Bariloche

Bariloche spreads along the southern shore of the Lago Nahuel Huapi, inside the national park of the same name. West of the town, the road known as the Circuito Chico runs out to the Llao Llao peninsula and its forests, with the viewpoints of Cerro Campanario and Cerro Otto above. On the lake, boats reach Isla Victoria and the far western arm at Puerto Blest. South, past Lago Mascardi, the Cerro Tronador carries its glaciers on the border with Chile, and the Río Manso runs down towards it. Above the town stand Cerro López, Cerro Bella Vista and Cerro Catedral, the ski resort.

Three or four nights are the usual. One day for the Circuito Chico, with an easy walk through the forest of the Llao Llao and a view over the lakes. One on the water: the boat to Puerto Blest, which is also the first leg of the crossing to Chile, or to Isla Victoria, or a day of kayaking on the Nahuel Huapi. One further south: kayaking on Lago Mascardi and a walk along the Manso, or the road up to the Tronador and its black glacier. Walkers add Cerro Bella Vista or Cerro López; the Manso offers rafting. In winter, the same mountains are for skiing at Catedral and snowshoeing on López.

Summer is the season for the lakes; winter, from July to September, belongs to the snow.