CHALLHUACO VALLEY

If you are more of a hiking person and you are looking for real contact with nature and mountain, you must visit the Challhuaco Valley this winter.

It's friendly geography creates the perfect area to walk and discover one of the most wonderful Lenga forest that will make you feel in a fairy tale... Imagine yourself leaving your footsteps marked on a white blanket of snow while you make your way through the woods, visualizing some birds such as Chimangos and Woodpeckers birds. In this place, you will enjoy the silence of the winter clam.

This Valley has soft slopes allowing you to hike easily without getting too exhausted. It is one of the best areas of the National Park to have a lovely family day in contact with nature or simply go with some friends for a walk to enjoy the views and visit the "Neumeyer" hut.

 

Numeyer mountain hut is located 12 kms south from Bariloche, at 1.320 mts above the sea level.
It is quite a fun adventure to arrive to this shelter by car. Driving through the valley and crossing many streams, you will see on the way Mt. Otto, Catedral, Ñireco and Carbon to the right. until you find yourselves immersed into a deep forest, announcing the arrival to the shelter.

This hut is the starting point of all the many alternatives to enjoy of this beautiful place. I suggest you doing at least one of these two following options. Come on! What are you waiting for? 

What to do at Challhuaco Valley?

Hike to Frozen Lake

 

* Operability: From June to September. Every day.

* Difficulty level: Easy

* Duration: 9am to 5.00pm
 
* It includes: Transportation, trekking guide (Spanish/English), 2 hrs hike, breakfast and lunch.

* What to bring: Comfortable footwear, waterproof coat and pants and gloves.

 

Nordic Ski

 

* Operability: From July to September. Every day (if there is snow enough).

* Difficulty level: Easy.

* Duration: 1.00pm to 6.00pm or from 3.00pm to 8.00pm.
 
* It includes: Transportation, guide (Spanish/English), skiing gear (poles, skis, and boots), and a 2 hrs class. Then free time to ski!

* What to bring: Comfortable and warm clothing, waterproof coat and pants, and gloves.
 

What are you waiting for? Get in contact with me right away to hire this and many other tour options to enjoy your visit to Bariloche! E-mail me to ventas@barilocheselect.com.ar or visit me at Bariloche Select Travel, located on Villegas St. 237 (downtown).

LA CUEVA "THE CAVE"

Experience an unforgettable night in a cave.  La cueva is just that right place to live a unique  experience, surrounded by real natural rocky walls, combining an exclusive service in a naturally rustic place.

This is one of my favourites in what refers to the characteristics of the place. Yes, it's a natural cave formation hidden in a Lenga forest in the southern slope of Mt Catedral (Ski Resort). You only accede to this such special site, taking this fascinating tour. Driving up with snowmobiles and the company of the guides of course, you will start seeing more and more snow and some frozen waterfalls in the way.

 

After driving up through the snowy forest from Villa Catedral to the cave, for about 40 minutes, you will visualize a rustic curved wooden window, illuminated be candle lights.

Not knowing what to expect then, once you enter trough the door, you will be astonished by the place. The warm human touch in every corner of the cave makes you feel in an exclusive exotic natural shelter that combines perfectly nature with comfort and exclusivity. You won't find anything more excluisve and secluded than this believe me!

Now, speaking of the service, the attention given by the personnel is fantastic and the food is absolutly delicious. Besides, you can repeat everything, including drinks and dessert.
You will first be surprised with lots of smoked cold cuts and cheese from the region as appetizers followed by the main dish, which you may choose between two different options: generally a lamb stew or trout with a delicious sauce.

Relaxing, chatting and drinking great wine or craft beer are some of the "must do" at La Cueva (The Cave). Besides the fun and great moments lived, no one will believe you had a gourmet dinner served in a cave in the middle of the mountain in Patagonian Andes. Unforgettable!

 

Why choosing it: 
Excellent service.
Snowmobile tour.
Not much view.
Very Interesting place with unique characteristics as a cave.
During the night with dinner. 
Located at Mt. Catedral (Ski Resort). 

Important: Does not include transportation from Bariloche to Villa Catedral (mountain base). You may take a taxi or public bus service.

Outings: Everyday during winter season. You might choose between four different shifts: 7pm or 10:00pm.
The tour takes nearly 3 hours.

What are you waiting for? Get in contact with me right away to hire this and many other tour options to enjoy your visit to Bariloche! E-mail me to ventas@barilocheselect.com.ar or visit me at Bariloche Select Travel, located on Villegas St. 237 (downtown).

 

REFUGIO ROCA NEGRA

Roca Negra is the name of this marvellous Refuge located at Mt Lopez, near Colonia Suiza and the Short Circuit route.

The adventure starts as soon as you get picked up from your Hotel. You will travel west through Bustillo Av. (the same you take to do Short Circuit Tour or go to the Llao Llao Hotel).
Skirting the always present Lake Nahuel Huapi, you will travel almost half way of the road to Colonia Suiza, getting to the base of Mt. Lopez. Here, you descent from the van or minibus and gather in small groups to get on the 4WD trucks (Land Rover Defenders). 

 

This is where the real fun starts! Get ready to ride some of the most adventurous road in Bariloche. After some bumps and lots of turns, you will start noticing a change in the forest, which begins as a Coihue forest at the base and turns into a Lenga forest as you start rising height (to 1.300 mts above the sea level).

 

You will be welcomed with a hot drink at the refuge and will get equiped and instructed by the guied to start the snowshoing right away. The trail has the perfect view of the lake Nahuel Huapi, the city of Bariloche in the distance and even the Llao Llao Hotel and Victoria Island are visible from here. You will be surprised as you walk for more than 1 hour in the snow, enjoying one of the most amazing views in my opinion! 

On the way back, smoke will be coming out of the chimney as the fire heat will be waiting for you to warm up at the refuge. Sitting down at the tables next to wide windows will allow you to go on delighting with the magnificent view while you enjoy a fantastic Cheese Fondue with an exuberant argentine wine.

 

 

 

For those interested in this mountain gourmet experience, you may wether choose between two options:

Cheese Fondue: 10.30am to 5.00pm
Chocolate Fondue: 3.00pm to 8.30pm


Why choosing it: 
Good service.
More rustic.
One of the best views.
During the evening with Chocolate Fondue.
During the day with Cheese Fondue. 
Transportation Inlcuded.
Located at Mt. Lopez.
Only service with snowshoeing tour.

What are you waiting for? Get in contact with me right away to hire this and many other tour options to enjoy your visit to Bariloche! E-mail me to ventas@barilocheselect.com.ar or visit me at Bariloche Select Travel, located on Villegas St. 237 (downtown).

EL REFUGIO DE ARELAUQUEN

 

Arelauquen is the set off for a unique adventure experience.The tour starts about 15 minutes from down town Bariloche, at the Golf Club House of Arelauquen residential. 

 

 

You will be welcomed with some appetizers such as homemade bread, different types of cheese and some cold meat with a welcome drink.
Once you get on the snowmobile, you will begin to throb what will be a magic night. Ridding through a sinuous mountain trail up, you will suddenly get into deep quiet ancient Lenga forest, covert by the snow reflecting the moonlight and stars of  the winter night. Outstanding!

After enjoying the way up the mountain, ascending to more than 1.300 mts above sea level, you will finally reach the refuge Arelauquen to relax and warm up next to the lovely fire place. Located on the west face of Mt. Otto, the shelter has a perfect view of Mt. Catedral in front, and some city lights on the under, besides lake Nahuel Huapi and Gutierrez.

The warm fire and the candle lights just create the perfect conditions to feel more than home. Enjoying a delicious Cheese Fondue as main dish and a Chocolate Fondue as dessert (with drinks included of course), you will live a wonderful and unforgettable night with your couple, family, friends or people you might meet on the tour.

Why choosing it: 
Great service.
Snowmobile tour.
Wonderful view.
Really nice refuge and reception area.
During the night with dinner. 
Located at Mt. Otto. 

Important: Does not include transportation from Bariloche to the base (Arelauquen Golf Club House). You must take a taxi.

Outings: Everyday during winter season. You might choose between four different shifts: 6pm, 7pm, 8:15pm or 09:30pm.
The tour takes nearly 3:30 hours.

What are you waiting for? Get in contact with me right away to hire this and many other tour options to enjoy your visit to Bariloche! E-mail me to ventas@barilocheselect.com.ar or visit me at Bariloche Select Travel, located on Villegas St. 237 (downtown).

 

Bariloche In 3 Minutes

Sometimes images are worth more than words...

Let it snow...

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to share these snowy pictures of Catedra Ski Resort today. First important snowfall as the winter starts to approach. Will you come to enjoy Bariloche this winter? Contact me!

CIRCUITO GRANDE "Grand Circuit"

All the lanscapes in one day

 

Circuito Grande is a great option if you're looking for the best viewing points and lanscapes representatives of Patagonia's geography and vegetation.

Taking route N°237 up north, you will skirt lake Nahuel Huapi to the east, crossing over Limay river and entering to the province of Neuquen.
As far as you travel, you will be admire by the beauty of the steppe flora combined with some green Cipres trees and the turquoise water of Limay river, along the valley.
As if this was not enough, you will suddenly be amazed by some of the most rare and outstanding rock figures pointing out of the landscape. Some of these rocks have come to be known as Dedo de dios "God's Finger", Sentinela "Sentry", Tren Expreso "Express Train" and Los SIameses "The Siameses" among others. This such unique places is called Valle Enacantado or "Enchanted Valley".

After stopping at many viewing point you just can't pass by, you will get to "Confluencia". In this point, the river Traful flows it's water into Limay river. From here, you'll take a gravel road to the west, observing wild animals, such as Condor (biggest bird in South America), Huanacos, and more.
In this valley following up Traful river, you will feel like a cowboy in a western movie!

The first town you will get to is Villa Traful. This small villa was founded in 1936 under the command of the Nahuel Huapi National Park administration, authorizing the sale of lands to build houses and buildings such as the first public school and the chapel, still standing.

  

 

The trip doesn't end here. Further on, you'll continue travelling through the dirt road N°65 heading west. Here you'll start visualizing some changes through the window. The vegetation starts getting greener and more trees start to show up as you travel within a transition zone from steppe to forest.

Once you are totally surrounded by forest, a paved road will suddendly show up. This is the famouse road N°40, which you travel along during the Seven Lakes tour. You will now take this road down south (according to the Circuit Grande design) and will see lakes Espejo Chico, Espejo, Correntoso and Nahuel Huapi once again, besides lake Traful, seen before on the way.

A stop is required at Villa la Angostura, not only to visit this marvelous city, but also to have lunch!
It is a "most do" to visit during this tour, the chaple "Nuestra Señora de la Asucion", designed by Alejandro Bustillo, same arquitect that designed the LLao Llao Hotel, San Eduardo chapel, the Civic Center and the Cathedral in Bariloche among others.
Also, visit the port, the Brava and Mansa beaches, and the downtown.

Villa la Angostura is known as the "Garden of Patagonia" due to its Fiesta de los Jardines or "Garden Festival" and the very taken care of parks, boulevards and gardens full of colourful flowers mostly all year long.

From this point, you will start the journey back to Bariloche, skirt the lake Nahuel Huapi all the way, getting some of the best views of Bariloche from the front shore of the lake!

This is in my opinion a tour you can't miss to get to know about history, aborigins, first Americans and Europeans that settled in the area, vegetation types, and more. Ideal to discover Patagonia!

Outing: During spring, summer and autumn every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
               During winter, according to weather and road conditions.
               Possible any day with a private service. Ask for it!

Pick up time: 8.30am to 6.30pm (Full day)

What are you waiting for? Get in contact with me right away to hire this and many other tour options to enjoy your visit to Bariloche! E-mail me to ventas@barilocheselect.com.ar or visit me at Bariloche Select Travel, located on Villegas St. 237 (downtown).