Does anyone know where to find reliable mechanics in Patagonia if your car breaks down? It happened to me recently on the road between Bariloche and El Bolsón and I had to wait hours for someone to show up. Is there a way to avoid this or does it happen all the time?
What really saves you on that route is carrying a basic toolkit and spare parts (cables, fuses, brake fluid) because there are literally hours between one town and another. If something serious breaks down, any mechanic in Bariloche or El Bolsón can fix you up, but the problem is just getting there in the first place - what exactly failed in your car? Depending on that, for future trips you can check everything works properly beforehand and also make sure your phone is charged in case you need to call a tow truck, although coverage in those stretches is pretty spotty.
Patagonia is tricky for this kind of thing because there are long stretches without much cell coverage or nearby repair shops. Between Bariloche and El Bolsón especially, you're in an area where towns are pretty spread out. The best thing is to prevent problems: check your car before you leave (oil, water, tire condition, battery), bring a basic toolkit and, most importantly, make sure you have cell signal or a GPS locator that works without data. Some travelers get roadside assistance coverage from national companies before they go, and honestly it's worth it if something happens.
Once you're out there, in towns like El Bolsón or Perito Moreno there are more or less reliable repair shops, but the problem is not all of them are quick or located on the route. If your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, calling the national highway patrol (depending on exactly where you are) or the local traffic police can help you get in touch with taxis or tow trucks. Unfortunately it's something that happens pretty often in that area, it's not just you being paranoid; lots of travelers report long wait times. One tip: before you travel, ask at your hotel or the local tourism office where nearby mechanics are and get their phone numbers, so you don't get caught without info.
Before you travel, call the repair shops in Bariloche and El Bolsón directly to confirm they're open and ask if they do emergency callouts; many close early or won't go out to the road without upfront payment guarantee. What nobody mentions is that car insurance almost never covers towing in that specific area, so check your policy carefully because you end up paying for the tow yourself if you don't have explicit coverage.
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