Cerro Bayo Ski Resort

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Cerro Bayo Ski Resort

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Cerro Bayo

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Cerro Bayo Argentina

Cerro Bayo (pronounced “Bar-gjo”) in Argentine Patagonia is renowned for the remarkable vistas across the breathtaking Andes into Chile, the amazing forests, and the great views across Lago Nahuel Huapi. The azure waters of the lake are spectacular, and the proximity to the ski area almost makes the runs seem steeper because you feel like you might just ski over the edge into the lake. Skiing or snowboarding at the Cerro Bayo Ski Resort is incredibly aesthetically pleasing, along with the nearby Villa La Angostura. Cerro Bayo is probably not an international destination resort in itself, but it’s worth visiting for 2-3 days as a great supplement to other Patagonian ski resorts.

Cerro Bayo Ski Resort in Argentina was once a little locals’ ski hill, a mom and pop style ski area that largely flew under the radar. Cerro Bayo is still little, but it touts itself as providing a boutique ski experience. This may have been true during the 2010s, but on the back of Covid it became a crazy busy ski area with way too many pedestrians wanting to look at the views.

Pros and Cons of Cerro Bayo Argentina

Pros 
  • Cerro Bayo Ski Resort offers amazing views and the natural surroundings are awe inspiring. Girls you don’t need to worry about brushing your hair or putting make-up on at Cerro Bayo. Everyone will be too busy looking at the gorgeous views to even notice what you look like!
  • Cerro Bayo is close to the town of Villa la Angostura, which is debatably the most beautiful lakeside town on earth!
  • Cerry Bayo Resort has some magical tree skiing that’s particularly ideal for low-end advanced riders.
  • Fresh powder is reasonably easy to come by in off-piste and backcountry zones.
  • Much of the terrain is south facing, so the slopes in the upper reaches usually have good snow.
Cons
  • It’s a reasonably small resort and doesn’t provide enough terrain variety for a long stay.
  • Many of the lifts at Cerro Bayo are thumb twiddlingly slow and they seem to break down regularly.
  • Lift tickets are pricey compared to some other Argentina ski resorts (but cheap compared to high profile US ski resorts) considering the lack of modern lifts.
  • The Cerro Bayo Resort attracts too many pedestrians, which adds to the lift queues, lunch spot crowds, and car park chaos.
Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective
  • The top gondola offers access to some great challenging terrain (when the conditions are right) but the Telecabina Cumbre is often not running (due to weather or “just because” in classic Argentine style). The highly coveted terrain then becomes hike-to-terrain and the freshies last much longer.
  • There is no on-mountain lodging but staying in the town of Villa la Angostura is beautiful.
  • Those with a mega budget can pay for a Gold Pass to get VIP parking, lift queue priority, and a host of other benefits. The rest of us just get an everyday experience.

Cerro Bayo Ski and Snowboard Terrain

Cerro Bayo is a small ski area with only 200 hectares (494 acres) of terrain, 14 lifts, and 26 marked trails that are only 14km in length. The piste areas might be diminutive, but there are plenty of off-piste zones where it’s possible for kitted out advanced and expert riders to find fresh lines. These off-piste areas are an absolute highlight for powder hounds.

Cerro Bayo Ski Resort sits above and below the timber line so it offers some open alpine bowls as well as some fun tree skiing. At one end of the spectrum there are short steep sections and at the other end, wide groomed mellow runs. The split of piste trails is 10% black (advanced to expert), 35% red (intermediate to advanced), 40% blue (easy intermediate), and 15% green (beginner). For greenhorns, a highlight is the 5km long panoramic run that features wondrous views of Nahuel Huapi Lake.

The quality of the lifts is rather variable. There is a gondola; well actually there are 2 consecutive gondolas. Otherwise the lifts are mostly double chair lifts that are old, unreliable and somewhat slow, leaving plenty of time to contemplate life.

Cerro Bayo Snow

Cerro Bayo receives a respectable amount of snowfall by South American standards, with an average of 6 to 9 metres of snow per season (they clearly have a bit of trouble with maths or deciding where and how to measure snow!). The Cerro Bayo snow quality is fairly typical of the Andes. It ranges remarkably from awesome powder to sloppy mashed potatoes, and the base elevation is only 1,050 metres, so the snow cover can be very patchy.

Where is Cerro Bayo Ski Resort?

Cerro Bayo in Argentina is a mountain of the Andes range within the Lakes District. It sits in western Argentina, so Chile is just a stone’s throw away, whilst Buenos Aires is a 1,800km/1,118 mile drive to the northeast.

Cerro Bayo is situated above the little town of Villa La Angostura, a 9km/5.5 mile (15 minute) drive away. Villa La Angostura is located one hour north (70km) of Bariloche, and only 2 hours from San Martin de los Andes.

Cerro Bayo Lodging

There is no on-mountain accommodation at Cerro Bayo so everyone stays in the nearby town of Villa la Angostura. In addition to Villa la Angostura hotels, the town has lots of accommodation options ranging from absolutely gorgeous 4 star hosterias with lake views down to 1 star affairs, various apart hotels, cabins (cabanas), and hostels.

Villa La Angostura is a charming upscale village situated on the north shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi. Many of the buildings are wooden and very quaint, and the village offers a quiet pace relative to Bariloche. Villa La Angostura has various cute shops, chocolatiers, and plenty of restaurants and bars, but don’t expect the outrageous nightlife typical of Argentina.

Villa la Angostura Hotel Listings

Facilities

Anything that the amenities lack in the modern stakes, it makes up for with rustic charm. There are various log refugios (lodges) that are charming, and rather than just offering usual ski resort fare, Cerro Bayo also has gastronomical delights on offer so expect to pay top peso. Other facilities include ski and snowboard school, equipment rentals, a ski shop, and child care.

Activities include magic carpet accessed tubing (ages 4 and up) and guided snowshoeing tours.
Tours That Include Cerro Bayo

Safari (Road Trip) Tours

Argentina Patagonia Ski Resorts Tour
GUIDED RESORT & BACKCOUTRY TOUR
8 Days | 7 Nights | 3 Resorts
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
This 8-day tour takes in 3 of Argentina, Patagonia’s best ski resorts. You will access terrain mostly via lifts with the opportunity for some backcountry ski/snowboard touring. Join a group on a fixed-date tour or create your own custom tour for your own private group.
Price p/p Price is per person twin-share inc taxes.
base/invoice currency is USD
Displayed prices might vary slightly to actual due to exchange rate fluctuations.
USD 3,600
View Details
 
Bariloche Backcountry Snow Adventure
GUIDED OFF-PISTE ADVENTURE
8 Days | 7 Nights | 6 Days Skiing | Max 8 Guests
Ability: Advanced to Expert
A lift assisted and touring adventure to the best ski areas in Patagonia for advanced to expert skiers & snowboarders. 2 nights at Baguales backcountry touring & Cerro Catedral (Bariloche), Cerro Bayo with quality twin share lodging in sublime Argentinian towns throughout the trip.
Price p/p From price based on twin/double-share room occupancy.
Base/invoice currency is in USD inc taxes.
Guaranteed departures; you book, you travel!
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 4,199
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Argentina All Mountain
GUIDED PISTE & OFF-PISTE TOUR
8 Days | 7 Nights | 6 Days Skiing
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Advanced
Designed for advanced-intermediate & above skiers & riders looking to advance their ability but are not interested in hiking for turns. Take in the best ski areas in Patagonia; Cerro Catedral (Bariloche), Cerro Bayo & Chapelco. Cozy hotels, magnificent views & feast on superb Patagonian cuisine & wines!
Price p/p Price is per person
Base/invoice currency is USD
Displayed price may vary slightly to actual due to exchange rate fluctuations.
USD 3,999
View Details
 
See all Safari (Road Trip) tours that visit Cerro Bayo here

Backcountry Skiing Tours

Bariloche Ski Touring Week
SKI TOURING in BARILOCHE AREA
8 Days | 7 Days Touring | Customizable Itinerary
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
This 8-day customizable tour offers some classic ski touring around Cerro Catedral ski resort combined with 2 nights staying at Frey Hut (one of Argentina's best ski huts) & then a further 2 nights staying at Refugio De La Mesada (Baguales). PRIVATE GROUPS of 2 - 6 guests
Price p/p Price is per person based on 8-day tour with min group of 2
Base/invoice currency is USD inc tax
*displayed price may vary slightly due exchange rate fluctuations
USD 3,350
View Details
 
See all Backcountry Skiing tours that visit Cerro Bayo here
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