This is the traditional local tour in Bariloche. In around four hours, visitors will get a general overview of the surrounding area along this 60 Km (40 mi.) partial loop excursion, all on a paved road.
This outing heads westward from Bariloche on the highway to Llao-Llao along the southern shore of the Nahuel Huapi Lake. The first couple of miles has a residential area on the left called Melipal, which in the local Indian language means four stars, hence the Southern Cross neighborhood.
At Km 8 the road passes Playa Bonita, a small harbor and beach which is much used in summer. Cerro Campanario, the Belltower Hill is at Km 18 (mile 12), where the bus may stop on the outward leg or when returning. The view from the top of this hill, reached after a seven minute chairlift ride, is the highlight of the trip. All the surrounding mountains, most of the 60 miles of the Nahuel huapi Lake, the LlaoLlao Hotel and some smaller lakes are all in sight. The Catedral Ski Village, at the base of the ski slopes and part of the city of Bariloche, as well as the Airport out on the steppe, are encompassed from this spectacular 360 degree look-out.
The tour continues toward St Eduard`s chapel to Llao Llao Hotel. It is after passing the hotels golf course, at the 100 inch yearly rainfall boundary that the Valdivian Rain Forest begins. This is a temperate rain forest, with vines canes and lush vegetation. The rainfall increases to almost 140 inches of year rainfall at the border with Chile, only twelve miles away.
The tour now continues through this thick beech forest surrounding the western Moreno Lake passing by the base of Lopez Mountain, a sheer 12.000 ft. race of rock, the shear face of the Lopez fault.
There will be a short stop further along the road for a breathtaking view high above the Moreno Lake on the LlaoLlao Hotel, the Puerto Pañuelo Harbor, Victoria Island and smaller islands on the lake.
Now on the return trip, the road crosses the bridge between the Moreno lakes and then joins the main road back to Bariloche.

Cathedral Mountain got its name from the pink granite spires it has along it`s main ridge, which are reminiscent of a gothic cathedral.
The ski area is in a bowl and well protected from the prevailing westerly wind. It is the biggest in South American with thirty seven lifts and a capacity to move twenty two thousand skiers an hour. Of the forty miles of runs, about half are groomed every evening during the season.
The area is twelve miles from the town of Bariloche, with which it is connected by constant shuttle and bus services. There are a number of hotels and ski clubs that offer lodging at the slopes as well as time-sharing apartments and private homes.
The view of mountains, lakes and plains form the slopes is one of the best of any ski mountain in the world.
For those visiting the mountain, there are at times some lift services for pedestrians, which also work in the summer to provide visitors with the border. There are also various restaurants and coffee shops at the base and on the slopes which offer warm beverages, meals and shelter

Departure for this lake tour may be from the Harbor at Bariloche or from Puerto Pañuelo at Llao Llao.
After about an hour and ten minutes sailing out of Puerto Pañuelo, the 100 foot catamaran docks at the ¨Quetrihue¨ Peninsula for nearly an hour.
During this stay, we may visit the thirty acre grove of Arrayan trees. The Arrayan, as eucalyptus,
is if the Myrtle family. The bark peels off in the same fashion but the coloring is a strong cinnamon brown, and in the assembly of these trees the color of the environment is very remarkable. This grove has been declared a National Monument.
After this relaxed stroll in the grove we shall return to our Catamaran and sail to Port Anchorena on Victoria Island, the best harbor on the Lake.
We may have lunch on the catamaran during this forty minute cruise, or later on at the island where there are Restaurants.
During the three to four hour stop at the Island, besides having lunch (Optional, not included), we may go on a guided walking tour or the different trails and paths of what once was the national Conifer Nursery or take chairlift ride up the Bella Vista hill for a magnificent view four hundred and fifty feet above the level of the Lake.

This is a very scenic tour which gives the visitor a complete panorama of the different environments to be found in Nahuel Huapi and Lanin National Parks. Departure from Bariloche is early in the morning, taking highway 237 north and then turning to the left to follow the north shore of the Nahuel Huapi Lake to Angostura.
After a short stop, the tour continues northward on gravel highway 234 passing the Espejo, Correntoso, Bailey Willis, Villarino, Falkner, Machonico and Escondido Lakes, arriving at San Martin, on the Lacar Lake in time for lunch. Along the way there are stops for views, smaller lakes, interpretations and waterfall.

*Lunch may be had at any number of restaurants in this "Town of the Roses" (optional, not included).

The return is on a different road, roughly parallel and to the East of the morning´s road. The area it traverses is drier, passing along the southern shore of the Meliquina Lake and by some very spectacular rock formations to the Cordoba Pass, at the top of which the view is most impressive.
Descending southwards from the pass, the road again enters a thick forest, as this area is in Valley protected from the sun and by mountains to the west. Return to Bariloche.