I visited the 'Little Switzerland' of South America. Photos show what it's like to visit the charming town in Argentina.
This month, I visited Bariloche, an Argentine town that is often compared to Switzerland.
Located in Patagonia along the banks of the Nahuel Huapi lake, the town does have a Swiss feel to it.
Germans, Swiss, and Italians immigrated there in the 1800s, thus giving it its European vibe.
People love drawing comparisons between Switzerland and other places around the globe.
Take, for example, Jim Thorpe, a town in Pennsylvania that's been deemed the "Little Switzerland of America." There's also Uruguay, which in 1951 was declared the "Switzerland of South America" by a New York Times article because of its banking regulations at the time.
More recently, however, some in the travel industry have crowned another town the "Little Switzerland of South America" — this time for its scenic views, architecture, and European feel. I visited San Carlos de Bariloche, located in Argentina's Patagonia region, earlier this month.
Here's what it was like.
Bariloche is located in western Argentina, near its border with Chile. It's in the north of Patagonia, the geographical region that straddles the two countries.
Tucked into Patagonia's Lake District and Argentina's Nahuel Huapi National Park, the city is a dream for outdoor enthusiasts.
I visited with family this month, and was blown away by how much it resembled Switzerland.
From town, you can see Nahuel Huapi lake, the glacial body of water that Bariloche is situated on.
The town's architecture was reminiscent of Europe. That's because Germans, Swiss, and Italians immigrated there in the 1800s, and again after World War II.
Walking through Bariloche's main street felt like strolling through an alpine village.
There were tons of quaint chocolate shops, another callback to the town's European roots.
Though I didn't visit it myself, Bariloche is also home to the Llao Llao Resort, a massive estate that looks like it belongs in the Alps.
Instead, my family and I stayed at an Airbnb that felt like its own private Swiss retreat.
Between the architecture and scenery, I can totally see why Bariloche gets compared to Switzerland.
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