Things to do in Bariloche With the magnetic presence of its pristine lakes, its hills and mountains, its chameleon vegetation and its beaches with diverse scenery, it is impossible to get bored in this privileged destination of the Patagonia of Argentina.
If we talk about beaches, one of the most traditional is Playa Playa, located at kilometer 7 of Avenida Bustillo, in front of Huemul Island. This one of the most extensive spas, has a beach of white stones on the shores of the Nahuel Huapi, and a lake of deep and dark waters with small islands.
A little further on, at kilometer 12 of Avinguda Bustillo, we find Badia Serena, a family-run and crowded spa. For those looking for more solitude, it has a small beach, which is accessed by climbing a path hidden among stones.
Already at kilometer 25, we find Villa Tacul, in the heart of Llao Llao Municipal Park. To reach its sandy beaches, lakes and viewpoints, you have to cross paths of little difficulty between forests of myrtles, tongues and coihues. But the options are not exhausted in the Nahuel, since on the Gutierrez Lake, to about fifteen kilometers of center, is the beach of Villa the coihues, a retreat of calm and temperate waters, where sports can be practiced water -motors are not allowed- such as kayaking or SUP (Stand up Paddle). And for lovers of windsurfing and kitesurfing, there is the Bicentennial beach, at the entrance of the city.
National capital of adventure tourism
Bariloche is a giant amusement park to enjoy its surroundings, adventure lovers often say here. It is that different experiences can be experienced in a unique setting. Lakes for sailing, mountains for walking or cycling. The National Adventure Capital has a diverse range of outdoor activities. Horseback riding, rafting, zip-lining, paragliding, canopy, kayaking, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and even diving. And of course hiking the endless mountain trails of Nahuel Huapi National Park.
Hiking is a free activity, very convening, and at no cost. It’s just about choosing a path and walking. Bariloche is the city of the region with greater offer of circuits and half dozen of mountain refuges, with service of gastronomy and sleeping. For those who do not have several days for an overnight walk but want to climb high and take a great view of their retinas, it is recommended to climb the Bella Vista hill, which goes up and down in a single day, reaching a peak with an incredible 360-degree view. From the same starting point, the Tambo de Báez, starts the path to the Sant Martí Refuge in the Jacob Lagoon, a good walk of medium difficulty to do in a couple of days. The ascent to the Frey refuge, at the foot of the Frey needle, surrounded by towers and rocky needles and on the edge of the green waters, Toncek lagoon, is one of the most popular and beautiful. To spend the night, it is necessary to book in all the shelters in advance.
Nothing more pleasant than rowing in a lake, feeling the breeze, being gently carried away by the current. Kayaking can be done alone, with family and groups of friends. Children, from the age of eight, are already fit to row it. There are singles, doubles or triples, and Lake Gutierrez is an ideal place to go rowing. Half-day, full-day, and up to ten-day outings can be made, armed to the taste of the consumer, which include transportation, kayaks, meals, guides and camping equipment.
The canopy is a zip line circuit mounted between trees, in the woods or in the jungle. Here there is an armed one in the forest of the López hill and they can practice it from children from eight years onwards. The activity begins with an instruction and then climbs the hill in double-wheel drive vans. 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 from the ground on 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 accelerates, and the views become more and more spectacular. Thus, incredible panoramic views of the Huuel Huapi and Lake Moreno, the Llao-Llao and the Campanar and Millaqueo hills can be seen.
Returning to the water, the Sup, a very popular activity, is basically a table similar to that of surfing, where one goes standing, balancing and rowing. At first glance it seems difficult, but it is not: the tables are very stable. The SUP offers a lot of possibilities for a lot of people, as anyone can climb a table, and row. There are even guided crossings to different places, with support boats and pre-adaptation for those who never paddled. It’s a relatively new activity around the world, but it’s actually a millennial sport. Polynesian peoples went from island to island to see new places. Anyone climbs on a table and turns around. You don’t have to be an extreme athlete.
Descending the rivers paddling in the rafting ponds, the traveler enters endless forests and deep valleys in the heart of the Andes. If you are looking for a proposal for the whole family, the paddle on the Limay River, with its calm and crystal clear waters, its recesses and gentle currents, is an ideal option a few kilometers from the city. Another option is to sail the Manso River, which allows you to appreciate all the beauty and majesty of Andean-Patagonian forest.
Happy hour! Craft beer
The end of February marks on the calendar a very special time for the brewing universe. It is time to harvest hops, a key, mystical ingredient, the flower that, along with water, malt and yeast combine to form this elixir. Several immigrants came here to instill the culture of home brewing from the early twentieth century until today, the days of the “beer revolution.” In addition, hops are harvested in El Bolsón, just over a hundred kilometers from Bariloche, and it was here that the country’s first craft beer was brewed, precisely “El Bolsón”. This is just one of the reasons why Bariloche has become a brewing eden. It is also necessary to highlight the quality of water, and the technological-scientific factor, with institutions such as INVAP (Applied Research) and the Atomic Center, which contribute to the development of homemade equipment.
It is also worth mentioning at the University of Comahue, the scientific community collaborates in conserving and genetically manipulating hop strains of this fruit native to Europe that found here a fertile ground for its development.
At the dawn of the nineties, Blest would appear, the first Barilochense craft brewery, which would set the course for an incipient tradition. Today, there are about twenty craft breweries spread between the downtown Brewery District and the road to the Llao Llao and Circuit Noi, thus forming an infallible brewery route, which local brewers raise as a standard. Manush, Wesley, Sedan, Konna, Bachmanny the aforementioned Blest are some of the most recommended.