Mini-holidays in Bariloche: three activities not to be missed

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The flavors of Colonia Suiza

In recent years, cooking in Bariloche has been noticed all over the country and around the world. One of the key places to taste the local flavors is located 25 km from the city center of Colonia Suiza. This place was the first European settlement of the region, declared a historical heritage because it preserves intact the original features of the time of its founding in the late nineteenth century. In addition to presenting various campsites, incredible natural landscapes such as Moreno Lake, the view of the hills of Lopez and Goye, you can see the fine fruit plantations used to make candies, preserves, desserts and other products. of confectionery. However, the great gastronomic experience of the region is the curanto ceremony.

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This traditional dish from the Araucanian region was introduced from Chile by Emilio Goye, one of the first settlers in the colony. It consists in preparing the type of meat preferably accompanied by vegetables, in a hole dug in the ground and cooked by hot stones. This process takes about 2 hours and usually takes place on Sunday before noon.

Cross in the heights

For lovers of trekking, the walk to Laguna Negra is one of the mandatory walks.. Comfortable clothing and shoes are required to cover the 14 km that lasts approximately 4 to 6 hours, depending on the number of stops made in the middle to admire each of the landscapes you can discover. At the beginning of the path, there is a slight constant increase of considerable width. Later, it begins to shrink to become a path marked with red marks. The road leads to Arroyo Goye, ideal for a technical stop. From there, the walk continues on a path through a coihue forest where you can see the native flora and fauna.

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After crossing marshlands of different sizes where mud abounds, we reach Manolo Ranch, created by Manolo Puente, who used this place as a base to build the refuge. After crossing the streams, Christmas and Black begins the last part of the hike, the most complex, named "El Caracol", which turns into a zigzag. This has arrived at the refuge called Manfredo Segre, better known as Laguna Negra. It is located at 1,650 meters above sea level and its imposing view invites you to enjoy a craft beer. This place is considered a strategic point to visit other shelters such as Lopez, San Martin and Pampa Linda.

Diving in crystal clear waters

March is the perfect time to get to know Bariloche in depth. S embark on an underwater adventure in the transparent waters of southern Argentina to experience a new universe of natural life present in the city. During this time of year, the water temperature varies between 13 and 14 degrees. In the area you can find different places to perform this practice, which cover various difficulties, ranging from diving baptisms to activities deeper than 35 meters..

For example, in Playa Bonita, on the lake Nahuel Huapi Rehabilitation dives, courses and the famous "baptisms" are made. These refer to the first diving experience, which usually lasts 4 hours, when an explanatory statement is accompanied by audio-visual material. After practicing on the surface with the right equipment, the path to the depths begins. This experience lasts between 30 and 50 minutes, depending on the charge of the oxygen tank, and is always accompanied by a certified instructor. On the other hand, there is Arroyo La Angostura, a cbad that connects the city's most famous lakes, the Nahuel Huapi and the Moreno. Although it presents more difficulty, one can observe the typical species of the lakes of Patagonia: lobsters, crabs, trout, perches, puyenes, alevinos, algae; as well as showy formations of accumulated trunks.

For the more adventurous, diving in the Limay River combines the adrenaline of snorkel gear and diving deep into Moreno Lake, which reaches 37 meters deep. This is only recommended for experienced divers who wish to enjoy the local water fauna, encountering rainbow trout, parrones, salmonadas among other species.