Where to experience the best adventure tourism in the football capital this summer?
When half of my homeland was sweltering under the scorching sun, I touched down in Bariloche and, gazing at the vast, white, snow-covered forests and fields outside the airport, I couldn’t help but recall a line from Orhan Pamuk’s “Snow”: “So please tell me, who made this snow fall? What is the secret of this snow?”
🔷The Largest Ski Resort in the Southern Hemisphere🔷
In July and August, while the Northern Hemisphere basks in mid-summer, it’s the perfect time for “snow birds” to head south. Nestled near the heart of Bariloche, Cerro Catedral stands out as the largest ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere, measured by the length of its planned ski trails.
We hopped into a ride-hailing car and made our way to the resort’s departure area, situated at an altitude of 1030 meters. After changing into the ski gear we had pre-ordered online, we picked up our ski passes from the machine and set off on our adventure.
I guided my friends to the magic carpet area, teaching them the art of intentional falling, how to use the wedge technique to brake, and the subtle adjustments needed to make slight turns. We repeated the process, riding the magic carpet up, sliding down slowly, and then starting all over again.
During our lunch break, I took the slow, creaky cable car to the 1800-meter mark, where the snowfall had intensified. The already soft slopes transformed into challenging powder, and the fog below the mid-mountain made skiing two to three times more demanding 🥶.
🔷The Hidden Wilderness of the Lake District🔷
The day after our ski adventure, we ventured outside Bariloche to stay at the iconic Llao Llao Hotel, a historic gem with an 85-year legacy. This luxurious retreat has hosted several U.S. presidents, including Eisenhower and Obama.
With a thrifty spirit, I decided to rent a free mountain bike from the hotel and set off on a scenic ride 🚴.
Armed with the hotel’s cycling and hiking map, I embarked on my adventure: pedaling behind the highest green of the golf course to a quaint Catholic church, then delving into a small peninsula dotted with grand houses, each with its own private dock 🏠. At the end of the peninsula, I discovered a closed classical music camp, adorned with a sign in Spanish that read: “The magic here is nothing but the result of the encounter between two lovers – art and nature” ✨.
If you have ample time, you can board a long-distance ferry from the boat dock and, through a 12-hour journey combining road and water transport, reach Chile across the border. To the north, you can also travel along Route 40, which winds through Argentina, crossing the breathtaking Seven Lakes region.
🔷Venison Dessert “Beggar’s Chicken”🔷
On the Sunday we left, we visited the charming “Colonia Suiza” village nestled in a deep valley. Lucky for us, we caught the weekly food and craft market, where we savored the most unique local dish, curanto.
Beneath a rustic shelter, an array of fresh meats and vibrant vegetables, including plump eggplants, were artfully arranged on a broad bed of lush leaves. Beneath this leafy layer lay a carefully dug pit, filled with heat-retaining stones and sealed with a blanket of earth. The setup bore a striking resemblance to the traditional method of preparing “beggar’s chicken.”
After more than an hour of eager anticipation, I finally settled down in the chilly, snow-covered square. With the aromatic curanto before me and the soulful melodies of a blues guitarist filling the air, I savored the most extraordinary meal of that harsh winter, my body shivering but my spirit warmed by the unique experience 💗.
