LOTUS EATERS TRAVEL

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BEST HIKES IN BARILOCHE: THREE TO TRY DURING YOUR VISIT TO BARILOCHE.

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Bariloche, often hailed as the most beautiful town in Patagonia, is a paradise for hikers. It provides the ideal starting point for discovering mountains, lakes, and so much more.

We recently visited and went in search of the best hiking trails we could find. We know that most people will only visit Bariloche for two or three days and won’t have time to pick through lists of millions of hike.

So we wanted to provide our ultimate short list – THE THREE BEST HIKES IN BARILOCHE.

Hiking in Bariloche: A guide

Bariloche, a town located in the north of Patagonia, is somewhat of a mecca for hikers. The entire region is stunning, with lakes, forests and mountains.

The town of Bariloche itself is quirky and a bit hipster. But, without feeling pretentious. It has a laid back feel, with many people out enjoying hikes during the day and de-camping to the many craft beer houses, or steak restaurants, in the evening.

To hike in Bariloche, you will need to leave the cocoon of the town. Most of the best hikes are located around 20 to 45 minutes from Bariloche itself. A few can be accessed by public transport, or with a hire car.

The scenery around the area is simply stunning. You’ll find the huge lake of Lago Guttierez, mountains like Cerro Lopez and the vast Nahuel Huapi National Park.

There are day hikes, accessible to different levels. As well as as multi-day treks. We include in this guide our three favourite day hikes as well as some information to help you plan a multi-day trek in Bariloche.

3 best day hikes in Bariloche:

We tried and tested a number of hikes during our visit to Bariloche.

Here are the three best day hikes in Bariloche that we fell in love with.

1/ Refugio Lopez hike from Bariloche: The one with the epic views

Refugio Lopez is a mountain hut near to Bariloche found on Cerro Lopez. This a popular area for outdoor adventure enthusiasts, including hikers and mountaineering fans.

Refugio Lopez is a welcoming retreat for hikers and climbers. Mountain refuges in the Bariloche area are known for providing shelter and amenities for visitors exploring this magical place.

Key facts about this Bariloche hike

Why choose the Refugio Lopez hike in Bariloche?

Here are five reasons why we have included this hike on our list of the best hikes in Bariloche.

1/ This is THE HIKE to pick in Bariloche if you want incredible scenery. Hence, we call this hike – the one with the epic views!

2/ This hike is easy to get to from Bariloche, you can take public transport or drive and park up.

3/ You can tailor the hike to make it shorter and still enjoy it. If you find it tough, or you’re short of time, simply head up a little bit and head back down. You’ll still get amazing views.

4/ Equally, if you want more of a hike, you can continue up Cerro Lopez after the Refugio.

5/ The Refugio is so welcoming and you’re guaranteed to be drawn in for a cup of hot chocolate. They have board games and cosy fire. Once you’re in the hut, you may never want to leave.

How difficult is this hike in Bariloche?

We would describe the hike to Refugio Lopez as moderate. There are some challenges, mainly the steep climb. But it is such a short hike in terms of distance that we think it is possible with a reasonable level of fitness.

Full details for this Bariloche hike

For the full details about this hike, including where to park, public transport options and more on what to expect – you can find our detailed post dedicated to the hike to Refugio Lopez hike.

2/ The ultimate day hike from Bariloche: Refugio Frey Bariloche + Laguna Toncek

If you’re visiting Bariloche and looking for a day hike – we think the hike to Refugio Lopez and Laguna Toncek is the ultimate one to choose. From wild flowers, to extraordinary lakes and jaw dropping mountains – the hike has it all.

From the start, the hike offers fantastic views across Lago Guittirez as the trail slowly meanders above the lake. Soon, the climb beings and you start to enter the spectacular Patagonia mountains.

A very self-contained hike, there and back, it’s a really easy one to navigate without much thought. For me, I love that kind of hike because I can switch off and just enjoy the walking.

Key facts about this Bariloche hike

Why choose the Refugio Frey hike in Bariloche?

Here are 5 reasons why we think the Refugio Frey hike is one you should pick in Bariloche.

1/ This is a popular hike and it feels like something you can’t really miss in Bariloche. A bit of a right of passage.

2/ It is a tough hike and afterwards you will feel a strong sense of achievement. Perfect to work up a thirst before enjoying a few craft beers in the evening!

3/ The lagoon at the top offers a chance to relax, dip your toes in or maybe swim. We loved it!

4/ The start of the hike is around 25 minutes from Bariloche by car and you can take public transport.

5/ You’re surrounded by magical and changing scenery all day – from views of the lakes, to forests and mountains.

How difficult is this hike in Bariloche?

The first 60% of the Refugio Frey hike is fairly easy – the biggest challenge is a few rocks to clamber over. The last 40% of the hike up to Refugio Frey is more challenging as it involves steep climbs. Refugio Frey is found at 1,700m altitude, that’s 5577feet.

The total elevation gain for the walk is 2,500ft, of which 2000ft is in the last 40% of the hike.

Overall, of the hikes in the area we would describe this as Moderate Difficulty. The hike to Refugio Frey requires sure footedness and a reasonable level of fitness.

Full details for this Bariloche hike

For the full details about this hike, including where to park, public transport options and more on what to expect – you can find our detailed post dedicated to the hike to Refugio Frey hike here.

3/ Playa Muñoz Bariloche: A secret beach paradise

There are many fantastic hikes to choose from in Bariloche, but our hike to Playa Muñoz felt like a special one – not least because it offered such a contrast to the difficult mountain hikes in the area.

The hike to Playa Muñoz is sedate, relaxed but still beautiful. And did we mention that it ends at a secret beach?!?!

Key facts about this Bariloche hike

Why choose the Playa Muñoz hike in Bariloche?

Here are 5reasons why you should choose this hike in Bariloche.

1/ It is totally different to any hikes in the area, offering different scenery and a much more sedate pace

2/ This Bariloche hike is perfect for a hot day -the trail is mostly in the shade and is easy going

3/ The trail ends at a secret beach – the perfect spot for a picnic or a swim

4/ You can also visit a waterfall at the same time as walking to the beach

5/ You can actually extend this hike and combine it with a hike to Refugio Frey

How difficult is this hike in Bariloche?

The Playa Muñoz hike is an easy hike, with some small hills. The terrain is not challenging, with defined clear paths for the full walk. As it is an easy hike, it is great as a rest day or for families with children.

We loved taking it easy and spending time enjoying the beach.

Full details for this Bariloche hike

For the full details about this hike, including where to park, public transport options and more on what to expect –you can find a detailed post all about the Playa Muñoz hike here.

Best hikes in Bariloche: Multi-day treks in Bariloche

We chose to stick to day hikes in Bariloche, in part because we wanted to take advantage of staying in the wonderful town. But, multi-day treks are popular in Bariloche.

With a multi-day trek in Bariloche, hikers can stay in the mountain refugios. This is sure to be an interesting experience – bunking up with others hikers in close quarters.

If this appeals to you, you may be interested in the four day hut to hut hiking in Bariloche. Or, in a shorter multi-day trek.

There are two ways to go about organising multi-day treks.

Option One: Do it yourself

One option is to do it yourself. This way you can have the ultimate flexibility.

The easiest option is to hike to either Refugio Lopez or Refugio Frey and stay overnight, before returning back to Bariloche the next day.

Another way to extend this, would be to walk to Refugio Frey, stay overnight, then walk to San Martin refuge the next day. From here, you can make your way down. All Trails has details for the trail connecting the two huts here.

Option Two: Take a tour

If you want to do the full four day hut to hut, it is best to go with a guide as part of a tour. This makes things safer and also easier for yourself to organise. Plus, it can be fun to go with a tour group.

For the full tour, try Swoop Patagonia who can organise this tour for you. There are also local guides, you could ask around at your hotel.

Where to Stay in Bariloche

We would recommend staying in the centre of Bariloche, rather than on the outskirts. Whilst there are some beautiful lake side lodges on the outskirts, we think that staying in town is the best choice when you are in Bariloche for a short time. Staying central means that you can drive or take public transport to the start of the main hikes and crucially, you can get to all the main restaurants and bars in the evenings.

BUDGET: There are not that many truly “budget” places to stay in Bariloche, but there are a few hostels with less expensive prices. Consider Berkana Hostel, which has a lake front location but is close to the centre of town. Or Hostel Like Quijote, which has a fun and homely vibe.

MID-RANGE: We stayed in Hotel Cottbus in central Bariloche. This turned out to be one of our favourite hotels in Argentina. The rooms are quite basic, but the room rate includes an excellent breakfast which set us up perfectly for our day of hiking. The has parking too. With such a central location, we found it easy to stride out for a few beers in the evening.

LUXURY: For luxury accommodation in Bariloche, consider Huinid Bustillo Hotel & Spa. This hotel is a little way out of town, around 30 minutes walk or 5 minutes by taxi but offers a little slice of heaven. With lake views and a swimming pool with spa, a great place to relax after hiking.

More great hikes in Bariloche

If these three hikes don’t appeal, check out the Bariloche Trekking site here. This details a huge list of hikes in the area that you can filter through.

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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