Active Pursuits

Biking -- Mountain bike rental and information about bike trails and guided trips in Nahuel Huapi are available from Bike Way, V.A. O'Connor 867 (tel. 02944/424202); Bariloche Mountain Bike, Gallardo 375 (tel. 02944/462397); and Dirty Bikes, V. A. O'Connor 681 (tel. 02944/425616).

Fishing -- This region provides anglers with excellent fly-fishing on the Manso, Limay, Traful, and Machico rivers. Fisherman also troll on Lake Nahuel Huapi for introduced species such as brown trout, rainbow trout, and landlocked salmon. Even hard-core anglers will find enough to keep them busy here for weeks on end. The fishing season opens in November and runs through April. You can pick up information and fishing licenses at the Baruzzi Fly Shop, Urquiza 250 (tel. 02944/424922), or the office of the Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi in the Civic Center. Bariloche is home to dozens of fly-fishing guides. Be sure to choose one who is fully licensed and provides lunch, transfers, and the appropriate gear. Recommended outfitters are Martín Freedman (tel. 02944/15-550-702; www.outfitterspatagonia.com) or the guides at FlyMaster's (tel. 02944/462101; www.bariloche.com/flymasters). Costs generally run around $300 (£165) per day for up to two people. Trolling and spinning are also available. Tour agencies such as Huala Adventure Tourism, San Martín 86 (tel. 02944/522438; www.huala.com.ar), offer half-day and full-day fly-casting and trolling excursions.

Hiking -- The Nahuel Huapi National Park has a well-developed trail system for day hikes, multiple-day hikes, and loops that connect several backcountry refugios, some of which offer rustic lodging. The national park office in the Civic Center provides detailed maps and guides to the difficulty level of each trail. Local hiking guides will share their knowledge and make for a safe and rewarding outing. An excellent multilingual local hiking guide and naturalist is Max Schoffel (tel. 02944/15-669669; www.patagoniatravelco.com). Another great source for information is the Club Andino, Av. 20 de Febrero 30 (tel. 02944/422266; www.clubandino.com.ar), which also has trails, guided trekking, ice walks, and climbing trips on Cerro Tronador.

Golf -- There are three golf courses in the Bariloche area. The crème de la crème is the par-70 18-hole course at the Llao Llao Resort (tel. 02944/448530). Above the shores of Lago Gutierrez, the Arelauquen Golf Resort (tel. 02944/431111) is the newest 18-hole course in the area. There are 9 holes at the Pinares Golf Club (tel. 02944/476122) on the road to the Llao Llao. Most are open from mid-September through mid-May, and fees run from $25 to $40 (£14-£22).

Horseback Riding -- Horseback rides in various areas of the park are offered by Tom Wesley Viajes de Aventura, Mitre 385 (tel. 02944/435040), which also has a kid-friendly adventure camp. Rides cost an average of $10 (£5.50) for 2 hours and $15 (£8.25) for 3 hours. Cumbres Patagonia, Villegas 222 (tel. 02944/423283), has trips to Fortín Chacabuco for $18 (£9.90) per half-day and $30 (£17) per full day, including lunch. For overnight or multiday horseback riding trips, contact Gatomancha (tel. 02944/523009; www.gatomancha.com).

Kayak Touring -- Recently, the many fjords of Nahuel Huapi Lake have been tempting visitors to explore in sea kayaks, or touring kayaks. It's a lovely outing that's possible in a variety of weather conditions. Operators such as Senzi Limiti (tel. 02944/520597; www.slimiti.com) also offer overnight tours, often year-round.

Mountaineering -- Experienced climbers, and those looking for a taste of the high peaks, have plenty of options in Bariloche, including the challenging 3-day climb of Mt. Tronador. Contact AndesCross (tel. 02944/467522; www.andescross.com) for guiding services.

Rafting -- Various companies offer river rafting on the Río Manso in both Class III and Class IV sections, on either half-day or full-day trips. The average cost for a half-day is $35 to $45 (£19-£25); full-day is $65 to $75 (£36-£41). Easier floats down the Class I Río Limay are also available, for about $25 (£14) for a half-day. Excursions include all equipment, transportation, and a snack or lunch (full-day trips). The two best local rafting companies are Patagonia Rafting, San Martín 86 (tel. 02944/522438), and Extremo Sur, Morales 765 (tel. 02944/427301).

Skiing & Snowboarding -- Bariloche's main winter draw is the ski resort at Cerro Catedral. When the resort's two former halves joined in 2005, everyone rejoiced. There is more terrain, better lifts, and close to a dozen on-slope restaurants to choose from, making this perhaps South America's greatest ski hill. The scenery is stunning. Lift tickets cost $15 to $40 (£8.25-£22) for adults and $8 to $18 (£4.40-£9.90) for kids, depending on high and low seasons. The season usually runs from June through October, with mid-August by far the busiest time (when all Argentines have their 2-week winter holidays). Heavy snowfalls in September the past few years have helped keep the top sections open well into spring. Regardless, experienced skiers will want to stay high and explore the mountain from Punta Princesa to the south to Piedra del Condor on the north. There is lots of terrain for beginners and intermediates, as well as a snowboard park and tons of events throughout the season. For great slope-side atmosphere and a drop-dead view, have lunch at the traditional Refugio Lynch. Nonskiers can also enjoy the scene thanks to pedestrian lifts, open daily, that ferry passengers to the top. Every July or August, Catedral hosts the National Snow Party, with torchlight parades and other events (contact the Catedral ski resort for more information and each year's dates). The bustling Villa Catedral is at the base of the resorts, with a jumble of shops, rental stores, and several lodging options. The nicest ski-in, ski-out hotel is Pire-Hue Hotel and Resort (tel. 029444/460040; www.pire-hue.com.ar). Sudbruck Hostería has a handful of spacious rooms decorated with rustic cypress wood (tel. 02944/460156; www.sudbruck.com). Rooms start at about $65 (£36) per night for a double. Cabañas Antu Pukem has cabins for six to eight guests; consult them directly for prices (tel. 02944/460035).

Catedral is home to a number of good ski instructors. For excellent ski guiding services, ranging from a few days at Catedral to a few weeks touring the many great ski resorts of Patagonia, contact PowderQuest Tours (tel. 888-565-7158 in North America; www.powderquest.com). They have very knowledgeable, experienced, and fun guides.

During the summer, the main gondolas are open to pedestrians for sightseeing Monday to Friday from 9:15am to 4pm.