What to do in Bariloche? With the magnetic presence of its pristine lakes, its hills and mountains, its chameleon vegetation and its beaches with different scenarios, it is impossible to get bored in this privileged destination in the Patagonia of Argentina.
Speaking of beaches, one of the most traditional is Playa Bonita, located kilometer seven from Avenida Bustillo, opposite Isla Huemul. This is one of the most extensive spa resorts, has a white stone beach on the shore of Nahuel Huapi and a lake with deep and dark waters with small islands.
A little further on, at kilometer twelve from Bustillo Avenue, we find Bahía Serena, a popular and trusted spa town. For those looking for more solitude, it has a small beach, which can be accessed by a hidden path between stones.
Already at kilometer 25 we find Villa Tacul, in the heart of the Llao Llao Municipal Park. To get to the sandy beaches, lakes and viewpoints, you have to cross paths of little difficulty between myrtle, lengas and coihues forests. But the options are not exhausted in the Nahuel, because on Lake Gutierrez, about fifteen kilometers from the center, lies the beach of Villa Los Coihues, an oasis of calm and warm water, where you can practice water sports – motorbikes are not allowed – such as kayak or SUP (Stand up Paddle). And for windsurfing and kite surfing enthusiasts, there is the Playa del Bicentenario, at the entrance to the town.
National Capital of Adventure Tourism
Bariloche is a gigantic amusement park to enjoy the area, adventurers often say here. It is that you can live different experiences in a unique setting. The lakes to navigate, the mountains for walking or cycling. The National Capital of Adventure has a diverse range of outdoor activities. Horseback riding, rafting, ziplining, paragliding, canopying, kayaking, windsurfing, kite surfing and even diving. And of course hike through the endless mountain trails of the Nahuel Huapi National Park.
Hiking is a free activity, very convincing and free. It’s all about choosing a path and walking. Bariloche is the city in the region with the widest range of circuits and half a dozen mountain huts, offering gastronomy and overnight services. For those who do not have several days to hike with overnight stay, but want to climb high and have a great panoramic view of their retina, the Bella Vista hill climb is recommended, which you can go up and down in one day, reaching a top with an incredible 360 panoramic view. From the same starting point, in the Tambo de Báez, the path to the San Martín refuge in the Jacob lagoon begins, a good hike of medium difficulty to complete in a few days. to do . The ascent to the Frey mountain cabin, at the foot of the Frey needle, surrounded by rocky spiers and spiers and on the banks of the green water, Toncek lagoon, is one of the most popular and beautiful. To stay overnight, it is necessary to make a reservation in advance in all reception centers.
Nothing more fun than rowing on a lake, feeling the wind, being gently carried away by the current. The kayak can be done alone, as a family with groups of friends. Children from the age of eight are ready to row with it. There are single, double or triple, and Lake Gutierrez is an ideal place to row. Half-day, full-day, and up to ten-day trips can be taken armed to the consumer’s needs, including transportation, kayaks, meals, guides, and camping equipment.
The canopy is a zipline circuit between trees, in the forest or in the jungle. Here’s one armed in the Cerro López forest and they can practice it from kids eight and up. The activity starts with an instruction and then the hill is climbed in four-wheel-drive trucks. The circuit has ten wooden structures mounted around the trees, with cables up to 250 meters between the different posts. The highest platform is 20 meters above the ground in this circuit where you can “fly” at about 50 kilometers per hour. From one platform to another, the distance between the trees increases, the flight speeds up and the views become more and more spectacular. Thus, incredible panoramic views of Nahuel Huapi and Lake Moreno, Llao-Llao and the Campanario and Millaqueo hills are appreciated.
Returning to the water, the Sup, a very popular activity, is basically a board similar to surfing, where you stand, balance and row. At first glance it may seem difficult, but it is not: the tables are very stable. SUP offers many possibilities for many people, because everyone can get on a board and paddle. There are even guided tours to different places, with support boats and previous modifications for those who never rowed. It’s a relatively new activity around the world, but it’s actually a millennial sport. Polynesian peoples moved from one island to another to discover new places. Everyone gets on a board and takes a ride. You don’t have to be an extreme athlete.
Descending the rivers paddling in the rafts, the traveler enters endless forests and deep valleys in the heart of the Andes Mountains. If you are looking for a proposal for the whole family, paddling on the river Limay, with its calm and crystal clear waters, its backwaters and gentle currents, is an ideal option a few kilometers from the city. Another option is to navigate the Manso River, which will allow you to appreciate all the beauty and majesty of the Andean Patagonian forest.
Happy hour! Cerveza artesanal
Late February marks a very special time on the calendar for the beer universe. It is time to harvest the hops, a fundamental, mystical ingredient, the flour that together with water, malt and yeast make up this elixir. Here came several immigrants who taught the culture of home brewing from the early 20th century until today, the days of the “beer revolution”. Furthermore, hops are harvested in El Bolsón, just over a hundred kilometers from Bariloche, and this is where the country’s first craft beer was made, exactly “El Bolsón”. This is just one of the reasons why Bariloche has become a beer paradise. We must also emphasize the quality of the water and the technological-scientific factor with institutions such as Invap (Applied Research) and the Atomic Center, which contribute to the development of home-made equipment.
We should also mention the University of Comahue, whose scientific community collaborates to conserve and genetically engineer hop strains of this fruit native to Europe that found fertile ground here for its development.
In the early 1990s, Blest would appear, the first craft brewery in Bariloche, to mark the course of an emerging tradition. Today, some twenty craft breweries are spread between the downtown beer district and the road to Llao Llao and Circuito Chico, forming a foolproof beer route, which local brewers lift like a banner. Manush, Wesley, Berlina, Konna, Bachman, and the aforementioned Blest are some of the most recommended.