Bariloche has the network of most important mountain refuges in South America, making them a great option to enjoy the mountain up close. All offer places to sleep, meals, excursions and bathrooms.
What began many years ago as a resting point in the ascents of the mountaineers , today is an excellent alternative to enjoy the landscape, the gastronomy and the activities that the refuges themselves offer such as trekking and fishing. In Bariloche you will find many refuges and all in excellent condition, most are run by Club de Andinistas and others are concessioned.
Next we leave you a guide with all the shelters, their characteristics and how to get to each one of them:
Domes of the Refugio Neumeyer
A 20 kilometers from the center of Bariloche in a southeast direction is the refuge of the Club Andino Dr. Juan Neumeyer, in the middle of Nahuel Huapi National Reserve.
The spirit of the mountain is lived in full in the Neumeyer refuge, which is for daytime use, except in summer when overnight stays are allowed. It is located in the Challhuaco Valley , surrounded by the Ñireco , Carbón, Ventana and Challhuaco hills.
Its original structure was built by Manolo Puente Blanco in 1971 and is named after a pioneer from Bariloche. In 2014 the Neumeyer Refuge suffered a fire and was reconditioned with 10 domes (each one with capacity up to 5 people). They are very well conditioned spaces, heated and decorated with all the comforts. In the Neumeyer they also have gastronomic offers, where you can enjoy regional dishes such as Patagonian lamb with seasonal vegetables, trout seasoned with forest spices or risotto with mushrooms or loin. You can also have a drink (the craft beers are a must!) Or buy regional products such as jams, chocolates and handicrafts.
The Neumeyer Refuge has the added value that you can get there renting a car (ideal 4x4) or on foot. And whether you are walking or driving your car from the roundabout of Circunvalación and Ruta Nacional 40 (Diarco) take the Circunvalación for 1.5 kilometers and turn right onto the gravel road. Travel along the valley and along the mountain path following the signs passing through the Challhuaco complex until you reach the Neumeyer Refuge.
If you do the route On foot it is 5 kilometers from the town of the Chalhuaco Valley it is an approximate time of 3 hours of walking with 310 meters of unevenness. The path is very well signposted from the beginning by the path "Ex Refugio Neumeyer - Challhuaco". It is an excellent option to do as a family since the level of difficulty is low.
The Neumeyer Refuge is open all year round and in spring - summer Different activities are offered such as walks to Cerro Challhuaco (2 hours and a half) and to the viewpoints of the Green Lagoon (1 hour), the Ñirihuau (1 hour and a half) and the Challhuaco valley (20 minutes). You can also take other short walks from the refuge through the well-marked trails to the “Mirador del Valle” and the “Valle de los Perdidos”.
Refugio Emilio Frey
It is located at the foot of the Frey needle about 1700 meters above sea level , surrounded by towers, rocky spiers and on the banks of the Toncek lagoon with green and cold waters.
The refuge was inaugurated in 1957, its name was in tribute to the engineer Emilio Frey , who since 1895 was linked to the Andean area as a member of the limits commission chaired by Perito Moreno. He was also Mayor of the National Park and one of the founders of the Club Andino Bariloche, which he presided over for 23 years.
The Frey Refuge is Open all the year long. It is one of the most picturesque in the region. It is a true masterpiece of granite carving. Inside it is covered in wood and its roof is made of tiles. On the ground floor are the kitchen and a large dining room with wood heating, electric heaters and lighting that work with a turbine were also installed.
The bedrooms (35 beds) are located on the first floor, they have mattresses, blankets and pillows. The kitchen is equipped with saucepans, plates and cutlery, as well as basic condiments and hot water 24 hours a day. There are also toilets with running water.
Another service provided is an open kiosk from morning to night, where you can buy basic kitchen and hygiene items. From November to April, Refugio Frey o offers a food menu , where you can taste cold cuts or loin sandwiches. There are also burgers, salads and pasta. For fans of sweets, there is not a great variety on the menu but they offer everything from ice cream to chocolate cakes, alfajores and dulce de leche pancakes.
In the refuge they also offer excursions of climbing, elements for ice skating (the lagoon freezes in winter) and technical ski touring equipment.
The Frey Refuge can be reached by different paths from different paths, I will detail below the safest:
- Camino Tradicional: It is the most conventional form of get. It begins next to the parking lot of the Cerro Catedral (from the base it is about 10 kilometers to the Refugio), where a large wooden sign with white letters, visible from the bus stop, announces the Refuge. Some arrows guide you to the beginning, heading up the wide track, you walk about 30 minutes until the track becomes a path. It heads south until it reaches the valley of the Van Titter stream, where it begins to ascend.
After two hours On the way, you will cross the stream over a bridge to arrive, 20 minutes later, at Piedritas classic rest stop. An hour later you arrive at the Frey Refuge, at an altitude of 1,700 meters. The duration of the tour is 4 hours and the level of difficulty is low.
- Camino Catedral: Summer trekking that begins at the end of the lift route, either in Punta Princesa or in the Lynch Refuge from Alta Patagonia. From Punta Princesa it's a 3 hour walk from Lynch, 3 and a half hours. The trail is well marked with red paint. The terrain is stone, quite uneven and rugged at first, of medium difficulty. Then it gets smoother until it reaches the turnoff.
Continuing to the left you reach the Frey Refuge and, to the right, you reach the Jakob Refuge. It is recommended to do this hike in good weather, clear sky and without wind.
- Camino Eslovenia: This path begins at the park rangers section from Lake Gutiérrez, near Villa los Coihues. You can get renting a car or taking the bus line 50 and get off at the Villa stop, next to the entrance bridge to the neighborhood. You continue walking along the gravel road that borders the lake for about 3 kilometers until you reach the end of the road, where the park ranger and the autocamping are located. There the trail begins, leading to the beautiful Los Duendes waterfall. Just before arriving, it veers to the left, slowly beginning to ascend.
After 2 hours, there is a signposted detour. Going to the left you access the Muñoz beach to the right, the Frey Refuge is located. From this detour, about 3 more hours are estimated. The climb is steep, so it is recommended to be in good physical condition and carry at least 1 and a half liters of water per person.
Another of the most popular options to get to the Frey Refuge is the full-day guided hike, where you will go through the native forests and observe all the local flora and fauna until reaching the refuge to enjoy a lunch with beautiful views of the lagoon and the Andes Mountains. During this 8 hour trek you will also have privileged landscapes of the the Lago Gutierrez and the Van Titter Valley. The season for this excursion is from November to June.
Refugio San Martín - Jakob
The San Martín Refuge (Jakob) is the favorite place for campers and backpackers, for being located in a place of exceptional charm. It is on the left bank of Lake Jakob, at 1600 meters above sea level. It is 18 kilometers from the center of Bariloche and takes between 4 and 6 hours to get there through the "Sendero Frey - Jakob" that begins at the "Tambo". It offers overnight and breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner service.
The trekking to the Jakob lagoon is undertaken in the Báez tambo, on the old road to Colonia Suiza, and proceed towards the Casa de Piedra stream. The trail begins on route 252, one kilometer from the road bridge over the stream Casa de Piedra . Walking 800 meters, you enter a tall coihues forest, and then descend to the banks of the Casa de Piedra stream. You cross a suspension bridge and continue to a high forest from where the slope begins to be pronounced, until you meet the stream again, where there is a bridge. There you cross the stream, and you walk 45 minutes to access the refuge.
The original refuge from 1952, caught fire in 2017 and was reopened in April of 2018. This was built with stone and wood. The new structure has gastronomy and overnight services. Currently, it has a capacity to comfortably accommodate up to 60 people approximately. This shelter is equipped with two large bedrooms with 50 bunk beds, blankets and blankets, with capacity for 100 people. During the summer months there is a refugee caretaker.
It is also an excellent starting point to get to know other places, such as the famous Témpanos lagoon which is reached in half an hour's walk. It owes its name to the transparent blocks of floating ice that can be seen in it during the first months of summer.
You can also walk the Schweitzer Pass, as well as continue the journey towards the Lake Mascardi, Cerros Cella and Cuernos del Diablo. In high season, it is recommended to book in advance, especially for groups.
The refuge known as Jakob, bears his name in honor of Dr. Christofredo Jakob, a scientist who taught classes at the universities of La Plata and Buenos Aires, carefully explored the Tronador area, as well as the Moreno, Nahuel Huapí and the Pampa Linda area. He was the discoverer of the lagoon that years later Otto Meiling baptized with his name.
Refugio Italia Manfredo Segre - Laguna Negra
This refuge was inaugurated in the 1969/70 season , it has the capacity to house about 30 people. It is located on the shores of the Black Lagoon and the homonymous hill, at 1650 meters above sea level. Reaching it requires about 5 hours of walking. The walk starts from Colonia Suiza, very close to the bridge over the Goye stream, on route RP 79.
Passing Colonia Suiza and before crossing the Goye stream, you can see the sign indicating the trail "Manfredo Segre - Laguna Negra" that leads to this refuge. The walk begins on a path surrounded by coihues.
At the beginning of the path there is a slight and constant climb of a considerable width. Later the path begins to narrow, until it becomes a path, which is marked with red marks. These marks can be seen on tree trunks and on stones, at an average height, so that they are easily distinguished. The path reaches the Arroyo Goye, where you can rest for a few minutes. From there you follow a path through a coihue forest and later lengas. On the tour you will also be able to see cypresses, radales and ñires.
We ascend to the valley, crossing several "mallines", marshy lands with a lot of mud and different sizes. The little ones can jump, but in other cases there are bridges placed for the crossing. You then arrive at a camping area known as Rancho Manolo, named after the ranch that Manolo Puente used as a base for the construction of the refuge. This place is easy to recognize, but it is also marked with official signs of the Nahuel Huapi National Park.
The steepest climb begins from here. First they cross two streams, the Navidad and the Negro, or Goye. From there begins what is known as the Caracol, because the path begins to ascend in a zigzag. Some say that there are seventeen laps in total, but each visitor has their version. At the end of the Caracol is the Laguna Negra and its refuge. The route is of medium difficulty and has a slope of 800 meters above sea level.
At the Manfredo Refuge, visitors can use the kitchen, as well as request information about the different routes and their distances.
The refugee stays between November and April: the rest of the year can be accessed, although there are no services. In addition to the delicious meals on offer such as pasta stuffed with pumpkin or trout, gnocchi with stew, and steaks with a variety of salads, mashed potatoes and chips, walkers can also try the craft beer that is Made with pure water from the Black Lagoon. The varieties that can be tasted are the Ipa with an intense flavor, the Porter with chocolate and toasted flavor, the Blonde with a mild flavor and the Amber, with a malt flavor and bitter hops.
From this refuge they are also very accessible to explore the Colonia Suiza, Cerro Negro, Cerro Manolo, Marino and Bailey Willys.
Refugio Cerro López - The best panoramic view
Near the top of the hill is the López refuge, a space located at 1620 meters above sea level. It has one of the best views of the lake Nahuel Huapi, the hills and valleys of the National Park.
It has capacity for housing 100 people and is the largest and most comfortable of the mountain huts. It offers the usual gastronomy services, overnight stays and baths with running water. It also has two large bedrooms and a spacious dining room. It is closed only in the winter months (June to October).
The López refuge was baptized by Perito Moreno in memory of Alejandro Vicente López y Planes, writer and politician, president of the Nation and author of the lyrics of the Argentine national anthem.
From the refuge you can make trekking excursions to the Main peaks, Turista and La Hoya, among others, as well as connecting with other mountain refuges in crossings of several days. Due to its location and height, the surroundings of the refuge retain snow until well into the summer.
To get to Cerro López you have to go to kilometer 22.5 of the Small Circuit, where you will find the "Cerro López" path that starts to the left of the López stream and then continue along the path marked "Camino al Refugio López". You can get there from Bariloche, taking the
colectivo on line 10, which It goes to Colonia Suiza Bariloche (25 kilometers from the city).
At the beginning, the path climbs slightly through a wooded area and then increases its slope . The vegetation thickens until it reaches a ridge where you will find a panoramic point of view. This path is not difficult to do, but you have to be prepared to walk up a steady climb. In return, the view it offers is great!
In case of
rent a vehicle you go through two other refuges:
the Black Rock and the Enchanted End, from where you can take short walks or snowshoe (in winter), as well as taste regional foods. To continue the journey to the López refuge you have to keep going up, along the same path, until you cross the
López stream . Once there, you must walk a short distance to get to the refuge.
It is worth noting the interesting and very easy excursion to “La Hoya ” (1850 m) and up to the “Pico Turista” (2050 m) that can be done from this refuge. La Hoya, half an hour away, has the peculiarity of containing snow until the summer months, being a very striking attraction for visitors and campers.
Refugio Otto Meiling
It is located on the Tronador hill, between the Castaño Overa and Alerce, at 2000 meters above sea level . It is built in reinforced concrete and wood, it has one of the most impressive views of the Nahuel Huapi National Park . On the upper floor there is space for approximately 60 people to sleep and on the ground floor there is a kitchen, a large dining room, bathrooms and a large area to dry wet clothes, where the wood heating is located.
In addition to meals and accommodation, the refuge offers ski equipment rental and hiring of mountain guides to ascend the Tronador peaks, go ice climbing or go hiking on the glaciers. Getting to this refuge takes about 5 to 7 hours of walking along the Otto trail , passing by the Castaño Overa River, La Almohadilla and the Descanso de los Caballos.
Normal access to the refuge is along the path from Pampa Linda (65 kilometers from downtown Bariloche). The road covers 3 kilometers and 50 meters of unevenness, an almost flat route from the park rangers section. From there, the ascent is undertaken by a mountain path of 6 kilometers and 500 meters of unevenness until reaching the top of the hill, a place called La Almohadilla.
Then the route continues with less unevenness and, after walking 2 kilometers with 150 meters of unevenness, you reach the Rest of the Horses, where the final part of the ascent begins, of 3 kilometers and 350 meters of unevenness, advancing through the edge, no longer vegetation and with paint marks on the stones that indicate the route to the refuge.
From the Otto Meiling refuge you also go to being able to visit nearby places such as Pampa Linda, Paso de las Nubes valley and Castaño Overa glacier.
Refugio Lynch
This classic refu gio located in the middle of the mountain was built 60 years ago at 2000 meters above sea level. The Lynch refuge is a concrete and wood construction from 1943 that invites to enjoy the typical regional gastronomy in its restaurant with capacity for 300 people in its two rooms or on the terrace (it can be accessed throughout the year).
Among the star dishes are: locro with Patagonian lamb, goulash, baked trout with grilled vegetables and the popular Neapolitan style milanesa with potatoes fries.
To get to the Lynch you have to climb 1800 meters, where Hermida is. It can be done by cable rail, then continue for 200 more meters along the Lynch chair and walk a few meters through the Patagonian steppe. For the more adventurous, the refuge can also be accessed on foot (only in summer) from the "Lynch Refuge" trail located and signposted at the base of Villa Catedral. It is a hike of medium - low difficulty, in which you must travel this gravel path for 8 kilometers.
The Lynch refuge has a privileged location to contemplate all the beauty that surrounds the Cerro Catedral as well as the city of Bariloche.
For those who want to spend the night in the middle of the mountain , the refuge has on the upper floor with three bedrooms with capacity for 8 people in each of them, two bathrooms, a reading room and a restaurant from 9 am to 5 pm.
Refugio Agostino Rocca - Paso de las Nubes
The refuge was opened in 2012, is at 1,432 meters above sea level and has 10 rooms with capacity for 80 people, kitchen a nursing room, toilets and showers. It is a quite modern refuge compared to the rest, it is heated with electric plates and remains open between November 1 and April 23.
For To get to the Rocca Refuge you have to travel 14.3 kilometers, starting from Pampa Linda , at the base of the Tronador hill, 80 kilometers from the city of Bariloche. After registering with the park rangers section, the trail allows you to enjoy the company of the Castaño Overo rivers and, later on, Alerce.
It is a walk between 4 and 6 hours along the Paso de las Nuebes trail , where you will have incredible views of the Frías glacier and the Frías river valley. The level of difficulty ranges from low to medium. It can be done between November and April. The total ascent of this route is 710 meters.
The hike starts from the Pampa Linda spot. You travel approximately 3 kilometers until you reach a footbridge that crosses the Castaño Overa River. Continue along this path following the signs to the Paso de las Nubes and border the Alerce stream for 2 or 3 hours, walking on a terrain with little slope. Then, you cross the Alerce bridge and enter the Caracol, climbing about 490 meters for an hour, or an hour and a half, to then travel a fairly flat stretch up the slope until you reach the refuge.
The Paseo de las Cascadas, the ascent to Cerro Constitución and the journey to Puerto Frías are among the walks that can be done from the Rocca refuge. You will also have numerous impressive views of the Constitución and Parque hills, the Frías glacier, the Argentino and Chileno peaks of the Tronador hill, as well as a panoramic view of the valley that the Alerce and Frías rivers cross, with its spectacular lake of crystalline green waters.
You can also go from the Paso de las Nubes refuge, the Frías Glacier and Puerto Blest.
Refugio Berghof
Unlike other shelters, It is only for daytime use but it's still worth a visit. In addition to a beautiful panoramic view over Lake Nahuel Huapi and the city of Bariloche, this place gives history: the pioneer and founder of the Club Andino Bariloche, Otto Meiling, lived there. In that corner, the first ski factory and the first ski center in South America worked.
It is the refuge more close to the city center is about 2 hours of walking. You can visit the old Don Otto's home, converted into museum, or participate in the Sturm und Drang ( jazz, funk and latin), which is organized the first nights of the months of May, December and February. It is also accompanied by a delicious evening with fixed menus, the most outstanding being the stuffed bell pepper (starter), sirloin steak on the disk (main course) and apple pancakes (dessert).
In 2013 the New Berghof Shelter was inaugurated, following the fire that destroyed the historic structure two years earlier. This space consists of a spacious living room, a very complete kitchen and a pantry. It is built mostly of wood. The nights at the refuge are the perfect combination of music, gastronomy and a unique view of Bariloche.
Otto Meiling was one of the pioneer mountaineers of Bariloche and the Berghof was their home for a long time . In the 1930s he built several buildings: his private house, the refuge that was first called “Bergfreude” (in German, Mountain Joy) and later “Berghof”, two bungalows (known as Horseflies and Pichi ruca, which means “ small house ”in Mapuche), and a workshop where they made skis. Thanks to this factory, and the interest of Otto Meiling and other inhabitants of the region from Europe, the Tronador ski school was born. Thus, Bariloche begins to transform into the international ski center that it is today.
To get to the refuge there are several alternatives: with a vehicle , on foot or using the cable car (the station is located at Av. Pioneros kilometers 5). To ascend to the refuge you must take the path next to the car path that begins at kilometer 1 of Pioneros avenue.
This path "Refugio Berghof" It is developed with a gentle slope, that is why it is considered the easiest of the accesses to refuges of the Club Andino Bariloche. The journey takes about 2 hours (7 kilometers). In the case of going by car from the center of Bariloche you must take the Exequiel Bustillo Avenue to the RP82, there take a left to the Cerro Otto Access that you must take and drive for 5 kilometers until you see the Berghof Refuge on your left.
Near the refuge you can visit the Nordic ski slopes, the alpine ski center "Piedras Blancas" (and its sector of climbing with equipped routes), the Habsburg stone and the rotating confectionery . Another great attraction is visiting the old house of Don Otto Mailing, now converted into a museum.