The route to Cerro Tronador and the black glacier in Bariloche is long and passes through many points of Nahuel Huapi National park. As a significant part of it is done along dirt tracks, you don’t arrive at the park until midday, then have to set off again at 4pm.

[caption id="attachment_1571" align="aligncenter" width="540"]Mount Tronador Mount Tronador and the black glacier in Bariloche / source[/caption]

You'll leave the city of Bariloche at around 8am and begin the journey alongside one of several lakes that crosses the route. The guide explains to you that the green lakes, which are highly typical of this region, are like this because they are made up of water that has melted off the Patagonian glaciers. This water has a special composition, which is what gives it its greenish colour, and is extremely pure. The area is also quite famous for trout fishing, for plenty of trout inhabit these lakes, however these have been introduced by man, not nature.

[caption id="attachment_1572" align="aligncenter" width="540"]Lakes in Bariloche The lakes in Bariloche are famous for trout-fishing / source[/caption]

The tour makes many stops along the way and you will almost have to remove the the memory card from your camera, as it’s impossible to control the urge to take pictures! There are stops at viewpoints to admire the small beaches and lakes, as well as ‘tactical’ breaks to use the toilet or grab a coffee ahead of the longer stretches. Before culminating the route in Cerro Tronador, there is a stop for lunch at the final station, where you'll be given a menu with two options, both typical local dishes.

[caption id="attachment_1575" align="aligncenter" width="540"]Route to Cerro Tronador The route to Cerro Tronador and the black glacier in Bariloche / source[/caption]

The name Cerro Tronador, which translates as ‘thundering mountain’ came about because, as part of the natural water cycle that makes up the glaciers on the mountain top, parts of the glacier fall off. Below the mountain is something which resembles an acoustic shell, due to the other mountains that surround it, and the sound of these pieces falling off the glacier from above make a sound very similar to thunder. These sounds can be heard from afar, in fact it is said that when Bariloche was founded, they could be heard from all the way over there- that’s 90km away!

[caption id="attachment_1573" align="aligncenter" width="540"]Falling ice Ice from the glacier spilling over Cerro Tronador creates the 'thunderous' sound / source[/caption]

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Written by: Lucas Gordon - Operations & Sales Manager for Brazil Translated by: Camilla Day - English Content Manager