South American winter sports activities… in July?

South America is understood for its tropical rainforests, sunny seashores, and iconic locations like Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands; nonetheless, the southern continent is rather more. Most of us haven’t thought in regards to the exhilarating snow-covered wilderness of the June-to-October winter months of the southern hemisphere.

It would shock you that there’s an incredible collection of exhilarating winter season sports activities and actions right here, particularly within the majestic Andes Mountains and the untamed Patagonian area. On the southern continent, you may snowboard and ski, and climb glaciers or ice formations amongst breathtaking, usually untouched landscapes – and normally with out hordes of vacationers working into one another like in Europe or North America.

Whether or not you’re an adrenaline junkie or a nature lover, South America will preserve you busy hitting the slopes, exploring the icy wilderness, or just getting away from the more and more insupportable warmth of the northern summer season.

Beneath, we’ve highlighted the highest winter sports activities actions in South America and the most effective locations throughout the continent to take pleasure in them. 

Resort-based snowboarding and snowboarding: The place ‘going south’ is an effective factor

When it comes to winter actions, snowboarding and snowboarding are clearly two of the most well-liked on the planet, and South America delivers top-tier experiences for each.

Situated on the earth’s longest mountain vary, the Andes, trendy ski/snowboarding resorts supply world-class services with entry to high-altitude and deep-powder slopes. As well as, they accommodate a broad spectrum of adventurers at varied talent ranges, from relative newbies trying to find a groomed slope to specialists searching for deep snow and powdery descents.

On the continent, the best-known ski resorts (ones like Valle Nevado and Portillo in Chile and Cerro Catedral and Las Leñas in Argentina) are high locations with regards to hitting the pistes on your downhill rush.

Situated on these pristine slopes, luxurious resorts such because the Portillo boast alpine lodges characteristic non-public fireplaces, gourmand eating, and paradisaical spas. Some lodges even supply heated out of doors swimming pools, private ski butlers, unique après-ski lounges, out-of-this-world trekking, and ultramodern health facilities – all set in opposition to breathtaking mountain backdrops.

For chasing snow year-round, assume South America on your subsequent snowboarding and snowboarding journey. 

Backcountry snowboarding and heli-skiing: Study the ABCs (“At all times be carving”)

Many seasoned skiers search for much more thrills by escaping the confines of conventional resorts. They discover that journey actions like backcountry snowboarding, snowboarding, and heli-skiing are proper up their alley. To expertise these, skiers make their solution to pure, ungroomed, unmarked wilderness areas, effectively away from the spruced-up grounds of ski lodges.

In these distant areas of the Andes Mountains, they discover their very own paradise in lengthy, steep descents. Away from the crowds, the backcountry gives untouched powder and pristine landscapes. Right here, one can create a connection to nature deeper than what’s attainable again at a resort.

However, due to the terrain’s unpredictability, given unknown snow depths, avalanche dangers, and unanticipated cliffs, backcountry snowboarding requires extra talent, data, stamina, and tools. Regardless of this, it’s all value it to veteran skiers anxious to interrupt from the group and carve their very own tracks via untouched snow.

A number of the greatest South American backcountry snowboarding on earth — comparable to with journey firms like Andes Heliboarding — will be discovered and completely loved in Chile. Heli-skiing actually takes snowboarding journey to new heights as skiers fly out by helicopter to distant, in any other case unreachable, mountain websites. Fastidiously chosen drop-off areas are chosen prematurely after the snowpack has been evaluated to substantiate its security. At these areas, a helicopter can safely land and permit all members to exit. (This runs counter to the persisting false impression that skiers by some means soar out of the airborne helicopters to land onto steep and harmful slopes).

As soon as rigorously dropped off at a predetermined web site, the small group of skiers will probably be led by extremely expert skilled guides who try to reduce any dangers related to this exercise. This permits skiers/snowboarders to benefit from the pure setting and the infinite pleasure of heli-skiing with a sense of safety.

On the web site, you’ll then watch the chicken take off, every skier feeling the percussive thump of the rotors of their chest. After kneeling within the snow with everybody shielding their faces from the blast of wind and swirling snow, silence quickly rushes upon your group. From that second on, you’ll follow your stem turns and ultimately carve your approach via knee-deep powder, delighting within the lengthy descents down among the most gorgeous slopes on earth.
For the final word backcountry snowboarding journey, assume South America. 

Mountain climbing in South America: The place it’s not the summit that issues, however the ascent

If somebody’s requested about winter sports activities in South American, at greatest they’ll give you the thought of snowboarding. It’s arduous to think about that the moderately obscure sport of mountaineering would come to thoughts. However, this exercise is slowly popping up as an attraction to cool-blooded out of doors lovers looking for new challenges.

For these unfamiliar, mountaineering is a suspense-filled journey sport that consists of —as its identify implies— scaling partitions of frozen water. For this, the climber depends on an arsenal of specialised gadgets; tools comparable to harnesses, trendy ice axes, ice-gripping crampons, rope strains, helmets, belaying units that function a security brake on ropes, and deep-penetrating ice screws that may stay firmly bolted into the ice in case of a fall. However greater than instruments, the game calls for each power and technical precision. These qualities permit the climber to scale their goal safely and efficiently.

The “routes” or partitions for mountaineering fluctuate considerably. These embrace something from seasonally frozen waterfalls and completely frozen alpine couloirs (mountain crevices) to ice-covered rock faces and even giant hanging icicles.

Although you could be shocked, among the world’s most demanding and rewarding alternatives for mountaineering will be present in South America. That is due to South America’s towering Andes, its huge but snail-paced glaciers, and frigid Patagonian climate.

Certainly, Patagonia gives very best situations for mountaineering. On this huge space, skilled climbers dream of Argentina’s Cerro Torre Mountain and Chile’s Torres del Paine Nationwide Park. Additional north, nonetheless, Peru’s Huascarán mountain and Ecuador’s dormant Cayambe Volcano additionally promise unforgettable high-altitude ice-climbing experiences.

In brief, the joys of mountaineering together with the great thing about South America and its unique cultures makes the continent an awe-inspiring must-visit vacation spot!  

Snowshoeing and cross-country trekking:
The place the journey’s as compelling because the vacation spot

For these searching for an journey within the continent’s winter wilderness — however at a extra relaxed, one-step-at-a-time tempo — snowshoeing and trekking via South America’s gorgeous landscapes is a peaceable and immersive solution to expertise it.

When on a trekking journey via areas of deep snow, hikers are stored from sinking due to broad, trendy, light-weight snowshoes. These permit vacationers to make their approach throughout the deepest snow covers to achieve even remoted areas the place they’ll benefit from the sheer fantastic thing about the continent. Additionally, snowshoes are nice for freshmen and younger households wishing to find South America’s winter wonderland because the footwear require nearly no coaching.

Snowshoeing and trekking usually will help reveal the breathtaking nature of Patagonia. So the place are among the greatest spots? We’re at all times drawn to El Chaltén, Argentina’s trekking capital. Right here, you’ll have your decide of numerous trails meandering via snowy foothills. However there’s additionally the virtually legendary Torres del Paine Nationwide Park in Chile’s Patagonian area, in addition to Peru’s Ausangate peak and Bolivia’s Cordillera Actual. All of those are dream-like worlds for astonishing hikes over snow-covered terrain.

Far off from conventional and well-worn vacationer routes, the wild aspect of South America’s winter wilderness will be skilled by these keen to lace up their boots, strap on their snowshoes, and head out on a brisk morning trek throughout newly fallen snow.

South American glacier trekking: Strolling in a winter wonderland

Glacier climbing is the exploration of large, snail-paced flows of ice by strolling throughout, climbing inside, scaling up, or rappelling down these frozen goliaths. By means of glacier trekking — which incorporates parts of mountaineering, mountaineering, and snow trekking — adventurers can witness among the planet’s most gorgeous, surreal and ethereal environments.

In contrast to cold-weather South American sports activities loved through the Southern Hemisphere’s June-September winter, the safer and extra comfy season for South American glacier climbing is definitely through the December-through-March summer season months. Throughout this season, glaciers are “dry” (with little or no snow), which permits trekkers to extra simply determine hazards comparable to gaping crevices within the ice via which they may fall. It’s also possible to extra simply keep away from jagged house-sized pinnacles of unstable glacier ice known as “seracs.” All that is to say, it’s usually thought of safer to hike alongside such dry glaciers.

The perfect South American glacier trekking websites embrace the Perito Moreno Glacier, a crown jewel of Argentina; together with the Gray Glacier, situated in Chile’s famed Torres Del Paine Nationwide Park – experiences you’ll always remember… 

Andean mountaineering: Conquer the continent’s vary of peaks

Spanning seven international locations to type the longest mountain vary on the planet, the Andes is South America’s most well-known landform. Extending near 4,500 miles throughout the continent, it’s dwelling to the world’s tallest mountains exterior of Asia.

Given the sheer abundance of mountains and volcanoes discovered right here, it’s simple to grasp why the Andes hosts so many unimaginable mountaineering locations. What’s extra, the continent’s mountains are vastly completely different, boasting a variety of choices for mountaineers of each talent degree.

The Andes’ smaller peaks are ideally fitted to first-time climbers. Modest peaks right here in Ecuador function the right spot for individuals trying to be taught all the required expertise to change into a mountaineer. The post-card-perfect Cotopaxi Volcano, for instance, requires a comparatively low degree of technical skills. Added to the truth that it’s situated simply exterior of Quito, the nation’s capital, Cotopaxi is among the hottest mountaineering locations for vacationers en path to the nation’s Galapagos Islands.

When it comes to extra intermediate climbing challenges in Ecuador, there are the Cayambe and Chimborazo mountains, that are tougher on account of their steep slopes and their space’s unpredictable climate. (As a aspect observe, Chimborazo’s summit is technically the best level on the planet. Its peak is the farthest level from the middle of the Earth as a result of planet’s spheroidal form. This implies a climber can brag to buddies they’ve conquered a mountain increased than even Everest.)

Nonetheless, South America’s most troublesome mountain is usually thought of to be Cerro Torre. Located on the border between Argentina and Chile within the Southern Patagonian Ice Discipline, its technical and difficult ascents up sheer partitions of rime ice and granite rock pose actual challenges to even knowledgeable climbers.

So, whether or not you’re merely searching for a brand new journey, otherwise you’re a budding novice climber or an knowledgeable alpinist, South America has one thing in retailer. 

Winter kayaking in Patagonia: Connecting with nature to seek out inside peace

Although we normally image temperate rivers or calm lakes once we consider kayaking, winter kayaking presents a possibility to paddle amid an icy area’s most dramatic surroundings.

In the course of the Southern Hemisphere’s frigid June-to-September months, the waters flip icy, tourism slows, and the summer season crowds skinny out. Those that stay are primarily paddlers. Although they’re capable of discover the putting frozen landscapes, one of many best sights of winter kayaking is its sense of peace and solitude.

Whereas many vacationers may delight within the wintertime of, say, Iceland or Maine, a lot vacationers head to the opposite half of the world to expertise the distinctive character and solitude of South America’s winter waters. Journey right here comes full with parts of journey, distinctive wildlife, and jaw-dropping magnificence that’s not so simply skilled elsewhere.

Irrespective of should you’re an skilled kayaker or a curious newbie, this winter journey is one you gained’t quickly neglect. 

The takeaway: South America, an ignored gem for winter journey

Take it from me (the pride-filled man in crimson within the photograph under): South America is a paradise for journey vacationers.

The continent gives an entire host of actions set among the many world’s most stunning and unimaginable winter-season landscapes. For many who would like to carve recent tracks within the Andes, scale ice partitions in Patagonia, or trek throughout the huge Chilean glaciers, South America’s winter locations are experiences that may stay in your reminiscence without end. The continent possesses an ideal mixture of wealthy trendy services, pure magnificence, and thrilling sports activities actions that ought to place South America on the high of any adventurer’s listing of June-to-October “winter” journey locations.

Alfonso Tandazo

Alfonso Tandazo is President and CEO at Surtrek Tour Operator. Surtrek Tour Operator is a well-established agency, specializing in custom-designed luxurious excursions in Ecuador, the Galapagos and all through the remainder of South America. If you want to be a visitor blogger on A Luxurious Journey Weblog in an effort to increase your profile, please contact us.