Cerro Bayo is a really traditional small ski resort in the Patagonian Andes of the Neuquen province only a few miles away from the picturesque small town of Villa La Angostura. Founded by Jean Pierre Raemdonck and run as a family resort for many years it is now owned by a private company who is taking the resort under an expansion plan that will include new lifts and services and it is promoting it as a “boutique” operation.

The resort’s location is one of the main highlights as it overlooks the Nahuel Huapi lake and the surrounding peaks and it takes only a few minutes to get here from Villa La Angostura. The major airport – and probably the only smart option to fly into – is Bariloche about 1 hour and 30 minutes away from the ski area.

This is a beautiful little ski resort with fantastic views, great potential and superb off-piste skiing.

Cerro Bayo offers possibilities for every type of skier and snowboarder. Even when it make look small, the groomed trails are quite varied. Off-piste skiing is incredible here with both knee-deep powder open bowls and fantastic tree skiing long lines.

As a Patagonia resort mountains are not really high compared to those resorts located in the Central Andes. Just to compare – not that we like to do it – summit here in Cerro Bayo is lower than any of the base areas in Portillo, Valle Nevado or Las Lenas.

Another highlight here is tree skiing. Most runs go through forests holding snow in excellent conditions. Only the upper part of the mountains and Provinciales section are tree-less.

As a small resort Cerro Bayo is worth visiting at any time during the season as crowds are not part of the scene here. And specially if you are willing to explore the off-piste and challenging areas more lines will be yours.
As a lower resort snow is usually guaranteed in early July thought the ski season opens around June 15h.

July and August offer excellent conditions being the first month time for local holidays. If possible try to avoid the last two weeks and many families come from Neuquen and Buenos Aires as well. The rest of the time enjoy the mountain and fresh powder.

September gets warmer but not as warm as the Central Andes. The skiing still is great and by mid-month snow will start turning into spring conditions. The chances for late snowfalls are high and after Santa Rosa we always expect what local calls the Los Tulipanes snowfall which marks the end of the snow season.

Cerro Bayo offers different services on the mountain and right at the base including several restaurants and bars, ski rentals, ski school and more. But keep in mind there is no on-mountain accommodation.
All hotels, lodges and cabins are located at the mountain village of Villa La Angostura and along the road that goes to Bariloche.

As a high-end destination – for both foreign and Argentinean visitors - Villa La Angostura offers quite unique lodges and hotels. There is a wide range of cozy hosterias we would like to recommend. The small town center – which is about 5 blocks long – features many restaurants serving typical Patagonia dishes including the delicious local rainbow trout and smoked deer.

After a full day skiing and a 20-minute ride from Cerro Bayo to La Angostura guests usually relax at one of the local spas enjoying fantastic views of the Nahuel Huapi lake and the surrounding peaks.
At night this sleepy town calls for a drink at one of the few bars open late. As a mostly family destination there is not many nightlife going on though there always is a place open to hang out for a while.

Cerro Bayo is one of the most interesting ski resorts to visit in Argentina. Even as a small resort there is a lot of terrain to cover if you are willing to hike for a while. The lines accessed at Provinciales section as well as further north are fantastic as they start on open faces and half way they get into the forest. Some say tree skiing here is the best in South America.

We recommend this ski area for beginners and intermediates to ski on-piste. For advanced and expert skiers looking to ski on-piste only this will be a really small resort and will need a day to ski it all. We believe this is a great place for those looking to ski a combination of on and off-piste or those willing to hike and explore.

Again because this is a small resort – on-piste terrain – we recommend guests to spend a couple of days here as an addition to other larger ski areas such as Cerro Catedral in Bariloche or any of the Central Andes resorts.

This is also a great destination for honeymooners looking for a trip mixing active days and relaxed days. The whole Lake District is ideal for such trips.