Colonia Suiza & the Curanto Feast
Twenty-five kilometres from downtown along the Circuito Chico, this tiny village founded by Swiss immigrants in the late 1800s is Bariloche's most rewarding detour — especially on a Wednesday or Sunday when the smoke rises from the earth and the curanto feast begins.
The Curanto: Patagonia's Most Ancient Meal
The curanto is a pre-Columbian cooking method adopted by Colonia Suiza's Swiss settlers after arriving via Chile: meat, vegetables, and local herbs are slow-cooked underground on superheated rocks, then uncovered at the table in a theatrical cloud of steam. Swiss immigrants arriving in Bariloche via Chile absorbed this indigenous technique and made it their own — the result is one of Patagonia's most distinctive eating experiences.
The village's weekly Feria Regional market runs on Sundays and Wednesdays alongside the curanto, offering artisan goods, homemade preserves, and regional cheeses in a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere. Arrive by midday to secure a spot before the pots are emptied.
Getting There & What Else to Do
Colonia Suiza sits just off the main Circuito Chico loop — a short detour at the bridge over Lago Moreno's east-west channel. The drive itself passes emerald-green bays where you can spot trout gliding beneath the crystal-clear water from the bridge. Playa Sin Viento, on the road into the village, is a calm pebble beach perfect for a swim in summer.
From the village, a hiking trail leads up to Refugio Manfredo Segre above Laguna Negra — a rewarding half-day walk through native coihue forest with lake views as the payoff. Combine it with lunch at the curanto and you have one of Bariloche's most complete days.
Colonia Suiza & the Curanto Feast on video
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