What's on in San Carlos de Bariloche (Bariloche), Argentina through the year

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, Argentine summer holidays

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Trout fishing season (1 Nov – 1 May (usually)), Mountain refuges open (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)), Lupins on the roadsides (15 Nov – 10 Jan (usually)), Patagonian fire season (1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually)), Argentine summer holidays (20 Dec – 28 Feb)

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, Argentine summer holidays

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Trout fishing season (1 Nov – 1 May (usually)), Mountain refuges open (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)), Patagonian fire season (1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually)), Argentine summer holidays (20 Dec – 28 Feb)

Busy — between the peaks, Fiesta Nacional del Chocolate

• Festival

  Fiesta Nacional del Chocolate

  29 Mar – 5 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowded

  Bariloche makes chocolate its identity and Easter week is when it proves it, with a giant bar on the Civic Centre and the town full for the long weekend. Source ↗

Still on: Trout fishing season (1 Nov – 1 May (usually)), Mountain refuges open (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)), Patagonian fire season (1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — between the peaks, Fiesta Nacional del Chocolate

• Nature

  Lenga forests turning

  1 Apr – 10 May · usuallyAutumn colour

  The southern beech on the mountainsides goes red and orange through April, on empty trails, with the first snow already on the peaks above.

Still on: Fiesta Nacional del Chocolate (29 Mar – 5 Apr), Trout fishing season (1 Nov – 1 May (usually)), Mountain refuges open (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))

Quiet — the editor's quiet month

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Lenga forests turning (1 Apr – 10 May (usually)), Trout fishing season (1 Nov – 1 May (usually))

Busy — Ski season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Opening

  Cerro Catedral opens

  29 JunSki season

  The biggest ski area in South America aims to open in the last days of June, snow permitting, and runs to early October. Source ↗

• Season

  Ski season

  29 Jun – 4 Oct · usuallyCrowded

  Catedral runs from late June to early October, with the most reliable cover in August and the Argentine winter school holidays filling July from end to end.

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, Ski season

• Holiday

  Winter holidays and school trips

  13–24 JulSchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

  Rio Negro's school recess falls in the middle of July and the town also takes coachloads of graduating school groups through the season. Catedral queues, the Civic Centre is loud until late, and rates are at their peak. Source ↗

Still on: Cerro Catedral opens (29 Jun), Ski season (29 Jun – 4 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, Ski season

• Festival

  Fiesta Nacional de la Nieve

  14–17 AugMajor festivalCrowded

  Four days of free concerts and snow events in the Civic Centre in the middle of August, in the best snow week of the year. Source ↗

Still on: Ski season (29 Jun – 4 Oct (usually))

Busy — between the peaks, Ski season

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Ski season (29 Jun – 4 Oct (usually))

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, Ski season

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Ski season (29 Jun – 4 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — between the peaks

• Season

  Trout fishing season

  1 Nov – 1 May · usuallyForaging season

  The Nahuel Huapi season opens in November and closes at the start of May, with a licence sold by the day at the park office. The Limay below the lake and Boca del Correntoso are the classic beats.

• Season

  Mountain refuges open

  15 Nov – 15 Apr · usuallyTrail season

  The Club Andino huts on Frey, Jakob and Lopez are staffed for the summer half of the year; outside it the high traverses need snow gear and a plan.

• Nature

  Lupins on the roadsides

  15 Nov – 10 Jan · usuallyWildflowers & blooms

  Introduced lupins take over the verges and lake shores from mid-November, at the same time as the long light and the Patagonian wind.

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, Argentine summer holidays

• Hazard

  Patagonian fire season

  1 Dec – 31 Mar · usuallySmoke seasonClosures

  Nahuel Huapi runs a fire risk level through the dry summer and closes trails, campsites and whole valleys when it peaks. A bad January puts smoke over the lake for a week at a time. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Argentine summer holidays

  20 Dec – 28 FebSchool holidaysCrowded

  The town is a national holiday destination and January is the proof: full lake beaches, booked refuges and rates that only come down in March. Source ↗

Still on: Trout fishing season (1 Nov – 1 May (usually)), Mountain refuges open (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)), Lupins on the roadsides (15 Nov – 10 Jan (usually))