Touring the Lakes in Bariloche

Tuesday. A slower start, basic breakfast at 10am. Today’s plan, another attempt at a different part of the extensive National Park for a hike – Parque municipal Llao Llao. However we were also advised to take a ride on a chair lift for a panoramic view of the spectacular lakes Cerro Campanario chairlift.

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The car journey to the chairlift was around 20 minutes and well worth the detour. The weather on our side today meant we were presented with incredible views that spanned to the Chilean border Mountain range. There is a good coffee and snack restaurant at the top. It was very enjoyable and more so on the way down when we saw an enormous group of school children ascending the chairlifts! Phew close shave.

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Another 15 minutes drive brought us to the area we wanted to walk. Shock horror though, notices told us the trail was closed because of forecast winds. We were sure we had seen others entering earlier. Another couple arrived just after us and decided what the heck, they were going, so we followed. We had seen that the weather forecast was predicting high winds a bit later, which was the worry. However, striding onwards we were rewarded with a real forest in every aspect, except for the well cleared path. Trees of all shapes and sizes, many felled by the elements and others growing in their place. Insects buzzing busily in all directions, birds high above with the camouflage of the forest making them hard to spot. Wild flowers, and bright green grass in various coppice where the sunlight had the chance to break through. Every now and again glimpses of a lake, sometimes with side paths to get to the waters edge. The wind was starting to rustle the trees, sounding like flowing water, so felt we needed to limit the distance, so only managed around 8km. For the hardened trekkers there are many trails with varying difficulty and plenty to see.

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Returning to the car park we saw that the ranger was back in his hut and had now added a large red tape to the entrance to the car parking area. Before it was just across the entrance to the path. We slipped away up the bank between two trees! Only one other car remained in the parking area. Our lonely planet guide mentions a Swiss colony established in the early 1900’s – Colonia Suiza – we gave it a cursory visit and from what we saw not really worth the bother. Go if you have the time but otherwise skip it!

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Back to the hotel, having collected laundry, good cup of tea, well as good as we have found thus far….bring your own tea bags! Packed up ready for tomorrows departure at 09.00 to El Calafate. Now resting, listening to our Bose micro speaker playing Smooth Radio from the UK, great sound, looking out at the changing colours of the lake and mountains.

Thinking an Alpine Fondue tonight, waistline not suffering too badly but missing my Pilates…. it’s no good I don’t have the discipline to do it solo. The alpine style restaurant (La Marmite – Pot in Spanish in case you were wondering) was perfect and the Fondue more than adequate, washed down with the usual glass or two of Malbec preceded by David’s mandatory bottle of cold Stella!

Another tip, found out it is the law to have your car headlights on at all times whilst driving!