San Carlos de Bariloche
Cradled on the southern shore of glacial Lago Nahuel Huapi inside Argentina's oldest national park, San Carlos de Bariloche pairs granite Andean peaks and South America's largest ski resort with artisan chocolate houses and lakeside microbreweries.
Quick decisions
- How many days? Spend 4 to 5 days to explore the Centro Cívico and Circuito Chico, ride the chairlift up Cerro Campanario, hike or ski at Cerro Catedral, sail to Isla Victoria or Puerto Blest, and drive the Route of the Seven Lakes.
- Where should I stay? Base yourself near the Centro Cívico for walkable restaurants and chocolate shops, along the lakefront of Avenida Exequiel Bustillo ("Los Kilómetros" and Llao Llao), or at Villa Catedral for ski-in access.
- Do I need a car? You can reach Cerro Campanario, Llao Llao, and Cerro Catedral using a SUBE card on Mi Bus routes, though renting a car gives far greater freedom for Circuito Chico, Cerro Tronador, and the Seven Lakes highway.
- Best for: Alpine trekking to mountain refugios, winter skiing and snowboarding, glacial lake cruises, artisan bean-to-bar chocolates, and Patagonian craft beer.
- Before you go: If you plan to hike any trail inside Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi (such as Refugio Frey), complete the mandatory free online trekking registration (Registro de Trekking) before setting out.
- Getting around: Pick up and top up a contactless SUBE card in town before boarding Mi Bus line 20 (along Av. Bustillo to Llao Llao) or line 55 (to Cerro Catedral), as drivers do not accept cash.
- Continue your trip: Fly north to Mendoza or Buenos Aires, or cross the Andes by catamaran and bus via the historic Cruce Andino lake crossing into Chile.
Overview
Stretching along the southern shore of the 557-square-kilometre glacial Lago Nahuel Huapi at an elevation of 893 metres (2,930 feet) in Río Negro Province, San Carlos de Bariloche is the gateway to northern Patagonia's Lake District and Argentina's official capital of both adventure tourism and artisan chocolate. Founded by presidential decree on 3 May 1902 around the trading post of German-Chilean merchant Carlos Wiederhold (whose first name combined with the Mapudungun word Vuriloche, "people from behind the mountain"), the city became the heart of Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi after explorer Francisco "Perito" Moreno donated 7,500 hectares of pristine Andean forest to the nation on 6 November 1903. Transformed in the late 1930s by National Parks director Exequiel Bustillo and architects Ernesto de Estrada and Alejandro Bustillo with green-tuff stone and native cypress landmarks, Bariloche today pairs the granite needles of Cerro Catedral and the 3,491-metre glaciers of Cerro Tronador with Calle Mitre's chocolate workshops and lakeside craft breweries.
Getting there
Year-round direct flights connect Teniente Luis Candelaria International Airport (BRC), 14 kilometres east of the centre, with Buenos Aires (2 hours 15 minutes), Mendoza, and Córdoba, while the scenic Cruce Andino boat-and-bus route crosses the lakes from Puerto Pañuelo into Chile.
Where to stay
Choose between walkable hotels around the Centro Cívico, lake-view lodges along Avenida Exequiel Bustillo ("Los Kilómetros") and the Llao Llao Peninsula, or mountain apartments at the base of Cerro Catedral.
Things to do
Loop around the Circuito Chico, Cerro Campanario, and Llao Llao Park, hike to Refugio Frey or ride the lifts at Cerro Catedral, sail from Puerto Pañuelo to Isla Victoria, Bosque de Arrayanes, or Puerto Blest, marvel at the black glacier of Cerro Tronador, and drive the paved Route of the Seven Lakes.
Food and drink
Feast on slow-roasted Patagonian lamb, smoked lake trout, and Colonia Suiza curanto, sample raspberry-filled chocolates along Calle Mitre, and sip IPAs brewed with El Bolsón hops along the Patagonian craft beer trail.
Culture
Every Easter week Bariloche celebrates the Fiesta Nacional del Chocolate along Calle Mitre, while winter brings the torchlit ski descent and lumberjack contests of the Fiesta Nacional de la Nieve.
Weather by month
San Carlos de Bariloche is warmest in January, with average highs around 23°C, and coldest in July, when nights drop to about -1°C. June is the wettest month, with rain on about 15 days. For mild weather with fewer rainy days, aim for January, February, March, November and December.
| Month | Low | Range | High | Rain | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7°C | 23°C | 28 mm | 4 d | |
| Feb | 7°C | 22°C | 28 mm | 4 d | |
| Mar | 5°C | 19°C | 42 mm | 6 d | |
| Apr | 3°C | 15°C | 56 mm | 8 d | |
| May | 1°C | 11°C | 84 mm | 12 d | |
| Jun | 0°C | 7°C | 105 mm | 15 d | |
| Jul | -1°C | 7°C | 98 mm | 14 d | |
| Aug | -1°C | 9°C | 91 mm | 13 d | |
| Sep | 0°C | 12°C | 63 mm | 9 d | |
| Oct | 2°C | 15°C | 49 mm | 7 d | |
| Nov | 4°C | 18°C | 35 mm | 5 d | |
| Dec | 6°C | 21°C | 35 mm | 5 d |
Averages of daily values from 2015 to 2024. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm of rain. Source: Open-Meteo · Compare destinations by month.
San Carlos de Bariloche on the map
Every place we cover in San Carlos de Bariloche. Tap a category or pin to explore.
- Circuito Chico Guide: Cerro Campanario, Llao Llao Park, Punto Panorámico & Colonia Suiza →
- Isla Victoria, Bosque de Arrayanes & Puerto Blest Lake Cruises →
- Cerro Tronador (3,491m), Ventisquero Negro & Cascada Los Alerces Day-Trip →
- Route of the Seven Lakes (Ruta de los Siete Lagos) & Villa La Angostura →
In-depth San Carlos de Bariloche guides
Browse the guides grouped by topic: sights, neighbourhoods, food, transport, day trips and trip planning.
Sights, Landmarks & Parks
Key monuments, viewpoints, museums and nature trails.
- 12 Best Things to Do in Bariloche: Circuito Chico, Cerro Catedral & Lake CruisesDiscover the 12 best things to do in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina: ride the Cerro Campanario chairlift on Circuito Chico, hike or ski Cerro Catedral, sail to Bosque de Arrayanes, and taste Calle Mitre chocolates.
- Best Time to Visit Bariloche: Summer Trekking, Autumn Lengas & Winter Ski SeasonMonth-by-month weather guide to Bariloche using official 1991-2020 SMN climate normals: compare sunny December-March summer trekking, fiery April autumn foliage, and July-September skiing.
- 3 Days in Bariloche Itinerary: Centro Cívico, Circuito Chico, Cerro Catedral & LakesPlan the perfect 3 days in Bariloche, Argentina: explore Centro Cívico, Cerro Campanario, and Circuito Chico on Day 1, Isla Victoria or Puerto Blest on Day 2, and Cerro Catedral or Seven Lakes on Day 3.
- Centro Cívico, Cathedral of Nahuel Huapi & Calle Mitre Chocolate Route GuideWalk through the architectural and sweet heart of downtown Bariloche: explore the 1940 green-tuff stone Centro Cívico and Museo de la Patagonia, the 1946 neo-Gothic Cathedral, and Calle Mitre's chocolatiers.
- Cerro Catedral Guide: South America's Largest Ski Resort & Refugio Frey TrekPlan your winter ski trip or summer mountain hike at Cerro Catedral (19 km from Bariloche): explore 1,200 hectares of ski terrain, ride sightseeing gondolas, or trek 4 hours to Refugio Emilio Frey.
- Cerro Otto Teleférico, 360° Revolving Café & Lago Gutiérrez GuideExplore Bariloche's closest panoramic mountain and warmest glacial lake: ride the red gondolas of Teleférico Cerro Otto (1,405m) to the revolving café, visit Refugio Berghof, and hike at Lago Gutiérrez.
Neighbourhoods & Where to Stay
Districts, historic quarters and the best bases for your stay.
- San Carlos de Bariloche: Nahuel Huapi Layout, Los Kilómetros & ParksPlan your visit to San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina: understand how the Centro Cívico, Avenida Bustillo ('Los Kilómetros'), Llao Llao, and Cerro Catedral fit together inside Nahuel Huapi National Park.
- Where to Stay in Bariloche: Centro Cívico, Los Kilómetros, Llao Llao & Cerro CatedralCompare the best areas to stay in Bariloche, Argentina: walkable downtown near Centro Cívico, lakefront lodges along Avenida Bustillo ('Los Kilómetros'), Llao Llao Peninsula, or Villa Catedral.
Food & Drink
Local dishes, markets, cafés and dining districts.
- What to Eat in Bariloche: Patagonian Lamb, Trout, Curanto, Fondue & ChocolatesExplore Bariloche's Alpine-Patagonian cuisine: taste slow-roasted cordero patagónico, smoked lake trout, Colonia Suiza earth-oven curanto, Swiss fondue, and Calle Mitre artisan chocolates.
- Patagonian Craft Beer Trail, Playa Bonita & Lakeside Breweries GuideExplore Argentina's craft beer capital in Bariloche: discover why glacial water and El Bolsón hops earned Geographical Indication status, and visit the best lakeside brewpubs along Avenida Bustillo and Circuito Chico.
Getting Around & Arrival
Airport transfers, public transit, passes and driving rules.
Day Trips & Excursions
Easy half-day and full-day trips from the city.
- Circuito Chico Guide: Cerro Campanario, Llao Llao Park, Punto Panorámico & Colonia SuizaExplore Bariloche's classic 60-km Circuito Chico scenic loop: ride the chairlift up Cerro Campanario (1,050m), walk the Llao Llao forest trails, photograph Hotel Llao Llao, and visit Colonia Suiza.
- Isla Victoria, Bosque de Arrayanes & Puerto Blest Lake Cruises GuideCompare Bariloche's two classic catamaran excursions from Puerto Pañuelo across Lago Nahuel Huapi: the cinnamon-barked trees of Bosque de Arrayanes and Isla Victoria, or the rainforest of Puerto Blest and Lago Frías.
- Cerro Tronador (3,491m), Ventisquero Negro & Cascada Los Alerces Day-Trip GuidePlan a full-day excursion from Bariloche to Cerro Tronador (3,491m), the highest peak in Nahuel Huapi National Park: see the black glacier of Ventisquero Negro, Garganta del Diablo, and Cascada Los Alerces.
- Route of the Seven Lakes (Ruta de los Siete Lagos) & Villa La Angostura GuidePlan Argentina's most scenic mountain drive from Bariloche to Villa La Angostura and San Martín de los Andes along Ruta Nacional 40: discover all 7 glacial lakes, waterfalls, and viewpoints.
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