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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.

Explore Bariloche & the Lake District

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Bariloche & the Lake District.

  • National Park

    Parque Nacional Lanín

    Dominating the view in all directions along the Chilean border, the snowcapped cone of 3776m Volcán Lanín is the centerpiece of this national park, which…

  • National Park

    Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi

    One of Argentina's most-visited national parks, Nahuel Huapi occupies 7500 sq km in the mountainous southwestern Neuquén and western Río Negro provinces…

  • National Park

    Parque Nacional Los Arrayanes

    This small national park, encompassing the entire Quetrihué Peninsula that juts out into the waters of Lago Nahuel Huapi, protects remaining stands of the…

  • Archaeological Site

    Centro Paleontológico Lago Barreales

    For true dino-freaks, the best place to satiate the hunger for bones is the Centro Paleontológico Lago Barreales, located 90km northwest of Neuquén. It's…

  • Market

    Feria Artesanal

    Local craftspeople sell their wares at this market, along the eastern edge of Plaza Pagano, which boasts over 300 artists, who make and sell everything…

  • Archaeological Site

    Parque Arqueológico Colomichicó

    This small archaeological site features one of the most important collections of Pehuenche rock art in Patagonia. There are over 600 examples here, carved…

  • Winery

    Bodega Malma

    Under the same ownership as the Bodega del Fin del Mundo, this delightful winery 60km north of Neuquén allows you to sample its five wine ranges during…

  • Glacier

    Ventisquero Negro

    From Pampa Linda, it's a 6km drive (or over an hour's walk) along a severely potholed dirt road to the Ventisquero Negro lookout. It's a spectacular sight…

  • Museum

    Museo Municipal Carmen Funes

    The star of the show at this museum, 116km west of Neuquén, is a full-size reconstructed skeleton of the Argentinosaurus huinculensis, believed to have…

  • Museum

    Museo Municipal Ernesto Bachmann

    Some 79km southwest of Neuquén, off RN 237, the small town of El Chocón is the proud home of the virtually complete hundred-million-year-old skeleton of…

  • Waterfall

    Cascada Coa Có

    This waterfall is a moderately easy, two-hour roundtrip walk from Villa Traful that can be done without a guide. Walk uphill on the street running beside…

  • Cable Car

    Teleférico Cerro Otto

    This cable car carries passengers to the summit of Cerro Otto (1405m), with all-encompassing views of Lago Nahuel Huapi from the top. Besides several…

  • Museum

    Museo Municipal Argentino Urquiza

    A worthwhile detour for hardcore dinosaur enthusiasts, this museum is located in the little town of Rincón de Los Sauces, some 240km north of Neuquén via…

  • Winery

    Bodega Familia Schroeder

    Visit this award-winning winery, founded by a pioneering family, to sample from their nine wine ranges and to visit their 'dinosaur cellar,' where a…

  • Winery

    Bodega del Fin del Mundo

    The largest of the Patagonian wineries and one of the world's southernmost, Bodega del Fin del Mundo uses cutting-edge technology to produce its Special…

  • Landmark

    Vía Cristi

    Situated about 2km from the center of Junín de los Andes, near the end of Av Antártida Argentina, Vía Cristi contains a collection of 22 sculptures, bas…

  • Village

    Salazar

    This Mapuche community on the 26km dirt road to Lago Ruca Choroi (in Parque Nacional Lanín) sells traditional weavings, araucaria pine nuts and, in summer…

  • Winery

    Bodega Humberto Canale

    Some 44km east of Neuquén, near the town of General Roca, this colonial-style winery runs two-hour tours that take in the wine presses, stainless-steel…

  • Museum

    Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

    An offshoot of the fine-arts museum in Buenos Aires, MNBA showcases fine arts from the region, as well as paintings representative of major European art…

  • Forest

    Bosque Tallado

    A signposted road leads from RN 40 up the wooded slopes of Cerro Piltriquitrón. From the end of the road, it's a 40-minute hike to the Sculpted Forest,…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Bariloche & the Lake District.

  • Activities