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Cerro Castor is a ski resort in the southern Argentinean region of Tierra del Fuego near to Ushuaia. Tierra del Fuego is 640 feet above sea level and despite its low height the resort manages to have a long ski season thanks to its southern location. Mount Castor is a modern, well-equipped resort with runs suitable for all levels of skier.

The southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia and its surrounding area provide accommodation and facilities for the resort. Many room choices are available to suit all budgets and choices range from international standard hotels to cabins and apartments.

The resort of Cerro Castor has recently boosted the total length of its ski runs to 10 miles with the addition of three new pistes. Now with a total skiable area of nearly 1,000 acres and 19 prepared slopes, it is the region’s newest and biggest resort. Nordic skiing tracks at the resort are particularly picturesque and they take you on a journey through forests of lenga trees.

The modern facilities at the resort include an impressive ski school with 20 professional instructors catering for skiers, snowboarders and snowbladers. Children and parents can make use of day nursery and ski school located at the base of the mountain. Other services available at the resort include equipment rental, medical services, a café and a restaurant at 1,476 feet above sea level.

As a break from the slopes, the region of Tierra del Fuego offers some interesting sights and tours including the ‘End of the World Train’. This tour through Tierra del Fuego National Park is by steam train, with a journey time of about one hour. To fully appreciate the tour, it helps to know some of the area’s history.

The ski season at Cerro Castor starts in early July and continues through to early October. Between mid-June to mid-July and mid-September to mid-October, children under five years old can ski for free. The simplest method of transport to Cerro Castor is by flying to Ushuaia International Airport, then travelling the 16-mile journey to the resort by bus.

Skiing in Cerro Castor

Cerro Castor is a ski resort located at the southernmost tip of Argentina. Weather conditions here are surprisingly good for such a southerly location, with average temperatures being between 5ºC and -5ºC in the winter. Good quality powder snow on the 19 prepared runs is supplemented by the recent addition of snow cannons to cover the lower slopes.

The 19 pistes at Cerro Castor are kept in pristine condition by two modern snow grooming machines. The slopes are 12 miles in length and cover an area of nearly 1,000 acres. They are divided by ability: 30 per cent are suitable for beginner skiers, 30 per cent for intermediates, 25 per cent for advanced and 15 per cent for expert skiers. There is also a competition run that plays host to national and international championships. Servicing the slopes are six chairlifts capable of carrying more than 5,000 people per hour. Off-piste skiing is available at the resort and cross-country skiers will be pleased with the interesting marked trails through the forests.

The city of Ushuaia contains modern attractions such as shopping, restaurants, discos and bars, while banking services and lodging are also available in the city. Local tour operators are able to organise excursions, and boats offering tours to Antarctica leave the port at Ushuaia during the summer months.

The Cerro Castor resort is a large, modern facility with well-prepared slopes. The excellent ski school attracts many beginners, while the challenging off-piste options draw expert skiers.

The long ski season at Mount Castor runs from July to September. Hotels, food and transport in Ushuaia are expensive. Be careful during the high season from mid-October to mid-March, as hotels raise their prices by as much as 50 per cent. The easiest method of transport to the island region of Tierra del Fuego is by plane. From Ushuaia International Airport the short transfer to the resort can be made by taxi or bus.

Transportation to Cerro Castor

Cerro Castor is a resort situated close to the southernmost city in the world. Due to its extreme southerly location, it is not easily accessible. Being on an island, the resort is best reached by flying to Ushuaia International Airport, then completing the short distance to the slopes by transfer bus.

By car from Buenos Aires, Ushuaia can be reached on National Route 3 via Rio Gallegos, a 1,490-mile journey which takes about 30 hours by car. The 16-mile journey to the resort can be made from Ushuaia by car, bus or taxi. From Chile, there are two ferry crossings available: Punta Delgada to Bahia Azul, a 30-minute journey and Punta Arenas to Puerto Porvenir, a journey of 2 hours, 30 minutes.

There are direct flights to Ushuaia by plane from Buenos Aires, with a journey time of 3 hours, 30 minutes, while flights from London to Buenos Aires take approximately 14 hours. Transfer to the resort from Ushuaia can be arranged by your hotel.

Long distance buses in Argentina are usually fast and comfortable. Services to Ushuaia via Rio Gallegos take about 36 hours. From here you can change buses to take you over the Strait of Magellan, which includes passing through customs as you cross into Chile.

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