Where in the World?

Question: Where in the world can you find “Little Switzerland” south of the equator?

Answer: San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina

San Carlos de Bariloche is a quaint mountain town that makes most travelers wonder whether they’ve accidentally hopped upon a plane headed to Switzerland. While the locals just call this picturesque lakeside village “Bariloche,” there’s a reason it’s earned the nickname of “Little Switzerland” amongst travelers far and wide.

Located in the southern part of Argentina, occupying the northern Patagonia region, and nipping at the ankles of the Andes, Bariloche is strung out along the shoreline of a crystalline glacial lake named Lago Nahuel Huapi. Lago Nahuel Huapi’s name is a mixture of Spanish and Mapudungun (which is the language of the Mapuche people, spoken in south-central Chile and west-central Argentina), deriving from the shape of its major island.

“Lago” is a Spanish word—it just means “Lake” in English—but “Nahuel” translates to "Puma" or “Jaguar” in Mapudungun while “Huapi” translates to "Island.” Thus, in the Mapudungen tongue, this lake is called “Island of Puma” or “Island of Jaguar.” There is, however, more to the word "Nahuel"—it can also signify “a man who, by sorcery, has been transformed into a puma.” So, in theory, this lake could also be called “Island of a Man Who, By Sorcery, Has Been Transformed into a Puma.” Whew, a bit hard to say that one in a single breath.

Anyway, this "pawsitively" stunning lake is situated in the middle of Nahuel Huapi National Park, which is the oldest national park in Argentina, established in 1934. While the Island of Puma, Jaguar, or a Man Who, By Sorcery, Has Been Transformed into a Puma is by far the largest glacial lake in the park, there are quite a few crystal-clear lakes to compete within the park's two million acres. There are also quite a few mountains.

For example, the soaring peaks of Cerros Catedral, López, Nireco and Shaihuenque (to name just a few)—all well over 6,500 feet high—surround the town of Bariloche, offering breathtaking views in all directions. And these mountains aren’t just easy on the eyes: Excellent snow coverage (sometimes exceeding six or seven feet at the end of the season) make Bariloche a winter wonderland for skiers and snowboarders alike. It’s also a magnet for nature buffs during the summertime, where travelers can enjoy hitting the hills to climb, hike trails, fish for trout, push the pedal to the metal on mountain bikes, ride horses, and more.

So, what’s the history of this scenic mountain town? How’d Bariloche get the nickname of “Little Switzerland”? Well, early in the 20th century, Swiss, German, and Austrian settlers decamped here once the native population of the area was defeated, lured in by the crisp alpine air and astonishing natural beauty. In the 1930s, with the creation of a southern railway link and the bestowing of a National Park title on the region, Bariloche really began blossoming.

Today, European flourishes continue to abound in Bariloche. It makes sense that Bariloche has earned its title as “Little Switzerland” when you look at the rustic wood chalets and stone architecture of the city center, the plethora of skiing, and the populace’s passion for craft chocolate.

Three Fun Facts and One Not-So-Fun-Fact About Bariloche:

• San Carlos de Bariloche was partially named after the owner of a general store: In 1895, Carlos Wiederhold, a Chilean of German descent, built a general store in Bariloche called “La Alemana” (which translates from Spanish to English as “The German”). He exported leather, wool, cheese, butter, potatoes, and other goods. Settlers kept coming in bunches, setting up sawmills, blacksmith shops, and milk farms and thus continuing the development of the small community. The town very much grew around Wiederhold’s shop until, seven years later, President Julio Argentino Roca—eager to secure claims of Argentinean land in Patagonia amidst border disputes—officially decreed the village an agricultural settlement and named it after its “founder.” Meanwhile, the name Bariloche came from the Mapudungun language, meaning “people from behind the mountain.”


• There’s a revolving cafeteria overlooking Bariloche: At the top of Mount Otto—about 4,610 feet above sea level—you'll find a revolving cafeteria, the only one in the country. With glass windows all around it, this café turns 360 degrees and in 20 minutes shows you the surrounding area as you enjoy a delicious hot chocolate with a variety of exquisite regional delights.


• Bariloche is considered the chocolate capital of Argentina: In 2015, San Carlos de Bariloche was officially declared by Argentina’s Congress as the National Capital of Chocolate. In the downtown area of Bariloche is where you’ll find La Calle Mitre—or what Argentines call “The Avenue of Chocolate Dreams”—which is lined with lots of little shops for picking up souvenirs and chocolate.


• Bariloche once made international press headlines—and not in a good way: In 1995, it was discovered that former Nazi war criminals such as Erich Priebke—a mid-ranking Nazi official who had climbed to the rank of “Hauptsturmführer” in the infamous SS—had been hiding away in Bariloche for 50 years. Priebke was personally responsible for a massacre of over 300 Italian citizens and, when brought to trial in Rome, he never expressed a shred of remorse, citing he was “just following orders” and was “executing terrorists.” He received a life sentence and stayed under house arrest in Rome until his death in 2013.

Explore "Little Switzerland," treat your tastebuds in Argentina’s National Capital of Chocolate, and take in some stunning views of Nahuel Huapi National Park during our Chile & Argentina: The Andes to Patagonia adventure.