The Best First-Timers Guide to Circuito Chico, Bariloche

Are you planning a trip to Bariloche and still wondering; what are the best places to visit on Circuito Chico?

Then this post is for you!

Circuito Chico is a short loop-shaped road that passes through some of the most scenic views of Bariloche and the Nahuel Huapi Natural Park.

Circuito Chico is an all-time favorite for everybody visiting Bariloche, and one of the most popular things to do in Bariloche!

While living in Buenos Aires, I visited Bariloche and, of course, Circuito Chico! So, I wanted to share some of my best tips and places to visit on Circuito Chico with you!

Let’s dive into the best places to visit on Circuito Chico!

A Guide to Circuito Chico, Bariloche’s Most Iconic Road

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Visiting Circuito Chico – Before You Go

For the best experience of Circuito Chico, plan your trip ahead of trip.

Consider how you would like to explore Circuito Chico; with a car, biking, or with a guided tour?

What is Circuito Chico in Bariloche?

Circuito Chico is an approximately 27 kilometers (16.7 miles) long circular route located near Bariloche in the Río Negro province in Argentina.

Circuito Chico is famous for its breathtaking views over the area’s landscapes as well as offering different hiking trails around the mountains.

Circuito Chico is located around 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from downtown Bariloche.

Circuito Chico Map

Check out all the stops on the Circuito Chico in Bariloche. In the top right-hand corner, you can click on the full-screen icon and have the map open directly in your Google Maps app

How to Get Around Circuito Chico?

You can do Circuito Chico by driving, biking, or doing a guided tour.

Rent Car

The best and easiest way to do Circuito Chico in Bariloche is by renting a car and driving the route yourself.

Renting a car gives you the flexibility to stop where you want and stay as long in place as you want.

When I visited, we rented a car for the whole time we were in Bariloche because most of the things to do in Bariloche are outside the city center.

Rent a Car for Your Trip to Circuito Chico

Biking

Biking Circuito Chico is another popular way to get around and explore the scenic road.

Check out this biking map of Circuito Chico from AllTrails if you are planning to get some miles

Guided Tour

Guided tours of Circuito Chico will ensure you visit the main spots along the iconic road and don’t have to worry about the logistics of transportation.

Local Bus

Some local buses go to parts of Circuito Chico. But you might have to wait long hours for them and be limited in your flexibility on where to get off.

Taxi / Private Transfer

Hire a private transfer, a taxi, or a local remis in Bariloche to take you to Circuito Chico and drive you around.

It is a more pricy option to visit Circuito Chico but it allows you the flexibility of having a car without having to worry about the logistics of renting a car and driving yourself.

You can easily book a private transfer from Bariloche with GetTransfer.com.

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The Best Places Visit on Circuito Chico, Bariloche

There are many places to visit along Bariloche’s iconic road, Circuito Chico.

Punto Panorámico

Punto Panorámico is the absolute best panoramic view of Bariloche and by far my favorite place to visit on Circuito Chico!

Punto Panorámico means “panoramic point” in Spanish and offers a stunning view over the lake, Lago Moreno, and the surrounding mountains.

Punto Panorámico is a public viewpoint and it is completely free of charge. That being said, Punto Panorámico is also one of the most popular places to visit on Circuito Chico, and it easily gets crowded.

Restaurant Punto Panorámico

Restaurant Punto Panorámico is a local restaurant located close to the popular Punto Panorámico on Circuito Chico.

The restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere with the same breathtaking view as the viewpoint.

When the weather is good, they have an outdoor terrace where you can sit and take in the amazing backdrop of mountains and lakes.

The restaurant is the perfect stop for lunch or a cup of coffee while enjoying the beautiful panoramic views of Bariloche.

I recommend dropping by Restaurant Punto Panorámico on your road trip around Circuito Chico!

Bahía Lopez

Bahía Lopez’s viewpoint is a must-visit place on Circuito Chico. This viewpoint offers a beautiful view over the Lopez Bay, or Bahía Lopez in Spanish.

The Bahía Lopez viewpoint is located by the side of the main road, so it is very easy to access.

Lago Escondido

Lago Escondido, translated as “the Hidden Lake”, is one of the most popular places to visit on Circuito Chico in Barcelona.

Lago Escondido is a small lake a few meters from the main road, hidden away inside the forest.

From the main road of Circuito Chico, it is marked where to enter to visit Lago Escondido. You have to walk a couple of meters inside the forest to find a pier to the lake.

By the shore of the lake, you will find a wooden pier into the lake. From the end of the pier, you get a great view of the surroundings mountains and the small lake.

The place is very picturesque and, therefore, it also tends to get very crowded.

Hike Along Lago Moreno

Lago Moreno, or translated Lake Moreno, is one of the lakes that surrounds Circuito Chico in Bariloche.

A hike along Lago Moreno to the viewpoint of Lago Moreno, Mirador Lago Moreno, is a great thing to do when visiting Circuito Chico.

From the Lago Escondido stop, follow the road for another mile or so until you find the entrance to the trail to the viewpoint over Lago Moreno.

The walk doesn’t take more than 10-20 minutes and is not hard at all! The trail is very well-marked all the way through.

Puerto Pañuelo

Puerto Pañuelo is a tiny river port located on the Circuito Chico road.

Puerto Pañuelo is famous for being the starting point for the popular boat trips in Bariloche on Lake Nahuel Huapi:

• Victoria Island and the Arrayanes Forest
• Puerto Blest and the Waterfall of the Cantaros

Even if you are not planning on doing a boat trip on Lake Nahuel Huapi, make a stop at Puerto Pañuelo for a bathroom break and to explore the surroundings.

Mirador de los Navegantes

Mirador de los Navegantes, translated to English as “the Outlook for the Navigators” is a viewpoint located right behind the port building on Puerto Pañuelo

Mirador de los Navegantes is one of the best places to visit on Circuito Chico for an amazing view over the crystal clear waters in the Nahuel Huapi Lake, mountains, and the iconic Llao Llao hotel

The viewpoint is easily accessible and free of charge to visit. There are wooden stairs up and down the small mountain making up the viewpoint, so it is suitable for all ages and fitness levels 😉

Hotel Llao Llao

Hotel Llao Llao is one of the most iconic landmarks in Bariloche and a place you can’t overlook when on the Circuito Chico.

Hotel Llao Llao is a luxurious hotel located right between Nahuel Huapi Lake and Lake Moreno, across the main road from Puerto Pañuelo.

Hotel Llao Llao was designed by and opened for the first time in 1940. In the 1970s, the iconic Llao Llao Hotel was closed due to a lack of funds for its maintenance.

In the 1990s, the hotel was renovated. Today, the Llao Llao Hotel is considered one of the best luxury hotels and resorts in Argentina.

You can stay at the Llao Llao Hotel or go for a cup of coffee or a drink in one of the many Llao Llao bars and restaurants.

We decided to skip the hotel visit on our road trip around Circuito Chico. However, the iconic German-styled building in the middle of the mountains is a unique photo opportunity I couldn’t miss out on!

Hike Arrayanes Walking Trail

The Sendero de los Arrayanes, or translated the “the Arrayanes Walking Trail” is a hiking trail through the forest Arrayanes (Bosque de Arrayanes) along Lago Moreno.

The Arrayanes Trail is part of the Llao Llao Municipal Park, a natural park in Bariloche offering many easy and popular hikes around Circuito Chico.

The Arrayanes Trail starts close to the Llao Llao Hotel and ends on the main road of Circuito Chico, close to Lago Escondido.

The hike is around 3 kilometers () one way, and passes by the Lago Moreno viewpoint (Mirador Lago Moreno).

We only did part of the Arrayanes Trail from the entrance close to Lago Escondido and to Mirador Lago Moreno. But if you’re up for a bit more walking it is a great easy hike to add to your Circuito Chico visit

Read more about the Arrayanes Trail on Bariloche Trekking (link in Spanish) or on AllTrails.

Chairlift to Cerro Campanario

The chairlift of Cerro Campanario is one of the most popular places to visit on Circuito Chico.

The chairlift, or Aerosilla Cerro Campanario in Spanish, is located at the beginning of Circuito Chico.

The hike to the up of Cerro Campanario is free, but you can also pay for the chairlift to take you to the top.

From the top of Cerro Campanario, there is a great panoramic view over Bariloche and Circuito Chico.

You can do the trip to Cerro Campanario on your own or with a guided tour.

We skipped Cerro Campanario since we had just visited Cerro Otto the day before, and had a bit of a disappointing experience there.

Cementerio del Montañés

The Cementerio del Montañés is a unique cemetery in Bariloche and one of the places you can visit during the Circuito Chico.

Cementerio del Montañés translates to “Mountaineer’s Cemetery” in English. And the Cementerio del Montañés in Bariloche is exactly that; a resting place for mountaineers or people connected to the mountains

From the main road, it is a short 12-minute moderate hike to Cementerio del Montañés.

This is a cemetery, so visit with respect!

Check out the Cementerio del Montañés hike on AllTrails.

The Swiss Colony

The Swiss Colony is a popular place to visit on the way back to Bariloche from Circuito Chico.

Colonia Suiza, as the Swiss Colony is called in Spanish is a small village near Bariloche, known for its Swiss heritage and picturesque setting surrounded by mountains.

The village was founded by Swiss immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, the Swiss Colony is a popular tourist destination in Bariloche.

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Get the Most Out of Circuito Chico

To get the most out of your trip to Bariloche and Circuito Chico, here are some ideas for top-rated guided tours of Circuito Chico and day tours of Circuito Chico from Bariloche.

Popular Guided Day Trips to Circuito Chico from Bariloche

If you are traveling to Bariloche alone or want to not worry about how to get around there are plenty of guided day tours to Circuito Chico from Bariloche.

Here are some of the day tours to Circuito Chico:

• Circuito Chico Guided Tour
• Circuito Chico and Cerro Catedral
• Circuito Chico and Cerro Campanario
• Sunset Hike on the Llao Llao Hill
• Kayak Tour to Nahuel Huapi or Moreno Lakes
• Victoria Island and the Arrayanes Forest
• Puerto Blest and the Waterfall of the Cantaros

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Final Thoughts: Is Circuito Chico in Bariloche Worth Visiting?

Yes, Circuito Chico is worth visting! If you are short on time and only have one day to spend in Bariloche, I would priortize spending half-a-day on Circuito Chico and half-a-day exploring Bariloche’s city center.

Circuito Chico is one of the most popular and iconic places to visit in Bariloche, and that’s for a reason!T he short circular road offers some of the absolute best views in Bariloche!

Personally, I enjoyed the day exploring Circuito Chico, and I would recommend you visit Circuito Chico if you are in Bariloche!

The being said, don’t expect an off-the-beaten-path experience of the mountains in Bariloche when doing Circuito Chico. This is one of the absolute tourist hot spots in Bariloche, and some of the stops along the road can get pretty crowded if you end up there at the same time as a tour.

It is almost like you haven’t been to Bariloche if you haven’t done Circuito Chico!