El Bolsón is located in the middle of the Andes in Argentine Patagonia, 120 km south of Bariloche and is the starting point for numerous activities in the area. If you love hiking, this is the place for you.
Various huts including campsites offer accommodation for multi-day hikes to discover the beautiful landscape.
This guide provides information on the town of El Bolsón to give you an overview of what to expect, where you can stay, recommendations on places to eat and other useful information.
This place is mostly known among Argentinians and not very frequented by international tourists. So if you're looking for a more local destination, this is the place for you!
El Bolsón itself is a charming town with green areas, a central square featuring a small lake, a large number of inviting restaurants and bars, and an arts and crafts market.
Hiking enthusiats and nature lovers come here to spend some days on one of the various hiking tracks that you can reach from the town or just have some relaxed days at one of the campgrounds or huts.
How To Get There
CAR
If you're taveling by car, you can reach El Bolsón in two hours from Bariloche.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Bariloche - El Bolsón
If you're coming from Bariloche, you can reach El Bolsón by public transportation using the bus company "Vía Tac," which takes about 2 hours (price approximately 2,25 €).
El Bolsón - Further South (Or Vice Versa)
If you plan to continue further south to Ushuaia, you'll need to use the bus company "Marga Taqsa" as they are the sole provider for that route.
Tickets for Marga Taqsa can be bought online on "Plataforma 10" or in the following office in El Bolsón:
At this office, you can buy bus tickets and it's also here that the "Marga Taqsa" busses leave from.
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In El Bolsón
Once you're in El Bolsón, you can make use of the local bus connections for getting around the town and its surroundings.
Feria Artesanal
This market takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, where you can find regional food, jewelry, and artisanal products, among other things.
Location: Plaza Pagano
Plaza Pagano, Feria artesanal El Bolsón, Río Negro
This market takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, where you can find regional food, jewelry, and artisanal products, among other things.
This is the tourist information in El Bolsón. They provide you with a brochure about El Bolsón that includes vouchers for several places, maps and other important information. I highly advise consulting them before starting a hike as they have the latest information about the state of the tracks, if it's safe or if parts might be closed and also about the weather forecast.
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What To Do
Spending time in El Bolsón, the focus definitely lies on being outdoors and in nature. There are several activitites for the adventurous.
Horseback riding, climbing and abseiling, rafting, canopy or paragliding, fishing or skiing in winter. The area is predestined for such activities.
The main activity in the area though is hiking and there is some incredible landscape to be discovered. Beautiful forests, a glacier, ice caves and an incredibly impressive river that has crystal-clear waters with radiant turquoise-green colors and waterholes to swim in.
There is so much to see and doing multi-day hikes offer a great experience staying in a hut or the campground far away from civilisation and connecting with nature again.
Find the itinerary to my 4-day hike, including the above mentioned sights with all the important information and stops along the way, here:
A super beautiful accommodation on a secluded and tranquil property with spectacular views on the mountains, a big garden with swimming pool and a jacuzzi.
A perfect place if you want to stay in a quiet place but still be in walking distance to restaurants and bars.
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MID-RANGE OPTIONS
Depending on how many people are traveling, some of these options qualify as budget options too.
This place is located outside the town, 10 minutes by car from Plaza Pagano, in middle of nature. The apartments leave nothing to wish for and are perfect if you are looking for a quiet place with fully equipped kitchen. All the apartments have garden and mountain views.
A stay in nature! 12 km from El Bolsón with a big garden, this alpine style accommodation features an outdoor and indoor swimming pool, sauna, the option for massages AND it is only a 20 minutes away from the start of the most famous hike in the area - Cajón del Azul.
Very new and super modern accomodation in nordic style. Every unit has a kitchen and a balcony with mountain views. There`s a garden that can be enjoyed and you're less than 1 km from Plaza Pagano. Super central!
Embedded in an amazing natural setting, you will stay in Chalets here. They are beautifully furnished and provide everything you need. Each one has a terrace and bbq. It's 10 minutes to Plaza Pagano ang guests were more than happy with their stay which resulsts in one of the best ratings in El Bolsón.
The highly and of the best rated accommodation in El Bolsón. Semaná apartments are very centrally located, just steps a way from Plaza Pagano. The host is amazing and more than happy to help if you need anything. Cleanliness is exceptional, the apartments have a fully equipped kitchen, there are parking spaces and a yard to sit outside and enjoy the sun.
Looking for a place to yourself in a quiet neighbourhood? You can rent an apartment here that is nicely furnished with everything you need and provides beautiful views on the mountains.
Incredible place with bungalows that feature a kitchen, spectacular views on the mountains and an excellent host. The property has a beautiful garden and it's just 10 minutes by car to Plaza Pagano.
I highly recommend the "La Casita Naranja" hostel. The warm and welcoming atmosphere made it the place where I felt most comfortable in Patagonia. In the common area there is also a huge hiking map with an overview of all the travel times between the individual huts, which is very helpful for planning your hiking route.
This hostel welcomes you with a rustic charm, a cozy common room with fireplace, very well equipped kitchen and a great garden to relax outside. It's just a 10 minute walk to the center.
A good selection of craft beer and other drinks and the pizza was really good. Other than that ehy serve sandwiches, burgers, schnitzel, fries etc.
A really nice place to sit outside as well.
This is a small pasta place in a side alley. You can choose the pasta and the sauce you'd like to go with it. The main focus lies on pasta but they also have a few other dishes. Everything was very tasty there and is freshly made.
If you're looking for a snack or something to take with you on a hike, this place sells "sandwiches de miga", typical argentinian sandwiches. There is a huge variety you can choose from and they also have some empanadas. Really good place, tasty and pretty cheap.
Argentina is renowned for its excellent ice cream and El Bolsón proves this as well. The ice cream shop "Helados Jauja" serves some of the best ice cream I've ever tasted. I highly recommend trying the flavors white chocolate with raspberry and Mousse del Piltri.
This ice cream shop is highly recommended for its extraordinary ice cream flavors and the use of locally sourced, eco-friendly ingredients. It's a popular choice among locals and visitors alike.
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