What to Do on a Rainy Day in Bariloche, Argentina

Bariloche is a favoured haunt of adventurers and fans of the outdoors, but sometimes, it’s just not fun to hike in the rain. The weather in Patagonia can be beautiful one minute, and transformed into a driving storm the next, so it’s important to have a backup plan if you happen to get rained out.

Luckily, there is plenty to do in Bariloche that doesn’t involve being outdoors. Owing to its spectacular location, there is a wealth of luxurious and high-end hotels in the city and the surrounding area. A great option for getting out of the rain is to pamper yourself by heading to a spa for the day. The famous Llao Llao hotel has a state-of-the-art spa, and if you are lucky enough to be staying there on your trip to Bariloche, you can indulge in some treatments and therapy sessions.

If you are not staying at Llao Llao, you can head to the Alma del Lago hotel, which offers day spa sessions at affordable rates. Lounge by the pool and watch the rain outside as you wait for your massage before cooling off in the hot tub.

A pastime that always goes down well rain or shine in Bariloche is to drink some locally brewed craft beer. Bariloche is famous for its beer, and has a wealth of local breweries that serve up some of most deliciously hoppy beers Argentina has to offer. Check out the incredible Patagonia brewery with its jaw-dropping view, or head to Berliner, Kunstmann or Manush to try some homegrown ales, IPAs and stouts.

And of course, no trip to Bariloche would be complete without visiting the town’s famous chocolate shops. If you need to duck out of the rain, head to Rapa Nui or Mamuschka and take a seat in either of their cafés, where you can drink some of the best hot chocolate in the world. This is sure to warm you up if you have been caught in a shower.

A lot of people rent a car when they come to Bariloche, so that they have the freedom and independence to explore the region at their leisure. If you have a car, a great rainy day activity that will not involve you getting wet is to drive the famous Circuito Chico. Although visibility will most certainly be limited, sometimes the anti-view is almost as good as the view itself, and you can hop out quickly and take some snaps at the various lookout points along the way. One of the highlights of the Circuito Chico is Colonia Suiza, a tiny mountain town that takes its cues from Switzerland. Duck into one of the many chalet-type restaurants that form this little settlement, and eat locally caught trout fresh from the sparkling Patagonian rivers.