Useful tips to help you enjoy your trip to Bariloche.
When the information you are looking for is in our web site Bariloche.org, you will find the corresponding link to that section.
Bariloche offers a lot of different options to enjoy
There are many reasons to visit Bariloche: the beauty of unspoiled nature, horse riding, fishing, trekking & hiking, navigation, adventure, mountain biking, rafting, kayaking, canopy, snow and ski, etc. Bariloche fulfills the visitor’s expectations, no matter which they are. Your days can be as peaceful as you wish, or as packed as you would like.
The snow & ski can be enjoyed in Cerro Catedral, the largest ski resort in South America, or in Cerro Otto.
If you just want to go around and enjoy the sceneries, there are a number of activities, we call them “Travel Ideas”; day-trips, tours and excursions that you can make in your own vehicle, in a rented car or in a tour. There are several tour operators. You can see them all in: ZigZag Travel.
The South of Chile is worth visiting, with completely different landscapes and culture. The crossing of the Andes is through a wide, totally paved road and the customs paperwork process is smooth and quick.
Distance between Buenos Aires and Bariloche, and other various important cities
When you are traveling, you often need to know the between city distance of a particular area. This information is found on most maps; just consult the table of contents to see the relevant section. The distance may be displayed in kilometers or approximate time.
The distance between Buenos Aires and Bariloche is 1650 km
• By plane: between 2:00 and 2:30 hours
• By car: between 17 and 20 hours
• By bus: between 19 and 22 hours
We take Buenos Aires as a starting point, for being Argentina’s largest city and Capital.
There is more information about distances from other cities in: Maps
Lodging and Hotels
In Bariloche there are many different accommodation options to suit all needs and budgets: luxury hotels, lodges, hostels, apartments, cabins, youth hostels and camping sites. The hotels are ranked from 1 to 5 stars, while cabins, bungalows and apartments are ranked from 1 to 3 stars.
Be aware that the factors that are taken into consideration in hotel ratings, are not internationally standardized and, in general, the price range among same categorized hotels is varied.
High season and low season
This concept is closely related to the amount of tourists visiting Bariloche according to the time of the year. In any area that attracts a lot of tourists, high season is always more expensive, and you are sure to pay top prices. This is the time when prices shoot up and you’ll find little to no room for negotiation, especially in accommodation and rent a car. In the low season, rates on everything from lodging to adventure trips often drop for reasons that are based on demand, not intrinsic value.
There is very little seasonal variation of rates in restaurants, services etc.
• High season: January, February, July and August
• Mid season: March, April, September and December
• Low Season: May, June, October, November
What to pack when travelling to Bariloche and Patagonia
The diversity of our country, of the weather and the airline weight limitation makes things even more difficult when packing is the issue
The first thing you need to consider is what you will be doing when you get to your international destination, the climate of where you are travelling too and lastly – though not nearly as important – how long you will be away.
If your plans are just getting around, enjoying the sceneries and seeing the country you travel to, you can wear casual, comfortable clothing.
No matter the time of the year, the key when travelling to Patagonia is layer clothing, the idea is you can peal yourself (onion style). The wind in Patagonia is always cold and, even in summer, the nights are cool. Be prepared for temperatures from 45ºF to 75ºF (remember layer clothing…)
Comfortable shoes to walk long distances are mandatory and a good hat is always welcome.
For specific activities such as skiing, trekking, fishing and adventure activities go to ZigZag Travel
Gastronomy
Gastronomy in Bariloche is something you’ll definitely enjoy and, to make the best of it you should know what the typical dishes are, and where to find them. Find all about what we can offer in our Gastronomy Guide
Hola! Wondering best way to reach Bariloche from the states. We previously have flown into Osorno than taken bus with no problem however with Covid….thoughts? Chile is requiring a quarantine and mobility pass. Think it might be better to just fly into BA!
Hola Iris! We do not have information about what is being requested in Chile, but the best option would be to get to Buenos Aires (a beautiful city to visit), and from there travel by plane to Bariloche (2 hours).
Greetings!
Can a COVID test be obtained to get back to USA?
Hi Lonnie, yes, there are several laboratories that perform the test in Bariloche, you can check https://bariloche.org/english/directory/categories/health-and-care-in-bariloche
Cheers!
is this info still current? do you know if we have to schedule an appointment? How long before the results are known? USA returning travelers need a negative covid test within 3 days of departure
Hi Rich, yes, the information is up to date. To know the details of the tests, you should contact one of the laboratories that perform them. Here you can check some: https://bariloche.org/english/directory/categories/health-and-care-in-bariloche. Cheers!
Hi, I have a few questions.
Do I need a permiso from the government and a negative covid test to enter?
also
Is the toque de queda in place in Bariloche? If so, will that impact any requirements?
Hi Jeff, in this link: https://bariloche.org/vacaciones-en-bariloche-que-necesito-para-ingresar/ you have all the requirements to enter. Unfortunately the note is in Spanish, but you can Google translate it
Cheers!
Hola …Is it possible to visit Bariloche or has the corona virus shut down the area??
Hi Michael, circulation is currently restricted in the city, but regular flights are scheduled from September 2020. Regards!
Hi guys, thank you for all of your advice re clothing etc. We leave for BA next Wednesday, then fly to Mendoza, then a week in Bariloche before heading back to BA & back home. Getting excited. Cheers
Hi Pamela, what a good trip you are going to do, enjoy it! Cheers
Hi,
I was wondering if anyone can tell me if mosquitos are a problem in Bariloche? Do they get worse at night if you are sitting outside for dinner or near the lake?
Thanks!
Hi todd, mosquitos are not a big problem in the city, and can be avoided by using repellent. Regards!
What is the weather like in May? April? Are activities limited in low season?
Hi Deborah, here you can check the historical weather, to see how it was in May and April during previous years: https://bariloche.org/english/historical-weather-in-bariloche/. Activities in general take place throughout the year, with the exception of snow activities, which are carried out during the winter. Cheers from Bariloche!
Hey guys, my husband and i are visiting Bariloche in August – is it all going to be snowed up or will we be able to still see the glaciers etc? Many thanks for all the info!
Hello Adela, in August the mountain, if you’re lucky, will be covered up with snow. If not, at least the higher part will be… You will still be able to see the glaciers on the Tronador mountain. I hope this will be a nice, snowy season with lots of snow to enjoy
Cheers!
Hola,
Will the mountain trails be open late October/November? We would love to do some hiking while we are in Bariloche.
And will the cable cars be operational to take us up to the mountains for the views?
I can find the weather temperatures but not when you can do what activities.
Gracias.
Hello Angela, most of the mountain refugios are open between November/December to April, but you can still hike some stunning trails. Refugio Berghof (Cerro Otto), and Refugio Neumeyer (valle del Challhuaco), where there are different amazing mountain trails to hike. The hike to Refugio Frey (cerro Catedral) is open year-round, with various interesting routes, the most popular from the carpark of the Catedral ski village, it is a nice day hike (6 to 8 hours in total). Also the Cerro Ventana hike includes amazing views to lake Gutierrez, lake Nahuel Huapi, and mountain views.
Regarding the cable cars, in cerro Catedral, are operational all year round. The cerro Otto Cable Car is not operational this season for maintenance work.
I hope this information is useful. Cheers from Bariloche!
Great information! Thanks very much. 🙂
Hi
We are thinking of hiking a bit in Bariloche in late September and struggling to find some information. Will any of the mountain trails be open at this time of year or is it possible we can only do the lakes? What are the temperatures like? Our other choice is to go to El Chalten, would this be a better choice at this time of year for walking and mountain scenery? Any help would be wonderful!
many thanks
Hi Chris, late September is a wonderful time to do some hiking, and most of the the mountain trails are still open. The weather is still cold, but is starting to get good, and clear. Dayhikes in september will be fine. Take into account that the weather in Southern Patagonia is a bit tricky and unprededictable. It may change on very short notice and as many say, you can have winter, summer, autum and spring all in one day, make sure you have good windproof and waterproof outerwear (including shoes) + good fleece (in layer).
All the mountains have snow so is excellent for mountain view and amazing sceneries.
Cheers from Bariloche!
so many options, so little time! Bariloche is full of so many amazing activities. getting outside of the city and trekking was my favorite part. I wrote a guide to free hiking around Bariloche incase any other explorers are interested: https://theuprootedrose.com/blog/the-best-free-hikes-near-bariloche
Thank you for the info! Ill be in Bari in two weeks.
I’ll be updating my awesome travel blog with info on it. RichTrek.com thanks, I will check out zigzag travel!