Cerro Catedral

The oldest ski resort in Argentina is most aptly named. The Cerro Catedral ski resort is also known as Catedral Alta Patagonia and its two mountain peaks bear a striking resemblance to the towers of a medieval cathedral. Located in the Rio Negro province of the Patagonia region, Cerro Catedral is one of the largest and most developed skiing areas of South America and was founded in 1936.

Cerro Catedral combines the two magnificent mountains of Bariloche, Los Robles and Catedral to provide the pioneer among South American ski resorts. It provides fifty-three well groomed runs that are most suitable for intermediate level skiers, while offering opportunities for beginners and advanced to expert skiers as well. The ski lift system with forty chair lifts is modern and impressive and the resort continuously updates its facilities to remain in the forefront of all the ski resorts in the country.

600 hectares of skiing area has been divided into 53 well marked runs of varying difficulty. Skiers can get their fill of Nordic, alpine and off-piste here, while snowboarders and freestyle enthusiasts have a designated area with bumps and rails to show their abilities. Cerro Catedral is the venue for numerous important international competitions. Non-skiing opportunities include sledding, paragliding, hiking, snow cat riding, mountain biking, quad bike riding, hiking and mountaineering.

The updated lifts have increased the total lift capacity of the mountain by 70%. The latest system of hands-free passes, which works through radio frequency does away with the need to show the pass in order to get on the lifts. It can be detected even if it is inside a pocket or a backpack. Twenty-five acres of the trails are covered by modern snow-making machines.

San Carlos de Bariloche, the nearest town to the slopes, is twelve miles away. There is plenty of accommodation to suit all needs and budgets in the Bariloche area, including the Llao Llao Hotel, one of Argentina’s most famous hotels. One can also stay near the slopes at Villa Catedral. Enjoy a snack or drink and superb views at the mountain bars and restaurants. A dozen restaurants at the mountain’s base offer a variety of cuisine.