Backcountry Ski Tour in Bariloche and El Chaltén

Join Merlín, an UIAGM/IFMGA-certified guide on this backcountry ski adventure through Argentine Patagonia! We will ski to see some incredible views!

Andes

13 Days

Aug, Sep

High

Advanced

Highlights

Join a multi-day backcountry ski tour in Patagonia.
Discover some of the most amazing locations in Bariloche and El Chaltén.
Polish your ski skills on an intensive tour down some of Patagonia's top slopes.

Description

Are you an experienced backcountry skier looking to make your way through Argentina’s Patagonia? If yes, then join me on this 13-day backcountry ski tour!

We will begin our trip in San Carlos de Bariloche, a town said to be a “Little Switzerland” located in the pristine region of Argentina’s Patagonia. Upon arrival, I will pick each of you up at the Bariloche Airport and transport you to our accommodation in order to debrief about the program before settling in for the night. The next day, we will disembark to the Catedral Ski Resort to enjoy our first day of off-piste skiing. We will return to Catedral Ski Resort in order to hike past the Nahuel Huapi Lake and up to the Van Tritter Valley, where we will ski for the day. After this, we’ll be accommodated in Refugio Frey. After a few more days of exploring the slopes around Refugio Frey we will return to Bariloche on Day 7 in order to head further south to El Chaltén.

Once we arrive in the quaint mountain town of El Chaltén, made famous by the towering Mount Fitz Roy, we will relax for the evening. We will spend the following day skiing in Loma del Diablo (1800m), which has a vertical drop of 1200m. From there, we will also check out Lago del Desierto in order to ski at Cerro Vespignani (2146m), which has a vertical drop of 1500 meters. The following day, we will head out to the Fitz Roy Basecamp where we will camp for the night and then explore the rugged, powdered mountainside of Cerro Madsen (1806m). After another day of skiing, the trip will then conclude in El Chaltén 2 days later.

This trip is designed for experienced backcountry skiers, who are in great physical shape, so please keep this in mind when signing up. There are some important personal items that you will need to bring with you, such as a sleeping bag and pad, crampons and ice ax, and a ski touring set, among other items, which will be made clear to you once you sign up. The minimum number of participants on this trip is limited to 2 people, so if there is a person or group of people you have always wanted to do a trip like this with, please consider it now!

So, if you are an off-piste skier who has always wanted to venture through the backcountry of the Argentine Patagonia, this trip is for you! You can also join me for a shorter 1-week Bariloche ski touring adventure, or a 1-week El Chaltén ski touring adventure if you can't do both.

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Breakfast
Transport during the trip
Mountain guide expenses

Price details

Price per person to join a group (Min group size: 4 people). Price does not include: personal insurance, personal equipment, and international or internal flights, restaurant meals and drinks, porters, lift tickets, or gratuity.
It includes meals if camping or using mountain huts.
In the case the group is less than four people, we will give you the option to pay the additional price for a small group or get a refund 30 days before departure:
Group of 3 guests: USD 3500
Group of 2 guests: USD 4200
Group of 1 guest: USD 7800

Itinerary

Day 1: Bariloche

Meet at the Bariloche Airport and we provide transport to our hotel. Once there, there will be a debrief with the guide and equipment check.

Day 2: Catedral

Head to Catedral Ski Resort. Ski off-piste around Catedral mountain. Lodging at Bariloche.

Day 3: Frey

Return to Catedral Ski Resort. We´ll take the lifts to reach the ridge of the mountain, and start our hike to our accommodation at Frey Hut. There will be excellent views of Nahuel Huapi Lake and the surrounding mountains!
We´ll ski down the Van Titter Valley, and then go back up to Refugio Frey before retiring there for the night.

Day 4: Frey

With a light pack, we will take this entire day to ski around “Laguna Toncek,”
and our options of sites to ski around there will be based on weather conditions.
We will return to Refugio Frey for the night.

Day 5: Bariloche

There is the possibility of being able to ski in the morning, before we head back to the Catedral Ski area in the afternoon. Transport will then be provided back to Bariloche. Lodging in Bariloche.

Day 6: Cerro López

We will go ski at Cerro López, which has very scenic views of Nahuel Huapi Lake.

Day 7: El Calafate

Travel Day: Transportation to Airport to fly to El Calafate. From there, transportation is provided to El Chaltén. Lodging in El Chaltén.

Day 8: El Chaltén

Transportation will be provided to our next stop: Mosquito Creek, where we will ski the Loma del Diablo (1800m). Lodging in El
Chaltén.

Day 9: Cerro Vespignani

Transportation will be provided to Lago del Desierto. Then we will ski Cerro Vespignani (2146m).
Lodging in El Chaltén.

Day 10: Fitz Roy Basecamp

We will head towards Fitz Roy Basecamp, and have the choice to ski at Glacier de los Tres in the afternoon. Camping at Poincenot.

Day 11: Cerro Madsen

We will embark on a skiing adventure at Cerro Madsen (1806m) with a vertical gain of 1000m, then settle down for the night at Camp Poincenot.

Day 12: El Chalten

We go back to El Chalten, where we will spend the last night.

Day 13: El Calafate

Transfer to El Calafate Airport. End of the services.

Details

More info

The Itinerary can be modified and should be considered only as a guide.

Meeting point

Bariloche Airport

FAQs

What happens if the group is less than 4 people?

In the case the group is less than four people, we will give you the option to pay the additional price for a small group or get a refund 30 days before departure:

Group of 3 guest: USD 3500

Group of 2 guest: USD 4200

Group of 1 guest: USD 7800

What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?

We understand that finding the perfect place to stay is an essential part of your adventure experience. To help you with this, we’ve curated a list of three highly recommended hotels that offer comfort, convenience, and a touch of local charm. These accommodations are well-suited for adventurers looking to relax and rejuvenate after an exciting day of exploration

Hotel Patagonia Green Coyhaique Chile

See rooms

Hotel Diego de Almagro Coyhaique Coyhaique Chile

See rooms

Hotel El Reloj Coyhaique Chile

See rooms

About the guide

Merlín

5.0

(89)

Mountain Guide

Certified UIAGM-IFMGA Mountain Guide from Argentina.

I live in El Chaltén since 1998. I'm originally from Bariloche and I started with mountain activities when I was 15 years old. I've done climbing and ascents in many mountains of Patagonia, Perú, Bolivia, United States and Europe; such as Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, Alpamayo, El Capitán, Mont Blanc and Aconcagua among others. I'm also a Ski Instructor and I am passionate for backcountry ski.

I speak fluent English, Italian and French and have been leading trips and expeditions for more than 20 years. I work together with a group of guides, so if I'm not available for the trip you request, one of my colleagues will guide you!

Certificates

AAGM | UIAGM

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What people are saying about this trip

Jamie

Could not recommend both Merlin and his touring itineraries more. He went above and beyond from guiding us to lines I will never forget to showing us how an asado is done to renting me his *personal* skis for 2 weeks to make sure I had the best equipment for the adventure. He’s not like other guides I’ve had before, pushing us to get the most rewarding experience possible. Already looking forward to the next adventure.