san carlos de bariloche (hostelworld)

Hostelworld Guide for BarilocheBy Colm Hanratty

Nestled on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi and gateway to Patagonia, Bariloche (or San Carlos deBariloche if you want to make things formal) is a haven for those who like the great outdoors and activity

sports. During the winter you can don skis or snowboards and tackle the slopes in the surrounding resortssuch as Cerro Catedral, while in summer you can enjoy long horse rides and treks in the sunshine.

Budding photographers will be in their element too due to the endless landscapes to take pictures of.Those who come alive at night are in for a treat too as, while this picturesque city looks like it's all goody

two shoes, it also knows how to be bad.

In this Guide...

Useful InformationAfter Dark

Places to EatTop Attractions

Budget TipsWhere to Shop

The Essentials Climate

Getting There

By plane: Bariloche's airport is 16km from the citycentre. It has regular connections with other majorArgentinean cities and some international onesalso, particularly during ski season.

By train: Those travelling to Bariloche by train willarrive at the bus station which is located across theRio Nireco on RN 237.

By bus: Bariloche's bus station can also be foundbeside the city's train station on the RN 237.

Getting Around

On foot: While Bariloche is easily covered on foot,to get to some of its neighbouring attractions youwill need to use either the city's bus service or takea taxi.

By bus: A local bus service runs through the city tosome of the main attractions in the area.

By taxi: Picking up a taxi in the centre of Barilocheis eas i l y done. P ick ing them up a t nearbyattractions can be more difficult though, so get ataxi number to save you getting stranded.

Bariloche facts

Name: The name San Carlos de Barilochederives from two sources. The name 'Bariloche'comes from the Mapudungun word 'Vuriloche'meaning 'people from behind the mountain',while the 'San Carlos' is after CarlosWiederhold, one of its first European settlers.Population: Bariloche is home to approximately130,000 people.Founded: The city was officially founded at thebeginning of the 20th century in 1902.

The weather in Bariloche can vary greatly, so youshould think about what you want to do there beforegoing. Summers are hot and dry, making it perfectfor activities such as hiking, horse riding and whitewater rafting, while winters are cold and wet (whenit's not snowing) making it a great time to visit if youwant to engage in alpine activities. The in betweenseasons of spring and autumn are completelytransitional with a mix of all types of weather.

Good to know...

Language: Spanish, EnglishCurrency: Argentine PesoElectricity: 220 volts, 50 cyclesTelephone Code: +54 (Argentina), 02944(Bariloche)Emergency Code: 911 (police), 100 (fire), 107(ambulance)Time Zone: GMT -3 hoursCentral Post Office: In the Civic Centre (nextto the tourist office)Main Tourist Office: In the Civic Centre (nextto the post office)

Embassies *

USA: +54 (0)11 5777 4354 (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm),+54 (0)11 5777 4873 (5pm-8am & weekends)UK: +54 (0)11 4808 2200Canada: +54 (0)11 4808 1000Australia: +54 (0)11 4779 3500South Africa: +54 (0)11 4317 2900Ireland: +54 (0)11 5787 0801Germany: +54 (0)11 4778 2500Spain: +54 (0)11 4811 0070Italy: +54 (0)11 4801 3232New Zealand: +54 (0)11 4328 0747France: +54 (0)11 4515 2930

*Embassies in Buenos Aires

Hostelworld Guide for Bariloche www.hostelworld.com

Cheap Eats After Dark

La Esquina, Perito Moreno 10 Part bar, but mostlycafé/restaurant, there's always an extremelywelcoming atmosphere in La Esquina. Staff arefriendly and are happy to serve you drinks at the baror well-priced omlettes, sandwiches or more in thecafé. Drop in for lunch then stay for a drink. Opendaily 8am-11am; free WiFi.

Dias de Zapata, Morales 362 Unlike some Mexicanrestaurants, this eatery goes all out to give you theau then t i c Mex i can expe r i ence . The déco reverywhere is laid out to remind you of the cuisineyou're eating and luckily the food is good too. Hereyou can get all the usual culprits - ritos, enchiladasand more. And the mixed nachos starter is a must.Open daily 12 noon-11pm.

The Map Room, Urquiza 28 In The Map Room youwill find exactly that - maps. They're everywhere.Like many places where you can enjoy food at inBariloche, it's a bar as well as a café. But theirAmerican breakfast is particularly popular and iswhat draws a hungry crowd here regularly. Opendaily 9am-midnight.

For the chocaholics out there

Mamuschka, Mitre 298 If you've got a sweettooth then Bariloche's celebrated chocolate shopin the middle of the town centre should certainlybe on your list of places to visit. Here you canpick up all sorts of niceties like cakes, sweets,fudges and more. They're also nicely presentedin small boxes making them the perfect gift for,well, you. Open daily 9am-8pm.

Rock Chicken, San Martin 234 While you won't finda pair of golden arches or Colonel Sanders ruling theroost when it comes to fast food in Bariloche, this iswhere to go for late night (and daytime) quick mealssuch as burgers, f r ies and more. Open dai ly10am-4am.

Wilkenny, San Martín 435 While it might go a bitover the top on its 'Oirishness', it can't be denied thatthis is one of the livelier spots in Bariloche. Drawingbackpackers in their droves who go to down shots,meet fellow travellers from across the globe, and getbusy on the dancefloor, it's the place to go if you'relooking for a big night. And leave your visit until aftermidnight. Open daily 12 noon-4am.

Over on the south side

South Bar, Av. Juramento 30 Bariloche's otherIrish bar is a far tamer affair. While the above iswhere to go to burn the midnight oil, this iswhere to get to know those you've met along theroad or simply have a chat with whoever you'retravelling with. It can get smoky, but there's anice atmosphere and staff are friendly. It has adart board too if you're sick of talking. Open daily4pm-2am.

Malabar, Av. Juramento 83 Found directly acrossthe road from South Bar, Malabar is a smallervenue, but considerably livelier. This is thanks to asoundtrack of classic rock and reggae tracks. Theya lso t ry to make th ings a tad d i f fe ren t andsometimes have photography exhibitions and otherevents. Open nightly 8pm-3am.

Pilgrim, Palacios 167 Over on the east side ofBariloche is Pilgrim, yet another Irish bar althoughone that doesn't have that much Irish-ness about it.It's a quiet place, so don't be surprised if you getspeaking to the barman. If you don't the notes leftfrom travellers across the globe will keep youoccupied. Open daily 2pm-2am.

By Pass, Rolando 155 If you consider yourself tobe a true 'clubber', then this is the place for you.Revellers in 'By Pass' go crazy to kicking housetunes and dazzling light shows every weekend inBariloche. Open Thurs-Sun 11pm-4am.

Don't Miss Budget Tips

Circuito Chico Meaning 'short circuit', this 60kmloop boasts some of the most breathtaking views inArgentina. These range from those along LakeNahuel Huapi to the ones from Cerro Campanario(see below). Another attraction along the way isHotel Llao-Llao, arguably the most famous hotel inthe country.

Go mountain biking While you can take a busaround Circuito Chico, the best way to take in thisfamous route is on a mountain bike. This way youcan stop at will along the way and enjoy the sceneryeven more. It requires some endurance though, so ifyou're not feeling up for anything too strenuous thereare also easier routes in the area.

Hang on tight

White-water rafting Located 70km fromBariloche is the Rio Manso, a class III river withsome class IV rapids thrown in for goodmeasure. Beginning at the foot of MountTronador, day trips take in breathtaking scenerypast rainforest and waterfalls on top of thewhite-knuckle rapids.

Cerro Campanario Due to its location in the middleof lakes and peninsulas, Cerro Campanario, a smallmountain 20 minutes from Bariloche, boasts one ofthe most breathtaking views in the world. NationalGeographic went so far as to bill it as one of their topten views worldwide. Make sure your camera is fullycharged before going to the top...

Skiing / horseback riding Both of these activitiesare extremely popular activities in Bariloche. Theformer can be done in neighbouring resorts likeCerro Cathedral between June and October, whilethe latter can be done almost all-year-round.

Check with your hostel for tour info on the aboveactivities.

Visit Catedral de San Carlos de BarilocheLocated at the the intersection of O'Connor andBeschtedt Admiral, and surrounded by two squareswith beautiful gardens, a visit to the city's main placeof worship is a great way to spend a couple of hourswithout spending anything. Built primarily in Gothicstyle by the architect Alejandro Bustillo, showpiecesof the beautiful interior include its stained-glasswindows.

Enjoy breathtaking views of the lake Bariloche'sstunning location is largely thanks to the lake it islocated on - Lake Nahuel Huapi. One thing yousimply must do on a visit here is take your cameradown to the lake and become snap happy. Withbeautiful views at all angles, you'll get yourselfunforgettable pictures and all it will cost you is theenergy to walk there.

Go hiking Visit Bariloche's main tourist office in theCivic Center in the centre of town and explain tothem you want to go hiking, they'll be able to giveyou a map detailing the walks in the area. Hikes aregraded as easy, medium or difficult and are mappedout clearly. You may need to buy a permit if yourhike is in Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, but they'reinexpensive.

Worth the energy

Hike up to Cerro Campanario While the mostconventional way to get to the top of CerroCampanario is by cable car, you can saveyourself some Pesos and hike instead. The climbtakes an hour approximately and, as you cansee, it's worth burning the energy.

Visit Museo de la Patagonia Occupying the eastwing of the Civic Centre building in the middle of thecity, this museum is full of stuffed animals andinformation on the city's urban development. It's wellworth visit ing and entrance isn't much. OpenMon-Sat 9am-5pm; admission 15P

Hostelworld Guide for Bariloche www.hostelworld.com