Attractions

Bariloche's Civic Center, Avenida Juan Manuel de Rosas and Panzoni, is a charming stone-and-wood complex that houses most municipal offices and tourism services, such as the information center and national park headquarters. The complex, built in 1940, was inspired by the architecture of Bern, Switzerland. Here you'll find the Museo de la Patagonia Perito Moreno (tel. 02944/422309), open Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 12:30pm and 2 to 7pm, and Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Admission is $1 (55p). The museum has five salons dedicated to the natural science, history, and ethnography of the Bariloche region. The well-tended displays here are intriguing, notably the stuffed and mounted local fauna, such as pudú (miniature deer), puma, condor, and more. The second floor has displays of Mapuche artifacts, such as weapons, art, and jewelry, and other artifacts from the colonial period. A small gift shop sells postcards, books, and crafts.

Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi

Nahuel Huapi is Argentina's oldest and most popular national park, with a range of activities for any fitness level. The park surrounds the city of Bariloche, and its headquarters are downtown in the Civic Center. The park's main feature is the 3,500m (11,480-ft.) extinct volcano Tronador (Thunderer), named for the rumbling produced by ice falling from the mountain's peak. But the park is also known for its glacial-formed Lake Nahuel Huapi (the largest of more than a dozen lakes), as well as its lovely forested peninsulas and its waterways, which are often compared to the channels of southern Patagonia or the fjords of Norway. During summertime, visitors can take part in day hikes or backpacking trips, with many trails to choose from, or boat out to one of the lake's islands.

The park also has plenty of other outdoor activities, such as rafting, horseback riding, and fishing; during the winter, the park's other dominant peak, Cerro Catedral, is a popular ski resort. Easy access to all regions of the park makes Nahuel Huapi popular with visitors seeking mellower activities, such as sightseeing drives and chair lifts to magnificent lookout points. The following information applies to all attractions within Nahuel Huapi and around Bariloche.

Nah-Well What? -- You're not the only one who has trouble pronouncing the name of Bariloche's stunning lake and national park, Nahuel Huapi -- that's nah-well wah-pee. It means Island of the Tiger in the native Mapuche language. With 524 sq. km (204 sq. miles), this stunning lake is more like an inland sea, connecting the lush forests and high peaks of the Andes with the rugged plains of the Patagonian Steppe.

Boat Excursions

Several boat excursions run from Puerto San Carlos or Puerto Pañelo at Llao Llao. Cost fluctuates between $20 and $30 (£11-£17) per person; to obtain exact prices for any of the following trips and to make a reservation, stop by any travel agency or call tel. 02944/426784 for more information.

An enjoyable full-day excursion takes you to Isla Victoria and the Bosque Arrayanes by boat from Puerto San Carlos or Puerto Pañuelo. The excursion begins with a 30-minute sail to Isla Victoria, where passengers can disembark for a walk through a conifer forest or ascend to a lookout point atop Cerro Bella Vista via chair lift. The second stop is Península Quetrihué and the Bosque Arrayanes, famous for its concentration of the unusual terra-cotta-colored arrayán tree. This handsome "tree" is really a bush, with an odd, slick trunk that is cool to the touch. From Puerto Pañuelo to Isla Victoria, trips leave at 10am and return at 5:30pm; from Puerto San Carlos, trips leave at 9am and return at 6:30pm.

Boat trips also run to Puerto Blest. These excursions sail through classic fjords and exuberant vegetation known as the Valdivian Forest, until they reach Puerto Blest. From this point, there is an optional bus ride to Laguna Frías followed by a boat ride to Puerto Frías, then back to Puerto Blest. The return trip to Puerto Pañuelo includes a stop at Los Cántaros Waterfall. Visitors can dine at the restaurant at Puerto Blest or can bring a picnic lunch. These trips are very crowded in the summer. An interesting alternative is to hire a private hiking or naturalist guide, who will lead you away from the crowds and deep in to the forest while your boat is docked at Puerto Blest. From Puerto Pañuelo, trips to Puerto Blest leave at 10am and return at 5pm; trips from Puerto San Carlos leave at 9am and return at 6pm.