San Carlos de Bariloche: A Dreamy Winter Destination

In the surroundings of Lake Nahuel Huapi lies the city of San Carlos de Bariloche, a tourist treasure of alpine architecture located southwest of the province of Rio Negro. The Andes Mountains guard this town, which boasts of the privileged nature that surrounds it, creating a postcard snapshot. Not all cities can boast of being located in such a wonderful environment as the Argentine Patagonia, nor of having as many tourist options as Bariloche offers. A local gastronomy with an important artisan tradition, idyllic routes and trails, ski resorts, glacial lakes to visit... All this can be found in the city located in the province of Río Negro, a must-see destination in the region. 

We have to start talking first, and may the other natural treasures of the area forgive us, about Lake Nahuel Huapi, one of the largest in Argentina. Between the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén lies this lake of glacial origin, characterized by its enormous depth and the various branches it has. To enjoy the scenery, there are several beaches that also allow swimming in the Nahuel Huapi during the summer season, such as Playa Bonita, Playa Serena and Playa del Centenario. In turn, at different times of the year, the lake itself can also be used for various sports activities such as windsurfing, kite surfing, kayaking, sport fishing or diving. 

But this is not the only lake in the area; in the surroundings of San Carlos de Bariloche you can start the Route of the Seven Lakes, a tour of the Argentine Patagonia of more than 100 kilometers that goes from Villa la Angostura to San Martin de los Andes, and that allows you to visit the lakes Espejo, Correntoso, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner, Machónico and Lácar.

But perhaps, one of the tourist stars of the winter season is the offer of snow-related activities, since Bariloche has perfect facilities oriented to winter sports. From July to October, thousands of tourists come to the Patagonian town to practice skiing, snowboarding, sleigh rides and other activities offered by the snow, adapted for those who are new to these sports, with gentle slopes and forests, and for those more experienced, with slopes that reach up to 2100 meters above sea level. 

In fact, one of the most important resorts in Argentina, Cerro Catedral, is located in Bariloche. This resort has more than 60 slopes for all levels and a wide range of lifts, and there you can do a variety of activities such as free skiing, cross-country skiing, an obstacle course and jumps, or even trekking.  Other resorts such as Cerro Otto or the Nordic Ski Center are also located in the surroundings of the Patagonian town. 

And, since we have the attention of sports lovers, it is worth mentioning that the province of Río Negro is home to one of the most beautiful golf courses in the whole Argentine territory, such as the Llao Llao Resort, Golf & Spa, which has an 18-hole course surrounded by the Patagonian landscapes and the majestic Nahuel Huapi Lake. 

But Bariloche not only boasts landscapes, but its gastronomy is another reason to visit this town. Argentine cuisine is not only composed of barbecue, and this is evident in 'Little Switzerland', known for its landscape and architecture similar to that of the European country, and for its production of one of the best chocolates in Argentina. It is no coincidence that Bariloche is the National Capital of Chocolate and, in fact, the National Chocolate Festival has been held there every year at Easter, since 1969. There are several chocolate stores in the city that continue to produce the product in an artisanal way, and the town even has a museum dedicated to this delicious sweet. 

And, as with chocolate, beer is another of Bariloche's revered products, a beverage that has been produced in the traditional way for almost 100 years. The city has several internationally awarded breweries, and among bars and breweries there are 25 establishments dedicated to the beer industry. Those who want to learn about Bariloche's brewing tradition can enjoy the Beer Route, a tour of the most characteristic breweries in the city, which allows visitors to taste the craft brews, the result of the use of high quality raw materials and the combination of traditional methods and ancient recipes from the European continent. 

These options and many more make up the tourist offer of Bariloche, an ideal destination for all types of tourist profile, and that in winter represents one of the best options for the holiday period.