What creates excitement and adventure for you?
How about riding horses with a true descendant of Patagonian history through forested landscapes accentuated with picturesque mountains springing out of turquoise-blue lakes? Or hiking in the high reaches of the Andes where the giant Andean condors fly; their ten foot wingspan sending airplane size shadows to cover your eyes from the beaming sun? Or maybe the serenity of paddling the pristine emerald depths of a still mountain lake, the surrounding silence only interrupted by the call of multiple birds in the distance?
Welcome to the Lakes District of Patagonia in Argentina. This northerly region of the true “Last Frontier on Earth” is not only awe-inspiring because of its beauty but also for what it offers its visitors. Bariloche, considered the leading jewel of the gateway cities to Patagonia, is a land filled with great adventure opportunities. It is not uncommon to spend a day paragliding with the condors in the morning, walking amongst a forest void of other tourists in the afternoon, spending the evening enjoying the rainbow of colors given off by the setting sun and finishing the experience with a delectable seven-course meal.
But where does one go to create the perfect day? Adrenaline-pumping activities are plentiful in Bariloche, but for safety and time’s sake it may be best to find a guide that can help you locate the easiest path to a fantastic escapade. Here are five of Bariloche’s top adventure guide companies:
Carol Jones Horse Tours
www.caroljones.com.ar
If learning about the culture and history of your travel destination is important to you, then partaking in a guided horseback trip with Carol Jones is going to be an unforgettable experience. A person that exudes a warm and caring persona right off the bat, Carol has the makings for an excellent guide. First, her knowledge of the area is in her blood. She is the granddaughter of United States Patagonian founding father, Jarred Jones. A character that ran with the likes of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Grandpa Jones was the beginning of generations of familial bonding with the Patagonian Steppe. Second, the woman knows the area like the back of her hand. She is able to take her guests on amazing adventures into areas that are only seen by her and those she has invited. Her intimacy is immediately apparent in how she flows with the changing topography and chooses a place to rest. Third, as a part of the trip, she and her ranch hands provide a truly authentic “gaucho experience”. You are able to tour her family’s farm, interact with the animals and get involved with the Argentine asado (BBQ), if you like.
Carol takes clients on multi-, full- and half-day trips. She is very adept at reading your abilities and level of comfort upon the horse and directs the day to fit the vibe accordingly. Experiencing Patagonia on horseback with Carol is an amazing adventure of animal interaction, historical stories and authentic culture.
Pura Vida
www.puravidapatagonia.com.ar
The Lakes District of northern Patagonia is well-named; there are dozens of crystal-clear mountain lakes that are enhanced with vibrant Caribbean-blue water. The hundreds of miles of waterways and the open access to boaters, due to all Argentine beaches being public property, make the Bariloche area fantastic for people wanting to kayak. But there is a problem. There aren’t many kayaking companies in the Bariloche area – except for one, Pura Vida. Pura Vida specializes in ocean kayak trips all around the Patagonia region. A business started in 1998; they were the original kayak guide company in the entire Nahuel Huapi National Park.
Pura Vida works with your strengths and abilities and tries to make each boating excursion unique to the group. The multi-day trips offer the incredible experience of being able to camp on the uninhabited beaches and protected forests of the Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, enjoy the flavors of an authentic asado and interact with Mother Nature in a unique and special way.
Andes Cross
www.andescross.com
In addition to many bodies of water, northern Patagonia is blessed with a plentiful playground of mountains. From the glaciated 11,000 foot peak of Cerro Tronador to the Chamonix-like spire ridgeline of Cerro Catedral, 
there are hundreds, if not thousands, of areas to pump up the adrenaline. The interlaced, jagged peaks – with a friendly vertical rise of 2,500 to 8,000 feet – are textured with perfect ski chutes, impressive walls of granite and single-track trails leading to manned-huts offering warm food. The options of where to play and what to do are endless.
That is where Andes Cross comes in. This multi-faceted adventure sport guide team helps find the best downhill skiing options in the backcountry, organize hut tours that meander through the Andes and support unforgettable mountain bike trips through old growth forests. With more than fifteen years of experience in the area, the guides of Andes Cross are well-trained and knowledgeable about the flora and fauna. They also speak fluent English.
Extremo Sur
www.extremosur.com
Where there are lakes, there must be rivers. And Patagonia has some magical turquoise ribbons of rapids flowing through the Andes Mountains. Taking advantage of their local watercourses since 1991, Extremo Sur was the first guide service on the river scene. The company specializes in both river kayaking and rafting trips. Extremo Sur knows the ins and outs of the area and is able to provide guests with a fantastic river ride. As an extra vote of confidence in the guide’s abilities, they also are one of the only certified schools in Argentina for river safety and rescue.
One of the unique aspects of the rivers here is their location. Not only can you float into neighboring Chile, enjoy an Argentine BBQ, get your passport stamped and then be transported back to your bungalow in Bariloche, but you can also impress loved ones back home with your geography knowledge. You will be able to tell them that you ran the rapids on the oceanic divide; Lago Moreno and its tributaries flow to the Atlantic Ocean, Lago Gutierrez and its outlets to the Pacific Ocean. Extremo Sur offers multi-, full- and half-day adventures among these intertwined waterways of Patagonia.
Bike Way Mountain
www.bikeway.com.ar
As has been mentioned, the Andes of the Lakes District are connected by well-situated single track trails that work their way through thick forests, granite ridgelines and high mountain scree fields. The Nahuel Huapi National Park, born in the 1940s, was an ingenious forethought of vision when it came to piecing the trails together to form an extensive loop of hiking throughout the region. With the coming of the mountain bike, these beautiful trails are now being enjoyed with some speed. In fact, the trails don’t only offer unforgettable views but also tacky dirt perfect for the wheels ability to adhere to the path, exciting twists and turns as well as banked corners for an extra pull from gravity.
Bike Way Mountain is a guide service created to help visitors to the Lakes Region take advantage of the local insider’s biking knowledge. Their experience gets you to the trailhead quickly and into the forest with ease. For those that aren’t afraid to go deep, they also arrange multiple days touring the park. The journeys usually combine pavement with dirt and are fully supported. They also rent high-quality bikes and the safety equipment needed.
Whether it is the cool, hard surface of rock under your clinging hands or the smooth, rhythmic strokes of your paddle moving through green water, the Lakes District of Patagonia is an adventure athlete’s dream. Every activity is available. It’s just a matter of getting out there and doing it. And it is safe to say that the guides of these five adventure companies help you do just that.
