Patagonia - Bariloche

I have finally arrived in Patagonia! Specifically, in San Carlos de Bariloche. A welcome change from the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires, even though the temperature dropped from around 38 degrees to about 5 degrees.

Bariloche is beautifully surrounded by many picturesque lakes and snow-capped mountains. Skiing is done here in winter, hiking in summer, and currently (spring) both are possible. Bariloche is known for its good chocolate, there are shops all over the place 😍, and for many small breweries.

In Patagonia, the weather is very changeable. When I arrived here, it was raining non-stop, but the next 2 days were quite good with sunshine. Actually, I had planned a hike on the first day, but that plan quickly changed at the breakfast table. With Ana (Brazil) and Monica (Curacao), we went on a road trip along the Ruta de las 7 Lagos, the Road of the 7 Lakes, in a rental car. A long but beautiful route passing by lakes, mountains, forests, and small villages. The next day, we finally went on a hike in Parque Llao Llao. We easily reached the starting point by public bus. Several short trails through the forest with great viewpoints of the surrounding lakes and mountains could be combined into a day hike. With the weather also playing along, the views were truly spectacular.

Unfortunately, on the last day, the rain returned. The sun came out around noon, but only for a short time. Just when we arrived at the Cerro Campanario viewpoint (25 minutes steep uphill), it even started to snow lightly. So, we quickly went back down after taking a few blurry photos due to the strong wind. After a short and uneventful visit to Colonia Suiza, a small village inspired by Switzerland, we made our way back to the hostel feeling freezing.

It's a beautiful area here, where you could easily spend several more days. But for me, the journey continues, deeper into Patagonia...