When it’s summer in the United States, ski and snowboard lovers flock to South America in search of good snow and a great ski and snowboard experience. Among all, Las Leñas and Cerro Catedral in San Carlos de Bariloche are the two most popular names among lovers of snow sports. But in order to know which one is better, you must first know the two points in detail.
Las Leñas is located in the western part of the Province of Mendoza and is famous for its good weather, powder snow and great opportunities for off-piste skiing. Here the ski season starts from mid-June to mid-October. The Las Leñas ski center was inaugurated in 1983 along with a 300-bed hotel. It also includes a snowboard and ski school for people of different age groups, as well as childcare facilities. You will also find a small shopping center with shops related to skiing, a bank, a supermarket, souvenir shops and chocolate shops. Las Leñas can be reached by bus, car or plane.
For its part, Cerro Catedral is located about 19 kilometers from the city of San Carlos de Bariloche within the Nahuel Huapí National Park. This is one of the largest ski centers in South America with more than 100 kilometers of slopes. It is perhaps the most popular among ski lovers for its perfect skiing along with its excellent views of Lake Nahuel Huapi. With a large number of hostels and hotels located at the foot of the mountain, Bariloche has become the most popular tourist destination in Argentina with plenty of skiing, trekking, water sports and climbing.
Cerro Catedral offers many opportunities for all types of skiing, including freestyle, off-piste and even snowboarding, for which there are many routes and speed bumps where snowboarders can show off their skills. Cathedral offers an advanced snowmaking system that produces real snowflakes that cover a ski area of about 10 hectares.
Bariloche has an advantage over Las Leñas
If skiing and snowboarding is your goal, then Las Leñas is perfect for you. But Bariloche has the added advantage of other activities that tourists can do besides snowboarding and skiing. Also, if you want to experience some of the true Argentine culture, then Bariloche is the place to look for. Las Leñas may disappoint you if you want to see Argentine culture.
Again, Las Lenas is a much smaller city compared to Bariloche and has high-priced accommodation facilities with only skiing opportunities. But, Cerro Catedral, being close to the city of Bariloche, is equipped with all kinds of modern facilities, from medical facilities to currency exchange facilities and budget accommodation.
If you are not snowboarding or skiing on the slopes of Cerro Catedral, then you can take the urban bus to reach Bariloche, where you can enjoy many other activities. You can easily go on an excursion to the chocolate museum or walk the Chio Circuit. Fly fishing, ATV tours, day trips to resorts like Cerro Bayo or towns like El Bolsón or horseback riding – the variety is available here. But when the snow is at its best, you will probably spend more and more time on the slopes of Cerro Catedral.
If you want to enjoy the snow, then Bariloche and Las Lenas are about the same in terms of fun-filled snow activities like snowboarding and skiing. But for a more complete vacation, Bariloche has no other competition.