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Home arrow 5. The City

Travel to Bariloche, Argentina

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lake_view.jpgThe “Southern Cone,” the area that encompasses the Patagonia region shared by Chile and Argentina, is famous around the world for its natural splendor. Mammoth glaciers, towering mountain ranges, and pristine Andean lakes draw visitors year round. Penguins, whales, pumas and parakeets, among many other native animals, stand as a testament to the biological bounty of this southernmost region of the Americas. The city of San Carlos de Bariloche serves as the hub of Argentina travel and tourism to Patagonia, and provides an incredible scenic base for students who want to both learn Spanish in Bariloche and take advantage of its wide opportunities for adventure travel and outdoor activities.

Things to do on a visit to Bariloche:

  • Grab a weekend lift ticket and ski or snowboard Cerro Chapelco or Catedral (Andean ski resorts); in the summer, you can still ride the lift to the top for amazing views.
  • Visit the famous and delectable chocolate factories of Bariloche
  • Dodge rocks and streams biking the mountain trails just outside of the town, or go rock climbing.
  • Stay warm with a hot tea and cake at one of the Welsh Tea Shops
  • Go trekking through the Patagonian forests, mountain climb, fish, horseback ride, and more
  • Dance the night away at one of the five nationally famous “boliches” (clubs) in the city
  • White-water raft the Río Manso, with Class IV and higher rapids
  • Visit the beautiful Seven Lakes at your leisure or squeeze them into just one day; the trip is commonly referred to as “One day, 7 lakes, 5 towns and the Andes!”
  • Absorb breathtaking landscapes while horseback riding through the plains.
  • Eat juicy, authentic Patagonian steak at a local parilla.

Daily Life in Bariloche:


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The Argentine city of Bariloche in Patagonia shares many cultural characteristics with the capital city of Buenos Aires, yet retains its own, distinctive way of life. When you first catch a glimpse of the city, you could be mistaken for thinking you’ve been transplanted to the European Alps, as many of the buildings have a very European feel due to the Southern Cone’s history of European settlement. However, Patagonians enjoy a rhythm of daily existence quite different from Europe, one which is very relaxed and recreation-oriented. A love of the outdoors is characteristic, and skiing, trekking, climbing and biking are common pastimes. Regional culinary specialties include fresh Atlantic seafood from the Southern coast of Argentina, lamb dishes (in the interior), chocolates, and native curanto (a meat and vegetable dish prepared over hot stones). After a late dinner, Patagonians often enjoy a glass of Argentine wine, and on the weekends, Bariloche is nationally famous for its boliches, or dance clubs. Recent high school graduates and university students come from all over the country to enjoy the nightlife of the Andean town.
History of Bariloche:trekking_6.jpg Patagonia was at one time one of the most remote and unknown regions of the Spanish empire. In fact, the mountain pass traversing the Andes running between Bariloche and the Chilean side of the range was kept secret by the Mapuche tribe from the European missionaries sent to Patagonia. As the southernmost province of the Republic of Argentina, it continued to be sparsely populated and undeveloped even after national independence in 1816. Exploration and settlement of the area rapidly expanded during the 19th century, when a myriad of immigrants from Europe, enticed by government incentives, arrived in Argentina and began to populate locales that have now become modern urban centers. Bariloche was settled mainly by Austrians and Germans, and the wide variety of immigrant nationalities is still evident in the Patagonia region today; many Northern Europeans, such as Germans and the Swiss, live in the Bariloche Lakes District, while Chubut is populated by the Welsh, and the Rio Negro Valley predominantly by Italians and Spaniards.

 

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