El Hoyo is about 14 km south of El Bolson and 120 km south of Bariloche. In this guide, you will get all the details on how to get to El Hoyo from El Bolson and Bariloche.
How to Get to El Hoyo from El Bolsón: Local Bus
The bus is the local way to get to El Hoyo from El Bolsón. If you haven’t rented a car, you are in a budget, or if you want to have a more authentic experience by traveling like the locals do, the local buses that connects El Bolsón to all the smaller towns is a great option.
How it works: You’ll find many bus stops throughout the town, but many aren’t well marked. I recommend you go to Plaza Pagano, where the stops are clearly marked and you won’t miss them. Local buses run on a set schedule, so be sure to plan your trip around the bus schedule. You can view the updated schedules in our guide to local transportation schedules in El Bolsón: La Golondrina.
How to Get to El Hoyo from Bariloche or El Bolsón: Bus
The bus is the standard way to get to El Hoyo from Bariloche if you don’t want to rent a car, and it’s a reasonable option even if you’re planning to explore the wider Comarca Andina, since local buses also connect all the smaller towns.
How it works: Buses leave from Bariloche’s or El Bolsón main bus terminal (Bariloche: Terminal de Ómnibus, next to the train station on the east side of town. El Bolsón: Via Bariloche, a few blocks away from the city center) several times a day. The trip from Bariloche to El Hoyo takes about 3 hours on a paved road, if you travel from El Bolsón a El Hoyo it will only take about 30 minutes.
Bus Confort Level
You will find diferent confort levels for the bus ride, from “Estandar” (the seat reclines 120 degrees), “Semi-cama” (the seat reclines 130 degrees), and “Ejecutivo” (the seat reclines 160 degrees). It’s not a long ride, and the views are stuning. First few miles from Bariloche are winding mountain roads, so, if you tend to feel a little dizzy, you might feel some discomfort.
Estandar
Semi-cama
Ejecutivo
- Tickets can usually be bought the same day, but buying a day ot two ahead is safer in January and February
- Buses drop you at El Hoyo’s own quite small bus terminal, a short walk or taxi ride from the town center.
Bariloche to El Hoyo: Renting a Car
Renting a car in Bariloche and driving yourself is the most flexible option, and it’s worth the extra cost if you have the budget and you’re planning to visit more than one Comarca Andina town.
The route: From Bariloche, the drive follows Route 40 south, mostly through forest, lakes and along the Río Azul valley. A few miles outside of Bariloche, you’ll find stretches of road with no shoulder, with mountain slopes on one side and cliffs overlooking the lakes on the other. The road is paved and not particularly difficult to drive on, but keep this in mind, as you won’t be able to stop or pass other vehicles on long stretches of the road.
Renting a car gives you a freedom you won’t have on a bus. While it’s perfectly possible to visit all the towns in the Comarca Andina by bus, a car allows you to do so at your own pace without having to worry about tickets or schedules.
Practical notes:
- Rental agencies are concentrated in Bariloche, including options at the airport and downtown
- Fuel stations are available in El Hoyo, and all other smaller towns, fuel availability is not a problem in the region, but you might find a line to fill up in summer. Booking ahead in high season (December–February) is alwas a good idea, since rental cars in Bariloche get scarce.
Bariloche to El Hoyo: Guided Tour or Private Transfer
Some operators run day trips from Bariloche to El Hoyo, usually combined with stops at other towns such as Lago Puelo, El Bolsón, El Maitén, etc.
Who it’s for: Travelers with limited time who want to see El Hoyo without committing to an overnight stay, or anyone who prefers not to deal with bus schedules or driving.
Trade-off: A day tour gets you a taste of El Hoyo, but the town rewards spending at least one night — the lake, the maze, and surrounding hikes are hard to fit into a single day trip from Bariloche.
A private transfer (a driver who takes you one-way or round-trip without the tour stops) is a middle option if you have the budget and want to skip the bus but don’t need a rental car for the rest of your trip.
Which Option Should You Choose?
- Staying only in El Hoyo, budget-conscious: Bus.
- Planning to visit multiple Comarca Andina towns: Rental car or Bus
- Short on time, want to see El Hoyo as a day trip from Bariloche: Guided tour.
- Want convenience without driving yourself, staying multiple nights: Private transfer.
Practical Tips
- The trip is scenic — if you have flexibility, morning departures give you better light for photos along the Río Azul valley.
- You’ll have cell service for most of the trip from Bariloche, but you’ll lose it on a few short stretches along this route.
- If traveling by bus in January or February, buy your ticket at least a day in advance; seats can sell out.
Continuing Into the Comarca Andina
Once in El Hoyo, most of the other towns in the region are a short additional drive away: Lago Puelo (15 minutes), El Bolsón (20 minutes), and Epuyén (about 30 minutes). Cholila and El Maitén are further and usually visited as separate legs of a longer trip.
For an overview of the whole region and how the towns connect, see our Comarca Andina: Complete Guide.
