El Bolsón is sheltered by the mountains and the ancient glaciers after whose appearance this Andean nook has been named.
Located on the southwestern border of the Province of Río Negro, it is part of the parallel 42º Andean Shire, which also includes the Río Negro district of Ñorquinco and the Chubut municipalities of
El Hoyo,
Lago Puelo,
Epuyén,
Cholila,
El Maitén and Cushamen.
The valleys interconnecting these communities are framed by the Andes Mountain Range and enjoy an impressive beauty with rivers, lakes and creeks surrounded by native forests. The village of El Bolsón is nestled at the foot of Mount Piltriquitrón, on the banks of the Quemquemtreu River.
Its history dates back to 1880 with the small agricultural settlements. But it was not until 1926 that it was organized as a municipality. In turn, the heterogeneity of its population is due to a significant migratory current both from Argentina and from some European countries.
In order to preserve this privileged natural environment, in 1984, El Bolsón was declared Non-Nuclear Zone, a region free of radioactive pollution which, as a result of being contemplated in the Municipal Organic Letter, grants it the title of Ecological Municipality.
A particular microclimate prints a different scenery on each season. In the winter, the snowed slopes of Mount Perito Moreno enable visitors to practice ski. The spring and the fall explode in reddish, ocher and green shades in the cypresses,
coihues and
lengas growing in its forests.
In the summer, the water courses are ideal for fishing, lake rides and other nautical sports such as surfing and river rafting. Visitors may also enjoy hikes, horseback rides, mountain biking and climbing, or spending a day on the beach by some lake or creek.
The community develops an intensive agricultural activity that may be observed during a visit to its farms, specialized in growing mainly hop (used to aromatize beer) and fine fruit.
In addition to being the venue for the National Hop Festival, El Bolsón is best-known for its regional handicrafts´ market, where pottery, wool, leather and metal works, dry flowers, jams, fresh vegetables, knives and candles are for sale.
El Bolsón may be accessed through National Routes 258 and 40. There are also airlines reaching the nearby cities of
San Carlos de Bariloche or
Esquel, from where several means of transportation leave towards the district.
