Colonia Suiza is a small alpine village in the province of Rio Negro and its name translates to ‘Swiss Colony’ seeing as it was founded by a group of Swiss settlers.
This village is a great destination for a day trip from Bariloche since it is located just 25 kilometres outside the city. Plus, it’s a fun destination where you can eat Swiss/German food, enjoy some beach time, visit one of the best craft breweries in Patagonia, meet mythical forest creatures and so much more!
Colonia Suiza doesn’t have a lot of infrastructure in terms of accommodations, however, it is a popular camping destination and there are a handful of bunkies for those who want to stay overnight.
In this travel guide, we’ll share exactly how you can visit Colonia Suiza from Bariloche and everything you can see and do once you’re there.
A brief history of Colonia Suiza
Colonia Suiza was founded in the late 19th century by the Goye family who were originally from the Canton of Valais in Switzerland.
They first arrived in Chile where they settled and worked for a few years. However, they eventually crossed the Andes Mountain Range to reach Argentina, and it wasn’t long before others also followed.
Though many Swiss immigrants initially settled in Chile, a number of them were drawn to the region around Bariloche. Not only did the lakes and forests remind them of their homeland, but the fertile land also offered them better opportunities for farming.
Many of these Swiss families who crossed over settled at the foot of Cerro Lopez and worked in agriculture, grinding grain by hand and shipping these goods over to Chile via the Andean lakes on ships that they also built themselves.
Aside from that, they planted orchards with cherries, plums, peaches, apples and pears, and used these fruits to elaborate the jams the Swiss colony is now known for.
How to get to Colonia Suiza
There are a few different ways to get to Colonia Suiza from Bariloche so we’re going to outline all of those options:
Car
If you feel confident driving in Argentina, you may want to consider renting a car for greater mobility. Colonia Suiza is located 24 kilometres from Bariloche and it is a 36-minute drive to get there.
You’ll head west on Avenida Exequiel Bustillo which follows the lakeshore. You’ll then take the second exit onto Circuito Chico/RP77 and turn left onto Genoveva Beveraggi shortly after.
Bus
You can also reach Colonia Suiza from Bariloche by bus, which is what we did.
You can catch Bus 10 in Bariloche either at the Bus Terminal or Centro. This bus only stops in Colonia Suiza a few times a day, so you’ll want to check the schedule.
If your bus doesn’t stop in Colonia Suiza, you’ll want to get off at the roundabout at Km 18 and then transfer to Bus 13.
As you’ll notice on the schedules, buses are not very frequent, so you’ll want to time your return right. Don’t miss the last bus because you’ll have to either hitchhike or call a taxi to get back to Bariloche.
Bike
If you’d rather have a more active day, another way to reach Colonia Suiza is by bike.
You can rent a mountain bike or electric bike in Bariloche at Patagonia Bike Trips or Circuito Chico Adventure. This option allows you to embark on your own self-guided tour of Circuito Chico and Colonia Suiza.
While Avenida Exequiel Bustillo has a steady flow of traffic, you can opt to take the back way to Colonia Suiza via Ruta Provincial 79, an old dirt road that is seldom used by vehicles.
Things to Do in Colonia Suiza
Artesanal Fair
One of the main things to do in Colonia Suiza is to visit the Artesanal Fair in the centre of town.
Known locally as the Feria Artesanal, this is a market that sets up on Sundays and Wednesdays (during high season) and it’s a nice place to pick up some regional souvenirs.
Here you can purchase all sorts of handcrafted and local goods like jams, honey, chocolate, lavender soaps, wood carvings, knit sweaters, ponchos and so much more.
Across the fair, you’ll also find the Patio de Comidas, which is an outdoor food court surrounded by stalls selling empanadas, hamburgers, choripan (sausage on a bun) and lots of other quick meals.
Colonia Suiza Beach
Another reason to visit Colonia Suiza – especially in the summertime! – is to enjoy some beach time.
If you walk down the narrow dirt trail known as Primeros Pobladores, you’ll reach the pebbly shores of Lake Perito Moreno. This is a nice spot to spend the day, enjoy a picnic, and cool down with a swim.
There are also two kayak and canoe outfitters if you’re up for an adventure; look out for Lafken or Dharma Kayak along the lakeshore.
Canopy Bariloche
If you’re looking for some thrills in Colonia Suiza, you’ll be happy to hear about Canopy Bariloche. Located on the outskirts of town at the base of Cerro Lopez, this is an outdoor adventure park where you can go ziplining.
The adventure kicks off with a 4×4 ride up the mountaintop to the first platform where you’ll begin your flight through the forest.
The total route is 1,500 meters long making it one of the longest ziplines in South America and it has a total of 10 different platforms.
It takes about 2 hours to complete the full ziplining circuit.
You can book your Canopy Bariloche Ziplining Tour here. This one includes transportation to and from Bariloche and you get to do the full 10-platform circuit.
Aldea Duende
If you’re looking for a quirky attraction in Colonia Suiza, consider Aldea Duende, which translates to ‘elf village’.
Truth is, we had no idea what the Elf Village was all about when we set foot in there, but it turned out to be quite entertaining, especially if you come with a vivid imagination.
We were led into the forest by our guide who taught us to identify all sorts of trees and mushrooms, but then, he brought us to meet the creatures of the forest.
During the tour, we met all sorts of mythical beings like the Gridman who can become part of nature, Leprechauns who like to guard their pot of gold, and mischievous elves who steal trinkets (now you know who to blame when things go missing in your home!). There were also trolls, witches and forest fairies.
Technically Aldea Duende is geared toward children, however, there were other adults there as well – there are only so many sights in Colonia Suiza!
What to Eat in Colonia Suiza
There are three unique food experiences you can have in Colonia Suiza: try Swiss/German food which was brought over by the early settlers, eat a curanto meal which the same early settlers picked up on their way here from Chile, and sip some of the best craft beers in all of Argentina!
Eat a traditional Curanto meal
If there’s one dish to try when you visit Colonia Suiza, it’s curanto. This is a dish with deep roots in the culture of the indigenous Mapuche and Huilliche peoples of Chile and it is a feast that brings the community together.
Curanto is traditionally prepared in coastal areas of Chile, however, it was brought over to Colonia Suiza by the Swiss settlers who had previously settled in Chile and learned to prepare the dishes of that region.
“In Argentina, curanto was introduced in the late 19th century by a group of Swiss-French pioneers, who arrived in the south of the country having traveled through Chile. They settled in a place known today as Colonia Suiza, near Bariloche, in the province of Río Negro.”
– Gustar via Google Arts and Culture
The most authentic way to prepare curanto is in a curanto al hoyo which translates to ‘curanto in the hole’. This is a process where a large hole is dug in the ground and lined with hot stones.
Layers of ingredients are then placed over the stones, each separated by large leaves. The hole is then covered with more leaves and soil to trap the steam, creating a natural oven effect. The ingredients cook for several hours, absorbing the smoky, earthy flavours.
Like with most attractions in town, you’ll need to visit on a Sunday or a Wednesday (during high tourist season) to enjoy this culinary experience.
Try Swiss and German Food
Seeing as Colonia Suiza was founded by Swiss settlers, you can find some excellent Swiss and German food in town. Here is a selection of some restaurants to check out:
- Aire Sur – this is where we ate on our day trip to Colonia Suiza. We got the Papas Rósti, shredded potato pancakes with onions and bacon; and the Goulash with Spaetzle, a meat stew with paprika served with noodles.
- Fundo – the cheese fondue is one of the specialties, plus you can also get burgers, pasta and trout dishes.
- Zurich – this restaurant serves up a mix of European and Argentine dishes including classics like Spaetzle with Goulash and Patagonian Lamb Stew.
- Casita Strudel – as the name suggests, this little dessert house specializes in Strudel, a layered pastry filled with walnuts, apples, cinnamon and raisins. They also sell cookies, alfajores and coffee to go.
Sip craft beers at Cerveza Berlina
At the edge of town, you’ll find Cerveza Berlina also known as Berlina Patagonian Brewery, one of the more famous breweries in Bariloche.
This microbrewery was started by three brothers: Franco, Guido and Bruno Ferrari.
They originally opened a brewpub in Bariloche in 2004 and then moved their production to Colonia Suiza in 2008, where all their beer is now manufactured.
Since then, Berlina has become an award-winning brewery; they were voted the best craft brewery in Argentina in 2017 and also came in second for best brewery in South America that same year.
Berlina elaborates 30 types of beers annually including some seasonal and limited edition beers. These include a Chocolate Imperial Stout, American Pale Ale, Hefeweizen, Pumpkin Ale, Patagonia Barley Wine and more.
Where to Stay in Colonia Suiza
Accommodations in Colonia Suiza are quite limited. Because there are only a handful of options to choose from – mainly camping sites and bunkies! – this destination is especially appealing to backpackers and budget travellers.
The campsites in Colonia Suiza include Camping Goye, Camping Huenei Ruca (on the beach), Camping Ser and Camping SAC.
Alternatively, if you want something a bit closer to Colonia Suiza without staying in Bariloche, you can consider some of the cottages (like La Huala or Cabañita en el Bosque) or guesthouses (like Hosteria Las Cartas or Bosque del Nahuel) along the southern loop of Circuito Chico.
Read more
- 5 Fun Bariloche Walking Tours to Go On
- How to Spend 2 Days in Bariloche
- Day Trip to Victoria Island and Arrayanes Forest
- Getting to Bariloche: A Complete Transportation Guide
- 10 Awesome Patagonian Glamping Domes Where to Stay
- Bariloche to Viedma: A Patagonian Train Journey
GROUP TOURS – If you’d rather join a group tour to travel in Argentina, check out Gadventures.
CAR RENTAL – To explore Argentina beyond the cities, the best way to do so is by renting a car. Discover Cars offers rentals across the country.
BUS TICKETS – Bus travel is a great way to see Argentina. BusBud offers numerous routes.
TRAVEL INSURANCE – Don’t leave on your trip without booking travel insurance. You can get a quote on SafetyWing.
HOTELS – Booking.com offers accommodations to suit all budgets and travel styles.
TOURS – For a variety of tours and activities, have a look at Viator.