San Carlos de Bariloche is the gateway to Nahuel Huapi National Park and one of the best-connected towns in Patagonia. It has a busy airport, a long-distance bus terminal and road routes from Chile — plus the Cruce Andino, the famous boat-and-bus crossing through the lakes.
Here is how the main options compare. Journey times are typical and can vary with season, weather and border queues.
The main ways in, compared
| How | From | Typical time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic flight | Buenos Aires | About 2–2.5 h | Most visitors — fast and frequent |
| Long-distance bus | Buenos Aires | About 20–22 h | Tight budgets, overnight travel |
| Bus or car from Chile | Osorno / Puerto Montt | About 5–7 h incl. border | Lake District itineraries |
| Cruce Andino | Puerto Varas | Full day (or 2 days) | Scenery — the journey is the point |
| Self-drive | Neuquén / Route 40 | Varies | Freedom, the Seven Lakes, Tronador |
1. Fly to Bariloche (BRC)
Teniente Luis Candelaria airport lies about 15 km east of the city. Aerolíneas Argentinas and low-cost carriers fly several times a day from Buenos Aires, a flight of roughly two to two and a half hours. There are also connections from other Argentine cities and, especially in the ski season, seasonal flights from Brazil. From the airport, take a taxi, a remís or the airport shuttle into town (around 20–30 minutes).
2. Long-distance bus
Comfortable overnight coaches with reclining cama seats connect Bariloche with Buenos Aires (around 20–22 hours), Mendoza, Neuquén, Puerto Madryn and other Patagonian towns. The bus terminal is a few kilometres east of the centre; city buses and taxis take you in.
3. From Chile by road
The Cardenal Samoré pass (Route 231) links Osorno and Puerto Montt with Villa La Angostura and Bariloche. Direct buses take roughly five to seven hours, including the two border posts. The pass can close temporarily after heavy snow in winter — check its status on the day of travel.
4. The Cruce Andino
The classic scenic route between Puerto Varas and Bariloche uses three lakes and several bus legs through rainforest and over the Andes. It takes a full day (or two with a night in Peulla) and costs far more than the bus, but it is one of South America’s great journeys. See our Cruce Andino guide and book it here.
5. Self-drive
Bariloche sits on the famous Route 40. From Neuquén the drive follows Route 237 and the Limay river valley — a long day across the steppe. Car hire in town lets you do the Seven Lakes, Tronador and Villa La Angostura at your own pace; note the timed one-way system on the Pampa Linda road and that many side roads are gravel.
Getting around once you are there
- City buses: run along Avenida Bustillo (line 20 to Llao Llao and Puerto Pañuelo), to Cerro Catedral (line 55) and to Colonia Suiza (line 10). You pay with a rechargeable SUBE card.
- Taxis and remises: plentiful and reasonably priced for short hops; agree a price for longer trips.
- Tours with pickup: the easiest way to reach the boat piers, Tronador and the Seven Lakes. Compare them here.
- Bikes: perfect for the western half of the Circuito Chico; rentals cluster around km 18–25.
