Argentina - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 115

warmer and more secluded dip, head
13km southeast to Villa Los Coihues on
Lago Gutiérrez (buses #41 or #50). Pick
up a map and schedule for the useful
network of municipal buses at the
tourism office.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By plane Bariloche Airport ( T 02944 426 162) lies 14km
east of the centre. Local bus #72 runs into town every
couple of hours; a taxi or remise will set you back around
AR$90. Agencies including Quetrihue (Inacayal 13 1st floor
T 02944 494 803) operate transfers to Villa La Angostura
(AR$180).
Destinations Buenos Aires (6-8 daily; 2hr); El Calafate
(daily; 1hr 45min); Esquel (2-3 weekly; 30min); Mar de
Plata (weekly; 35min). There are also seasonal flights to
Córdoba, Mendoza, Puerto Madryn and Trelew, as well as
direct international flights to a number of cities in Brazil
and Chile.
By bus The bus terminal ( T 02944 432 860) is a couple of
kilometres east of the centre. Local buses #10, #20 and #21
run into town along C Moreno; a taxi to the Centro Cívico
costs around AR$40. Many intercity buses also drop at the
C Moreno stop in the city centre, so check with your driver.
Destinations El Bolsón (11 daily; 1hr 30min); Buenos Aires
(6 daily; 21hr); El Calafate (4 weekly; 34hr); Esquel (15
daily; 4hr 30min); Mendoza (2 daily, 18hr); Puerto Madryn
(2 daily; 12hr); Puerto Montt in Chile (2 daily; 6hr); San
Martín de Los Andes (5 daily; 4hr); Villa La Angostura
(hourly; 1hr 30min).
By boat Cruce de Lagos ( T 011 5237 1246, W crucede
lagos.com) organizes boat crossings (Sept-April; 12hr;
US$280) from Bariloche to Puerto Montt in Chile (see
p.445). The scenic journey cruises lakes Huapi, Frieas and
Todos Los Santos, with the overland segments traversed by
bus. Optional overnight stops at Puerto Blest and Peulla.

W overlandpatagonia.com) offers a range of backpacker-
friendly excursions, including a four-day Ruta 40 trip to
El Calafate in summer; Pura Vida ( T 02944 400 327,
W puravidapatagonia.com.ar) offers kayaking trips on
the lake; Turisur, at Mitre 219 ( T 02944 426 109, W turisur
.com.ar), specializes in boat trips.

1

ACCOMMODAT ION
Bariloche's accommodation is among the most expensive
in Argentina. Bookings are recommended in high season
(mid-Dec-Feb & July-Aug), though with so many hotels
there is always somewhere with a spare room. Many of the
cabins and hotels that lie west of town along Av Bustillo
offer great lake views and are a quieter alternative to
staying in town. A large number of excellent backpacker
hostels have kitchens, internet and tour-booking services.

HOSTELS AND CAMPSITES
1004 Penthouse San Martín 127 T 02944 432 228,
W penthouse1004.com.ar. Swan around this hostel and
take in the panoramic mountain and lake vistas from the
tenth floor of an apartment block. Travellers hang out in
the mellow living room, or watch the sunset - vino in hand
- from the balcony. The dor ms are n ot as sty lish as the
common area. Dorms AR$95 , doubles AR$205
Ì 41 Below Juramento 94 T 02944 436 433, W hostel
41below.com. A chilled, Kiwi-owned hostel with 24 beds,
friendly staff and quality music grooving in its common
area. Most dorms and doubles have partial lake vi ews, a s
the host el has a completely glass front. Dorms AR$90 ,
doubles AR$250
El Gaucho Belgrano 209 T 02944 522 464, W hostel
elgaucho.com. A friendly German/Argentine couple run
this spick-and-span operation right downtown. Hanging
carpet s liven u p the rat her bare dorms and nicer doubles.
Dorms AR$90 , doubles AR$160
Hostel Inn Bariloche Salta 308 T 02944 552 782,
W hostelbariloche.com. This HI hostel, smack in the
middle of town, offers both breakfast and dinner included
in the price. While the atmosphere is a little sterile, one
benefit is a number of smal ler comm on areas including
a DVD player. Dorms AR$120 , doubles AR$380
Patanuk Juan Manuel de Rosas 585 T 02944 434 991,
W patanuk.com. Right on the lake with its own private
pebble beach, this hostel wins hands down in the atmos-
phere category. The six-bed dorms enjoy gorgeous views
and the doubles have private bathrooms, though all
rooms have seen bett er day s. Breakf ast inclu ded and
bicycles for rent. Dorms AR$90 , doubles AR$300
Periko's Morales 555 T 02944 522 326, W perikos.com.
Recharge at this rustic cabin with a big back yard swinging
with hammocks. The four- and six-bed d orms ar e en suite
and ther e are four bright doubles. Dorms AR$90 , doubles
AR$280

INFORMAT ION AND TOURS
Club Andino Bariloche 20 de Febrero 30 T 02944 527
966, W clubandino.org. The must-do stop before you set
off hiking in Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi (see p.122).
Daily 8am-9pm.
Intendencia del Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi Av
San Martín 24 T 02944 423 111, W nahuelhuapi.gov.ar.
Pick up o cial national park pamphlets here. Mon-Fri
8am-5pm, Sat & Sun 10am-5pm.
Tourist information The busy tourist o ce (daily
8am-9pm; T 02944 429 850, W barilochepatagonia.info)
is in the Centro Cívico.
Tour operators Aguas Blancas, Morales 564 ( T 02944
432 799, W aguasblancas.com.ar), runs rafting excursions;
Bike Cordillera at Av Bustillo Km18.6 ( T 02944 524 828)
rents bicycles; Overland Patagonia ( T 02944 456 327,