Discover Bariloche, the principal city of the Argentine Lakes District and a great base camp for enjoying various outdoor activities including an incredible hiking experience at Cerrito Llao Llao that will provide a glimpse of the natural beauties around Bariloche and includes an easy to intermediate hike, perfect for people who enjoy longer walks but do not necessarily need to challenge themselves up a big mountain.
Highlights
Hike the stunning Cerrito Llao Llao
Enjoy plenty of flowers and bird watching opportunities at Bella Vista Mountain
Explore a dense evergreen forest with creeks and abundant Colihue cane
Activities that provide a reasonable level of physical challenge and elevate the heart rate. Focused on more active pursuits including multisport tours. Travelers may be active 5-7 hours total each day. Recommended for travelers with active lifestyles.
Today's experience will provide a glimpse of the natural beauties around Bariloche and includes an easy to intermediate hike, perfect for people who enjoy long walks but do not necessarily need to challenge themselves up a big mountain. The bilingual guide and a vehicle will pick you up at the centrally located hotel for a drive in an excursion to the starting point of the hike. Some stops are planned along the Circuito Chico at Angostura, Bahía Lopez and the panoramic stop of the Llao Llao. The richness of the North-Patagonian forest and its views will be shown along the approximately 4-hour hike in the natural reserve and the highest point of the Llao Llao peninsula, at the Nahuel Huapi lakeshore. Lunch will be on a hidden beach at the Nahuel Huapi lake.
Some useful items to pack: Trekking shoes or boots, water bottle, sun protection (hat, glasses & sunblock), wind/waterproof jacket, fleece, gloves, & day backpack.
The guide will pick you up at the hotel with a private vehicle at 9AM. This hike is perfect for those who like gaining elevation quickly and are not afraid of a steady 2-hour uphill trek. The day begins at “Refugio Jacob” Trailhead, also called “El Tambo” here the trail slowly climbs the Southeast ridge of Bella Vista Mount. The hike begins on an old grown “Colihue” tree forest with a dense undergrowth which offers plenty of flowers and bird watching opportunities. The ascend reaches easily a couple of beautiful viewpoints in between the deciduous “Lenga” tree forest and even before the trees turn into shrubs. The climax will be appreciating the immensity of the Andes, the complex lake systems of Nahuel Huapi and Bariloche itself. Weather and physical conditions subject an hour hike to the top will allow you a fascinating 360º view before descending the same way back. Once at the base of the mountain, the bus will drive you back to the hotel.
Level of Challenge: Medium Recommended Season: Spring – Summer – Autumn Considerations: During the Spring, expect to find snow at the upper part of the mountain. Good hiking boots and gaiters recommended. Duration of the activity: 6-8 hours Length of the Trek: 7.6 km Starting Altitude: 860 meters above sea level Max Altitude Climbed: 1770 meters above sea level Elevation gained: 750m till the skyline (at 1610 meters above sea level) and 890m if you make the summit (at 1770 meters above sea level) Service includes:
Bilingual Certified Mountain Guide (additional Assistant Guide during Spring season for groups larger than 7 hikers)
Box Lunch + water + tea + snacks
First Aid Kit + VHF Radio + GPS
Insurance
This day hike covers an area of the National Park that not too many people visit. It is great for those who love the solitude of the mountains and here you gain it even in the busiest season.
The trail begins at Guillelmo lake. During the first hour, you explore a dense evergreen forest with creeks and Colihue cane growing everywhere. Take a deserved water break enjoying the view of Guillelmo lake below you and wildflowers covering the mountain site. Continue gaining elevation until you reach an old-growth Lenga forest. From this point you get an amazing view of the surrounding valley, wide and glacier-carved with dense green forest covering it.
At this point, the trail becomes more gentle and progress is done at a better pace. It’s common to see different species of woodpeckers in the trees here. At 1640 meters of elevation trees become bushes and then disappear, becoming alpine terrain. To reach the summit, ascend a scree field that may have some snow depending on the season. At the summit, Mount Tronador appears, claiming the horizon to the West. Its glaciers and three summits look beautiful above the remaining peaks of the Cordillera de Los Andes. Time for a summit picture and lunch.
The descent follows the uphill trail back to the starting point. On the descent you will discover features you didn’t notice in the way up, for example how the lakes Mascardi and Guillelmo connected.
If you still have plenty of energy, you can continue the way down towards the lake and enjoy a relaxing swim in the clearest waters you've ever seen!
Level of Challenge: Medium Recommended Season: Spring – Summer – Autumn Duration of the activity: 6-8 hours Length of the Trek: 8.1 km Starting Altitude: 890 meters above sea level Max Altitude Climbed: 1930 meters above sea level Elevation gained: 1040 m Service includes:
Bilingual Mountain Guide
Box Lunch + water + tea + snacks
First Aid Kit + VHF Radio + GPS
Insurance
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Erin was great to work with! Very quick with her replies and provided all the information I needed, no matter how many times I changed my request! This was my first time ever planning a trip like this and it couldn't have gone better.
Chris
1 month ago
Very well organiced.
Great communication
Easy to handle website for required docs to file .
Pleasant Experience
Nancy Kaierle
1 month ago
Very well ececuted. Hily recomended. Great experiance
Nancy Kaierle
2 months ago
The entire experience was great. Erin really knows her stuff and provided me with a lot of great insight and advice.
MARGARET CINCOTTA
6 months ago
Mary always does an outstanding job... and this trip planning was no exception. She always brings a high level of quality customer service to any question or request we pose.