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Aerosilla Cerro Bellavista
Several chairlifts and the Aerosilla Cerro Bellavista carry passengers up to 2000m on Cerro Catedral, where there's a restaurant/ confitería offering excellent panoramas.
Bariloche & the Lake District
Home to some of the country’s most spectacular scenery, the Lake District is one of Argentina's prime tourist destinations. People come to ski, fish, climb, trek and generally bask in the cool, fresh landscapes created by the huge forests and glacier-fed lakes of Argentina's largest national park.
The paleontological sites and outstanding wineries just out of the city of Neuquén are well worth stopping off for en route; and way, way south is the resort town of Bariloche, with its picture-postcard location on the banks of the Lago Nahuel Huapi.
Getting away from the crowds is easily done. The lakeside villages of Villa Traful and San Martín de los Andes fill up for a short time in summer and are blissfully quiet the rest of the year. To the north, Chos Malal makes an excellent base for exploring nearby volcanoes, lagoons and hot springs.
Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Bariloche & the Lake District.
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Museo de la Patagonia
This small museum is a good introduction to the region, from its volcanic origins and archaeological sites to a wealth of taxidermied wildlife, the life of explorer Perito Moreno (whose personal effects are on display here) and an account of the 19th-century Conquest of the Desert. Highlights include the section on the indigenous people of southern Argentina, with a good selection of Mapuche and Yamaná artifacts on display.
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Centro Cívico
A stroll through Bariloche’s center, with its beautiful log-and-stone buildings designed by architect Ezequiel Bustillo, is a must. Besides, posing for a photo with one of the barrel-toting St Bernards makes for a classic Argentine snapshot, and views over the lake are superb. The buildings house the municipal tourist office and the museum.
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Cascada Chachín
This powerful waterfall gushing down the rock face is 46km west of San Martín de los Andes, accessible via the unpaved, winding RP 48 and then by a 5km dirt road near the Hua Hum border post. It's worth a stop if you're driving to Chile or if you want to spend the day picnicking.