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Voykit pocket guide · Argentina
Colonia Suiza
A half-day stop from Bariloche: see the Swiss-style chalets, hike Cerro López or Laguna Negra, then return. Not a base.
Colonia Suiza is a small village 24 km west of Bariloche, founded by Swiss settlers in the late 19th century. It has a handful of pioneer houses, a chapel, and access to hikes near Lago Perito Moreno. Most visitors come for a few hours by bus No. 10 from Bariloche, then head back. One night is fine if you want a quiet evening, but there is not enough to fill a full day.
- Country
- Argentina
- Best months
- Nov–Mar (warm, dry)
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (cold, snow on higher trails)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- ARS
- Money
- Currency is the Argentine peso (ARS, $). About ARS 1,450–1,600 per US dollar in mid-2026 — check; inflation has slowed but prices still move, so do not rely on old guides.
- Daily spend
- Budget ARS 15,000–25,000 excl. bed · Mid ARS 25,000–40,000 excl. bed · High ARS 40,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro, Movistar and Personal cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their shops with a passport, or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police 911 · Ambulance 107 · Fire 100
- Plugs
- Types I, C · 220 V · 50 Hz · Type I sockets are like Australia's, but with live and neutral reversed; bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10% in cash; the cubierto (cover charge) is not a tip.; Taxi / app: Round up.; Hotel porter: ARS equivalent of US$1–2 per bag.; Tour guide: US$5–10 per person a day.; Ushers at tango shows / football: Small tip customary.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable in Buenos Aires and most cities; in the Northwest and rural areas ask or use bottled.
- Toilets
- Use cafés, shopping centres and bus terminals (small fee sometimes); carry tissues.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ARS 1,000–2,000 |
| Empanada | ARS 1,500–3,000 |
| Beer (local bottle) | ARS 2,000–4,000 |
| Bus No. 10 one way | ARS 1,000 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BRC · San Carlos de Bariloche Airport
- About 30 km (19 mi) east; bus or taxi to Bariloche, then bus No. 10 to Colonia SuizaAbout 19 mi (30 km) east; bus or taxi to Bariloche, then bus No. 10 to Colonia Suiza
Typical fares
- Bus No. 10 Bariloche → Colonia Suiza
- about ARS 1,000, 30 min (check)
- Taxi Bariloche → Colonia Suiza
- ARS 15,000–25,000
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk. The village is compact; trails start at the edge of town.
See and do
Known for
- Swiss-style chalets and pioneer history
- Cerro López hike
- Laguna Negra hike
- Trout farm
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| San Carlos de Bariloche | Bus No. 10, about 30 min | About 40 min |
| Villa la Angostura | Bus via Bariloche, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
| Catedral Alta Patagonia | Bus to Bariloche, then another bus, about 1 h total | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Colonia Suiza village centre
- Hostels and campsites; everything walkable.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Good morning | Hola / Buenos díasOH-lah / BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-syahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAHN-toh KWES-tah |
| Where is the bus stop? | ¿Dónde está la parada?DOHN-deh es-TAH lah pah-RAH-dah |
| I need a doctor | Necesito un médiconeh-seh-SEE-toh oon MEH-dee-koh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: One cheek kiss among friends; handshake in business; avoid: Refusing a kiss from a new acquaintance's friends
- Mate circle: Drink the whole gourd and hand it back to the server; avoid: Stirring the straw
- Dinner: Eat late and linger; avoid: Expecting service at 18:00
- Punctuality: Arrive 15–30 minutes late for social events; avoid: Arriving early at a home
- Conversation: Talk football, food, family; avoid: Opening with the Falklands or Peronism
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus No. 10 from Bariloche runs roughly hourly; check the return schedule so you are not stranded.
- The Museo de los Viejos Colonos opens only one day per month — check locally.
- Trails to Cerro López and Laguna Negra are unmarked in parts; carry a map or GPS.
Very safe. The main risks are getting lost on trails and the cold in winter. Carry water and a map.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Colonia Suiza yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Swiss-style chalets and pioneer history
- Cerro López hike
- Laguna Negra hike
- Trout farm
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Colonia Suiza (Argentina), revision 5297905 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5297905
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/colonia-suiza-argentina). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.