Sightseeing in San Carlos de Bariloche - what to see. Complete travel guide

The city of San Carlos de Bariloche located in the foothills of the Andes is widely known as a major skiing and mountaineering center. This is the most popular ski resort in Argentina. A significant part of tourists visiting it are fans of active recreation and sports entertainment. Eco-tourists will surely find the city interesting, as it is located in an incredibly beautiful area surrounded by wonderful lakes and mountain peaks.

The first inhabitants of these places were the Mapuche Indians. It is believed that the present city owes its name to them. Translated literally from Mapuche language, "Bariloche" can be translated as "people behind the mountain," which fully describes the main feature of the city. Many years ago these picturesque places attracted Spanish conquerors. The first explorers visited Nahuel Huapi Lake in the middle of the 16th century.

The first mission on the shore of the lake appeared in 1670, but had existed for only 4 years - it was completely destroyed and burned by the Indian tribes. The attempt to re-organize the settlement on the lake also failed. At the end of the 19th century, the attractive lands aroused many controversies among Chile and Argentina. As a result, this area became part of Argentina, the significant event took place in 1881. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The unofficial founder of the present-day city is Carlos Wiederhold - an immigrant from Germany who built a house and settled in Llanquihue, Chile. Later he decided to change his place of residence, then crossed the Andes and settled in the center of the modern city, having opened a small shop called La Alemana. A few decades later, the tent was already standing among the newly built busy streets, and over time a large city grew up around the shopping area, the full name of which - San Carlos de Bariloche - recalls the founder.

The city began to attract the first travelers in 1934. Several colorful buildings such as permanent courts, religious sites, and trade areas were built in Nahuel Huapi National Park. Bariloche turned from a small trading town into an elite resort that could compete with popular European resorts of that time. Numerous tourists were primarily attracted to these places by a fabulously beautiful nature. Despite the fact that over the last hundred years the resort has significantly expanded its scale and infrastructure, it has managed to fully preserve its pristine natural splendor.

San Carlos de Bariloche is often called "South American Switzerland", and not only because of its amazing landscapes. The fact is that the city produces excellent chocolate; confectionery shops can be found here literally on every street. The most famous boutiques are Mamuschka and Benroth , where you can buy great gift sets of sweets with different kinds of liquor and fruits.

Despite the fact that Bariloche is quite a young city, it pleases fans of excursions with a variety of historic landmarks. The city has preserved ancient religious buildings, including La Catedral de Bariloche . In addition, the city has several interesting museums and exhibition centers, it regularly hosts both sports and cultural events. Another distinctive feature of the resort is the abundance of modern nightclubs and discos attracting young travelers to these places. It is believed that in Bariloche there is the brightest and most vibrant nightlife in Argentina.

Guests of San Carlos de Bariloche traditionally like to make excursions to Fabrica de chocolate Carlos Triberpolm. For several decades, this famous factory has been making premium chocolate. Fabrica de chocolate Carlos Triberpolm is located in a hidden part of the mountain region, so before reaching it, vacationers will enjoy an interesting excursion and see beautiful local nature. At the factory, attendees will see how signature desserts are made. Once the excursion is over, everyone is welcome to head to the factory’s shop and buy delicious presents for friends and family members.

The Museum of Patagonia remains one of the most interesting cultural venues in the city. The museum is named after Francisco Pascasio Moreno. The venue was officially open in 1940. Nowadays, it exhibits an interesting collection of various historical artifacts. Nature science and anthropological items are of a particular value and importance. A part of the museum’s halls is dedicated to modern exhibitions. Numerous art meetings and literature presentations often take place there. For several years, the city has hosted a very interesting holiday – the national snow celebration. It is a truly unusual and incredibly fancy show that attracts numerous guests to the city. The festival lasts two weeks and includes numerous sports, cultural, music, and gastronomic entertainments.