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Travel to Cerro Catedral with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Also known as Catedral Alta Patagonia, the resort of Cerro Catedral is located in Patagonia about 1,000 miles from Buenos Aires. Cerro Catedral, or Mount Cathedral, is named after the profile of its mountain peaks that is similar to the towers of a medieval cathedral. Opened in 1936, the resort is the oldest in Argentina, but has recently undergone a modernisation program to provide a larger, better equipped skiing area.

The nearest town to the slopes is San Carlos de Bariloche, 12 miles away. There is rich history and culture to explore at Bariloche, while spectacular natural beauty including forests, lakes and mountains also surrounds the city. There is plenty to do while you are in the city, with its many shops, restaurants and variety of après-ski activities. When dining out, you may like to try Kandajar, Caza Mayor, Casita Suiza and La Marmite.

Cerro Catedral is a well-developed site offering skiers a modern chairlift pass system and good facilities. The impressive 1,500-acre skiing area and its 53 marked runs are perfect for intermediate level skiers, while there are limited opportunities for beginners and advanced to expert skiers. The ski lift system is modern and impressive, with 40 chairlifts having the ability of carrying up to 26,276 skiers an hour.

The Bariloche area has plenty of accommodation available including the Llao Llao Hotel, one of Argentina’s most famous hotels. All budgets are catered for at Bariloche and there are room options available by the slopes at Villa Catedral. Facilities on the slopes include 13 mountain bars and restaurants, all with superb views, while there are 12 restaurants catering to a variety of tastes at the mountain’s base. Other facilities here include banks, lockers, rental shops, retail shops, repair services and a ski school. There is a casino and some discotheques for après ski entertainment.

The ski season at Cerro Catedral starts in mid-June and ends in late September to early October. The best method of travel to Catedral Alta Patagonia resort is by air from Buenos Aires to Bariloche, then a short transfer by tourist bus to the slopes.

Skiing in Cerro Catedral (Bariloche)

Cerro Catedral ski resort in Rio Negro province of Argentina is home to one of the biggest and most developed skiing centres in South America. Los Robles and Catedral, the two mountains at Bariloche, have combined into one resort giving easy access to 1,500 acres and 53 prepared runs. The hands-free pass system detects your chairlift-pass even if it is in your jacket or backpack.

Cerro Catedral has 1,500 acres of skiable slopes and provides 53 pistes with a total length of 64 miles. The resort caters best for intermediate level skiers, with 15 per cent of its slopes being beginner pistes, 60 per cent intermediate, 20 per cent advanced and five per cent suitable for experts. Modern snow-making machines cover 25 acres of piste. The huge skiing area is serviced by 40 chairlifts, with a capacity for lifting 26,376 skiers an hour. The latest addition to the chairlift system is the four person gondola which transports passengers to the lower Teleski 2000 station from base in less than 10 minutes.

Alpine, Nordic and off-piste skiing is also available at Cerro Catedral. Other activities you may like to try are snowboarding, sledding, paragliding, snow cat riding, mountain biking, quad bike riding, hiking and mountaineering. At the base of the mountain you will find medical services and communication facilities including public phones and internet access.

Catedral Alta Patagonia is a large resort attracting many visitors throughout the year. It maintains a friendly atmosphere and has invested heavily in providing skiers with a modern experience. The variety of first-class hotels and restaurants is an impressive feature of the resort. Advanced and expert skiers may not want to stay long, as most of the pistes here are for intermediate skiers.

The ski season at Catedral Alta Patagonia resort normally starts in June and finishes in October. The best way to access the resort is by air from Buenos Aires, then by taking a bus, taxi or hire car for the remaining short distance to the base.

Transportation to Cerro Catedral (Bariloche)

A popular and busy resort throughout the year, Cerro Catedral offers skiers a huge area to explore with picturesque landscapes as a backdrop. Arriving by plane from Buenos Aries is the simplest method of travel to the resort.

If you are travelling by car from Bariloche, the best route is to exit the town via Bustillo Avenue. When you reach Catedral crossing, turn left onto a paved road and follow it for 10 miles to the ski resort. Parking is available free of charge for up to 960 cars. A regular bus transfer runs from the town to the resort every 30 minutes. You will also find hotels frequently offer transfer services to the resort. The journey from Buenos Aires to the resort by car is possible, with a journey time of about 16 hours, but for most people flying this leg of the journey is more convenient.

By plane from Buenos Aires, there are four flights a day to San Carlos de Bariloche International Airport. From San Carlos de Bariloche, the resort of Villa Catedral can be reached by taxi, bus or hire car, with a journey time of 30 minutes.

Many bus services are available to Bariloche from Buenos Aires, frequently travelling the 1,000-mile journey overnight.

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