Llao Llao Overview

By Shanie Matthews

Llao Llao is a suburb of Bariloche, located on Avenida Bustillo, 20 kilometers outside of city center. It is located in the rainy portion of the Lakes District. This end of the lake is three times as likely to see rain as the Dina Huapi side, east of Bariloche town center. All of that moisture lends to healthy, green Lenga, Coihue and bamboo forests. The name Llao Llao stems from the small balls of sherbet-orange, spongy fungus that enjoys living among the dense woods. The landscape is overwhelmingly breathtaking; rugged, statuesque mountains erupting from the emerald-green water of Lake Nahuel Huapi and thriving forests reaching out to the grassy steppe. Beyond the natural beauty, Llao Llao is home to world famous Hotel Llao Llao. An architectural masterpiece, Hotel Llao Llao is an iconic part of history for this region of Bariloche. Next door to the hotel is the Capilla San Eduardo, a log cabin church with stupendous views of the hotel, Lago Nahuel Huapi and Cerro Tronador. Beyond the hotel is the protected park, Parque Nacional de Llao Llao. This is a trail circuit that is broken up in to four separated day hikes. The paths wander through magnificent bamboo hallways and dense forest, leading to beaches and viewpoints of lakes Moreno, Escondido and Nahuel Huapi. Within the Parque Nacional de Llao Llao is the small community, Villa Traful. This neighborhood is a small development of beautiful homes and easy public beach access. There are bbq pits and day picnic areas for public use. Llao Llao has a small market area with a grocery store, post office, artisan craft shop and restaurant at Bustillo kilometer 25. The buses run to Hotel Llao Llao year round, every twenty minutes. There is no bus service beyond the hotel into the park (and around Circuito Chico), except for twice a day in summer.