Bariloche
I knew Bariloche first as a child — many times — and then in 2014 for the high-school graduation trip: nine astonishing days at full tilt, out every night, all the hotspots, Circuito Chico, and a couple of ski days on Cerro Catedral. Lived here in February 2020, then again from February through June 2021. Those stays were the mountains. Refugio Frey is about 10 km and four to five hours from Villa Catedral, 700 m of climbing through lenga to Laguna Toncek. Jakob is a longer day: some 14 km and five to six hours from Tambo Báez, up the Casa de Piedra valley. López with two friends from school — it was lovely — about 5 km and two to three hours to the refuge, steeper if you go on to Pico Turista. Laguna Negra with two friends from work, about 11 km one way from Colonia Suiza, finishing up the caracoles to the Manfredo Segre hut. With a group from work: Bella Vista (only ~5 km but a steep 800 m), Campanario (a short, sharp kilometre, forty-five minutes if you walk it), and Goye (~6 km to the summit from Colonia Suiza, a couple of hours up). Colonia Suiza, long walks around Península San Pedro, and Cervecería Patagonia more evenings than I can count. The city centre I don't particularly like. Back on Catedral to ski in June 2024. Between Christmas and New Year 2019 I also left town north on the Siete Lagos road toward San Martín de los Andes.
- Other
Centro Cívico
Visited: Sep 12, 2014
Arrival notes: On foot around the centre
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Graduation trip: nine days, out every night, high intensity. The centre itself I don't particularly like — then or later.
- Attraction
Circuito Chico
Visited: Sep 13, 2014
How I got there: Car — The classic loop from town
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One of the hotspots on the 2014 graduation trip. About 60 km around Nahuel Huapi, Llao Llao, and the peninsulas.
- Attraction
Cerro Catedral
Visited: Sep 14, 2014
How I got there: Other — Ski from the base
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Skied a couple of times on the graduation trip.
- Attraction
Cerro Catedral
Visited: Sep 17, 2014
How I got there: Other — Ski from the base
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Second ski day of the 2014 trip.
- Other
Centro Cívico
Visited: Feb 6, 2020
How I got there: Walk — Walked the centre while living here
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February 2020, first stretch living in town. Walked around the centre — I don't particularly like it.
- Recreational
Península San Pedro
Visited: Feb 9, 2020
How I got there: Walk — Walked the peninsula
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Long, easy shoreline walks. Came back to this often in 2020 and 2021.
- Restaurant
Cervecería Patagonia
Visited: Feb 14, 2020
How I got there: Car — Circuito Chico, km 24.7
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Went often — this brewery overlooking the lake, again and again in 2020 and 2021.
- Attraction
Refugio Frey
Visited: Feb 20, 2021
How I got there: Walk — Trail from Villa Catedral
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About 10 km and four to five hours one way, ~700 m of climbing. Lenga forest, then the granite around Laguna Toncek. Classic Bariloche hut day.
- Attraction
Refugio Jakob
Visited: Mar 6, 2021
How I got there: Walk — Trail from Tambo Báez
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The longer hut: about 14 km and five to six hours from Tambo Báez, 800 m up the Casa de Piedra valley. Steeper in the last hour, the caracoles.
- Attraction
Cerro López
Visited: Mar 14, 2021
How I got there: Walk — Trail from Arroyo López, Circuito Chico
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With two friends from school — it was lovely. About 5 km and two to three hours to the refuge; another hour of scramble if you continue to Pico Turista (~13 km round trip).
- Attraction
Colonia Suiza
Visited: Mar 20, 2021
How I got there: Car — Circuito Chico toward the Swiss colony
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Trailhead village for Laguna Negra and Goye. Quiet, lovely, and a regular stop while living here.
- Attraction
Laguna Negra
Visited: Mar 21, 2021
How I got there: Walk — Trail from Colonia Suiza along Arroyo Goye
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With two friends from work. About 11 km one way, three hours of valley then the steep caracoles to the Manfredo Segre hut above the black lake.
- Attraction
Cerro Campanario
Visited: Apr 2, 2021
How I got there: Walk — Walked the steep kilometre from the chairlift base (Bustillo km 17.5)
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With a group from work. Only about 1 km, forty-five minutes, but properly steep — one of the best views in town for the effort.
- Attraction
Cerro Bella Vista
Visited: Apr 3, 2021
How I got there: Walk — Trail from Tambo Báez
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Same work group. Only ~5 km one way, but a steep 800 m through forest onto a coloured ridgeline. About nine kilometres round trip.
- Attraction
Cerro Goye
Visited: Apr 4, 2021
How I got there: Walk — Trail from Colonia Suiza
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Same work group. About 6 km to the summit (~12 km round trip), a couple of hours up through lenga; 360° from the top.
- Restaurant
Cervecería Patagonia
Visited: May 8, 2021
How I got there: Car — Circuito Chico again
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Still going often through the 2021 stay.
- Attraction
Cerro Catedral
Visited: Jun 18, 2024
How I got there: Other — Ski trip
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Back for a ski trip in June 2024.
Route summary: Centro Cívico → Circuito Chico → Cerro Catedral → Cerro Catedral → Centro Cívico → Península San Pedro → Cervecería Patagonia → Refugio Frey → Refugio Jakob → Cerro López → Colonia Suiza → Laguna Negra → Cerro Campanario → Cerro Bella Vista → Cerro Goye → Cervecería Patagonia → Cerro Catedral