Is Bambi Argentinean? Those who have seen Disney's classic 1942 animated film know that the plucky young deer lives in a lovely alpine forest. Few may be aware, however, that the film's distinctive setting was inspired not by Swiss scenery, but by the picturesque environs of San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina. Indeed, with its pristine alpine setting and chalet-style, slate-roofed buildings made from local stone and wood, Bariloche seems more like an alpine village than an Argentine resort town. Bariloche lies on the southern shore of Lake Nahuel Huapí in Argentina's Andean lake district, Patagonia, known for its breathtaking mountains and glaciers, inviting woods, clear lakes and lush greenery. Beautiful Bariloche, sometimes called the Switzerland of South America, offers tourists year-round pleasures, from excellent winter skiing to hiking, fishing and water sports to the delicious local chocolates and marmalades.


Founded in 1902, San Carlos de Bariloche got its distinctive chalet-style architecture from Swiss immigrants, who introduced it to the region around 1905. So lovely is the scenery surrounding Bariloche that in 1934 the government designated it a national park. In 1960, a meeting in Bariloche between U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Argentina's President Arturo Frondizi yielded the Declaration of Bariloche, which pledges friendship between the two countries. Since 1924, San Carlos de Bariloche has been a destination for visitors from all over the world, and today, it ranks among Argentina's most popular tourist centers.


Bahia Lopez
The Pit Stop on the third leg of THE AMAZING RACE is Bahia Lopez, a small bay near San Carlos de Bariloche. Perched high above Bahia Lopez is a natural balcony from which one can see a panoramic view of Nahual Huapi Lake, the city of Bariloche and the surrounding Andes peaks.

Cathedral Hill
Located just 12 miles from San Carlos de Bariloche, Cathedral Hill is South America's most important winter sports resort. A variety of excellent ski runs attract skiiers and snowboarders of all levels of expertise, including rank beginners. Modern hotels and breathtaking scenery provide ample opportunity for year-round activities, especially for anyone wanting to enjoy a hike across the sweeping Andes slopes.

Civic Center
Bariloche's Civic Center is perhaps the best example of the city's distinctive chalet-style architecture. Inaugurated in 1940 by Argentina's National Park Administration, the Civic Center houses Bariloche's tourism center, library and Museum of Patagonia. Those lucky enough to be near the City Council building's clock tower at 12 or 6 o'clock will be treated to a charming parade of carven historical figures, priests, settlers and soldiers when the clock strikes the hour.

Museum of Patagonia
This well-appointed museum in Bariloche's Civic Center features a series of palentological and ethnographic exhibits chronicling the region's history from prehistoric era through colonial times to modern-day cultural mixing. Besides the permanent exhibitions, the museum houses a hall for temporary exhibitions and an auditorium, which offers lectures, courses, screenings and cultural meetings.

Victoria Island and Arrayanes Wood
A pleasant two-hour boat ride away from Bariloche, this ancient, magical forest of smooth-barked, cinnamon-colored trees bearing white flowers and tasty purple fruit is well worth the trip. In a clearing in the forest's heart stands a charming cottage, visited by the small deer characteristic of the area. Sound familiar? It should: this is the exact spot that inspired Walt Disney for his film Bambi.



Alonzo, Jorge and Jorge Rossi. Bariloche Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi II-Patagonia Argentina 1902-2002. Jorge Rossi, 2002.

Bambi. David Hand, director. Film. Walt Disney, 1942.

Centeno, Roy. Capraro, el Emperador de Bariloche (Historias de la Patagonia). Editorial Kaimé, 1992.

Chatwin, Bruce. In Patagonia. Penguin, 1988.

Neuman, Andres. Bariloche (Narrativas Hispanicas). Editorial Anagrama, 1999.

Vallmitjana, Ricardo. Bariloche, My Home. Fundacion Antorchas, 2002.