San Carlos de Bariloche.- A few days before the lights of the Christmas tree turn on in the civic center of this city, this destination lives, at the same time, A positive end to the year and a promising start to the season. Bariloche hopes for a month in which tariffs are the order of the day January with hotel occupancy at or above 80%.
He added: “We expect a summer season very similar to the previous season, in terms of tourist movement, average spending, and average stays and overnight stays. In 2025, we see a significant decrease in the number of overnight staysWhich historically lasted approximately five nights and today approximately three nights. The same thing happens with the average spending made by tourists, which is in line with the economic reality of the country: the less purchasing power the pockets have, the more expenses are shifted or a very rational assessment of where to invest money is made.” Nation Martin LagoPresident of the Hotel and Restaurant Business Association of Bariloche (Aehgb).
The city of Bariloche continues to maintain a good number of visitors, With more than 1.5 million tourists this year. However, everyone working in hospitality and gastronomy has noticed that they stay fewer days and consume fewer tourist products at their destination. After two years of decline – as happened in almost all tourist destinations in the country – this city is still able to maintain its operating levels, based on a very broad offer.
“On the other hand, the public visiting Bariloche today is almost limited to the national sector, With few foreign arrivals regarding historical values. We have been measuring this for two years. We are a very expensive country measured in dollars, compared to the rest of the countries in the region. “This makes us unattractive to foreigners,” Lago added.
Something similar happens with domestic tourists: as the value of the dollar rises in Argentina, traveling abroad becomes attractive. This happens in a sustainable way in the tourism balance. Travel organizers and travel agents say that out of ten people who consult agencies, only one inquires about a national destination. The president of Aehgb explained that Argentina has become a tourist-sending country, not a receiving country, which affects cities like Bariloche in a noticeable way.
In any case, the forecast speaks of a lot of traffic and good occupancy levels, similar to those of last summer (when it remained around 85%) and very similar to those of last winter. Bookings for January are slow, but it’s a phenomenon hoteliers have become accustomed to since the pandemic: visitors book flights first, and when they get very close to the trip date, they end up selecting accommodation and some tourist services, such as excursions, transportation or activities. For February, there is greater uncertainty, as reserves realization was lower.
Searching on platforms like Booking or Trivago allows you to get an idea of prices, although there are multiple categories. In hotels, Stays for two people between January 17 and 24, for example, start at P590,000. (Single room 400 meters from the center with breakfast in a 3-star hotel) Up to 4,600,000 pesos (Studio apartment 1 km from the centre, with breakfast, in a 4-star hotel). In the category of houses and apartments, there are options between 460,000 pesos (Studio apartment five kilometers from the center, on a duplex basis, of the same date) and 8,000,000 pesos (Five-bedroom house 11 km from the centre).
In northern Patagonia, another great classic destination in the Rio Negro for those who enjoy the mountains Baggins. “We are very optimistic, because we have received many inquiries. In addition, in the past weekends we have seen a good level of occupancy. This indicates that we will have a successful season. We know that people do not book too far in advance. In any case, we expect an excellent season, which could exceed 85% occupancy,” he said. Sophia SerovUndersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism for that Andean city.
In El Bolson, the reopening of the Río Azul-Lago Escondido Natural Area (Anbralé) is also generating a great deal of enthusiasm, an area that ten months ago witnessed raging forest fires that affected about 4,000 hectares of forest. New trails and strict entry requirements now allow tourists to embark on trekking trails and stay in an interconnected network of mountain huts.
A survey in the private sector allows us to know some prices for accommodation in El Bolsón. Accommodation in houses or apartments for four people costs an average of 95,000 pesos per day. Quad cabins cost about P130,000 per day, while a four-occupant hotel room costs about P115,000. Moreover, on average, a shared room in a hostel costs 26,000 pesos per person, and at a campsite you pay 10,000 pesos. The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism in that city recommends consulting the accommodation listed on the official website www.turismoelbolson.gob.ar before booking.
Outside of accommodation, at El Bolsón you can find activities like canopy for 45,000 pesos (older ones) and an hour-long horseback ride for 25,000 pesos. There are attractions where ticket prices range from 3,000 to 5,000 pesos, while a meal consisting of a main course, drink and dessert costs around 22,000 pesos on average.
The main destinations in the Neuquén mountain range also expect a good summer season. “The outlook is good, we are seeing a spring season with very good occupancy and there are a fair number of inquiries and bookings for the summer,” he said. Alejandro ApoolazaMinister of Tourism San Martin de los Andes.
In this city on the shores of Lake Lacar, three-star hotels cost about 75,000 pesos per person, while two-star cabins cost 30,000 pesos per person, the same price as hotel apartments. In contrast, excursions cost an average of 80,000 pesos per person, and each meal costs about 10,800 pesos per person. This means that the average daily expenditure per visitor ranges between 130,000 and 200,000 pesos.
About 110 km south of San Martín de los Andes and 90 km from Bariloche, Villa La Angostura January is buzzing with a good occupation. The thermometer is present at many recent sporting events (such as the Gran Fondo Siete Lagos, the K42, and these days, the El Cruce race, which attracted more than 8,000 runners), which have filled hotel facilities, especially three-, four- and five-star hotels.
“For the end-of-year celebrations, we already have a real occupancy rate of 50%, which is very good, and in January the occupancy rate reached 40%. This indicates that it will be a good season,” he stressed. Ignatius RobertMinister of Tourism of Villa La Angostura. And in some high-end accommodations, the outlook is better: “In January we have 70% occupancy and it is expected to reach 90%. In February it reaches 50% occupancy,” they warn of La Escondida in Bahía Manzano. In Neuquén, accommodation is available from $70 or $80 (double room).
As happens in other Patagonia destinations, the industry champions know that change does not suit them compared to international destinations, which is why they have done a lot of work to maintain last year’s prices in hotels, to be more competitive. Thus, classics such as Bariloche, El Bolson, San Martin de los Andes and Villa La Angostura hope that tourists will not find such a difference in prices when comparing and selecting their vacations.