South America Resort Choice

[pauljames]

I'm off to S. America this summer. Having read the Bariloche post I thought i would seek further advice. I had settled on Valle Navado or Termas de Chillan
as I heard that these generally have the best snow falls, but guys seem to really enjoyed what Bariloche had to offer.

Snow reliability and terrain are my number one concerns but cost/ atmosphere of resort/town& infrastructure cannot be discounted completely.

I appreciate any advice - cheers

[Yossarian]

although I had heard things were changing, Termas rated extremely low on the social scene/atmosphere side of things as of a couple years ago. It's very isolated. There ARE good people there, but there's no town to speak of, with obvious restaurants, etc. It's more of a low-key community of little houses, hostels, etc. The base area was supposed to be getting built up with some big hotel/resort thing, but I don't know for sure if that happened. The snow can be a little hit or miss.

If you want burly terrain/good snow with some socializing, hit Portillo or Las Lenas.
If you want good terrain/decent snow with more stuff around, its Nevado/Co/Parva or Bariloche.
There are also some cool off the radar resorts such as San Martin with little mountain towns at the base - but you have to work a little harder to find the scary terrain.

Have fun.

[pauljames]

Thanks a lot for this - I kind of discounted Las Lenas and Portillo as I was under the impression that they were more expensive and isolated than the others- thanks though

[klar]

what do people think of ushuaia ?

[xyz]

what do people think of ushuaia ?

do a search, there is a ton of info here on South America.

[Yossarian]

Thanks a lot for this - I kind of discounted Las Lenas and Portillo as I was under the impression that they were more expensive and isolated than the others- thanks though

Isolated as well, yes, but they are big enough draws themselves that they create their own little scene. Still not nearly as much as Colorado/La Parva/Valle or Bariloche though. Portillo has less people, costs more; Lenas can be done for fairly cheap, has more people, more scene.

There IS a lot of very good info here already on the site. Do some searching with the search function, eh?

[squeakygonzalez]

Bariloche spent a ton of dinero in the summer and has new lifts and one that
takes you right to the top that you before had to hike to. Willkenny
and then Pacha on a Friday night cannot be beat for suds + senoritas.

Cool hostel there www.perikos.com as well cheap accommodation right
on the hill at a couple of hosterias

http://www.southamericaski.com/view.asp?p=540 at bottom of page


but not much happens at the hill after 5PM so better to stay in town.

Lower elevation is an issue but there is not a single resort in SA that does
not have some kind of issue! I will be in Bariloche all season and renting
an apartment too.

[seanyob]

mmmmm....tasty SA senoritas