El Bolson

After such a long day travelling I was happy just checking into anywhere in El Bolson that had a bed! I stayed at the first place recommended to me by the tourist information office which was called ´Refugio Patagonica´ (50 Arg$ per night). Nice place and fairly close to the center so was very convenient.

http://www.refugiopatagonico.com/

I spent my first evening walking around the town. ´El Bolson´ is a really nice place. Very relaxed and chilled out place. Its renowned as being a real bohemian town and full of hippies which was definitely the case. As soon as I arrived here I liked it ... alot of homemade artisan products for sale and farm produce from organic farms surrounding El Bolson. I arrived on Sunday evening just to catch the very end of the famous markets (which I believe are particularly good on Saturdays). I also managed to see them on Tuesday before I left but there were not many stalls out. The town itself is small and compact and very nice to walk around .. and is surrounded by mountains with beautiful treks and views.

I took a quick walk up to the ´mirador´ overlooking the town after I arrived. Very nice views of the town:

After getting back to the hostel that evening I had dinner and drank some wine with some Argentinian and German friends who tried to teach me some Spanish .. but Im woeful at it. I badly need to take an intensive course somewhere.

Later that same evening I checked my emails and saw a message from Victoria (who I had been in El Calafate and El Chalten with) and she was staying in another hostel only around the corner from me. I went around to her hostel for the evening and spent the evening chatting to her and some other backpackers. Was great to meet up with her again.

Next day Monday 13th, I got up early as I had a busy day planned. First of all I went trekking up to a view point in the morning with some spectacular views (The ´Cabeza del Indio´ trek)

Later in the afternoon, I met up with Victoria (and Natalia from France) and we all went to Lago Puelo which is only a short bus journey from El Bolson. Spent the afternoon at the lake doing some treks and relaxing on the beach. Weather was really nice. In fact, since I arrived in El Bolson, I could definitely see the change in the weather ... really sunny. Big change from the miserable weather I had the week before when travelling the Carretera Austral.

After getting some dinner in the hostel, I met up with Victoria and we headed down to the local Heladaria (ice cream parlour) and took a walk around town.Victoria was travelling to Bariloche next morning, but I decided to get a late bus in the evening as there was more I wanted to see and do in El Bolson. In fact I could easily have spent 3 or 4 nights here doing more treks. 

On Tuesday 14th, I had another early start. I woke up early and checked out. Left my backpack in the hostel and headed off for the day trekking to ´Cajon del Azul´ which is a 7 hour day trek. I was shattered after it ... but it was a nice one day trek to do and glad I had done it as so many people had recommended it to me.

I got back in time to catch the end of the El Bolson markets, before catching a 17:30 bus to Bariloche (125km north, cost Arg 30$). Bus was packed so had to stand some of the way .. but looking forward to arriving in Bariloche. Have heard so much good things about it ...