Overall:
3.5.
Based on
157
votes
and
264
reviews.
Vote
Access: 4.6
(1) At least one overnight stop, (2) requires a whole day, (3) requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns (4) arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon, (5) there is a main airport within an hour of Cerro Catedral.
Public Transport: 3.6
(1) There are no buses or taxis to Cerro Catedral, (3) there are slow or infrequent buses / trains available, (5) getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections.
Scenery: 4.5
(1) An ugly resort in a bland setting, (3) average mountain views and resort, (5) a spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town.
Accommodation: 4.2
(1) No places to stay in/near Cerro Catedral, (3) a few places to stay in the resort, (5) a wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets.
Cheap Rooms: 3.6
(1) No budget accommodation available, (3) just one or two hostels so book ahead, (5) several cheap hostels and pensions available.
Luxury Hotels: 4.0
(1) No luxury accommodation available, (3) just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead, (5) several up-market hotels in Cerro Catedral.
Ski in/Ski out: 3.5
(1) The ski area is located far from any accommodation, (3) a free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip, (5) Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available.
Childcare: 3.8
(1) There are no child care facilities at Cerro Catedral, (5) the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche.
Snowsure: 3.1
(1) Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing, (2) is often closed due to a lack of snow, (3) occasionally suffers from a lack of snow, (4) rarely suffers from a lack of snow, (5) Cerro Catedral is snowsure even in the poorest seasons.
Snowmaking: 2.4
(1) Cerro Catedral relies entirely on natural snow, (3) there are just a few snow cannons, (5) there are snowmaking facilities on all pistes.
Snow Grooming: 3.4
(1) There are no snow groomers at Cerro Catedral, (3) occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state, (5) all the runs at Cerro Catedral are groomed daily.
Shelter: 2.7
(1) there is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut, (3) there are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close, (5) Cerro Catedral is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close.
Nearby options: 2.4
(1) If snow conditions are poor at Cerro Catedral, it will be poor everywhere nearby, (3) there are good alternatives within an hours drive, (5) other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions.
Regional rating: 3.3
(1) Cerro Catedral usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region, (3) has average conditions for the region, (5) usually has the best snow conditions in the region.
Lift Staff: 3.6
(1) The staff at Cerro Catedral are rude or unhelpful, (5) lift staff at Cerro Catedral are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help.
Crowds/Queues: 2.7
(1) the resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues, (3) it is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays, (5) it is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare.
Ski Schools: 4.2
(1) No ski schools available, (2) one or two ski schools but local language only, (3) a few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors, (4) plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available, (5) excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors.
Hire and Repairs: 4.2
(1) Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex. (3) there are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance, (5) good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible.
Variety of pistes: 4.1
(1) The ski runs are featureless and unvaried, (3) the ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week, (5) Cerro Catedral has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain.
Beginners: 3.4
(1) Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard, (3) a few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week, (3) Vast areas of gentle terrain.
Intermediates: 4.3
(1) No intermediate terrain at Cerro Catedral, (3) intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days, (5) vast areas of cruising runs.
Advanced: 4.2
(1) Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders, (3) enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste, (5) Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week.
Snow Park: 2.9
(1) Not even a kicker at Cerro Catedral, (3) average sized park quite well looked after, (5) huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails.
Off-piste: 3.5
(1) No off-piste worth mentioning, (2) off piste is out-of-bounds, (3) some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days, (5) a vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days.
Cross-country: 2.9
(1) There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Cerro Catedral, (3) there are some cross country trails available, (5) the area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails.
Luge/Toboggan: 2.4
(1) No designated luge or toboggan runs, (3) there are toboggan runs that open quite often, (5) Cerro Catedral has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages.
Mountain Dining: 3.8
(1) Nowhere to buy food by the pistes, (3) some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive, (5) there is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets.
Eating: 3.9
(1) Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. (5) A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants.
Apres-Ski: 3.8
(1) Nothing to do, not even a bar, (3) there are a few bars in the resort but nothing special, (5) clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere.
Other Sports: 2.7
(1) No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts, (3) resort has just a small public swimming pool, (5) resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool.
Entertainment: 3.7
(1) Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here, (3) the non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week, (5) the resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports.
Winter Walks: 3.0
(1) Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails, (3) a couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails, (5) extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities.
Ski Pass Value: 2.7
(1) A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available, (3) the ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts, (5) ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area.
Value (National): 3.0
(1) Overall, Cerro Catedral is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money, (3) overall represents average value for money, (5) overall offers the best value resort in the country.
Value (Global): 2.7
(1) Overall, Cerro Catedral is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world, (3) overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries, (5) internationally the resort offers excellent value for money.
Monday 1st Sept is third day of worsening snow conditions. Almost no snow at the base when I arrived (3 days ago) and yesterday night we were struggling in the cold walking in 80 cm of deep and heavy snow for the 500 m from the parking to the hotel. Skiing is impossible unless you want to queue up for hours and like beginners pistes at the high cost...
This is the mountain, it could be tricky... but snow cats were working at night maybe not enough to cope with such a snowfall. You will know more tomorrow as conditions right now seem to be improving
Example of a normal day in Catedral:
Today (Saturday 30 of August) it's snowing like sometimes happens in winter in a ski resort. At 10 am open the first chairlift (condor I) with a beginner slope full of students, one intermediate slope without grooming. At 12.30 pm open the gondola just for experts because there's no slopes open! At 1 pm open sextuple and half an hour later quadruple de punta nevada. Obviously the slopes are with 50 cm of deep snow and people of information of Alta Patagonia lies that the opening so late was because the snow machines were working!! In every place of the world the snowcats groom the snow during the night or very early in the morning. Here, NEVER!!!! It's a lie that there was somebody working on the mountain today. Slopes are a disaster like every day of this season on Catedral.
Capsa=verguenza!!!!
I finish today the ski week nr 24 of my life and first and last in South America. All the week was with a lot of problems with this mountain;every day the chairlifts were opened really late;most of them (more the 70%)were always closed;every time falls 20 cm of snow,no way to open a couple of slopes,it's incredible! I'd to ski all the week in the bottom part of Catedral with deep snow,moguls,queues too big for taking the only lift open,and of course full price for the ticket.....Peoples working for the lifts company has no idea of their own job;the only professional is the rescue team.
Restaurant on the mountain good enough but really expansive (La Roca,Cabana 1600 and Barrilete) even in dollars. Really good ski in the rentals (Sextuple and Travesia) I don't try the ski schools but I've seen 10 different uniforms,I think there are too much. A lot of free agent instructors that offers their services with lower price,like people that want to sell you something (ski,lessons,goggles,gloves,taxies,quads,excursions....) it's seems to be in Marrakesh or Casablanca
Bariloche is a wonderful town,the mountains and the lakes are beautiful,that's a lot of touristic service but I think that it's better for the summer,the ski resort doesn't exist,it's really a pity!
I've skied in Switzerland,Italy,Andorra,USA and in all ski resorts of Argentina. It's really true that Catedral is the best for the view and the worst for the lifts and the service of Alta Patagonia. Very expansive for the bad service. Old lifts. A lot of them always closed; opening really late in the morning and slopes with deep snow or moguls (the grooming doesn't exist). People of lists,info y security very rude and never knows what will pass with the mountain.
Never more here,next year Las Lenas or Chapelco.
I agree with most of the comments..........but since this year 2008 I will add..........the prices for the poor quality you get are insane, both in euros and dollars. It is definitely a beautiful place being ruined by human incompetence!!! Very sad indeed.....
After 7 weeks skiing through-out Chile, I was pretty dissapointed to finish my South American ski experience with a week in Catedral.
Yes,it is a beautiful place, with nice, views, bars and restaraunts, but the riding, management, grooming and atmosphere, was by far nothing in comparison to what we experienced in places like Termas de Chillan, Nevado, Pucon and Portillo.
There does seem to be a shortage of snow here this season, but added to this is the extreme lack of grooming, countless exposed rocks on runs and long lines for the lifts. It is nearly impossible to ski back to the carpark without damaging your equipment, there are even exposed-unmarked rocks at the very top of the mountain as you exit some chairlifts.
As skiing is a pretty popular sport amongst all types of people from learners to advanced, this place definitely does not provide good skiing to maybe 80% of the people that go there.
Well done Chile for the 2008 winter
I live here past 5 seasons after skiing all over Sth America past 20 years (plus Australia and New Zealand).
If you can ski, it is the best all round ski mountain in the Southern Hemisphere.
If you can only ski only corduroy, you will struggle.
But if you have forked out the money to get here, spend a bit more on a local to show you round and stay on mountain, not downtown, so you don't get stuck in the morning rush - we almost never wait in line once up on the mountain and usually are the only people skiing where we ski.
Hey, and as for the guy whinging about an avalanche last week, if 3 American snowboarders are dumb enough to set one off going out when the extreme avalanche danger flag is flying you can't blame the resort - how about thanks for everyone who went to help dig them out after seeing it happen?
Good ones: Nice landscape, great people, lots of lifts that make shorter lines.
Bad ones: Grooming is AWFUL, they don't spend any cent in grooming services (at mid day all runs are full of moguls and very difficult to carve). Short runs and too many names to get in touch with. Lifts close with moderate winds and not strong winds. Snow conditions are wet. 2 straight sunny days and the base snow becomes unskiable. Lift operators are very rude and they know nothing about customer service.
I´ve boarded Cerro Catedral in Bariloche for 6 years now. At least 2 weeks every year. I´ve read many comments and not all of them are true. Most of them are though...
Pros:
-Great city for cheap lodging and restaurants. Lots of cabins for rent, hostels, five star hotels and much more to fit any budget.
-In the past 4 years they have added more and newer lifts. Nothing like the kind you´ll find in a big resort in the US but still acceptable.
-Excellent scenery! Great lake and mountain view...
-Friendly people and great food (you´ll find this all over Argentina).
Cons:
-Employees in general are not service oriented!
-Very crowded during school winter holidays (2 weeks between late July and early August).
-Runs are very poorly groomed! Don´t expect Colorado corduroy, just not gonna happen.
-Too many moguls (sucks if you snowboard)
-Not high or cold enough for powder conditions to last more than a few days. Bad grooming doesn't help.
Resuming, Cerro Catedral is a great place to go if you are looking for a reasonable priced vacation (compared to US or Europe) but don´t expect the same quality of snow, lifts or service!
Other than Cerro Catedral I boarded Chapelco and Las Leñas in Argentina. Also: Heavenly, Sierra, Kirkwood (Lake Tahoe, CA) and Aspen (Colorado, USA).
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