I was super-excited to explore the amazing area around Bariloche & we booked a kayak tour our first afternoon. I started out with a lovely morning run & then we had some time to kill before our excursion. I never pass up the chance to get high, so we decided to check out the Teleferico Cerro Otto, otherwise known as a gondola to the top of the mountain.
Let’s just say AWESOME! It was cold & windy up there, but the views were so stinking incredible!
They offered “tubing” (like a luge) and had some nearby trails for hiking up higher onto the surrounding mountains.
I was absolutely captivated by the nearby spires and jagged peaks of the Andes.
And as a bonus, we could even see a few snow (or glacier) capped mountains off in the distance.
But the really glorious views were back towards the lake with even more mountains dotting the horizon.
I’d happily live atop a mountain (or even at the bottom), if I could be surrounded by such beauty everyday.
The gondola building itself was quite impressive- food, a museum, and several other activities.
The gondola was a bit east of town & the town of Bariloche is the densely populate area along the shoreline in the background.
Mid-morning was such a perfect time to come up to the top- great view, brilliant lighting on the mountains behind us & not too crowded yet.
I’ll take two please!
We could even see the little cove with stunning blue waters and beach area below our hotel at Charming Lodge.
The town of Barioche itself is nestled up to the shoreline and you have great water views from many downtown spots.
It was activities like this that easily made Bariloche one of my favorite stops on our trip- reminded me so much of Lake Tahoe or Queenstown from up above.
There was so much to look at up top with 360 degree views of all the surrounding mountains & valleys. I wished we’d had more time to explore or do some hiking, but we didn’t want to miss our kayak trip.
Supposedly you can hike to these peaks in an area called Cerro Cathederal (or at least get closer). Not doing this hike & going horseback riding instead was one of my few regrets while in Barilcohe. I’d always prefer to get up close & into the mountains whenever I can.
You can also do parasailing off the peak; we watched eagerly as two people took the plunge and enjoyed the long way to the bottom with incredible views.
GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: Loved being in Philly again and seeing my best friend, but excited to get home this morning & see my husband and puppies- I missed them!
