Cerro Campanario is a small hill with an enormous view. From its 1,050 m summit you see Lake Nahuel Huapi, Lago Moreno, the Llao Llao peninsula, Isla Victoria and the snowy wall of the Andes all at once — a panorama that is regularly ranked among the finest in the world, and that locals simply call the best in Argentina.
It sits at km 17.5 of Avenida Bustillo on the Circuito Chico, so most people combine the two. A chairlift does the work in about seven minutes; a steep path gets you there in half an hour or so.
Top things to do at Cerro Campanario
Ride the chairlift
The two-seat chairlift runs most of the year, weather permitting. Tickets are sold at the base; expect queues in the middle of the day in high season.
Walk up instead
The trail from the base climbs through cypress forest in about 30–40 minutes. It is steep and dusty or muddy depending on the season; wear proper shoes.
The summit terrace and café
A circular viewing terrace with orientation boards names every peak and lake. The café is good for a hot chocolate while you wait for the clouds to shift.
Combine with the Circuito Chico
Campanario is the natural first stop on the loop. A Circuito Chico + Campanario tour handles transport; the lift ticket is usually paid on the spot.
How to get to Cerro Campanario
- By bus: line 20 from the centre stops at the base (km 17.5).
- By car or taxi: 20–25 minutes from the centre; small car park at the base.
- On a tour: most Circuito Chico tours stop here.
Insider tips
- Go at 09:00–10:00 or late afternoon for softer light and shorter queues.
- The view is north and west: afternoons can be hazy looking into the sun.
- The chairlift may close in high wind — have a plan B for the day.
- Bring a warm layer; it is always windier at the top.
Best tours & tickets for Cerro Campanario
These experiences are the easiest way to see Cerro Campanario and the landscapes around it:
Sightseeing tour Chico Circuit and Cerro Campanario
The best first afternoon in Bariloche. A guided minibus loop along Avenida Bustillo and the Llao Llao peninsula, with a stop at the foot of Cerro Campanario — whose chairlift leads to the view many visitors call the finest in Argentina — plus the Punto Panorámico lookout and Puerto Pañuelo.
- The classic 60 km lakeshore loop west of town
- Chairlift up Cerro Campanario (ticket extra)
- Llao Llao Hotel, San Eduardo chapel and Punto Panorámico
Sightseeing tour From Bariloche: Half-Day Circuito Chico Sightseeing Tour
The simplest way to see the Circuito Chico without a car: a guided half-day loop through the lakes and forests west of town, with photo stops at the classic viewpoints. Pair it with an afternoon on Cerro Campanario or Cerro Otto.
- Playa Bonita, Cerro Campanario and Bahía López
- Photo stop at Punto Panorámico
- The Llao Llao Hotel and Puerto Pañuelo
