LOTUS EATERS TRAVEL

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TAKING THE BUS FROM MENDOZA TO BARILOCHE: A SHORT GUIDE ABOUT HOW TO BOOK AND WHAT TO EXPECT.

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Mendoza and Bariloche are two of our favourite places in Argentina. We think the best way to get between them is to take a bus. But you may be wondering what to expect on the bus – read on to find out more about the bus from Mendoza to Bariloche.

Don’t have time to read the whole post?

How long does the bus from Mendoza to Bariloche take?

The bus from Mendoza to Bariloche takes 18 hours. In our experience, it took exactly 18 hours, not a minute less or more! We left Mendoza at 18:30 and arrived at 12:30 the next day, as scheduled.

How often does the bus from Mendoza to Bariloche run?

There are two bus companies which both run buses once a day from Mendoza to Bariloche. The buses leave at 18:30 in the evening and arrive between 12:30 and 13:00 the next day.

How to book the bus from Mendoza to Bariloche

The bus from Mendoza to Bariloche is popular. It is taken by tourists and locals. We recommend booking in advance, especially if your travel dates are not flexible. At least one week in advance is best, but ideally more.

There are a number of booking agents which will allow you to book tickets in advance online and in your own currency. We used Book Away, our preferred agent, but Bus Bud does sometimes have tickets too.

What to expect on the bus from Mendoza to Bariloche

We took the bus from Mendoza to Bariloche with the bus company Cata International. This bus had first class options available, but we opted for standard class.

First class was on the lower floor of the bus, it offered larger and more comfortable seats, but not beds. Second class was found upstairs on the bus. We actually thought this was one of the most comfortable night buses that we had ever been on – seats were spacious, reclined completely and there were leg rests too.

There was aircon on the bus, but at times it was a little warm. Personally, we prefer this as often night buses can be extremely cold! Above each seat was an aircon that could be turned off, as well as a light. There were also USB slots available in the panel above our heads to charge phones (we recommend having a long cable to enable you to use them.)

On the top deck of the bus, there were a few television that dropped down from the ceiling. These played (quite loud) Spanish movies until around midnight, when lights went out. The bus remained quiet from then until 07:00 the next morning.

Finally, be sure to be awake and looking out the windows for the last couple of hours of the journey. As you approach Bariloche, the scenery is very special.

Can you take luggage on the bus?

Tickets include one piece of hand luggage and one item for the hold. We recommend putting valuables in your hand luggage. However, we felt that the luggage in the hold was pretty secure. When boarding the bus, each item of luggage is tagged and put under the bus in storage. Passengers are given a corresponding tag to claim their luggage back.

Top tip – if you’re in a rush when you get off the bus at Barlioche, it can take a long time for luggage to be sorted through. If you want your luggage to be out first, then get on the bus last in Mendoza!

Does the bus stop anywhere/ is there a toilet?

The driving felt safe and steady. Through the night and the next day, there were multiple stops. However, unlike other night buses we have been on, there was not a long stop where passengers were offered the chance to get off the bus.

You could get off briefly at each stop, but you would have to be quite speedy about it and be sure to get back on before the bus left. The bus stops also didn’t offer much beyond water and crisps – there was nowhere to get hot or fresh food.

We recommend packing food and refreshment for the evening, overnight and morning. One couple boarded with an entire pizza, which we were particularly jealous of at around 23:30 when our snacks ran out!

Finally, there is a toilet on board. Fairly clean, but no toilet roll (standard!)

Where does the bus leave from in Mendoza

The bus leaves from Mendoza Bus Terminal – found here on Google Maps. The bus station is not in the centre of Mendoza, it is around a twenty minute walk or ten minute cab ride. We took a cab there, just to be safe and it cost around 5,000 pesos.

There are clean toilets and plenty of places to buy refreshments in the bus terminal.

Is Mendoza bus terminal safe?

Before taking the bus, we had read from multiple sources that transport hubs in Mendoza weren’t particularly safe. In particular, the bus stop is highlighted as an unsafe area with risk of pick pocketing.

In our experience, Mendoza bus terminal felt very safe. Our hypothesis is that the bus terminal may have recently been renovated, as it seems very new and shiny. There were also police and security positioned around the bus terminal, making it feel even safer. Additionally, to enter the part of the terminal where you board buses, you had to show a ticket.

Overall, we felt safe in Mendoza bus terminal. Of course, we kept an eye on our belongings at all times, but in general it didn’t feel that there were heightened risks at the bus station comparative to elsewhere.

Where does the bus arrive to in Bariloche

The bus arrives to Bariloche to the bus terminal, found here on Google Maps. This is a little way out of town, but there are cabs waiting outside that you can take (just have cash ready.) You could also take a bus or even walk, it’s not that far (perhaps 40 minutes) and Bariloche is quite safe.

What are the alternatives to taking the bus from Mendoza to Bariloche?

There are two alternatives to taking the bus from Mendoza to Bariloche.

MENDOZA TO BARILOCHE BY CAR

The journey by road to Bariloche is between 990km and 1100km depending on the route you choose. This could take between 11.5 hours and 14 hours. The most direct and quickest route is actually via the RN143, RN151 and RN237 rather than Route 40 (the highway). This is because Route 40 is often not in the best condition, with pot holes and gravel.

It’s quite easy to hire a car in Argentina, but do keep in mind that it is going to be way cheaper for your to hire a car and return it to the same place. Therefore if you drive to Bariloche, be prepared to drive back or to pay an extortionate fee.

We used Booking.Com in Argentina to book our hire cars and have written more about our experience here.

MENDOZA TO BARILOCHE BY PLANE

Internal flights are popular in Argentina and there are many low cost airlines. Both Mendoza and Bariloche are small airports, found close to the centre of town. So, taking a plane can be a good option to save time.

There area couple of direct flights each day and it takes around 1 hour 45 minutes.

For more advice about how to survive a night bus

We’ve written a guide with some of our top tips and tricks for surviving a night bus. This includes how to stay safe and comfortable and what to pack. Find it here.

Where to next in Argentina?

You can find our guides to travelling in Argentina below:

• Buenos Aires – a three day itinerary
• Best things to do in Palermo, Buenos Aires
• Dining at Don Julio restaurant in Buenos Aires
• Where to stay in Buenos Aires
• Where to stay in Mendoza
• Our experience of staying in a wine hotel in Mendoza
• Wine cycling in Mendoza – a top experience
• Best hikes in Bariloche
• Best hikes & things to do in El Chalten
• Visiting Perito Moreno Glacier – a guide
• Driving in Argentina: A guide

Written by Emma

Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.

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