Cerro Catedral

One of the most stunning villages in South America, the northern Patagonian town of Cerro Catedral is nestled between massive peaks and a beautiful glacier-fed lake. The landscape is nothing short of jaw-dropping, with mystical forests climbing the mountainsides and transitioning into jagged, high-alpine ridgelines, which bear a striking resemblance to medieval church towers. Cerro Catedral, which means Mount Cathedral in Spanish, is also the namesake of the major resort in the area and the most complete ski resort in the country thanks to its continual upgrading of facilities and lifts. The ski area offers access to a full array of highly varied terrain and while the temperate climate generally sees ample amounts of moisture, it can sometimes come in the form of rain on the lower mountain.

Details

Skiable Acres:

3,000

Runs:

38

Vertical Drop:

3,773 feet

Distance To Airport:

7 miles

Website:

catedralaltapatagonia.com

cerro-catedral

How To Get There

Once you land in Buenos Aires, hop on a two-hour flight directly to San Carlos de Bariloche (BRC) where the airport is a mere seven miles from the city center. Cerro Catedral is just a 25-minute drive from the town of Bariloche.

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Where To Stay

The Pire Hue Lodge is the resort’s only ski-in/ski-out accommodation but Village Catedral Hotel and Spa is just 60 feet from the lifts and offers one, two and three-room apartments to accommodate up to eight people. For the more budget conscious, Hotel Punta Condor is your three-star paradise located just 100 meters from the lifts. If you’re looking for something even more affordable, staying in the town of Bariloche at Hotel Cristal is your best bet. 

Travel Tips From The Pros:

Embrace the South American pace.  It always takes me a day or two skiing down south before I remember to drop my North American powder-frenzy mentality and just chill out and enjoy the slower rhythms.

— Ingrid Backstrom

Where To Ski

If rails, boxes and pipes are more your thing, Cerro Catedral will rock your park skiing world. For backcountry excursions, take a gander at the Refugio Frey Hut for an overnight adventure. If you want to stay closer to the resort but still get the blood pumping, the southern side of the mountain gives you access to hike-to chutes, bowls and the Punta Nevada and La Laguna cliff bands. Note: If you plan on skiing off-piste, be sure to have the proper safety equipment, knowledge and a partner.

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Where To Eat

If the sun is still up, make your way to one of Catedral’s historic eateries, Tage for local fare and yodeling music. Located in the heart of the village, Tage is the spot to kick back and enjoy a causal beer on a sunny day, with a large open patio area facing the mountain, allowing you to look up at the lines you skied. But when your internal clock tells you it’s dinner time, you’re going to want to hit Rodeo Parrilla–which is open at “gringo time,” meaning you’ll eat before 10 p.m.–for great steak in an eclectic establishment. Vegetarians, do not fear. Rodeo has plenty of veggie-friendly options to indulge in. A trip to Argentina wouldn’t be complete without enjoying an Asado–a cultural event featuring a variety of slow cooked barbecued meats. El Boliche de Alberto, known to locals as Alberto’s, is the place to enjoy some BBQ in Bariloche with two locations, one downtown and another closer to the mountain.

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Nightlife

Take your après and turn it into a night out at Mute (pronounced Moo-tay). Rest your legs on one of the leather couches and when you’re feeling revived, get up and dance to ’80s and ’90s tunes from local DJs. Jackson’s Bar–next to the Soul Max Hotel–is where you’ll want to happy hour as they have two-for-one drinks before 6:30 p.m. If you’re looking to party until the sun comes up, the clubs and bars in Bariloche don’t even get groovin’ until 1 a.m. For some well-deserved day drinking, Cerveceria Berlina and Cerveceria Patagonia are your go-to craft breweries in town and around the mountain.