First Impressions of Bariloche, first stop in our Patagonia Adventure

January 21, 2025. San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.

We have arrived in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, and plan to be here for two weeks. We had a very pleasant and comfortable flight with Aerolíneas Argentinas. We have secured an Airbnb in a lake peninsula and the views are astonishing! We wanted to share some first impressions. Bariloche is more than a town; it’s a city bustling with tourists from all over the world. It’s the first stop on our Argentinian Patagonia Adventure. We’ve been enjoying pleasant weather with temperatures around 60-70 Fahrenheit and 30% humidity.

When planning a long stay in a city, you have to start getting in sync with the city’s rhythm. For example, you won’t find many restaurants open at 6:00 PM. If you do find one that opens at 7:00 PM, you might be the only customer. 9:00 PM seems to be the sweet spot; later, you might encounter a wait.

People here are very active. They walk everywhere and use the public buses extensively. Hitchhikers are common, and we’ve been tempted to give one a ride just to hear their story. There are also many stray dogs. Barbara insists on petting them, but I’m not sure that’s always a good idea.