico, which stops at the main places and has a guide in charge of explaining each of the spots on the route. There are many agencies that offer the service.
📷 Check here Panoramic Tour to discover Circuito Chico in Bariloche. Included: Bilingual guide tour.
– Circuito Chico by bus
Also, you can reach the area of Llao Llao or Colonia Suiza by public transport, but to get on and off at the panoramic points of the road you have to pay the bus ticket several times, added to the loss of time by waiting to take the bus. Line 20 is the line that makes the journey from downtown Bariloche to Llao Llao, if you want to visit that spot.
🚌 Check routes and schedules of the lines in the Mibus website (in Spanish).
– Circuito Chico by bicycle
Also many travelers venture to tour Circuito Chico by bicycle. You can rent a bike in the centre of Bariloche and there are also many rental agencies in the roundabout where the route forks in provincial routes 237 and 77. If you do only the roundabout circuit shown on the map, it is a little more than 20 km.
Accommodation and inns in Bariloche
Doing the Circuito Chico Panoramic Tour, you will find many local breweries, tea houses and restaurants. For most of the tour, you have plenty of places to stop for a drink or a bite to eat.
Accommodations along the Circuito Chico are usually hut-like, with lake or mountain views and plenty of outdoor space to enjoy with the family.
🏨 Check here where to stay in Bariloche and get your ideal accommodation.
Bariloche Grand Circuit
There is also a Circuito Grande de Bariloche, which is about 250 km of road, of which 60 km are gravel. This road passes through Villa La Angostura, Villa Traful and is part of the Seven Lakes Road.
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