In this text, you will discover what to do in Bariloche in 4 days or more. Our complete travel itinerary includes all the travel tips you need to get to know Argentina’s main snow destination in winter or summer.
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Bariloche: when is the best time to visit
Bariloche is the gateway to Patagonia and surrounded by cinematic landscapes. In other words, no matter what time of year you go, you will always be able to enjoy the trip.
Winter in Bariloche
Anyone who wants to experience the snow season in Bariloche should plan to travel in the middle of the year.
In general, the ski season in Argentina starts in the second half of June and can last until October, but this varies each year. The peak season is in July.
Summer in Bariloche
Despite the fascination that snow causes us, if you don’t practice winter sports, I believe that visiting Bariloche in the summer is more advantageous.
With higher temperatures, it is more pleasant to discover the region’s landscapes, go hiking or just enjoy the view outdoors, without the risk of shaking or freezing your hands every time you take a photo.
How to get to Bariloche, Argentina
Where is Bariloche?
San Carlos de Bariloche is in Argentina, in a province called Río Negro, which is in the Andes region, very close to the border with Chile.
Bariloche is almost 1600 km away from Buenos Aires and 1200 km from Mendoza.
Flights to Bariloche
The fastest and most cost-effective way to get to Bariloche is by plane. You can find tickets from R$1800, with all taxes included, leaving from São Paulo and always with a stopover in Buenos Aires.
If you are already in the Argentine capital, tickets should cost around R$1300, also including taxes.
Bariloche by bus
There is the possibility of going by bus from Buenos Aires. The companies that operate the route are: Crucero del Norte, El Valle, Vía Tac, all leaving from the Retiro bus terminal. The journey lasts between 20 and 22 hours and costs around 1500 pesos (more or less R$100) each leg.
How to get from Bariloche airport to the city center
The most practical – and most expensive – way is to take a taxi when leaving the airport. The prices are agreed with the taxi driver before the race and are a little steep (between 15 and 20 dollars), but it may be the only option for those arriving in the city loaded with ski equipment.
You can book the service at the airport counters or directly with the driver and pay in reais or dollars if you don’t already have pesos.
Those who are more economical can opt for the bus that stops at the airport and leaves at the Bariloche bus terminal. But be careful: you need to have coins or a SUBE card, the same one used on public transport in Buenos Aires.
Accommodation Tips in Bariloche
Bariloche has a wide range of hotels to suit all tastes and budgets. The most popular and also the most practical option is to stay close to the city’s civic center, where you have easy access to restaurants, bars, markets, public transport and travel agencies.
For more information about accommodation options and the best location for your hotel, read the full post on where to stay in Bariloche.
Civic Center Hotels:
The most romantic and cozy option is to stay in a chalet along Nahuel Huapi Lake.
Find hotels in Bariloche
What to do in Bariloche: 4-day itinerary
I consider four days to be the minimum necessary to cover everything to do in Bariloche.
This time allows you to get a general experience of the city, but, if possible, consider staying longer, for about a week. This way you can see everything calmly and enjoy the tours better.
To help with planning, I put together a basic itinerary, based on my stay in the city.
If you have fewer days, take the tours on days 2 and 3 of this itinerary. If you have more time, we have a list of tourist attractions in Bariloche and surrounding areas below.
Click here to book your tours and transfers in advance.
Day 1: City Center
Commuting days are always tumultuous and, therefore, I always leave the calmest trips for the days when I arrive at a destination. Because, in addition to the hours lost at the airport and transportation, depending on how long you traveled, you will be tired.
What to do in Bariloche: the friendly city center
Take advantage of day 1 in Bariloche to:
- Discover the civic center of Bariloche
- Walk on the lake shore,
- Discover the famous chocolate shops – especially Mamuska and Rapa Nui –
- Visit the local craft fair.
Also take the opportunity to stop by the tourist information center to ask questions, get a pamphlet with bus timetables and ask for suggestions for your trip. And also, rent your snow clothes, if applicable.
If you arrive early, you can also take the opportunity to do the Circuito Chico that day, as the tour only lasts three hours.
Dia 2: Circuito Chico and Cerro Otto
The Circuito Chico is the basic introduction to the Bariloche region and, therefore, it is advisable that it is the first tour on your list. With it, you will discover some important – and incredible – viewpoints in the region and take the cable car up to Cerro Campanário, which, in my humble opinion, has the best view in the surrounding area.
What to do in Bariloche: view from Circuito Chico
The tour can be booked at any local agency or with your hotel, but it can also be done by car, on your own. As it is a three-hour tour, there is time left in the day to combine with another tour, such as a visit to Cerro Otto. Book your tour in advance!
Know more:
Day 3: Cerro Catedral or San Martin de Los Andes
In winter, this is the day to have fun in the snow, take ski lessons and take a few falls at Cerro Catedral, the main ski resort in the region. Even those who don’t ski can opt for other snow activities. Plan to stay there for a whole day.
Here you can book equipment rental, transfers and ski lessons in advance and without complications.
If you go in the summer, I would recommend taking the Seven Lakes tour, which goes to San Martin de los Andes and covers 352 km through the Nahuel Huapi and Lanín national parks, with spectacular Patagonian views.
Know more:
Day 4: Nahuel Huapi Lake
On the last day, you can choose a boat trip around Nahuel Huapi Lake. The most common option is to visit Isla Victoria and the Arrayanes forest, but there are other tours available.
If you haven’t done it yet and need to choose, this is also a good day to do the return trip to San Martin de Los Andes, via the Seven Lakes route – personally, I find this tour much more interesting than Isla Victoria, but That’s up to each person to decide.
Know more: Boat trip to Isla Victoria and Bosque de Arrayanes, in Bariloche
What to do in Bariloche: Bosque Arrayanes
What to do in Bariloche in 5, 6 or 7 days
- Day trip to El Bolson: a small town surrounded by mountains, where a lot of craft beer and organic food is produced. You can go on one of the many trails in the region or simply relax at the friendly local market. But I’m telling you: this place is magical. Read more about what to do in El Bolsón.
- Other boat trips: In addition to Isla Victoria, there are other boat trips to take in Bariloche, especially the one that takes you to Lake Blest, a trip that is the first part of the cruise that goes to Chile.
- Afternoon at Hotel Llao Llao: For the fine-dining or those curious to visit the famous wooden hotel, it’s worth booking an afternoon tea at the Hotel Llao Llao. It’s not cheap (around R$100), but it’s the only chance to enter the hotel without staying there. It may be worth it for the historical value of the building.
- Day trip to Villa La Angostura: The tour to San Martin de los Andes stops at Villa La Angostura for a few minutes, but if you have more time, it might be nice to explore this friendly little town at leisure and eat in one of its cafes and restaurants. You book this tour in advance.
- Large Circuit: A panoramic route that includes five lakes, Villa La Angostura and Villa Traful and the Bosque de Arrayanes.
- Cerro Tronador: It is the highest viewpoint in the region, 90km from the city and 3,478 meters high, but it needs to be done when there is no snow.
Price of the trip to Bariloche
Inflated by the dollars and euros that circulate in the city as frequently as the peso, Bariloche is not a cheap destination, as is often the case with major tourist destinations in any country.
Expect to spend between 400 and 700 reais per day, including food, accommodation, tours and everything else to do in Bariloche.
For a detailed description of expenses, read the full post on How Much Does It Cost to Travel to Bariloche.
Mandatory Travel Insurance for Argentina
Taking out travel insurance is essential, even for countries as close as Argentina and Uruguay. No matter how close it is to home, it is best to travel protected so as not to suffer from unforeseen events.
The good news is that it is possible to take out good travel insurance for around 20 reais per day. To do this, we recommend using a search engine like Seguros Promo, which compares the main insurance companies and ensures that you find the best value for money, according to your needs.
Furthermore, blog readers are entitled to an exclusive discount coupon: 360MERIDIANOS05. See some of the offers below and choose yours:
How to get around Bariloche
Bariloche’s public transport system is good and serves the region’s main tourist attractions. I practically only used public buses during my trip and only took a taxi once, to go to the airport on the day of departure, because my flight left very early – otherwise, I would have taken the bus.
If you are staying in the center, you can catch practically all lines at the Calle Moreno bus terminal. You can even reach the ski resort via public transport and this is the choice of many skiers who take the bus with ski equipment without any problems.
Tourist tours booked with an agency generally include transport in vans, which stop at the door of your hotel at agreed times and leave you there when you return.
Remises, transport in a private car, like a taxi, can be hired at several agencies in the center, but they are the most expensive alternative. It is possible to hire a remis to do your own private tour, agreeing a price for the whole day.
For more independence, consider renting a car. Just take into account the difficulty of driving when the roads are covered in snow or ice.
If you want to opt for this, we suggest that you research and book beforehand with a rental comparison company, in order to guarantee the best value for money. For this, we recommend Rentcars, a blog partner that offers discounts and advantages when renting.
Compare car prices in Bariloche
