Bariloche is in the Río Negro Province, near the Nahuel Huapi National Park in Argentina.

Understand

San Carlos de Bariloche is a city in the province of Río Negro, Argentina, situated on the foothills of the Andes, surrounded by lakes (Nahuel Huapi, Gutiérrez Lake, Moreno Lake and Mascardi Lake) and mountains (Tronador, Cerro Catedral, Cerro López). It is famous for skiing but also great for sight-seeing, water sports, trekking and climbing.

Get in

By plane

• Lade flies from El Calafate. A ticket cost around Ar$260.
  
• Aerolineas Argentinas [www.aerolineas.com.ar] flies from Buenos Aires. A ticket is around Ar$830 (Nov/05)
• LAN Argentina [www.lan.com] flies from Buenos Aires. A ticket cost around Ar$800 (us$270). Data of November 05

By car

To go by car to Bariloche from Buenos Aires takes about 22 hours. One of the best alternatives is to go to Neuquen first day (about 1200 Km) and continue the second day driving about 450 kilometers.

Therer is more than one routes to get to Bariloche by car from Buenos Aires:

• Short route: Take “Ruta Nacional Nº 5”, then take “Ruta Provincial Nº 1” nearby Lonquimay. Then, take “Ruta Provincial Nº 18” nearby “Macachin”. Take “Ruta Nacional Nº 35” south for 22 km, and the turn right and follow “Ruta Nacional Nº 152” through General Acha and until the “Casa de Piedra” were route name changes to “ruta provincial Nº 6” with you must follow util intersection with “Ruta Nacional Nº 22” with you must take right again threough Cipolletti – Neuquen, big cities connected by a bridge with a Ar $0.65 toll. Follow through the million traffic lights until you exit the city. Approx. 32 km later stop in Arroyito sleep deeply and follow south using “Ruta Nacional Nº 237”, which will lead you to Bariloche

• Long route: take “Ruta Nacional Nº 3” South. Rest in Azul for 15 minutes, follow south until Bahia Blanca, rest for some other time. Follow south; take “Ruta Nacional Nº 22”, set the air conditioner on and turn on your CD player, don’t travel too slow, you might fall asleep!! Rest in Choele Choel….follow through lots of tiny cities and through Cipolletti – Neuquen, big cities witch are connected by a bridge with a A$R0.65 toll. Follow through the million traffic lights until you exit the city. Approx, 32 km later stop in Arroyito sleep deeply and follow south using “Ruta Nacional Nº 237”, which will lead you to Bariloche

By bus

If you decide to travel by bus you can choose between diferent companies, such as "Via Bariloche", "El crucero del Norte", "AndesMar", etc. The first 2 companies offer different services where the main variable is confort and price. You can take "supercama", wide and large seats. "Cama", wide seats. "Semi-cama", normal distribution of 4 seats per line. "Supercama", and "cama" take as long as 19hs (summer), "semi-cama" makes several stops and takes as long as 22hs (summer).

Different routes too get to Bariloche by Bus from Buenos Aires are

• Non Stop: “Ruta Nacional Nº 5” – “Ruta Provincial Nº 1” (la Pampa) – “Ruta Provincial Nº 18” (la Pampa) – “Ruta Nacional Nº 35” – “Ruta Nacional Nº 152” – “Ruta Provincial Nº 6” (Río Negro) - “Ruta Nacional Nº 22” – NEUQUEN – “Ruta Nacional Nº 22” - “Ruta Nacional Nº 237”

• Stopping: “Ruta Nacional Nº 3” - “Ruta Nacional Nº 22” – NEUQUEN - “Ruta Nacional Nº 22” - “Ruta Nacional Nº 237”

Get around

See

• El Bosque de Arrayanes - A forest of rare, orange trees that only grow on a local island (and one in Japan). There are several cruise boats, the newest (luxurious) ship is the "Cau Cau". Take the circuit bus out of Bariloche and catch a boat (near the Hotel Llao Llao) and have lunch, hike or bike, and enjoy the afternoon in the forest.

Do

• Cerro Catedral - It holds the biggest ski centre in South America, with a skiable area of 2 km² (0.77 sq mi), over 100 km (62 miles) of ski runs, and a lift capacity of 22,200 skiers per hour. It is located 12 miles from Bariloche
• Circuito Chico - This beautiful 60km route can be biked, clockwise is the most easiest way. Or take a bus.
• Cerro Otto - Transport there costs $25 pesos (it's not on the standard bus circuit). Either take the cablecar up or mountain bike to get to the top. The rotating restaurant at the top has some impressive vistas of the region (average meal costs about $25 pesos) and there are some nice hiking trails behind the restaurant.
• Paragliding - Ernesto Gutierrez, 02944-462234 / 02944-1543037 (parapente@bariloche.com.ar) offers 50 minute tandem flights for Ar$120 and an additional Ar$10 to Ar$30 transportation cost depending on the location.
• Rafting - Several agents offers rafting on the grade III Rio Limay or the grade III/IV Rio Manso.
• Kayak - [www.cuadrantesur.com]
• Cerro Campanario - $15 pesos (usd$5) for entry/ski-lift up the mountain. This is another peak on the circuit with spectacular views (no hiking trails, though) and a non-revolving restaurant at the top. Take city bus #20 out of Bariloche to arrive/return.

Learn

• Brittania School of English and Spanish [1] - housed in a Swiss/Bavarian style store front, the school is part of Argentina's COINED Spanish school system .

Work

Buy

Eat

• El Boliche de Alberto has, according to some, the best meat in Argentina. There are two restaurants in town, but the original one is located about 5 kilometers out of town. Ask a taxi driver to take you there. Be aware that if you arrive after 8pm, you'll wait in line for at least 1.5 hrs AT THE LEAST (and Abandon All Hope, Ye That Are A Party Of 6 Or More).
• La Parrilla de Julian [2] is at San Martin 540 (also called "El Refugio Del Montañes". The second floor window view and the personalized, family-owned restaurant atmosphere (especially compared to the tourist-trap feel of El Boliche de Alberto) adds to the experience. The food is incredible, you don't have to wait 2 hrs to enjoy it, and the location is conveniently on one of the main avenues in Bariloche.
• Taberna Breogan Celta (also on San Martin, one of the main avenues) is this local restaurant featuring the local smoked wild game. Especially recommended is the meat-n-cheese plate featuring venison, wild boar, salmon, and two kinds of cheese.
• Casita Suiza is one of the best regional restaurants in Bariloche. You also can ask Swiss specialties like fondues, raclettes and pierrades.

"Cassis Restaurant" - Sobre el Peñón de Arelauquen Ruta 82 - Lago Gutiérrez - Reservas 02944-476167

Drink

• Wilkenny, San Martin 435. Popular Irish bar. Gringos pay more for their drink.
• Choppin Tapas y Fondue, on the circuit in Llao Llao, 1 mile away from the famous Hotel Llao Llao (by the Shell gas station). Eclectic, semi-hippy, great music, with an incredible view of the hotel, golf course, and mountains in the backdrop. Excellent homebrew beer on tap.
• The Map Room[3], Urquiza 248, +54 (02944) 456-856, located next to the Centro Civico this friendly English-style pub caters to tourists and locals alike. Drink specials daily 7:00PM-9:00PM. In addition to an excellent bar there is an extensive menu for lunch and dinner. Be sure to try the 'lomo especial' the best Argentine steak sandwich in Patagonia. Also, this is the only place where you can get an authentic American breakfast. In addition to the expected brands of beer they also carry Antares microbrews. The Antares Barley Wine is especially potent.

Sleep

Budget

• Periko's, Morales 555, 2644-522326 [4]. Named after the owners dog.
• Hostel 1004, Edificio Bariloche Centre 10th floor, 02944-432228. Offers a panoramic view.
• Hostel La Puerta Verde, Quaglia 160 1º floor, 02944 - 429051 [5].

Mid-range

Edelweiss Hotel- Av. San Martin 536 Bariloche, Argentina Phone: 54-02944-445500

Penon Del Lago- Av. Ezequiel Bustillo KM 13,900 Bariloche Argentina penondellago.com.ar Phone: 54-02944-463000

Nido del Condor- Av. Bustillo Km. 6.9 Bariloche, Argentina nidodelcondor.com.ar Phone: 54-11-4315-3305

Los Helechos (Bungalows/Cabanias) Calle: Francisco de Biedma 80 (altura: Av. E. Bustillo km 8,65). barilochebungalows.com [6] Phone: 54-02944-461189

Splurge

• Hotel Llao Llao - Beautiful alpine style hotel, built in 1939 (recently renovated), adds to the dramatic backdrop of the mountains. A classic resort: there's a golf course, boating, and much for the wealthy to see and do. Nightly rates were around usd$300 back in Dec, 2004, so the $8 peso coffee might be the way to go in order to enjoy the view, the ambience, etc, without paying an arm/leg to stay there overnight.

Architect. Project & construction in Bariloche. E-mail: casazzad@speedy.com.ar. Buenos Aires: Calle 358 Nº 1477 (e/314a y 315), Ranelagh (Zip Code 1886). Bariloche: El Amanecer 4570, Barrio La Colina.

Stay safe

Dance

Bypass. Offers a very elegant environment with lots of laser effects and nice music.

Cerebro. One of the oldest dance clubs in Bariloche. It is quite nice and it offers laser effects but not as colorful as other dance clubs.

Genux.

Grisu. This is a must visit place. It has wood-like walls and it is designed in such a way that it is easy to get lost if you don't know your way around. It has a very quite place with a huge window showing the Nahual Huapi lake. There are no laser effects but the bartenders are experts and it is worth watching them doing all sorts of tricks.

Rocket. Four floors dance club full of light, colors and sounds. Good laser show and nice atmosphere.

Get out

• El Bolson - A small hippie town (founded in the 70's) in a mountainous valley about 120km/75mi south of Bariloche. There's an outdoor flea market (get there in the morning, it closes down around 3pm). Lunch at "Las Brasas" parrilla is recommended. Transportation on the El Valle bus line [7] is $24 pesos/usd$8 round trip from Bariloche and is worth it for the scenery alone!