Cerro Catedral is full of places to visit and enjoy throughout the year, a different and fun way is to do it in 4x4 vehicles through gravel circuits with imposing vegetation and routes through the forest that take you to unexpected places.
Through a series of itineraries specifically designed by drivers and guides, you can access the most beautiful natural landscapes, knowing the history of the area.
The ascent begins on a steep mountain path between the centennial coihues forest and high lengas. The curves of the path are viewpoints to the Nahuel Huapi National Park, with its lakes, islands and mountains.
During the journey Passengers descend and enjoy the different panoramic views and travel the trails. While in the winter season, passengers are equipped with snowshoes to be able to travel through areas with high accumulation of snow without sinking.
The departures start from the Villa Cerro Catedral and have a duration of 1 hour 20 minutes.
Climbing and Zip-lining in La Hoyita
At the top of Cerro Catedral (almost 2000 meters high) there is a space that is open in summer (December to April), where you can go zip-lining and climbing for adults. There is also a zip line area for children and a children's arena. To access this area you can ascend with the Amancay gondola from the base and with a connection at the Diente de Caballo chairlift. In this way you reach the southern slope of the mountain, where this small amusement park is located, the area that for skiers is known as La Hoyita.
Each activity can be contracted individually or through the Cathedral Passport , which includes all the activities of the circuit, including the ascent to the mountain, and discounts on gastronomy. Residents in Bariloche who have the Classic pass for the winter season can upgrade at no cost by presenting it at the Telecabina boarding.
Jump on Donut slides
Another point of fun and adventure is in the Magic Donuts . A small amusement park with slides and snow ramps, where people can play all year round. With the rubber bands one can slide down the hilarious slides and ramps located at the base of Cerro Catedral.
In the Winter season in Magic Donas offer together with guides the possibility that the youngest can ascend by the Amancay Gondola up to 1800 meters of height to play in the snow with donuts and they can discover from that point the wonderful views of Bariloche, the lakes and the Andes Mountains. This activity is offered every day from 3 pm (only for children under 10 years old).
Skiing and Snowboarding on the coolest slopes
Cerro Catedral has
the best ski center in Latin America and can be enjoyed during the months of
June to October . The Catedral slopes were the first ski slopes in South America and today it is still the most complete winter resort. It has 53 well-marked slopes of various difficulties that
reach 2,000 meters in height. In addition, it has 103 kilometers of slopes and 40 lifts with a transport capacity for 35,000 skiers per hour.
60% of the tracks are intermediate level. Punta Princesa (1650 masl), conserves the snow until the end of October and allows you to experience spring skiing, it is recommended for all levels. De La Garganta, Pista Seis and Del Bosque are for advanced skiers. Amancay (1700 meters above sea level) crosses forest sectors offering a unique panorama. De las Nubes and Carlitos are among the most difficult at over 1800 meters above sea level. Cerro Catedral has a skiable area of 1200 hectares with a maximum skiable length of 9 kilometers.
By the different elevation means It is possible to ascend in just 10 minutes from the base at 1770 meters above sea level, to the lower station of Teleski 2000.
The most important snow festivals and international competitions are held at Cerro Catedral . Among them, the lowering of torches stands out at each beginning of the winter season, a night show that is gaining more and more followers.
If you are interested in enjoying all of them the facilities and activities offered in this winter center, I recommend you
the week or the
3 days of skiing. In both packages you will be able to experience this incredible sport. It doesn't matter if you are inexperienced,
classes with professional instructors are offered. The packages also include accommodation, transfers, ski equipment and entrance passes to the track.
Cerro Catedral also has a Snowpark (1800 masl) offers different alternatives so that everyone can live a day full of emotions and fun. For Freestyle fans, the mountain has the unmissable Terrain Park (1700 masl), an area specially equipped to practice tricks and jumps adapted for all levels. This sector has 5 hectares of pure adrenaline, jumps and obstacles divided into four levels from beginners to experts.
For those who want to take their first steps in snow sports there is the “Play Park”. A learning area at the Base, where visitors take a step-by-step tour to then be able to enjoy the different slopes at height, become familiar with the equipment, make the first movements and turns, and learn to take control of the boards . An ideal space to learn in a safe and accessible way. This sector has seven lifts and has a skiable area of more than 3.5 hectares at the foot of the mountain.
Cerro Catedral also has a Nordic ski or cross-country track, approved by the International Ski Federation, suitable for top-level competitions. The track has a length of approximately 2.5 kilometers and is located in the vicinity of the Upper Station of the Amancay Cable Car, surrounded by a unique natural setting. Cross-country skiing is a modality that does not require prepared or signposted areas, and that aims to travel through landscapes and forests moving in a simple and dynamic way.
I recommend you do it with the company of specialized guides. It requires specific material and equipment, similar to classic ski equipment, but with a special system with which you can advance on the flat and climb the snow without slipping.
Sledding on the snow
Playing in the snow with the sleds is an ideal activity for the whole family, especially for the little ones who are looking for adrenaline and fun. It is a proposal to enjoy in a group and go down at full speed on the snow in the Connection sector, recirculating from the intermediate station of Princesa II. There is also another recreation area in the upper station from the Amancay Cable Car where you can go tobogganing and where you will find the points to withdraw and leave them.
Other tracks for sledding are in La Hoyita, Where it can be accessed with the Amancay cable car and then with the Diente de Caballo chairlift. At the base of Cerro Catedral there is also another area, where it is allowed to play with sleds. These can be rented by the hour and you can find them in all the snow equipment rental and sale stores that are located in the town of Cerro Catedral.
Snowshoe hikes in Cerro Catedral
The walks or trekkings with rackets are another of the low complexity activities technical, physical and simple to perform at Cerro Catedral during the winter season (June to August). Snowshoes are accessories that are attached to footwear and serve to move more comfortably and quickly on snowy or icy terrain. In addition, poles are provided to carry out the walk comfortably and with a good balance.
This journey is guided with group outings towards the snowshoeing area in Superior Amancay < font color="# 434343" face="Ubuntu, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"> . The excursion s e can be booked at the Cerro Catedral village, where they provide you with all the equipment and transfer you to the area where the activity takes place. It lasts between 40 minutes and an hour. It can also be hired with transfers from the city center.
The snowshoeing tours are carried out with guides in group departures from the Superior Amancay area .
Snowbus ride through the Hill
It is a unique experience where you travel the slopes of Cerro Catedral in a machine on the runway that has a heated cabin with transport capacity for 14 passengers .
During the tour you will be accompanied by a specialized guide who will tell you curious facts about the fauna, flora and history of the area.
You reach the edge of the mountain where you can see spectacular panoramic views . It is a walk suitable for all audiences. Tours are hired at the base of Cerro Catedral during the winter season from July to August.
Get off at full speed on SnowBMX
The activity is carried out on adapted bicycles for the snow in a circuit where friends and families perform slalom-style competitions. The ascents and descents are ideal for group fun during the visit to the mountain.
The equipment is very easy to use and thanks to the width of the board, it is possible to slide on the snow in a stable and safe way. The activity is carried out with a helmet and it is mandatory to do the introductory talk on the modes of use and safety regulations. The SnowBMX is hired by the hour in the area of the Princess Track.
Ride the trails on Snowmobiles and ATVs
A great way to get to know the surroundings of Cerro Catedral is with snowmobiles or ATVs. It is a fun and safe activity allowing effortless access to the most beautiful scenery in the area in the winter season.
The excursion combines ATVs and snowmobiles crossing streams and lenga forests , up to 1,400 meters high , on a 7-kilometer route with stops at natural viewpoints, visiting an area of the ski center and enjoying of an environment that can only be done with all-terrain vehicles.
It is ideal for those who want to make the experience and combine it with other activities within the ski center. The approximate duration of the tour is 50 minutes and the departures are every 15 minutes from the Cerro Catedral Base.
Where to eat in Cerro Catedral
The to ur gastronomic by the mountain is also a good plan to enjoy the Cathedral throughout the year. There are inns distributed throughout the mountain with the most delicious Patagonian dishes and the best panoramic views.
In addition to an excellent gastronomic offer and a variety of services, All have heated spaces and spectacular terraces with views of the mountains, the Andes Mountains and the city.
The most recommended are:
Lynch Shelter
Another unmissable tip at Cerro Catedral it is to have lunch or a hot chocolate with churros at the Lynch Refuge. This incredible refuge in the middle of the mountain was built 60 years ago at 2000 meters above sea level.
The refuge is a onstruction made of concrete and wood from 1943 that invites you to enjoy the typical regional gastronomy in its restaurant with capacity for 300 people in its two rooms or in the terrace (can be accessed throughout the year).
Among the star dishes are: el locro with Patagonian lamb, goulash, baked trout with grilled vegetables and the popular Neapolitan Milanese with fries.
To get to Lynch you have to go up 1800 meters , where Hermida is by cable rail, then continue 200 more meters along the Lynch chair and walk a few meters through the Patagonian steppe. For the more adventurous, the refuge can also be accessed on foot from the trails located and signposted at the base of Cerro Catedral.
The Lynch refuge has a location privileged to contemplate all the beauty that surrounds the Cerro Catedral and the city of Bariloche. Also on the upper floor it has three bedrooms for those who want to spend the night in the middle of the mountain.
Tage
At the base of the hill, a few meters from the parking lot and access to lifts, one of the proposals that is always open (rain, wind or snow) is Tage, with more than 50 years of experience in the mountains in charge of the Rosenkjaer family. Fast foods, among which the tenderloin, hamburgers and goulash with spetzl stand out, always accompanied by Tyrolean music in honor of their roots.
It is an excellent place to walk to taste Argentine and German cuisine. Many customers come to savor its tender laing, its generous choripán and its famous empanadillas. Make sure to try the surprising waffles or the tasty apple strudel. You can also have an extraordinary beer, an irresistible mulled wine or a delicious cordial. And without forgetting the exquisite hot chocolate that fits perfectly with all sweet dishes.
Cabina 1600
In the central area of Cerro Catedral, just ends the Sextuple Chairlift, one of the main means of the ski center, is
Cabin 1600 , a warm space to have lunch or a hot drink to help regain temperature. There are mountain dishes, grill and sweets. The hallmark of this parador is its artistic decoration, with each of its tables intervened in a very colorful way by the CreArte group, a local non-profit association that works in the non-formal education of children with disabilities. Only skiers or snowboarders come to this place.
La Roca
In the upper station of The Amancay gondola
(at 1800 masl, in the South sector) there is the
La Roca restaurant , a mountain restaurant. A high-level gastronomic experience:
Patagonian signature dishes, extensive wine list, homemade pasta and artisan pastries. They have a spacious lounge, lounge and living room with views of Lake Gutiérrez and a great deck to the mountain.
Archie MacLellan is the chef who came from Scotland and settled several years ago in Bariloche, creating a menu that combines European flavors and Patagonian dishes with local products: dishes with trout, lamb and venison. The menu is extensive and there are also tapas, burgers and salads. In the morning and afternoon they have the cafeteria in operation.
Punta Princesa
The
Punta Princesa Parador is located at
1936 masl, it is the highest parador of Cerro Catedral. It is located at the landing of the Tooth of Horse Chairlift.
The service modality in Punta Princesa is self service And the portions are generous. Among the outstanding dishes are: the veal milanesa with french fries, hamburgers, salads and of course, the cakes: cheseecake with red berries, brownies, chocotorta and a lot of tasty things.
Punta Nevada Parador
This parador is It is located at 1700msnm, in Superior Cable Carril. It is one of the paradores that skiers and pedestrians can access. It is located in the center of the mountain, with a capacity for 200 people and another 200 more seats in the terrace area.
In the center of the restaurant They have a large fireplace , ideal for recovering temperature in autumn and winter. The main dishes are the stews, the chicken curry with a mix of green leaves, as well as there are also simple meals such as a delicious hot dog with french fries or the giant milanesa sandwich.
Rodeo
It is located at the base of Cerro Catedral, it is one of the best rated for the service provided and for having the grill more complete with all the varieties of cuts of meat and achuras: empty, loin, entraña, ribs, matambre, sausages, blood sausage, sweetbreads, kidneys and chinchulines.
They also stand out for the pasta menu , in which the gnocchi with stew stand out. The dessert menu is one of the best that can be tried in Catedral, we recommend that you try the frozen glass with blackberries and blueberries or the Catedral pancakes (dulce de leche, roasted apple, rum and caramel). El Rodeo has a VIP lounge with excellent views, immediate attention and privacy.