Outdoor Activities in Bariloche

Mountain Bike

The sport of cycling makes you develop an outdoor life and makes you enjoy nature more peacefully.  Through mountain biking, your contact with nature strengthens and you get to discover interesting areas, you enjoy each moment and challenge yourself through a variety of terrains and climates.  Bariloche and its surroundings have sections for all levels of expertise:

1.    Beginners: People who know how to ride a bicycle without changing shifts.
2.    Advanced: Perfect handling of the bicycle with shifts and average training.
3.    Experts: Perfect handling of the bicycle and previous experience on mountain with excellent training.

Necessary Equipment: Helmet – Gloves – Headlights – First Aid Kit – Among Others

Places to practice:

•    Lago Gutiérrez - Cerro Catedral - Cerro Otto - Circuito Chico - Refugio Neumeyer - Laguna Llum

Trails:

•    Lago Mascardi – Lago Steffen
•    Lago Steffen – Río Villegas
•    Villa Los Coihues (Lago Gutiérrez) – Villa Catedral
•    Paso Pérez Rosales – Peulla (Chile)

Trekking

Trekking characterizes itself for taking place in open air.  The trekkers make camp in the woods; walk through the valleys and mountain cliffs which allow them to discover heavenly landscapes.  The scenery of San Carlos de Bariloche and the areas around the Nahuel Huapi
National Park make it a perfect spot trekking.

This physical activity also incorporates a lot of camping gear and techniques.  Its main objective is to find hidden landscapes, panoramic views and places unreachable by cars.  This assures a true and pristine connection with nature.  Additionally from hiking though mountains it also involves seeking shelters, creating trails in between shelters and longer travels stopping in selected areas to make camp.

Bariloche has mountain shelters.  They are simple cabins with amenities that are essential and indispensable: shared sleeping areas, small kitchen, dining are and bathrooms.  They are reached by trails and walkways scattered through the forest and mountains.  Currently there are seven shelters functioning.  Each have their own distinctive charm and have different levels of difficulty to reach them.

Mountain Shelters:

•    Otto Meiling. Cerro Tronador (2000 msnm)          
•    J J Neumeyer. Valle del Challhuaco. (1250 msnm)   
•    San Martín. Lago Jakob (1650 msnm)
•    Emilio Frey. Cerro Catedral (1700 msnm)
•    Manfredo Segré. Laguna Negra- Cerro Negro (1750 msnm)
•    Berghoff. Cerro Otto. (1200 msnm)
•    López. Cerro López (1620 msnm)

For those who prefer more relaxing options and with a lower difficulty level, there are trails were you can closely appreciate the forests of the region and the best panoramic views.  Among those options: Cerro Llao Llao, Fundación trail, Lago Escondido trail (Hidden Lake), Cerro Otto guided hikes and more.  These are more frequently used between November and April because the climate is more favorable.

Horseback Riding

The horses are kept between the hills and the valley to enjoy the tranquility of the mountain range.  The horses are trained to traverse all types of terrains.  The excursions are guided by locals of the zone.  During the excursion you can spot hares, red foxes, deer and a variety of birds like ducks, eagles, condors and more.  This type of activity is offered as half day or full day.

Horseback Riding Sites:

•    Valle del río Manso (Lazy River Valley) o del río Foyel - Cerro Campanario - Lago Moreno.  Combination of the Cerro Campanario y Lago Moreno - Refugio San Martín - Refugio Otto Meiling – Cerro Tronador - Estepa - Cruce a Chile – Paso El León

Rafting y Floating

Rafting: Is the descent in a raft through the river rapids.   Rapids are caused by the rocks, waves and holes that create provide movement to the water.  The rivers are classified for their difficulty, from I through VI.  Type 6 is almost impossible to accomplish, while type 1 is calmer.  In general, the rafts and floats have capacity for 10 people plus the guide.  The guide is a trained professional who is an expert of the region and of the area being navigated.

Rafting and Floating Sites:

El Río Manso (Lazy River) is a glacial river born from Cerro Tronador.  Its waters roam the Mascardi, Moccos, Hess and Steffen Lakes and are divided into three sections: Superior, Middle and Inferior.  It’s path takes you through the Andinean-Patagonic forest and the Valdivian jungle while you enjoy the luscious splendor.

•    Río Manso Inferior (type II –III) Duration: All Day
•    Río Manso to the Frontier (type III – IV) Duration: All Day

Other alternatives further away from San Carlos de Bariloche are:

•    Río Aluminé (type III – IV) Duration: 3 days
•    Río Futaleufú (type III – IV)

Floating:  Roaming in calm water circuits with rafts or tubes.

Floating Sites: Río Limay

Diving

Activity that involves descending in crystal clear waters with special suits and compressed oxygen.

Diving Sites:

•    Isla de las Gallinas (Chickens’ Island - Duration: Half Day
Also, night diving for experienced divers:
•    Isla Victoria – Naufragio San Miguel

Duration: All Day

•    Lago Traful – Bosque Sumergido (Underwater Forest or Submerged Forest)
Duration: All Day
•    Lago Moreno - Puerto Venado - Arroyo La Angostura (between Lago Moreno and Nahuel Huapi) - Villa Traful – Muelle Viejo - Río Limay
These courses are also offered:
•    Open Waters for tourists
•     Advanced for different activities
•    Rescue Team

All the instructors and dive masters are certified by PADI and are professional divers of the Argentine Naval Forces.  They work under the norms of security, standards and procedures of both entities.

Age Limit:  All activities are restricted to people under 10 years old (body relevant to age) since the limits are set by experience and diving suits.

Paragliding

You must reach a place of considerable altitude where the parasailing take-off is performed.  The flights must have a specialized pilot and instructor.  The climate must be in perfect condition and the winds must be below 30 km./hr.  Paragliding melds adventure with sightseeing due to the magnificent views from up above.  It’s an activity for all ages and can be done year around and beginners’ courses are offered.

Paragliding Sites: Cerro Catedral - Cerro Otto – Anfiteatro (Amphitheater)