Bariloche & the Patagonian Lakes — Self-Launched 4-Day Adventure
4 days · Bariloche, Patagonia
HI Travel South America charges £330
No-markup version: ~£262 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of HI Travel South America's 4-day Bariloche group tour. Base yourself at a lakeside hostel in San Carlos de Bariloche and tackle the two highlights independently: the Circuito Chico loop around Lago Nahuel Huapi (by local bus #20 + chairlift up Cerro Campanario) and the boat crossing to Isla Victoria and the 500-year-old Arrayanes forest from Puerto Pañuelo. All transport, activities and accommodation are booked direct — no group, no guide, no markup.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Bariloche & orient yourself on the lakefront
San Carlos de Bariloche
Fly or bus into San Carlos de Bariloche (BRC). From the airport, the local 'Vía Bariloche' shuttle bus to the city centre costs about ARS 3,000 (~£2); a taxi is roughly £12 shared. Check in to a hostel in the centre (e.g. Periko's Youth Hostel — the same one the tour uses — or a comparable budget hostel such as Hospedaje Penthouse 1004). Dorm beds run about £14–18/night. Spend the afternoon walking the Centro Cívico, the lakeside promenade along Lago Nahuel Huapi and the Playa Bonita viewpoint. Stock up on supplies (bread, cheese, fruit) at a local supermarket for picnic lunches. In the evening, eat at a 'tenedor libre' or a cheap parrilla — a bife de chorizo with salad is around £10. Buy your SUBE transport card at a kiosk (about £1 plus top-up) so you can use the local buses for the next two days.
🚌Airport shuttle bus ~£2, or shared taxi ~£12
🛏Hostel dorm, Bariloche centre (~£16/night)
- →Centro Cívico walk
- →Lakefront promenade & Playa Bonita
- →Buy SUBE card & groceries
Circuito Chico by local bus + Cerro Campanario chairlift
Circuito Chico, Lago Nahuel Huapi
Do the 65 km Circuito Chico independently. Take local bus #20 from the centre towards Llao Llao (single fare ~£0.60 on SUBE, pay-as-you-go). Get off at Cerro Campanario and ride the chairlift to the top (ars 25,000 ~£17) for the classic 360° panorama over Lakes Nahuel Huapi and Moreno — or hike up in about 45 minutes for free. Re-board bus #20 to Llao Llao, walk the Llao Llao municipal park trails to Bahía López, Punto Panorámico and the San Eduardo Chapel, then continue to Puerto Pañuelo. Laguna El Trébol and Moreno Lake are further stops on the same route if you want more. Bring a picnic lunch. In the evening, back in town, join a free walking tour or just relax over a craft beer at a local cervecería (~£4). Alternatively, book the Circuito Chico half-day tour on GetYourGuide (~£30) if you'd rather have a driver.
🚌Local bus #20, ~2–3 rides day (~£2)
🛏Hostel dorm, Bariloche centre (~£16/night)
- →Cerro Campanario chairlift (~£17) or hike
- →Llao Llao park & San Eduardo Chapel
- →Bahía López & Punto Panorámico
- →Laguna El Trébol & Moreno Lake
Isla Victoria & the Arrayanes Forest boat trip
Puerto Pañuelo, Isla Victoria, Quetrihué Peninsula
Take bus #20 to Puerto Pañuelo (about 25 km west of town) and join the public catamaran crossing of Lago Nahuel Huapi to Isla Victoria and the Quetrihué Peninsula. Book directly with the operator (Turisur runs the standard Isla Victoria + Bosque de Arrayanes excursion) the day before — expect around ARS 110,000–130,000 (~£75–90) for the combined boat trip including national park entry. The boat stops at Puerto Anchorena on Isla Victoria where you follow self-guided trails with viewpoints over the national park, then continues to Quetrihué where you walk the boardwalk through the Bosque de Arrayanes — 500+ year old myrtle trees with cinnamon-coloured bark. Keep an eye out for Andean condors and the rare huemul deer. Bring lunch, water and a warm layer; the wind on the lake is cold even in summer. Return to Bariloche in the late afternoon.
🚌Local bus #20 to Puerto Pañuelo (~£1)
🛏Hostel dorm, Bariloche centre (~£16/night)
- →Isla Victoria & Bosque de Arrayanes boat excursion (~£82)
- →Self-guided trails on Isla Victoria
- →Arrayanes forest boardwalk
Morning hike, chocolate shops & departure
San Carlos de Bariloche
If time allows before your flight or bus, do an easy morning hike — the Cerro Llao Llao or the Sendero de los Arrayanes near the town are free and give you one last lake view. Otherwise wander the chocolate shops on Calle Mitre (Bariloche's famous mamushkas and artisan chocolate — a small box is ~£5) and pick up a souvenir. Take the airport shuttle bus (~£2) or a bus from the terminal (Bariloche's bus station has direct services to Buenos Aires, ~20 hours, from ~£45; or onward to El Bolsón, 2 hours, ~£6). Check out and head onward.
🚌Airport shuttle bus ~£2, or onward bus
🛏—
- →Morning hike (Cerro Llao Llao)
- →Chocolate shops on Calle Mitre
Self-launched vs. HI Travel South America
| This itinerary (self-launched) | HI Travel South America | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£262 | £330 |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £68 per person (21%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more HI Travel South America-style trips? Check them out here.~£262
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Bariloche & the Patagonian Lakes — Self-Launched 4-Day Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £262 per person for 4 days in Bariloche, Patagonia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with HI Travel South America?+
Yes — HI Travel South America charges around £330 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £262 — a saving of roughly £68 (21%) per person.
How long is the Bariloche, Patagonia trip?+
This itinerary runs 4 days, covering 4 day-by-day stops through Bariloche, Patagonia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, budget trip through Bariloche, Patagonia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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