City of Tango, the Mighty Iguazu Falls and the Patagonia Odyssey of Discovery

Walking on the Edge: an Exhilarating Trekking Experience on Mount Catedral (private tour)

  • Your quest to conquer Mount Catedral begins with an ascent via cable car

Embark on an exhilarating full-day, adrenaline-packed trek across Mount Catedral, through forests and rugged mountain terrain, taking in some of the most amazing scenic views of the Patagonian Andes mountain range and its surrounding lakes.

Your quest to conquer Mount Catedral begins with a morning hotel pickup, by our expert trekking guide. From there, we’ll head for our destination, which starts with a lovely morning ascent via cable car - or chairlift - from ski resort Cerro Catedral. After a climb of around 3,300 feet (1000 meters), we’ll make our way uphill through scenic mountain trails and ridges, which will allow for some commanding views of Lake Nahuel Huapi (the region’s largest lake) and Gutierrez Lake. We’ll also have the opportunity to see the mighty Mount Tronador. Its name in Spanish alludes to the sound thunder makes; this, due to the falling sercas (blocks or columns of glacial ice) crashing down, creating that familiar thunderous roar.

Within this three-hour leg of the tour, we’ll be trekking our way through some rocky terrain with impressive granite formations all around. And with a few uphill sections as well, you’ll be taking on some of the adventurous challenges that the area has to offer, as you pass by the picturesque Lake Schmol. From here we’ll arrive along the edges of Lake Toncek, sitting at an elevation of around 5600 feet (1700 meters), and come across Refugio Frey, a mountain hut located along the lake. The trek down to “Frey” requires coordination skills, navigating through loose and rocky terrain. If you’re up for the extra challenge, the surroundings of “Frey” provide some great rock-climbing experiences as well as an incredible display of granite rock formations.

We’ll choose a panoramic spot, offering awe-inspiring views, to enjoy our lunch box and recover our energy.

Later in the afternoon, we’ll continue our trekking journey with a 3300 foot (1000 meters) descent down the mountain to “Villa Catedral.” On the way, we’ll pass through a beautiful lenga (Patagonia cherry) forest as well as “Refugio Piedrita”, a tiny mountain hut built against a huge boulder. We’ll also cross over the quaint Van Titter stream before heading back for our vehicle.

After listening to the gurgling stream and heading back to our vehicle, our day will draw to a close as we’re taken back to the hotel while you’ll feel proud and invigorated for having conquered the feat of traversing Mount Catedral.

Since you’ll be doing this tour with your own private vehicle and guide, you’ll be able to enjoy each attraction at your own pace; making all the stops you want, while enjoying personalized assistance and care from your expert guide. You’ll also enjoy more convenient and faster transfers to and from your hotel, as there will be no other travelers to pick up or drop off at other hotels.

PLEASE NOTE: This trek is physically demanding, involving rocky terrain and steep climbs (it covers steep and exposed rocky terrain for the first three to four hours). It’s not recommended for those who are afraid of heights, or are otherwise not experienced with trekking on rocky terrain.

This trek’s itinerary may change subject to weather conditions and the mountain guide’s evaluation of your previous experience and skills navigating steep and exposed rocky terrain in order to optimize your experience and safety.

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Difficulty: moderate/hard.
Trek distance: 11 miles (18 kilometers) with a a cumulative elevation gain (refers to the sum of every gain in elevation throughout the entire trek) of 820 feet (250 meters) and 4165 feet (1250 meters) of cumulative elevation loss (because the tour starts going up 3300 feet or 1000 meters on a chairlift, for then trekking down).
This trek involves rocky terrain and steep climbs with occasional use of hands to progress. It’s not recommended for those who are afraid of heights or are not experienced with trekking rocky terrain.

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Duration: full day - approximately 6 to 7 Hours of trekking covering 11 miles (17 kilometers) + approximately over 1 hour of round-trip hotel transfer.

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Guide: private guide.

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Vehicle: private vehicle.

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Includes: lunchbox + ticket for chairlift at Mount Catedral.