Berries and bohemians

After a day in Bariloche it was time to get out. We were looking for a place to relax, away from the shops and tourists in Bariloche. We couldn't go far because in a few days it would be time to head back up to Mendoza. We decided a El Bolson, a small town known for its berries and bohemian attitude, would be the perfect fit.El Bolson, is probably best known for its crafts market that feature preserves made from the hordes of blackberry and raspberry bushes in the area as well as leather, wool goods and handmade jewelry.

We stayed at Refugio Patagonica, a clean, spacious and busy hostel located a 10-minute walk from the El Bolson's central park, where local artisans sell their wares every week.

Most international travelers seem to take the bus from Bariloche to El Bolson, about a 2 1/2- hour ride. We rented a car so we could explore the area surrounding the town. And explore we did. We hit up a local trout farm, took a short hike outside of town and went in search of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid's old pad (more on that later).

Renting a car in Argentina can be expensive compared with everything else in South America. The cost of renting a car in Argentina is comparable to prices in the States, although it depends on what area you are in. We rented a small fiat for about $40 USD a day.