By Plane -- The Aeropuerto Bariloche (tel. 02944/426162) is 13km (8 miles) from downtown. Buses to the city center are timed with the arrival of flights and can be found outside at the arrival area; some are run by the airlines themselves. A taxi costs about $10. Aerolíneas Argentinas/Austral, Quaglia 238 (tel. 02944/422425; www.aerolineasargentinas.com), has at least three daily flights from Buenos Aires and in summer operates three weekly flights from El Calafate. Southern Winds (tel. 0810/777-7979) and American Falcon (tel. 02944/425200) fly from Buenos Aires, while LADE, Quaglia 238 #8 (tel. 02944/423562), serves small destinations in the area such as Neuquen and Esquel. LanChile (tel. 11/4312-8161) offers the only scheduled international flights, from both Puerto Montt and Santiago.
By Bus -- The Terminal de Omnibus (tel. 02944/432860) is at Av. 12 de Octubre 2400; a dozen companies serve most major destinations in Argentina and Chile. TAC (tel. 02944/431521) has three daily arrivals from Buenos Aires and daily service from El Bolsón, Esquel, Mendoza, and Córdoba. Vía Bariloche (tel. 02944/435770) has three daily arrivals from Buenos Aires (the trip lasts about 20 hr.) and one daily trip from Mar del Plata. Andesmar (tel. 02944/422140) has service from Mendoza, Río Gallegos, and Neuquén, and service from Osorno, Valdivia, and Puerto Montt in Chile. In addition, there's a daily service from San Martín de los Andes via the scenic Siete Lagos (Seven Lakes) route (only during the summer); from Villa La Angostura, try Ko-Ko (tel. 02944/423090). For more on the Siete Lagos route, see chapter 15.
By Car -- Bariloche can be reached from San Martín via several picturesque routes. The 200km (124-mile) scenic Siete Lagos route from San Martín de los Andes follows Ruta 234, 231, and 237 (not recommended when it's raining, as the dirt roads turn to mud); the 160km (99-mile) Paso Córdoba takes Ruta 234, 63, and 237; the longest, yet entirely paved (unlike the other routes described), 260km (161-mile) Collón Curá route follows Ruta 234, 40, and 237 and is recommended for night driving or when the weather is crummy. To get to El Bolsón, follow Route 258 south; continue down 40 to get to Esquel. To cross into Chile, take the Puyehue Pass via Route 231 (through Villa La Angostura); during periods of heavy snowfall, chains are required.
Traveling by Boat to Chile -- Catedral Turismo offers a spectacular journey to the Lake District in Chile that operates as a boat-and-bus combination that terminates in Lago Todos los Santos near Ensenada and Puerto Varas. If you're planning to visit Chile, this is a superb option that really allows you to take in the beauty of the Andes and the volcanoes, rivers, and waterfalls in the mountain range; however, this journey is not recommended on days with heavy rain. The trip can be done in 1 long day or in 2 days, with an overnight in the Hotel Peulla in Chile. The trip costs $178 per person for the boat trip (including lunch), and an average of $85 double for an overnight at the Hotel Peulla. Book at any travel agency or from Catedral Turismo's offices in Bariloche at Moreno 238 (tel. 02944/425443; www.crucedelagos.cl).
Getting Around
By Foot -- The city is compact enough to explore by foot. However, most visitors spend just a few hours touring the city, and instead use Bariloche as a base to explore surrounding areas.
By Car -- A rental car is how most savvy travelers visit this area; you'll want one here if you're staying outside the city center and also to drive through the region's sinuous roads that pass through exceptionally scenic landscapes, such as the Circuito Chico. All travel agencies offer excursions to these areas, which is another option. Rental agencies, including Budget, Dollar, Hertz, and Avis, have kiosks at the airport, and many downtown offices: Budget, Mitre 106 (tel. 02944/422482); AI Rent a Car, Av. San Martín 235 (tel. 02944/422582); Dollar, Villegas 285 (tel. 02944/430333); Hertz, Quaglia 165 (tel. 02944/434543); Bariloche Rent a Car, Moreno 115 (tel. 02944/427638); Localiza, Av. San Martín 463 (tel. 02944/424767); and A Open Rent a Car, Mitre 171 #15 (tel. 02944/426325).
When navigating the streets of Bariloche, do not confuse two streets with similar names: V.A. O'Connor runs parallel to the Costanera, and J. O'Connor bisects it.
Taking a Car into Chile--If you're hoping to do a Lake District circuit combining both the Argentine and Chilean lake districts, be warned that you'll need additional insurance and written permission from the car-rental agency to take the vehicle across the border. We suggest using Avis rental car for these trips, as it's the only company that has offices in numerous towns in both countries and can offer roadside assistance and get a replacement car to you quickly if you run into any problems.
Visitor Information
The Secretaría de Turismo, in the stone-and-wood Civic Center complex between calles Urquiza and Panzoni (tel. 02944/426784; secturismo@bariloche.com.ar), has general information about Bariloche and is an indispensable source for accommodations listings, especially during the high season. It also operates an information stand in the bus terminal. It's open Monday through Friday from 8am to 9pm, Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 9pm. For information about lodging and attractions surrounding Bariloche, try the Secretaría de Turismo de Río Negro, Av. 12 de Octubre 605, at the waterfront (tel. 02944/426644); it's open Monday through Friday from 9am to 2pm.
A good website for all sorts of up-to-date travel information is www.bariloche.org.
The Club Andino Bariloche, Av. 20 de Febrero 30 (tel. 02944/422266; fax 02944/424579; transitando@bariloche.com.ar), provides excellent information about hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering in the area. They sell maps and provide treks, mountain ascents, and ice walks led by guides from the Club Andino, as well as rafting, photo safaris, and horseback rides; open daily from 9am to 1pm and 6 to 9pm during winter, daily from 8:30am to 3pm and 5 to 9pm during summer. For general info about Nahuel Huapi National Park, head to the park's headquarters in the Civic Center (tel. 02944/424111), open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 12:30pm.
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