Llao Llao Resort, Golf-Spa is the classic honeymoon hotel in Bariloche and one of the most famous hotels in South America. It sits on a small hill on the Llao Llao peninsula, about 25 km west of town, with Lago Nahuel Huapi on one side and Lago Moreno on the other. From the lake-view rooms you look over water, islands and snow-capped peaks that make the whole region feel like the Alps at a larger scale.
The hotel was designed by architect Alejandro Bustillo. The first wooden building burned soon after completion in 1939 and was rebuilt in stone and timber, reopening in 1940. Today it has about 205 rooms and suites, an 18-hole golf course, a spa with an indoor-outdoor pool and the famous Llao Llao afternoon tea. It is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
It suits couples who like grand hotels with history, lake views and plenty to do on site. It is a big, busy property that welcomes families and events, so couples who want a small lodge to themselves may prefer a cabin on the peninsula.
Highlights at a glance
- Historic 1940s grand hotel by architect Alejandro Bustillo
- Setting between Lago Nahuel Huapi and Lago Moreno
- Spa with an indoor-outdoor pool facing the mountains
- 18-hole golf course among lakes and peaks
- The Llao Llao afternoon tea
Why Couples Love Llao Llao
Few hotels anywhere have a setting like this. The building stands alone on its hill with water on both sides and almost every window frames a postcard. Mornings start with mist on Nahuel Huapi. Evenings end with the peaks turning pink behind Lago Moreno.
The interiors suit the scenery. Bustillo built the hotel in stone and timber, with long galleries, big fireplaces and an alpine-lodge warmth that makes it as appealing in winter snow as in summer sun.
The resort is also self-contained. You can spend a day golfing, swimming, hiking a forest trail and finishing with tea and a lake view without leaving the grounds. For couples who do not want to drive every day, that matters.
Rooms and Suites to Book
The single most important choice is the view. Rooms face either the lakes and mountains or the forest and grounds and the difference is enormous here. Book a lake-view category, even if it means a smaller room.
Categories run from rooms to studios and suites, including accommodation in the Bustillo Wing. Ask the hotel to describe the style and size of each before you choose. For a honeymoon, a suite with a lake view and a sitting area gives you somewhere to curl up by the window when the weather turns.
Ask which rooms face Lago Moreno and which face Nahuel Huapi. Both are beautiful, but the views change through the day, so tell the hotel whether you are a sunrise or sunset couple.
Food, Drink and the Spa
Dining leans on Patagonian produce, with lamb, trout and local game alongside international dishes, served in several restaurants within the hotel. The Llao Llao Tea is the ritual: an afternoon spread of cakes, pastries and sandwiches served with a lake view. Book it for your first afternoon. It sets the tone for the stay.
The spa is one of the hotel's strengths. Its indoor-outdoor pool lets you swim from a warm indoor hall out into the open air with the mountains in front of you, which is especially memorable on a cold day. Add a couples treatment and a late session in the pool.
Bariloche town is also worth a dinner or two, for fondue, Patagonian lamb and the chocolate shops along Calle Mitre.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
The 18-hole golf course is surrounded by lakes and mountains, one of the most scenic courses in Argentina. Non-golfers have plenty of choice too.
Kayak a calm bay of Nahuel Huapi in the morning. Take a boat from nearby Puerto Pañuelo to Isla Victoria and the arrayanes forest, a grove of cinnamon-barked myrtle trees. Ride the chairlift up Cerro Campanario at sunset for the classic view over the lakes. The Circuito Chico road loop passes the hotel and makes an easy half-day drive or bike ride.
Farther afield, the Seven Lakes Road heads north toward San Martín de los Andes. In winter, Cerro Catedral, one of South America's major ski areas, is a short drive from the hotel.
Getting There
San Carlos de Bariloche Airport (BRC) receives frequent flights from Buenos Aires, about two hours and 20 minutes from Aeroparque (AEP) or Ezeiza (EZE). From the airport, the drive to the Llao Llao peninsula takes around 40 minutes along Avenida Bustillo, the lakeshore road. The hotel can arrange transfers and taxis and car hire are easy at the airport.
If you are connecting from an international flight into Ezeiza, allow plenty of time. Many domestic flights leave from Aeroparque, which is across the city, so a same-day connection may require a transfer between airports. Some couples overnight in Buenos Aires first. Having a car in Bariloche helps for day trips, but the resort and the Circuito Chico can be enjoyed without one.
Is It Worth It?
Llao Llao is not cheap by Argentine standards, but it is reasonable for a hotel of this stature. Expect roughly $450 or more a night for two in a lake-view room, with higher rates in the January and February summer peak, the July ski holidays and over Christmas. These are estimates, so check current rates.
You are paying for the setting and the history and both deliver. Few honeymoon hotels in the Andes offer this kind of view straight from bed.
The trade-off is scale. With about 205 rooms, conferences, golf groups and families, it can feel busy. Couples who want privacy and silence should look at a smaller cabin or lodge on the peninsula or in Villa La Angostura.
Good to Know
Bariloche has two good seasons. December to March is summer, with long days for hiking, kayaking and boat trips. July to September is winter, with snow on the hotel grounds and skiing at Cerro Catedral. Spring and autumn are quieter and can be lovely, with autumn color around April.
The weather changes quickly in Patagonia. Pack layers, a rain shell and warm clothing even in summer, since nights get cool. Smart casual dress works for dinner.
The hotel's popularity with Argentine families means school holidays in January, February and July are busiest. If you want quiet, aim for March, November or early December. Book a lake-view room as early as possible.
Insider tips
- Pay for a lake-view room; the forest-facing ones miss the point of staying here.
- Book the afternoon tea for your first day to settle in.
- Take the boat to Isla Victoria from Puerto Pañuelo, just below the hotel.
- Visit Cerro Campanario for sunset and come back for a late swim in the spa pool.
