Bariloche - a town right out of a Christmas card (San Carlos de Bariloche)

Member Name: lula71

Product:	San Carlos de Bariloche
Date:	12/04/09 (47 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great for skiing, snowboarding, trekking, riding, chocolate!

Disadvantages: Roads to and from Bariloche can be a nightmare

Better known as just 'Bariloche', this is definitely on the list of must-see places in Argentina if you are an outdoors-type - it's particularly popular for skiing, just south of San Martin de los Andes. Being popular for skiing there is alot about this town which is fairly typical of a ski resort - heaps of beautiful log-cabin type buildings and obviously, plenty of snow. It's also absolutely FULL of chocolate shops which quite possibly have the biggest selection of handmade chocolates I have ever seen (be prepared to gain alot of weight!)


Bariloche is a town obviously geared towards tourists, but for once this doesn't really seem to be a bad thing as it means plenty of local crafts and markets with some really beautiful products on offer, items equally as beautiful, but really quite different from what you find in the markets in the rest of South America. It's a good place to find slightly more expensive souvenirs, for example silver jewellery as opposed to the wire woven jewllery found elsewhere... perfect for the older or more fussy relative waiting at home.

*** Things to do***
Bariloche is in the Lake District of Argentina, and surrounded by mountains, so there are heaps of outdoor activities on offer: trekking, horseriding, rafting, skiing, snowboarding, fishing etc. Most hostals offer excursions or will put you in contact with someone who does. There are also some fantastic restaurants (the fish dishes are always amazing) and it offers a good nightlife! A great place to relax and recover if you have spent the rest of your trip in more remote regions - especially if you visit the Llao Llao Hotel outside the town for a bit of a luxurious afternoon tea. (Ask at tourist info for bus info, or share a taxi).

During the ski season Bariloche has the feel of a Christmas town, with the quaint log cabins and tonnes of snow.... and the restaurants have a strange tendency to play Christmas songs, no matter what time of year. It's also not unusual to see elves or gnomes (or something that looks similar) wandering around... I never figured out why....

The Cerro Catedra ski resort is a bus ride from the town, and offers facilities for all kinds of skiing and all different abilities. Equipment hire is extremely cheap, lessons and ski passes are all good value for money compared with European resorts and it has an extremely friendly atmosphere. Some of the easier runs are however not particularly ideal for snowboarders as if you don't gain enough speed you are likely to end up having to hop along some very flat areas.

(The bus to the ski resort leaves from the main street of Bariloche. You can easily identify it by the enormous queue of people carrying skis and snowboards.... arrive early to beat the queue, and be prepared to stand on the journey).

***Getting there***
Bariloche is a destination easy to get to .... in theory. Lots of major bus companies run buses a few times a day from 'nearby' (nearby can easily mean a 14 hour journey) towns in Argentina and Chile. However... during the winter, when probably this town sees most of it's tourists, be prepared to get stuck in, or trying to get to Bariloche as the roads are treacherous and often unpassable. What's more, coming from Chile or trying to get back to Chile, the 'no-mans' land around the border causes huge problems because apparently neither country is willing to clear the snow. This meant I was stuck in Bariloche for a good few days longer than intended, which isn't a problem if you don't have an itinery to stick to as there's heaps to keep you entertained, but if you have a flight to catch back up in B.A or Santiago, allow plenty of time for delays if travelling back up by bus.

Bariloche is definitely worth a visit purely for the atmosphere, chocolates, snowboarding and you should definitely take the opportunity to go into the mountains, whether it be on foot or horseback as the view is incredible. Pack plenty of warm clothing, or walk a little away from the town centre to find good value shops offering ski equipment (the shops in the centre are aimed at tourists and so alot more expensive). There's plenty of internet places, laundry places throughout the area so don't be afraid to travel light...

Finally, for backpackers I cannot recommend enough La Bolsa del Deporte hostal - great atmosphere, log cabin style and even a small climbing wall in the garden. Also plenty of communal space and good facilities.

Bariloche is a lovely town to visit, one of just many amazing places in the lake district. (I also recommend Pucón which is nearby but on the Chilean side).

Summary: Definitely worth a visit!