A lot of reasons contribute to the popularity of Argentina in South America as a skiing destination. Firstly, the cheap packages offered by Argentina suit every budget. Even the most expensive resort in the peak season offers rates that are affordable. This place is also considered to be ideal for new and advanced snowboarders and skiers. It is better to visit the ski resorts in Argentina during the month of August as the place is less crowded and the mountain is more opened up. The fact that Argentina offers skiing options in the months of July and August is an added advantage to the parents who want their kids to spend their summer vacation in this place.
So, those wanting to ski in the Andes need to know about the popular places of Argentina. They are Cerro Bayo, Cerro Chapelco and Cerro Catedral. Let us learn more about each of these destinations to find the best one.
Cerro Bayo
Cerro Bayo mainly offers beginner to intermediate runs. This small and cheap ski resort has a peak elevation of 5700 feet and is considered to be the 'family' ski resort. You can access a large bowl with nearly 90 degree faces and to some major cornices, from the peak of Cerro Bayo. Due to its low elevation, rainfall occurs at this place sometimes and the place along with its adjoining town, Bayo Villa La Angostura is ideal for a weekend trip.
Cerro Chapelco
Mount Chapelco is situated behind the town of San Martin de los Andes and has a peak elevation of around 6500 feet. It takes around 3 hours to reach this place from Cerro Bayo and around 4 hours from Cerro Catedral. Its 140 skiable hectares is considered to be ideal for skiers and provides a great view of Lake Lácar. On platform 1700, snowboarders can exhibit their skills at the parallel slalom, big air, half pipe and Fun Park, situated inside the snowpark, at the end of Graeff chairlift. The lower part of Cerro Chapelco is considered to be ideal for beginners.
Cerro Catedral
Cerro Catedral has a peak elevation of around 6700 feet and is considered to be the largest skiing resort in whole of South America. The mountain offers beautiful views of the lakes, high plains and of Bariloche. The fascinating feature is that beginner runs are situated at top and at the bottom of the mountain. With higher elevation, the mountain offers lighter and deeper snow. In fact, in whole of South America, it is renowned for having the best snow powder that is mainly brought by the 'Santa Rosa' storm.
Cerro Catedral offers facilities like a modern lift system with more than 33 chairlifts including a gondola. The mountain also offers various unexplored chutes, woods and bowls for the adventurers to explore. Skiers can opt for raw skiing near the lift-accessed backcountry. Skiers need to follow the guidelines and carry beacon and shovel and the helmets are a must for the under-18 participants. At the mountain base, a clinic is situated that provides facilities like evaluations by doctors, X-rays and other preliminary procedures, at cheaper rates. The clinic is a part of the modern and well-facilitated hospital, Sanitario San Carlos de Bariloche and also provides the facility of a Medivac helicopter.
The nearest town of Bariloche can be reached from Cerro Catedral by availing a bus or taxi from the base of the mountain. It is situated on the Lago Nahuel Huapi's shore at the southern end of extensive lakes region. It provides all the modern conveniences to the tourists like restaurants, shopping malls and even nightclubs. The place also houses a number of tourist attractions such as Chocolate Museum, ATV Tours, horseback riding, hiking around Circuito Chio and island tours. The town provides a lot of activities to non-skiers.
Thus, it can be said that the best skiing resort of all the three options is Cerro Catedral. It is bigger than Cerro Chapelco and Cerro Bayo and its nearby town, Bariloche offers more exciting options than San Martin, the nearest town to Cerro Chapelco. Since, these three skiing resorts are situated nearby, you can avail all the three options in one trip but keep more time for Cerro Catedral as there is a lot to do in that place.