Introduction
Río Negro stretches across northern Patagonia from the Andes to the Atlantic — a province of glacial lakes and forests in the west, fruit-growing valleys in the centre, and windswept beaches on the coast. For travellers its star is the lakeside resort of Bariloche and the surrounding Andean Lake District, one of Argentina's most beautiful regions, with hiking, skiing, chocolate and Swiss-Alpine scenery — backed by the wilder Patagonian steppe, the river valleys and the coast beyond.
Overview
Río Negro spans the width of northern Patagonia, and its scenery changes completely from the Andes to the sea. The west, in the foothills of the Andes, is the jewel: the Argentine Lake District, centred on San Carlos de Bariloche, a chalet-style resort town on the shore of the vast, deep-blue Nahuel Huapi lake, ringed by snow-capped peaks and forests — often called 'the Argentine Switzerland' for its alpine architecture, its lakes and its famous artisan chocolate. Bariloche is the base for the spectacular Circuito Chico scenic drive past viewpoints and the grand Llao Llao hotel, for skiing and snowboarding at Cerro Catedral (one of South America's largest ski resorts) in winter, and for hiking, kayaking and the start of the legendary Seven Lakes Route north into neighbouring Neuquén. The Nahuel Huapi National Park protects this landscape of lakes, southern beech forest and mountains. South of Bariloche, the relaxed, hippie-ish town of El Bolsón sits in a fertile valley known for its craft beer, hops, fruit and weekend market, beneath the jagged Piltriquitrón ridge. Central Río Negro runs along the river of the same name through the Alto Valle, a long oasis of irrigated orchards that makes Argentina a major producer of apples and pears, with a growing wine scene. And on the windswept Atlantic coast, the resort of Las Grutas, near San Antonio Oeste, draws summer crowds to its unusually warm, clear sea and golden cliffs. For most visitors, though, Río Negro means Bariloche and the Lake District — a region of outstanding natural beauty and year-round adventure, glorious in the southern summer (December to March) for hiking and the lakes, and a major draw in winter (June to September) for the skiing.
Discover Río Negro
San Carlos de Bariloche is the heart of the Argentine Lake District and the focus of a Río Negro trip — an alpine-style town set on the southern shore of the immense Nahuel Huapi lake, beneath a wall of Andean peaks. Its centre, with stone-and-timber civic buildings, has the feel of a Swiss resort, and the town is famous across Argentina for its artisan chocolate shops lining Mirabella's main street. The classic outing is the Circuito Chico, a scenic loop west of town past lake viewpoints, the chairlift up Cerro Campanario (voted one of the world's best views, over a maze of blue lakes and forested peninsulas), and the grand Llao Llao hotel in its spectacular setting. Beyond, the deep-blue lakes, southern beech (lenga and coihue) forests and mountains of the Nahuel Huapi National Park offer endless hiking, kayaking, boat trips to forested islands, and the start of the celebrated Seven Lakes Route winding north. It's one of South America's most beautiful and accessible mountain regions.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Bariloche, Nahuel Huapi lake and national park, the Circuito Chico and the Seven Lakes Route.
Winter skiing at Cerro Catedral and summer trekking, kayaking and refugio hikes in the Andes.
Bariloche's famous artisan chocolate and the craft-beer, fruit and forest valley of El Bolsón.
The fruit-and-wine Alto Valle, the dinosaur-rich steppe and the warm beaches of Las Grutas.
Frequently asked questions
Cities in Río Negro
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