The Circuito Chico — the “small circuit” — is the loop of about 60 km that runs west from Bariloche along Avenida Bustillo, around the Llao Llao peninsula and back past Lago Moreno. It packs the park’s signature scenery into a few hours: bays and beaches, forests of coihue and cypress, the grand Llao Llao Hotel and one of the best viewpoints in Patagonia.
You can drive it, cycle the prettiest western half, ride the number 20 bus, or join a half-day guided tour that adds the chairlift up Cerro Campanario.
Top things to do at Circuito Chico
Cerro Campanario
At km 17.5 a chairlift climbs to the summit terrace for the most famous view in the park. Go early on a clear morning. See our Cerro Campanario guide.
Llao Llao Hotel and Puerto Pañuelo
The hotel designed by Alejandro Bustillo sits on a knoll between two lakes; its lobby and tea room are open to non-guests who book. Across the road, Puerto Pañuelo is the pier for the boats to Isla Victoria, the arrayanes and Puerto Blest.
Punto Panorámico
The lay-by after the Bahía López curve looks down on Lago Moreno, the Llao Llao peninsula and the hotel — the view in half the souvenir photos in town. Stop even if you are cycling uphill.
Cycle the western loop
Rent a bike around km 18–25 and ride the 25–30 km western section: short, steep hills, forest, a brewery halfway and lakes around every corner. Traffic is light but the road is narrow; allow half a day.
Short walks in the Llao Llao Municipal Park
The Cerro Llao Llao trail (about an hour up) and the Villa Tacul path lead through old-growth forest to quiet beaches and lookouts over the lake — an easy escape from the tour buses.
How to get to Circuito Chico
- By bus: line 20 runs from the centre along Avenida Bustillo to Llao Llao and Puerto Pañuelo; pay with a SUBE card.
- By car: follow Avenida Bustillo west; the full loop takes around 2 hours with stops, longer on summer weekends.
- By tour: half-day minibus tours pick up from central hotels.
Insider tips
- Go clockwise from Bariloche so the Punto Panorámico comes at the end with afternoon light.
- There is no park entry fee for the Circuito Chico itself; the chairlift and boats are paid separately.
- Bring a jacket — the wind off the lake is cold even in summer.
- Combine the loop with a brewery lunch on the road back to town.
Best tours & tickets for Circuito Chico
These experiences are the easiest way to see Circuito Chico 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
Kayaking Bariloche: Half-Day Kayak to Nahuel Huapi or Moreno Lakes
See the lake from water level. A guide gives a short lesson, then leads you along the sheltered shore of Nahuel Huapi from Bahía López — or across Lago Moreno if the wind is up — past deserted beaches and forested headlands under the peaks of the Circuito Chico.
- Paddle from Bahía López towards Brazo Tristeza
- Views of Llao Llao, Cerro López and Cerro Capilla
- Safety briefing and guide — no experience needed
