Why should you rent a car in Bariloche?

Bariloche is an international tourist destination, one of the most demanded in Argentina. The most populous city in the province of Río Negro is, for many, the entrance to Patagonia. All its scenic beauty, where snow and winter sports, nature and outdoor activities converge, is an invitation to enjoy the city and its surroundings, even the nearby towns, such as Villa La Angostura or El Bolsón. What better way to get to know Bariloche and tour the Andean region than by renting a car, whose advantages allow you to appropriate an unforgettable moment without schedules or restrictions. I discovered Bariloche by car with Correntoso Rent a Car.

Bariloche and the national park

The city is located on the south shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi, the lake that dominates the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Due to its geographical links with the Andes mountain range, Bariloche brings together mountains, lakes, rivers, streams, forests, mallines that make up a spectacular setting, whose main icons are the Tronador hill, the Catedral hill and the same lake Nahuel Huapi that belongs to the Limay river basin.

The PN comprises a strip of high mountain environments, temperate forests, grasslands and steppes remaining from the forests. The creation of the park takes us back to the donation of land made by Perito Moreno in 1903. Although his first objectives were linked to the foundational areas, nowadays there are goals of conservation of ecosystems and their biodiversity. The landscape shaped by the glaciers and the forests pose a great attraction as a landscape for the visitor, whose colors change in each season, bright yellows and reds in autumn, snow white in winter, sprinkled with colors in spring and dusty greens in summer.
Several tourist routes and corridors cross the PN, whose axes enhance all its destinations and areas of influence. Among these, the Route of the 7 Lakes, Route 40, the Cardenal Samoré pass. The main cities that link their economic and productive activities with the PN are Bariloche and Villa La Angostura. Other destinations are Villa Traful, Dina Huapi, Villa Llanquín, Villa Mascardi, Río Villegas and El Manso. The San Carlos de Bariloche airport provides access to the region to all visitors arriving in Bariloche. Right there you can access a rental car and start enjoying your stay in the Capital of Chocolate.

Amazing car rides

Cerro Tronador and Pampa Linda. Tronador is an ancient volcano located on the border with Chile, about 35 km from the city of Bariloche to the south by RN 40. Route 81 is the entrance to Mascardi, through which you reach Pampa Linda, a place with services and starting point for several mountain trails, including Otto Meiling and Paseo de las Nubes. The main attraction is the Ventisquero Negro, a glacier that offers images for all the senses.

Gutiérrez and Mascardi.
It is a simple and popular circuit to do by car. In Lake Gutiérrez many activities are combined, such as Cascada de los Duendes, a family walk, and access by mountain trails to Playa Muñoz or refuge Frey. With the rental vehicle you can get to the park ranger's house, from where these walks are undertaken. Lake Mascardi offers a variety of outdoor activities, such as ecotourism, sport fishing, and boating.

Cerro Catedral.
Just 20 km from the city, Catedral is the high mountain resort par excellence, whose infrastructure allows you to enjoy winter sports. Catedral has more than 60 slopes for alpine skiing, Nordic skiing or freestyle skiing. Those who prefer other activities can slide through the snow with rubber bands, go sledding or snowshoeing. Summer activities are also numerous and varied for all audiences.

Small Circuit.
While the city is left behind, the Nahuel Huapi lake is bordered by Bustillo avenue, until reaching Puerto Pañuelo. There the walk continues through the Llao Llao Municipal Park, a reserved area that offers different walks along marked trails under lush forests. Continuing along the asphalt, you reach the entrance to Colonia Suiza, then Punto Panorámico, the bridge over Moreno Lake, until you reach the junction with Bustillo Avenue again.

Route of the 7 Lakes.
It is one of the top rides to enjoy by car. The route connects Villa La Angostura and San Martín de los Andes, conforming with Bariloche the perfect triad. It can be done in any season, with special attention to driving on mountain roads, especially in winter or when it rains. The walk connects 7 lakes of extreme beauty to go from beginning to end and not miss any panoramic views.

The snow season

In general, the climate in Bariloche is cold, with snow fall in winter and frequent frosts. The accumulation of snow favors the season and winter sports and games. The mountain region forms microclimates, so it can rain in one sector and snow in the other. So it is advisable to make day trips and be attentive to the recommendations for traveling.
When the climatic conditions are adverse in winter season, the use of chains is mandatory. Correntoso Rent a Car offers the chains free of charge, along with an instructions for placing them. They are the perfect solutions to improve adherence to the ground and take extreme care on mountain roads. On the other hand, for skiers, the agency provides other extras free of charge: ski racks or table racks.

Crossing to Chile by car

Staying in Bariloche and renting a car open up the possibility of crossing into Chile, since the flow between both regions is frequent and comfortable. The Cardenal Antonio Samoré border crossing connects with Osorno, Frutillar, Puerto Varas, Puerto Montt, and its various geographies, up to the Chiloé archipelago with its channels and fjords. The border crossing near Junín de los Andes, Mamuil Malal, is an invitation to Pucón and Valdivia, a region of national parks, ancient araucarias, hot springs and volcanoes.
In Chilean Patagonia, the Carretera Austral gives life to the peoples of the region and invites you to travel it discovering its incredible places in search of adventure and photography. Given the characteristics of the route, a 4x4 vehicle is recommended as the most appropriate. Correntoso Rent a Car has off-road cars in its fleet for this particular tour.
The agency processes the permit to cross into Chile at no cost, only with your request. An advisor takes care of the management. Also, for your peace of mind, auto insurance has coverage in both Argentina and Chile.
Among the advantages of renting a car in Bariloche, autonomy expands freedom of movement, the vehicle adapts to the stay, takes advantage of the longest time available at a lower cost and opens a range of accommodations in the destination. At any time of the year, Bariloche offers nature and scenery to marvel at.