Circuito Chico: Bariloche's 60 km Scenic Loop

The Circuito Chico is a 60-kilometre paved loop west of central Bariloche that strings together Lake Nahuel Huapi, the Llao Llao peninsula and the Cerro Campanario chairlift. Driving or riding it costs nothing — only the chairlift and the national park entry are paid. Most visitors cover the circuit in half a day, though cyclists and photographers routinely stretch it to six hours.

The route begins at the town centre and runs west along Avenida Ezequiel Bustillo, hugging the southern shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi. Kilometre markers matter here: at km 8 you pass Playa Bonita with views across to Huemul Island, at km 17 the Cerro Campanario base station appears, and around km 25 the landmark Llao Llao Hotel comes into view. Roadside signs are frequent but inconsistent, so keeping a rough mental map of those three distances saves a lot of U-turns.

What You'll See Along the Circuit

Playa Bonita and Huemul Island

Eight kilometres out, the road dips toward a sandy beach where locals swim in summer. The water is cold — 14°C to 17°C even in February — but the view toward Huemul Island is the first real payoff of the drive. The island itself is famous for a controversial 1948 nuclear fusion experiment; it is not open to visitors, so photograph it from the shore and move on.

Cerro Campanario

This is the stop that justifies the whole circuit. A double chairlift climbs to 1,050 metres in about seven minutes, and the summit terrace delivers a 360-degree view over the lakes Moreno, Nahuel Huapi, El Trébol and Gutiérrez. National Geographic once ranked this panorama among the world's best, and on clear mornings the claim holds up. The chairlift runs daily from 09:00 to 19:00 and costs 22,000 ARS per ascent as of the 2026 season. Fares change — check the official site for current rates. Hikers can skip the lift entirely: a free 1.8-kilometre trail gains 200 metres to the same summit. The queue at the base station is longest between 11:00 and 14:00, so arriving at opening time buys you an almost empty terrace.

Llao Llao, San Eduardo Chapel and Puerto Pañuelo

At km 25 the road passes a cluster of buildings that define Bariloche's postcard identity. The Llao Llao Hotel occupies a ridge between lakes, the stone San Eduardo Chapel sits just below it, and Puerto Pañuelo handles boat departures toward Isla Victoria and the Arrayanes forest. Architecture buffs should look closely at the chapel: architect Alejandro Bustillo designed it in the late 1930s with local cypress and stone, and it remains a working chapel rather than a museum piece.

Punto Panorámico and Bahía López

Past the hotel, a signed viewpoint called Punto Panorámico looks down over Lake Moreno and the Llao Llao peninsula. It is the single most accessible vista on the route — a short walk from the car park, no climbing required. From there the road crosses the Angostura bridge and follows Bahía López before climbing toward the Villa Tacul trailheads. This stretch is where most tour buses thin out, so independent travellers often have the pull-offs to themselves.

Villa Tacul and Lake Moreno

Several short trails leave the loop near Villa Tacul, including a 2.5-kilometre path through coihue forest to a pebble beach on Lake Moreno. It is an easy walk with minimal elevation change and a good place to escape the car for an hour. Colonia Suiza, a small settlement founded by Swiss immigrants, sits a few kilometres off the main loop and hosts a crafts and food market on Wednesdays and Sundays in high season.

Getting There and Getting Around

By bus

Local buses 10, 13, 20 and 22 serve the Bustillo corridor. Line 20 runs between the town terminal and Llao Llao, which makes it the most useful single route for the circuit. Fares are paid with the SUBE card, the same card used across Argentina; buy and top one up in the centre before boarding, because drivers do not sell cards. Buses are frequent in summer but packed by mid-morning.

By car or bicycle

The loop is fully paved and in good condition, with the densest traffic between December and February. Rental cars are the simplest option for families and photographers who want to stop at will. Cycling is extremely popular — the full loop measures about 32 kilometres from the Campanario area, not 60, because most riders start from the km 17 bike shops rather than the town centre. Bike rental outfits cluster near the Cerro Campanario access road; reserve by WhatsApp a day ahead in peak season, and expect to return the bike by 17:00 or pay a surcharge.

Riders share the road with cars, so a helmet is mandatory and a high-visibility vest is a sensible addition. The climbs are steady rather than brutal, but the descents are fast — 60 to 70 km/h on a road bike is realistic — and the surface can turn slick after rain. Check brakes and chain at the Campanario stop before committing to the second half of the loop.

On a guided tour

Half-day coach tours leave the centre around 08:30 and cover the classic stops in roughly four hours, with hotel pickup from downtown accommodation. These suit anyone without a car who wants commentary, but the schedule at Cerro Campanario is fixed, which can mean a crowded terrace. Independent travellers consistently report better photos by starting earlier.

When to Go

Summer, December through February, brings the longest days — up to 16 hours of light — and temperatures of 15°C to 25°C. It is also the busiest window, with parking at Llao Llao under real pressure by 11:00.

Autumn is the connoisseur's choice. From mid-March through April the lenga and ñire trees turn crimson and gold against the evergreen coihues, and crowds drop sharply. April in particular delivers the best colour with noticeably quieter roads. Winter, June to September, can leave ice on shaded corners near Cerro Campanario in the morning; check conditions before setting out. Spring in October and November is cool and comparatively uncrowded, with fresh foliage and reliable lake views.

Weather shifts fast in Patagonia. A hailstorm can cut visibility to almost nothing for ten minutes and then clear — pack a light waterproof layer even in January.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay an entrance fee for the Circuito Chico?

No. Driving, cycling or walking the loop is free, and there is no gate or ticket booth on the road itself. You pay only for the Cerro Campanario chairlift and, if you enter national park areas such as the Arrayanes forest or Isla Victoria by boat from Puerto Pañuelo, the corresponding park fee.

How long does the full loop take?

By car, allow three to four hours including stops at Campanario, Punto Panorámico and Llao Llao. Cyclists typically need four to six hours, and guided coach tours complete the circuit in about four hours. Add an hour if you want to walk the Villa Tacul trail to Lake Moreno.

Is the road safe for cyclists?

It is a shared road with no dedicated bike lane, so awareness matters more than fitness. Wear a helmet, keep right, brake early on descents and start in the morning before tour buses build up. Rental shops near Cerro Campanario supply well-maintained bikes with disc brakes.

Can I hike to the Cerro Campanario summit instead of taking the chairlift?

The trail is free and gains 200 metres over 1.8 kilometres of switchbacks — roughly 45 minutes at an easy pace. The chairlift costs 22,000 ARS and takes seven minutes, and it stops running at 19:00 daily.