We will be in Bariloche for 6 days in early April. Is it possible to rent an automatic transmission car from the airport? We want to do a fair bit of touring around Bariloche. Is a car even necessary?

Cars with automatic transmission seem as rare as hens teeth in Argentina. You best bet would be to go with one of the multi nationals like Avis or Hertz or a consolidator like autoeurop. IME even if you book a particular vehicle like an auto or a 4WD, there is no guarantee that it will be there on arrival!

Do you need one? It would certainly be more convenient but there is no reason you couldn’t use taxis or a driver guide to get around to most places. We drove down from San Martin de Los Andes through the Seven Lakes and Angostura to Bariloche which was a nice self drive that would be better done as a self drive but that would need a night in San Martin so may not be in your plans.

Thank you Crellston.

When I was in Bariloche in 2012 there were day trips available that went to San Martin by the scenic route and came back by the main road. (I stayed in San Martin but the others on the minibus went back to Bariloche).