January 30, 2025. Sendero Cerro Campanario. Bariloche, Argentina.
Cerro Campanario is a major attraction in Bariloche. Locals rave about the nearly 360-degree views it offers of the Andes Mountains. We had been driving by the Cerro Campanario complex for days and always saw crowds of people, tour buses full of tourists, and heavy traffic. This morning, we decided to go wake up early and explore it.
There are two ways to reach the summit: a chairlift and a trail. We chose the trail, and although it was only three-quarters of a mile long, the elevation gain was 732 feet. It was a steady climb, but the reward at the top made it worthwhile.
As is typical here, there was a well-appointed restaurant with comfortable outdoor seating and a store selling drinks and lunch items. We lingered at the summit for about an hour. On our way down, we met a married couple of doctors from Buenos Aires. We spent about an hour sharing travel stories, and they were open and frank about the struggles even professionals face in Argentina due to currency volatility and a lack of confidence in the banking system. Like every other Argentinian we’ve met, they were welcoming, warm, and talkative. By the end of our conversation, we had a standing invitation to stay with them in Buenos Aires on our next visit.
If you come to Bariloche, we encourage you to visit Cerro Campanario. Test your cardiovascular endurance and hike it if you’re up to the challenge, but if not, take the chairlift. Either way, it’s worth the visit.
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