Caviahue in Argentina is not likely to attract the attention of many international visitors because it’s difficult to get there and the ski terrain’s not that impressive, but it’s ideal for skiers and boarders to include on an adventurous road safari (you’ll need to enjoy really long drives on sometimes bumpy roads!) of various Argentina ski areas, which is exactly what we did.

The ski area was OK and it felt a bit like a New Zealand ski field with its raw, basic amenities and approach to skiing. On a powder day you’d be unlikely to have much competition for the fresh powder. The terrain is only a little steep at the very top of the ski resort, and with a little poking around you can find some fun but short lines. It only held our attention for …..less than a day.

But unless you’re an Argentine family of beginner skiers or snowboarders, the real appeal of visiting Caviahue isn’t the ski resort. It’s the natural beauty of the lake, the Copahue thermal hot springs and other activities, the red ash flying out of the volcano, and the roar of the volcano at night. Staying in a Caviahue hotel felt like being at an airport hotel because the volcano sounded like a jet taking off at times. Pretty exciting! The volcano had been on “yellow” alert for some time, so we didn’t go for a trek up to the volcano crater!

To see more in depth ratings of Caviahue Ski Resort you can see how it compares to other South American ski resort ratings.

See our video here