Planning your escape from Buenos Aires to Bariloche? You’re in for a treat when you get there. Bariloche is one of the most magical places I’ve ever been, and that’s not a comparison I make lightly after travelling through most of South America. The journey to get there, on the other hand, is a different story. Argentina is roughly the size of Europe and doesn’t have a long-distance train network worth mentioning, so your options are limited to flying, taking the bus, or driving. Here’s everything you need to know about all three.
The three ways to get from Buenos Aires to Bariloche at a glance:
- Fly: around 2.5 hours, from roughly AR$80,000 (€40) if you book in advance or AR$150,000 (€75)
- Bus: around 24 hours, from roughly AR$70,000 (€35) for a standard seat or AR$130,000 (€65) for a reclining cama seat
- Drive: around 20 hours of driving across two days, best done with two drivers
My recommendation: fly if you can book in advance and grab a decent deal. If not, the bus is a genuinely doable overnight adventure, especially if you upgrade to a cama seat.
Planning the rest of your Argentina trip? I also have guides on Where to stay in Bariloche, Bariloche to Mendoza, and several travel guides on Buenos Aires!
Option 1: Flying from Buenos Aires to Bariloche
The flight from Buenos Aires to Bariloche is about 2.5 hours average flight time. When you consider that the bus takes 24 hours, the case for flying basically makes itself, and for most travellers this is going to be the best way to do this journey.
Which airports are involved?
Buenos Aires has two main airports, which catches a lot of people off guard. Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery Airport (also known as Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, or AEP) is the closer one to the city centre and is where most domestic flights depart from. Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Ezeiza) is further out and handles most international routes. When you’re booking Buenos Aires to Bariloche flights, double-check which one your flight departs from, as the transfer time is very different. I almost made a costly mistake with airport confusion when I was in Medellin and barely made my flight!
You’ll arrive at San Carlos de Bariloche Airport, which is well connected to the city centre.
Which airlines fly the route?
The most popular airlines on this route are Aerolineas Argentinas (Argentina’s national airline), JetSmart, and Flybondi. All three offer daily flights and nonstop flights are available throughout the day, so you have plenty of flight options to work with.
How much do flights cost?
If you book in advance and have some flexibility on travel dates, one-way flights can be as low as AR$80,000 (around €40), which is genuinely a remarkable deal for a journey that saves you 21 hours. However, last-minute or peak period tickets can soar past AR$400,000 (€200), which is when the bus starts looking a lot more attractive. Budget for additional fees if you need to add luggage, as cheap airlines rarely include bags in the headline price.
How to find the cheapest flights
Google Flights is your best tool here. Use it to compare search results across different airlines and to track price changes over time using the price trend chart. Flight prices genuinely do vary on a daily basis, so it’s worth checking regularly rather than just searching once. Setting up price alerts through an app like Kiwi.com means you don’t have to obsessively refresh the search yourself.
The cheapest month to fly is generally March through May. Avoid weekend trips during peak periods (December and January are particularly expensive). The cheapest days to fly are typically Tuesday and Wednesday if you have that flexibility.
The flight distance is approximately 1,350 kilometres, and you’ll find daily departures from early morning to late evening. If you can nail the timing, flying is absolutely the fastest route and the one I’d recommend to anyone who isn’t wedded to the bus experience.
Option 2: Buenos Aires to Bariloche by Bus
I went from Buenos Aires to Bariloche by bus because I was booking everything last minute at the tail end of Patagonia’s summer season and the flight prices were brutal. Looking back, I’m genuinely torn about whether I’d do it again. It tests your patience in ways you wouldn’t expect from a bus journey. But I also woke up winding through Patagonia for the first time, sun hitting the mountains through the window, and it was absolutely stunning. So there’s that.
How long does the bus take?
Around 24 hours. Yes, a full day. No, there is no comfortable way to spin that number.
How much does the bus cost?
Regular seats cost around AR$70,000 (€35), while premium reclining cama seats run about AR$130,000 (€65). Prices vary depending on the bus company, the season, and how far in advance you book. Remember that as well as saving on the price of your flight, you’re saving on the costs of travelling to and from each airport, checking luggage, and 1 overnight stay (because you sleep on the bus).
Which bus companies operate this route?
The main operators on this route include Andesmar, Via Bariloche, and El Rapido. It’s worth comparing options on platforms like Busbud or Plataforma 10 before booking.
Is the bus worth it?
If flights are too expensive or you’re genuinely short on cash, yes. Upgrade to the cama seats, pack well, and it’s manageable. The timing of the bus I took worked out well: 1pm departure meant I could have a leisurely last morning in Buenos Aires, check out of my Airbnb, squeeze in a museum visit, then head to the bus terminal. We stopped for an early dinner about six hours in, and I slept through most of the night. There’s something to be said for waking up in Patagonia with no effort on your part.
Survival guide for the 24-hour bus
Invest in the cama seat. On long-distance buses in Argentina, the premium seats (locals call them “cama” or “ejecutiva”) are usually downstairs on a double-decker bus, fully reclining. Standard seats are fine for shorter trips, but for 24 hours the extra space is worth every peso. Expect to pay 30-50% more than a regular seat, and do it without guilt.
Have an early bedtime. I was asleep by 9pm, partly out of boredom and partly because the sleep you get on these buses is patchy enough that you want as much of it as possible. The more hours you can sleep through, the shorter the journey feels.
Don’t clock-watch. Checking the time every 20 minutes will make the journey feel three times as long. Load up with books, podcasts, films, and anything that helps you zone out. A face mask and neck pillow go a long way on a cama seat.
Pack serious snacks. We made one stop during the whole 24 hours, early into the journey, and the driver made it clear we wouldn’t be stopping again. I assume this is because there simply isn’t anywhere to stop in the more remote stretches of Patagonia. Don’t count on being able to buy food. There is a toilet on board, but snacks are your responsibility.
Don’t expect wifi or entertainment. Bring everything you need downloaded offline before you get on.
If you’re planning a trip to Argentina, have a read of my guide on the cost of living in Argentina before you go.
Option 3: Driving from Buenos Aires to Bariloche
Driving is roughly a 20-hour journey without stops, so realistically this is a two-day road trip if you’re doing it safely. The route takes you along the RN3 and then the famous Ruta Nacional 40, one of the great drives in South America, running parallel to the Andes and passing through some genuinely remote Patagonian steppe.
I wouldn’t have done this trip myself, partly because I learned to drive in the UK and right-hand driving doesn’t feel natural to me anywhere else, and partly because Argentina is enormous in a way that’s hard to grasp until you’re looking at a map and realising there is genuinely nothing for hundreds of kilometres at a time. But for the right kind of traveller, this would be an epic road trip.
If you’re going to drive it, go with two people who can share the driving. Rental costs are reasonable and vary by duration and vehicle type, and splitting costs between a few travellers can make it very competitive with flying. Just make sure you have breakdown cover and a full tank whenever you pass a petrol station, because “I’ll stop at the next one” is not a strategy that works in Patagonia.
Planning Onward Travel from Bariloche
Once you’re in Bariloche, the adventure is only just beginning. Bariloche sits at the northern edge of Patagonia and is a common jumping-off point for further exploration. Many travellers continue south towards El Calafate (home of the Perito Moreno glacier), or push on to Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia. Others cross into Chile through the Lake District via the famous lake crossing route. It’s also very doable to head north again towards Mendoza’s wine country from here.
I have a full guide to getting from Bariloche to Mendoza if that’s your next stop.
FAQs About Travelling from Buenos Aires to Bariloche
How long does it take to get from Buenos Aires to Bariloche?
It depends on how you travel. By plane, the average flight time is around 2.5 hours for nonstop flights. By bus, you’re looking at around 24 hours. By car it’s roughly 20 hours of driving, which in practice means two days on the road.
How do I find the cheapest flights from Buenos Aires to Bariloche?
Use Google Flights to compare search results across different airlines and check on a daily basis, since flight prices genuinely shift frequently. Be flexible with your travel dates if you can, and aim for the cheaper months (March to May). Set up price alerts through an app like Kiwi.com so you don’t have to search manually every day. The cheapest one-way flights can be found weeks in advance.
Which airlines fly from Buenos Aires to Bariloche?
The most popular airlines are Aerolineas Argentinas (Argentina’s national airline), JetSmart, and Flybondi. All offer daily flights with nonstop options available. Most depart from Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery Airport (AEP) for domestic travel, though some routes operate from Ministro Pistarini International Airport, so double-check before you head to the airport.
What’s the best time to book flights to Bariloche?
Book 2-3 months in advance where possible. The cheapest month is generally March through May. Avoid peak periods like December and January, and try to fly midweek if your schedule allows.
Is the bus from Buenos Aires to Bariloche worth it?
Yes, if you upgrade to a cama seat and you come prepared. It’s not for everyone, but if flights are too expensive or you’re travelling on a tight budget, it’s a perfectly viable option. The scenery as you pull into Patagonia in the morning is genuinely beautiful.
Is there a train from Buenos Aires to Bariloche?
No. Argentina’s long-distance rail network is very limited and doesn’t extend to Patagonia. Your options are flying, taking the bus, or driving.
How much does it cost to fly from Buenos Aires to Bariloche?
One-way flights start from around AR$80,000 (approximately €40) if you book in advance during off-peak periods. Last-minute tickets or peak-season travel can push prices past AR$400,000 (€200), which is when the bus becomes much more competitive.
What is Bariloche like?
Bariloche is a small city on the shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake, surrounded by snow-capped Andean mountains. It has a uniquely European feel thanks to its Swiss-Alpine architecture and is famous for artisanal chocolate. It’s usually the first stop in Patagonia for travellers coming from Buenos Aires, and it’s an excellent base for hiking, skiing, and exploring the wider region.
What is better, Mendoza or Bariloche?
They’re both incredible but very different. Mendoza is all about wine, desert landscapes, and warmth. Bariloche is lakes, mountains, and cooler temperatures. If you can, visit both, but if you have to pick one: go for Bariloche if you want outdoor adventures and dramatic scenery, and Mendoza if you want wine country and sunshine.
