Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
Argentines will tell you that it is the
country's most European or Swiss-tinged
city, but Bariloche itself is a rather ugly
hotchpotch of high-rise hotels, garish
souvenir stores and faux chalets. That
said, the lake and surrounding landscape
are stunning - snowy evergreens in
winter and covered with purple and
yellow wild flowers in summer. The lake
is at its best when the sun is reflecting off
a placid, cobalt-blue surface, but it can
rapidly transform into a tempestuous sea,
lashing icy wind through the streets and
sending every warm-blooded being
indoors to drink hot chocolate or huddle
around a pot of cheese fondue.
Aside from lake views, Bariloche's forte
is as an
outdoor adventure
hub. he
town's proximity to the lakes, mountains,
forests and rivers of Parque Nacional
Nahuel Huapi makes it one of the top
spots in the country for white-water
rafting, zip-lines through the forest
canopy, kayaking, paragliding, mountain
biking, trekking and climbing. Come
winter, the fun shifts to the nearby pistes
of Cerro Catedral (see p.121). To avoid
the crowds, come in
spring
or
autumn
.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Bariloche's heart is its
Centro Cívico
, a
spacious plaza dominated by an equestrian
statue of a defeated-looking General Roca.
Forming a horseshoe around the square is
a set of attractive, mid-twentieth-century
public buildings constructed of local
timber and green-grey stone, a
collaboration between Ernesto de Estrada
and famed Argentine architect Alejandro
Bustillo, who also built the
cathedral
a few blocks away. Within these buildings
is the
Museo de la Patagonia
(Tues-Fri
10am-12.30pm & 2-7pm, Sat 10am-
5pm; free), which does an exemplary
job of tracing the area's Mapuche and
European history. Bariloche's main drag,
Calle Mitre
, runs east of the plaza.
In the height of summer, you might be
tempted to dip a toe beneath the lake's
icy surface; the most popular
beach
is
rocky Playa Bonita, 8km west of town
(buses #10, #20, #21 or #22), or, for a
EATING
El Boliche de Alberto
Butterfly
Covita
Dias de Zapata
La Fonda del Tío
Helados Jauja
La Marmite
ACCOMMODATION
1004 Penthouse
41 Below
El Gaucho
Hostel Inn Bariloche
Nogare
Patanuk
Periko's
La Selva Negra
Sur
Tango Inn Downtown
BARILOCHE
7/9
4
1
6
2
5
3
4
7
9
6
8
3
10
2
1
5
DRINKING & NIGHTLIFE
Antares Brewery
South Bar
Lago Nahuel
Huapi
10
8
Puerto San Carlos
Catedral
Nuestra Señora
del Nahuel Huapi
Statue of
General Roca
R E CON Q UIS TA
Museo de la Patagonia
Archway
AV E N I D A J U
MI T R E
E
Municipalidad
CENTRO
CÍVICO
MOR E N O
R AM E
N T O
Intendencia
(National
Park HQ)
NEUMAY E R ELFLEIN
Club Andino
Bariloche
G A L L A
RDO
TISCOR NIA
0
200
A L BARRACÍ N
metres
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