The Circuito Grande is the long loop north of Bariloche: out through dry river country, over to Lago Traful, across to the Seven Lakes road and back along the north shore of Nahuel Huapi. It is about 240 kilometres and takes the whole day. This guide is for you if you are weighing it against the Seven Lakes Road, wondering about the gravel, or deciding whether one day is enough.
What makes this loop different
Most day trips from Bariloche stay in the forest and lakes. This one starts on the other side of the mountains. The first hour heads north-east, and the road meets the Limay river, the natural boundary between the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén. The landscape here is drier and more open than anything you see around town.
Valle Encantado, near Villa Llanquín, is where the rocks take on odd shapes along the valley sides. It is a photo stop, not a hike, so allow time to look rather than walk.
At Confluencia the road turns up the Traful valley, and the scenery turns back into forest. By the time you reach Lago Traful you are among coihue woods, with the lake beside you. The return comes over Paso Portezuelo to the Seven Lakes road, past Lagos Correntoso and Espejo, and down to Villa La Angostura before running back along the lake to Bariloche.
The gravel, and why it is changing
The link through the Traful valley is Provincial Route 65. For years it has been the reason this loop is harder than the others: it is unpaved, and the official tourism office in Bariloche advises avoiding the stretch between Villa Traful and the Seven Lakes road in bad weather. It also says the route may be restricted by the weather and suggests checking with the tourist information offices or the national park reports before setting out.
That is changing. The 34 kilometres between the Route 40 junction and Villa Traful are being paved, with the works due to finish in late 2026, and a second stage, of about 24 kilometres between Confluencia and the bridge over the Minero river, is planned after that. Until both are finished, expect some gravel on the day, and do not be surprised by roadworks.
In practice, this is why the tour leaves room to change. In bad weather we drive the loop the other way or skip the gravel section, and your driver decides on the morning based on conditions.
When to go
This loop runs all year, but the gravel is its weak point in bad weather, so the milder, drier summer months make it simpler. Summer brings light until about ten at night in Bariloche. Spring is the windiest season and autumn the wettest, though autumn wind tends to be calmer.
Winter is when Route 65 is most likely to be restricted. Between June and August the region gets snow, and drivers on the mountain roads are told to carry chains. If you are visiting in winter, the Seven Lakes Road avoids Route 65, though it can close in snow too.
Weekends in summer bring visitors to Villa Traful. The village had 761 inhabitants at the 2022 census and can receive around 5,000 people on a busy weekend, so a weekday is quieter if you have the choice.
Villa Traful and Villa La Angostura
These are the two places where you stop for longer, and the official tourism office in Bariloche suggests that each is worth a day on its own. We agree, and we can split them over two days if you prefer.
Villa Traful
The village sits on the southern shore of Lago Traful, inside Nahuel Huapi National Park. Lunch is here, by the lake, and is not included. From the village there are walks to waterfalls on the Coa Có and Blanco streams. Under the lake is a drowned forest of old cypresses, left standing after a landslide and preserved by the cold water. Boat trips go out over it in good weather; they are not included in the tour. The Mirador del Viento, on a cliff about 80 metres above the water, gives a long view over the lake.
Villa La Angostura
The second long stop is on the north shore of Nahuel Huapi, next to the Quetrihue peninsula. The Arrayanes forest at its tip is the reason many people come, but it is not part of this day. Reaching it means a 12-kilometre walk from the isthmus, a bike ride, or a boat, and the park sets last-entry times: in summer walkers must set off by 14:00, and in winter by 11:00. You would arrive too late on this loop. If the forest is important to you, give Villa La Angostura its own day and message us.
On your own or with a driver
You can drive the loop yourself in a hire car. Before you do, weigh the gravel, the long stretches between villages and the official advice to check conditions first. With a private driver, someone who knows the road reads the weather each morning and can turn the loop round if needed, and you get to look out of the window instead of at the road.
What to bring
- Layers. The steppe in the morning can feel very different from the lake shore in the afternoon.
- A light rain jacket, all year.
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses and sun cream.
- Comfortable shoes for the short walks in Villa Traful.
- Something to read or listen to. It is a long day in the car between the stops.
Who it suits
It suits people who have already done the Circuito Chico and want to see a wider stretch of the region in one go. It is less good for young children or anyone who gets carsick, since part of the road is unpaved and the day is ten hours long.
If the Seven Lakes are your priority, take our Seven Lakes day to San Martín de los Andes instead: this loop only touches Correntoso and Espejo. Groups of more than 16 travel in two vehicles on one booking.
You can cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up for a full refund; see our cancellation page.
Booking the loop
To compare this with the other long days, see our guide to day trips from Bariloche. For the stops, timings and group sizes, go to the Circuito Grande private day trip page.
