High-mountain activities

Patagonia is a land of scenery and changeable weather.

Its Andean mountain range offers an ideal geography for the practice of adventure sports: kayaking, Andean trekking, cross-country skiing, etc. Bariloche is one of the favourite starting points for these activities.

The city itself, one of the biggest in Patagonia, counts with a varied gastronomic and hotel infrastructure and offers every service, all kinds of entertainment and totally overwhelming landscapes.

At the same time, its geographical location could not be better: there are no extreme temperatures as in Southern Patagonia; it has four well marked seasons to enjoy each activity at the perfect time, and it is a quick access door to the high mountain, where there are a good number of refuges that give you the possibility of doing excursions lasting several days.

Some of the activities that can be done from Bariloche are:

• Trekking excursions
• Kayaking
• Climbing
• Ski mountaineering

High Mountain Trekking

An activity that can be done in this area from October to May. This activity recaptures the simplicity of walking with a backpack on your shoulders along valleys, mountainsides, ridges, coming across refuges and mountain lakes where you can to swim on warm days, always enjoying an incomparable scenery. Some of the hikes begin at the woods and go up to the rocky summits. Others already begin at the mountain ridges. In each case, the view from the high mountain allows you to appreciate the Andes in all their majesty. Excursions for all levels are generally carried out in mountains that range between 1,900 and 2,200 meters high. For those lovers of Patagonic woods, there are also excursions with an emphasis put in the knowledge of the varied local flora.

Trekking

Trekking excursions adjust to trekkers’ characteristics and interests. The excursions can last from a couple of hours to several days. The degree of physical demand also varies. Even though almost every trekking circuit produces a healthy tiredness, some of them are not advisable for people who are not in good physical shape.

Some of the sites can be visited on your own. For more information and instructions on how to reach those places you can visit our web site, or ask for information at Bariloche’s Tourist Office or Club Andino Bariloche. You can also hire the service of professional mountain guides (something necessary for certain hikes) or join the large groups of GEDA (group associated to Club Andino Bariloche), which has been organizing trekking activities for 18 years, each time to a different place.

Trekking

Mount Bella Vista: Intermediate difficulty. The excursion lasts between 3 and 4 hours. Steep ascent. The trekking is mostly among the woods until you get to the ridges, from where you start trekking almost without any obstacle. Spectacular view of the Andes. Perfect to go with your family and with children over 12 years old.

Mount López: Going up to Mount López refuge is one of the most traditional hikes in the area. The excursion takes about three hours and is not of great difficulty. It is well signalled and thus can be done without a guide. The refuge can also be reached in a 4x4 vehicle.
If you are ready for more, you can go on trekking along rock paths, approximately during 2 or 3 more hours, through snow patches, mountain streams, beautiful needles of basaltic rock and the impossing walls of rock of this mountain. Excellent view from the summit (2,200 m).

Kayaking

Mount Ventana: This excursion can be done from September to May and it is an easy hike that takes around 3 hours. Mounts Catedral, Ñireco, Blanco and Meta can be seen from its summit. This excursion is perfect for trekking all day with your family. More adventurous people have the possibility of walking along the summit of Mounts Meta, Confluencia and/or Pontoneros.
Mount Catedral: Intermediate difficulty. The excursion consists of an ascension on Robles Catedral chairlift, from where you start a 3-hour hike along the mountainside, during which you come across Schmoll lagoon as well as Toncek lagoon, where Frey’s refuge is located. (Duration: 4 hours in total). Excellent views. On warm summer days, you will have the chance to go for a dip in the lakes.

Mount Chalhuaco: This is the ideal low difficulty trekking which will make you come back tired but without going through any great odysseys. Woods and rock paths. Total walk of around 3 hours. More information and rates.

Mount Tronador: Of incomparable beauty, this mount presents an intermediate degree of difficulty, or high for those willing to reach the refuge located at 2,000 m. First you arrive at the foot of the mount by car (80 km from Bariloche), from where you can rent a horse for part of the ascent which will be followed by a 3 hour hike up to the Otto Mailing refuge, located at the foot of a glacier.

Climbing

Trekking across the Andes: This is an excursion along high peaks and thus requires a guide. It is the closer you can get to satisfy your desire of crossing the Andes “almost on foot”. The Andes are crossed from East to West, arriving at the Pacific Ocean from Bariloche, going across the border between Argentina and Chile. Great part of the trip is done on foot, although there are some parts where you will take a motorboat to cross the lakes or a bus to travel within Chilean territory.

It is an adventure quite demanding due to the number of days (14 in total) and the physical effort required. However, trekkers are not compelled to do the whole circuit. They can choose to do a shorter part of the trekking during less number of days. Trekking time ranges from 5 to 8 hours a day.

Kayaking

Patagonia has fabulous rivers, with various degrees of difficulty, for the practice of kayaking. Wonderful places, each with its own personality and hidden secrets. This addictive sport finds a powerful frame in Bariloche, where you can also appreciate the wild life, intense flora and seasonal changes of the woods and its surroundings. The adventures in these excursions allow enjoying and truly living this marvelous natural setting.

Trekking on Mount Tronador, one of the most attractive options for those looking for a bit of adventure.

The rivers where this sport is practiced are:

Manso river: From Villegas to Primera Pasarela (First Footbridge), navigable year-round with rapids up to grade 2.

Foyel and Manso rivers offer class 3 and 4 rapids. These are rivers that take you to the Argentine-Chilean border.

Kayak excursions in the Nahuel Huapi Lake also give the possibility to access otherwise inaccessible places.

Climbing

Climbing is an extreme sport that requires good physical shape and great concentration. Bariloche’s surrounding area offers peaks and walls of varying difficulty and overwhelming beauty.

Mount Catedral: its peaks, with their beautiful granite needles, can be accessed between December and March from Frey refuge (4-hour walk from the ridge of Mount Catedral). 1,700 m high. Starting from Toncek lagoon valley, Catedral offers 200 routes ranging from 60 to 200 meters and with a difficulty from 4 to 7b. It is the typical place to settle for several days with food and equipment for alpine climbing. Piedra Blanca: you can also do sheet climbing in Piedra Blanca, with a fabulous view of Nahuel Huapi Lake. From October to May for beginners and intermediate level.

Valle Encantado: 60 km away from Bariloche, it offers another marvelous landscape. Full of strangely shaped volcanic rock needles, it is ideal for the practice of this sport.
More information and rates.

Skiing in Tronador

Esquí de travesía

During winter, the Andes mountain range close to Bariloche not only offers the possibility of practicing ski in traditional centers (like Complejo Catedral, Cathedral Resort), but also gives the possibility of practicing it further away, where there are no means of elevation and skiers are on their own before the immensity of the mountain tops. Putting your foot on virgin snow, you can go along valleys, ridges, visit refuges and enjoy the most wonderful scenery with the sun shining on the whole of the Andes. Mounts Chall Huaco, López and Catedral are locations which, with different degrees of difficulty, offer unique excursions.
To hire a guide for the high mountain click here

See Also
A city of beauty and culture		Forest of Arrayanes and Victoria Island
Cerro Tronador and Los Alerces Falls		Big Circuit and the Seven Lakes
Cerro Catedral		A trip though lakes and forests
Colonia Suiza (Swiss Colony)		El Bolson and Lago Puelo
The imposing Llao Llao Hotel		How to mountain bike in Bariloche
High-mountain activities		Chocolate: trademark of the city