What to do in Bariloche? With the magnetic presence of its clean 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 Patagonia, Argentina.
Speaking of beaches, one of the most traditional is Playa Bonita, located at kilometer seven of Avenida Bustillo, in front of Isla Huemul. This is one of the most extensive spas, it has a white stone beach on the shores of Nahuel Huapi and a lake with deep and dark waters with small islands.
A little further, at kilometer 12 of Bustillo Boulevard, we find Bahía Serena, a popular and familiar spa. For those looking for more solitude, it has a small beach, which is accessed by climbing a path hidden between rocks.
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 the myrtle, lengas and coihues forests. But the options are not exhausted in Nahuel, because on Lake Gutierrez, about fifteen kilometers from the center, is the beach Villa Los Coihues, a paradise of calm and warm waters, where you can practice water sports – not allowed engines – such as kayaking or SUP (Stand up Paddle). And for windsurfing and kitesurfing lovers, there is Playa del Bicentenario at the entrance to the city.
The national capital of adventure tourism
Bariloche is a huge amusement park to enjoy its surroundings, adventure lovers often say here. It is the fact that you can experience different experiences in a unique setting. Lakes to sail, mountains to walk or bike. The national capital of adventure has a diverse range of outdoor activities. Horse riding, rafting, zip-lining, paragliding, canopy, kayaking, windsurfing, kitesurfing and even diving. And, of course, hiking through endless mountain trails in the Nahuel Huapi National Park.
Hiking is a free activity, very convincing and free of charge. It’s just a matter of choosing a path and walking. Bariloche is the city in the region with the largest offer of tours and half a dozen mountain refuges, with gastronomy and overnight services. For those who do not have several days for an overnight walk, but want to climb up and have a wonderful panorama on the retinas, it is recommended to climb the Bella Vista hill, which you can climb and descend in one day, touch a peak with an incredible panoramic view of 360. From the same starting point, in Tambo de Báez, begins the path to the San Martín Refuge in Laguna Jacob, a good hike of medium difficulty to do in a few days. The climb to the Frey refuge, at the foot of the Frey needle, surrounded by towers and rocky towers and on the shore of the green waters, the Toncek lagoon, is one of the most popular and beautiful. To stay overnight, it is necessary to book in all shelters in advance.
Nothing is more pleasant than to paddle on a lake, to feel the breeze, to let yourself be carried away by the current. Kayaking can be done alone, as a family with groups of friends. Children, from the age of eight, are ready to row him. There are singles, doubles or triples, and Lake Gutierrez is an ideal place for boating. Half-day, full-day and up to ten-day outings can be made, armed to suit the consumer, which include transport, kayaks, tables, guides and camping equipment.
The canopy is a zip line circuit mounted between trees, in the forest or in the jungle. Here is one armed in the Cerro López forest and I have been practicing it since I was eight years old. The activity starts with an instruction and then the hill is climbed into all-wheel drive trucks. The circuit has ten wooden structures mounted around the trees, with cables up to 250 meters between different poles. 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 accelerates, and the views become more and more spectacular. Thus, incredible panoramic views of Lake Nahuel Huapi and Moreno, Llao-Llao and the Campanario and Millaqueo hills are appreciated.
Returning to the water, Sup, a very popular activity, is essentially a surfboard-like board, where you walk, balance and paddle. At first glance it seems difficult, but it is not: the tables are very stable. SUP offers a lot of possibilities for a lot of people, because anyone can climb on a board and paddle. There are even guided tours in different places, with support boats and pre-adaptation for those who have never rowed. It’s a relatively new activity around the world, but it’s actually a millennial sport. Polynesian peoples went from island to island to discover new places. Everyone climbs on a board and takes a walk. You don’t have to be an extreme athlete.
When the rivers that paddle in rafts descend, the traveler enters endless forests and deep valleys in the heart of the Andes mountain range. If you are looking for a proposal for the whole family, rowing on the Limay River, with its calm and crystalline waters, its gentle waters and currents, is an ideal option a few kilometers from the city. Another option is to navigate the Manso River, which allows you to appreciate all the beauty and grandeur of the Andean-Patagonian forest.
Happy hour! Craft beer
The end of February marks a very special moment in the calendar for the beer universe. It is time to harvest hops, a fundamental, mystical ingredient, the flower which, together with water, malt and yeast, combine to form this elixir. Several immigrants arrived here who instilled the culture of brewing at home from the beginning of the twentieth century until today, the days of the “beer revolution”. Moreover, the hops are harvested in El Bolsón, a little over a hundred kilometers from Bariloche, and here was produced the first craft beer in the country, just “El Bolsón”. This is just one of the reasons why Bariloche has become a beer paradise. We must also highlight the water quality and the technical-scientific factor, with institutions such as Invap (Applied Research) and the Atomic Center, which contribute to the development of household equipment.
We must also mention the University of Comahue, whose scientific community collaborates in the conservation and genetic manipulation of the hop strains of this fruit native to Europe, which has found fertile ground for its development.
At the dawn of the nineties, Blest will appear, the first craft brewery in Bariloche, which would mark the course of an incipient tradition. Today, there are about twenty craft breweries distributed between the center of the Beer District and the road to Llao Llao and Circuito Chico, thus forming an infallible beer route, which local breweries raise like a flag. Manush, Wesley, Sedan, Konna, Bachman and Blest are the most recommended.