Where To Go For Snow In June

June is the start of the winter season in many Southern Hemisphere countries, thus some resorts may not have real snow yet. However, this is the start of the skiing season in that part of the globe, so it is a great time to get in on the action before the big crowds begin to swarm. Three remarkable locations for Southern Hemisphere skiing in June are Perisher in Australia, Portillo in Chile, and Cerro Catedral in Argentina.

Cerro Catedral, Argentina

The Cerro Catedral ski resort in Argentina is one of the best locations of the southern hemisphere to go in early June. It has 120 km (75 miles) of terrain and 50 ski runs. The highest lift, which is 2180 meters or 7152 feet, offers amazing panoramic views that stretch across beautiful wooded valleys and a gorgeous deep canyon. 

Getting There

To get to the Cerro Catedral you can fly into the Bariloche Airport, which is about 30 km from the resort. The drive from the airport to Cerro Catedral takes approximately 30 minutes and you can take a taxi, a bus or rent a car to easily reach your destination.

Terrain & Difficulty Level

The resort's 50 ski runs are suited for all levels from beginner to well-advanced and are served by over 40 lifts. Included in the lifts is the modern bubble lift chair as well as a six-seater chairlift. Cerro Catedral boasts of 300 professional and certified instructors that offer lessons in several languages and skill levels. There are group and private lessons available for Alpine skiing, carving, snowboarding, telemarking, ski touring and Nordic skiing.

Cerro Catedral's terrain is very varied, offering backcountry chutes and bowls, excellent tree skiing and very easy to access off-piste areas. Plus, Catedral is also known for its deep powder and even though its lower elevation means the base can get a bit patchy, its large array of snowmaking equipment can fix this issue right up.

Food & Accomodation 

Catedral has lots of apartments and hotels totalling about 2000 beds. Plus, you can also stay at one of the countless hotels in the nearby city of San Carlos de Bariloche. There are several bars, restaurants, and discos in the resort property as well as an Internet café and even a shopping mall.

However, if those are not enough and you want even more food and/or entertainment choices you can always venture on to Bariloche. Once there, you are sure to find lots of restaurants, cafes and discos, depending on what your tastes allow.

Safety Concerns

With so many instructors and ample beginner terrain, you should not have any problems in learning to ski safely if you are not familiar with the sport. Of course, you should always be cautious and wear a helmet whenever you venture out into the piste. If you are a seasoned skier, you should still practice safety and no matter what, wear a helmet at all times. To err on the side of caution, you can always invest in Ski Insurance. By being safe and covered for injury, you will ensure you have a fun and enjoyable ski vacation.

Perisher, Australia

Perisher opens in June, and while the snow doesn't start to heavily fall until July, you can still get some good skiing done in the early season. Perisher is actually four interconnected ski resorts located in the Snowy Mountains of south-eastern New South Wales. It has 47 lifts and enough snow-making machines to ensure you will get snow conditions no matter what.

Portillo, Chile

Chile's Portillo resort is the oldest ski resort in South America and has 45 km of pistes and 14 lifts to access them. The resort owners have made a point to keep it small and intimate, which makes it one of the biggest attractions of this quaint skiing destination.

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