Río Negro, Argentina

State guide with cities, regions, and key information.

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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.

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.

Travel Types

Lakes & Mountains

Bariloche, Nahuel Huapi lake and national park, the Circuito Chico and the Seven Lakes Route.

Skiing & Hiking

Winter skiing at Cerro Catedral and summer trekking, kayaking and refugio hikes in the Andes.

Chocolate & El Bolsón

Bariloche's famous artisan chocolate and the craft-beer, fruit and forest valley of El Bolsón.

Valleys & Coast

The fruit-and-wine Alto Valle, the dinosaur-rich steppe and the warm beaches of Las Grutas.

Frequently asked questions

Bariloche (San Carlos de Bariloche) is the main town and star attraction of Río Negro province, but the province is much larger, stretching across northern Patagonia from the Andean Lake District in the west, through the fruit-growing Río Negro valley, to the Atlantic coast and the beaches of Las Grutas in the east. This guide covers the whole province; for most visitors, though, a Río Negro trip centres on Bariloche and the surrounding lakes and mountains.

Two seasons stand out. The southern summer (December to March) is ideal for hiking, kayaking, the lakes and the scenic drives, with long days and the landscape at its greenest. The winter (June to September) is the ski season, when Cerro Catedral and the snowy mountains draw crowds. Spring and autumn are quieter and beautiful (autumn brings golden beech forests). Each delivers a different but rewarding Lake District experience.

Plenty year-round. Drive or cycle the scenic Circuito Chico to the Cerro Campanario viewpoint and the Llao Llao hotel; hike to mountain refugios and waterfalls in Nahuel Huapi National Park; kayak or take a boat trip on the lake; sample the town's famous artisan chocolate; and start the Seven Lakes Route north. Nearby El Bolsón adds craft beer, a weekend artisan market and gentle valley walks. Summer is for trails and lakes, winter for the snow.

Cities in Río Negro

1 city with detailed travel information

Bariloche