Lake Nahuel Huapi, Bariloche, Argentina. photo: Julian Donatelli
Let the Rivalry begin! If you’ve been to both of these places, then you’ve got an opinion on this topic. If you haven’t, you still should. Bariloche is the Lake Tahoe of the South. Or maybe Tahoe is the Bariloche of the North. Either way they are both gorgeous, but ONE has got to be crowned MORE gorgeous. Which is it, humans? My answer is below, but I’m curious what ya’ll think.
Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, CA. photo: calxibe.com
What’s The Same?
Big lakes, crystal clear water, endless forests, large snow capped mountains, dangerous year round recreation opportunities, & views that boggle the mind.
Crystal clear water and perfect Sierra Nevada granite in Lake Tahoe. photo: bavarianrentals.com
What Are The Differences?
1. Tahoe is a deep, round lake while Nahuel Haupi in Bariloche is shallow with tons of long glacially carved fingers.
Lake Tahoe granite. photo: worldtourobject.com
2. Tahoe has pine trees and manzanita while Bariloche has thick bamboo and deciduous trees.
Lake Tahoe Red Cedar. photo: flickr.com. Lenga Tree, Bariloche. photo: flickrhivemind.com
3. Tahoe has a thin, tall mountain range to its West while Bariloche is surrounded by seemingly endless peaks, ridges, and erupting volcanos.
Lake Nahuel Huapi, endless mountains, and an eruptiong Puyhue volcano. photo: miles clark
4. Tahoe has a low population but is nearby some major population centers while Bariloche is a sizable city (130,000 humans) but there is absolutely NOTHING & NO ONE surrounding it for thousands of miles in any direction.
Lake Nahuel Haupi, Bariloche, satellite image with Puyhue volcano erupting and huge ash islands in lake.
So, which is it? Tahoe or Bariloche? And why? For me, it’s tough. I am ridiculously proud of California and if you’ve ever spend time with me while I was living in another state or country, you’ve heard me annoying & monotonously drone on about how sweet CA is.
Cerro Negro, Bariloche, Argentian. photo: Julian Donatelli.
That said, I’ve got to give this one to Bariloche. The lake’s long fingers with ridges in between each finger, the bamboo, the lenga trees, the violently erupting volcanos, the seemingly unending mountain chains, and the overall scenic beauty of Bariloche somewhat easily take the prize…
(If you’ve got any sweet pics of Tahoe or Bariloche, throw a link to ‘em in the comments and we’ll get ‘em up in another post.)
Lake Tahoe, CA. photo: pixdaus.com
Lake Tahoe, CA satellite image.
I’ve seen ‘em both and I think you’re wrong, Miles. Tahoe for the win. Nothing beats skiing, then waterskiing, then stiff drinks at Chambers.
That is a tough one. I will get back to you next summer when I actually make it to SA.
Never heard of Bariloche. After seeing these photos, I’m going.
I have been luckily enough to live in both locales and consider the two sisters.
The city of Bariloche is nothing special. However, the surrounding zone, including Lake Nahuel Huapi, is like Tahoe on steriods. The mountains are also larger right out of the water, but northern Patagonia’s skiing is inferior to Tahoe.
Here’s a few of my fav pics from Patagonia.
Emerald Bay of the South
http://livinginpatagonia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Rainbow-28-de-Dec_1.jpg
View from our Old House
http://livinginpatagonia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Unbelievable-Sunsets.jpg
Sunrise on Cerro Bayo
http://livinginpatagonia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Bayo-Sunrise.jpg
Desolation Wilderness of the South
http://livinginpatagonia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Callvu-shimmer_1.jpg
both are amazing and i consider them to be reflective of each other. great skiing, great locally brewed beer and great locals. hooray for both.
Agreed, both are amazing. But, Bariloche = great local beers, beautiful girls, 7 nites/week club scene, better views, bigger lake, better summer hiking.
The only caveat = Tahoe has way better skiing. That could tip the scales pretty far.
Totally agree Knowitall. If the skiing in Bariloche was on par with Tahoe, half of California would live down there!
Here’s a few more photos from around the Lakes District.
Mountain Biking en Otoño
http://livinginpatagonia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Fall-in-Patagonia.jpg
Ah yah
http://livinginpatagonia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Cerro-Campanario.jpg
The Arrayanes Trees along the River
http://livinginpatagonia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Arrayanes-in-Rio_1.jpg
That last pic of e shore does it for me… Miles u sound homesick buddy!
If we could remove The Tahoe Keys from the lake, I would go with Tahoe.
Fuck the Tahoe Keys.
Tahoe Keys = worst environmental disaster to hit Tahoe. But, mother nature is taking one back! This schmuck probably deserved it. Although he’ll just buy another one tomorrow… http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/3-2-million-yacht-sinks-in-Lake-Tahoe-marina-3696437.php#photo-3177991
Argentine women put Tahoe ladies to shame. Plus they smoke like chimneys. I like that
‘if she smokes, she pokes.’
Come on guys, Nahuel Huapi is over 1400 ft deep at the deepest. I wouldn’t call that shallow.
IMHO Nahuel Huapi is a different kind of beauty, more rugged and less forgiving to the traveler. Tahoe is more beautiful in the summer (more greenery, especially down to the shore) but the sheer jagged insanity of the peaks surrounding Bariloche makes Tahoe look mellow, so it gets my vote as more beatiful in winter. Also Cerro Catedral is just plain radder than any Tahoe resort, and Bariloche nightlife makes Tahoe look like that senior citizen’s home from the movie Cocoon. Nahuel Huapi is the better place to ski and party – but who can compare natural beauty? And why bother?They’re both 10s. And unlike with most 10s you can have ‘em both.
Tahoe does get major points for being close to other stuff though. If I remember correctly it was a 28 hour bus ride from Buenos Aires to Bariloche, then another 8 hours north to Las Lenas, which is ANOTHER 8 hours or so from the nearest major city Mendoza. Yikes. Points off for that. Another thing was all the HUGE boats or barges or ships on Nahuel Huapi, which kind of detracts from the natural wonder.
Overall it’s a tie. But at 3.5 or 4 pesos to the buck I’m gonna take Nahuel Huapi any day.
Actually now that I think about it Catedral isn’t that much radder than Tahoe. Las Lenas, though…
USA wins by default… every time
I always remembered the saying being USA #1 not USA #2
Not even a point of discussion; Bariloche ftw. Beautiful south american girls, 1/2 the living costs, way better terrain. Whats not to like?
Something tells me Bariloche isnt lined with houses and disney land like attractions and worse yet, californians
I VE BEEN IN BOTH PLACES, and i can say that bariloche’s mountains and peaks are too much higher and bigger than tahoe’s, that mean that you can do endless downhill riding, going throw massive canyons with the best powder i ve ever found on earth
AND ALSO AT CERRO CATEDRAL BARILOCHE THERE ARENT THE TAHOE’S POWDER JUNKIES THAT TRACK AND DESTROY ALL THE POWDER AT 8:00 AS SOON AS THE LIFT IS OPEN, in Bariloche you can find ENDDLES AND UNRIDEN POWDER ALL FOR YOU!!
go to mount rose on monday or tuesday for a powder day in the Tahoe area. It is awesome. no one there great tree runs, and they have the Chuttes. and you can park right next to the lift on the backside,and ski back down to your car. it’s freaking awesome. the terrain is really cool too,
LAST TIME I VE BEEN AT SQUAW AFTER A STORM, I WENT UP HILL AT 9:30 AND ALL THE MOUNTAIN WAS ALLREADY TRACKED, I COULDNT MAKE ONE SINGLE LINE!
your not looking hard enough. People always say that about squaw, its simply not true
Ride the chair up with me next time. I always have a line or should I say *bump* tucked in my pocket.
I lived in Cali for 8 years, love all the resorts there, Kirkwood, Squaw, Alpine, Mount Rose (when everyone else is on wind hold) Sugar Bowl, etc… The others here in the office at SGT always give me crap for telling them how much better CA is than the other ski places in North America. The ability to go skiing and in less than an hour be skydiving, golfing, and or mountain biking just over the hill really can’t be beat.
I have been going down to Bariloche, Argentina for the past 6 years, and every year it just gets better. I will say that yes it is difficult to get to, in the middle of nowhere, but they have the best trees I have ever skied, anywhere, hands down. On powder days, there is no rush, there is no attitude, there is no competition, there is plenty of snow for everyone, and all it is is high fives and face shots. To me it’s as if you get into a time machine back to the 40′s (you’ll even see some cars from back then, still running) when skiing was all about fun. There is also so much hidden terrain that if you know you don’t tell, and when you get it, nothing really can compare. Then of course there is downtown and the Brazilians, and the beers and the clubs, but that is a much longer detailed story that can only be truly experienced, then told. I will be back there again this year for the whole season running SASS Global Travel’s operation at the base of the mountain. If you want to come see it for yourself just let me know spots are still available for the Adult Session 3 (another one where I could try and tell you but really words can’t cover)
Tahoe wins because i live here
Uh…
Has anyone been to New Zealand? Wakatipu? Wanaka?