The 43rd tournament runs until 24 July, with the highest placed team (other than Brazil, who qualify as hosts) earning the right to compete for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

With some of the world’s finest footballing talent on display, as well as the usual mix of South American flair, outrageous defending and theatrics, there are a number of viewing opportunities available for the casual and hardcore fans.

In the US, the tournament will once again be shown live exclusively on Spanish-language broadcaster Univision, with match highlights and live streaming also available on the company’s website.

In the UK, ESPN will show the tournament for the first time, a full list of live fixtures and highlights is available on the channel’s website.

In addition, Google YouTube will stream live matches to viewers in over 50 countries at youtube.com/copaamerica (not available in the UK). All matches will be screened live with English commentary including replays and highlights which will be available on demand.

So all you have to do is sit back and enjoy what should be a fascinating festival of football.
________________________________
SOURCE:
“Where to watch Copa America 2011 live”
By Gordon Macrae
July 5, 2011
http://uk.ibtimes.com
http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/174404/20110705/copa-america-2011-watch-highlights-schedule-fixtures-calendario-argentina.htm

“Its amazing that after 12 years the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour is returning to the original South American freeskiing venue, Las Leñas Argentina,” said FWT Competition Director Bryan Barlow. “It’s a true fit for the tour as the mountains are truly unrivaled in the world, allowing the athletes to showcase their progressive big mountain freesking skills that has accelerated freeskiing popularity and awareness to the mainstream around the world. The conditions are shaping up to be a stellar snow year, and the elite that show up are in store for an incredible competition.”
And Las Leñas resort couldn’t be more excited to host the competition.

“We are very proud to be the ski resort of choice for Argentina’s first edition of the FWT,” said Las Leñas marketing manager Sofía Fernández Madero. “The natural characteristics of our mountain and the climate favors our position as a destination of excellence and real snow off-piste mecca in the region. We have everything ready to welcome the athletes participating in the event at our resort at the foot of the slopes. We believe it will be the biggest event of the season in Argentina and we hope you enjoy.”

This will truly be a memorable and exciting event to continue the kick off of the 2011 Subaru Freeskiing World Tour. For those unable to attend, make sure you check out daily videos, photos, and blogs at www.freeskiingworldtour.com” .

Now in its 13th year, the Subaru FWT is the largest and longest running competitive Big Mountain Freeskiing tour in the history of the sport. The Subaru FWT features over $100,000 in prize money and an unprecedented six stops, including a Freeskiing World Tour Qualifier.

Complete schedule:

Stop 1: 10/11 TNF Chilean Freeskiing Champ, Chile – Aug. 17th – 21st
Stop 2: 10/11 FWT Las Lenas, Argentina – Aug. 25th – 28th
Stop 3: 2010 Subaru Freeskiing World Tour Qualifier, Telluride – Feb. 4th – 6th
Stop 4: 2010 Subaru U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships, Crested Butte – Feb. 17th – 21st
Stop 5: 2010 Subaru North Am Freeskiing Champ, Kirkwood, CA – Mar. 3rd – 7th
Stop 6: 2010 Subaru Freeskiing World Championships, UT, March 16-21 – Mar. 16th – 21st

Registration:

http://www.regonline.com/freeskiingworldtourlaslenas

___________________________________
SOURCE:
“Las Leñas, Argentina Gets Stop #2 of the FWT”
Thursday July 29, 2010
Freeskier Magazine
http://www.freeskier.com
http://www.freeskier.com/articles/article.php?article_id=5227

Argentina

The idea of combining a week’s skiing at Las Lenas with a few days at the Mendoza wine region has become a popular choice for visitors to Argentina.

Sergio Begue, founder and trip leader for Andes Ski Tours, says, “Guests usually spend about a week in Las Lenas ski resort and then head north to stay in a luxury lodge in the vineyards of Mendoza for wine tasting and gourmet meals.”

Mendoza is one of nine cities worldwide in the network of “Great Capitals of Wine”, and the city is an emerging wine tourism destination and base for exploring the hundreds of wineries in the region.

Sergio adds, “Argentina’s wine district is better developed than Chile’s, it is close to the city of Mendoza and its international airport and offers a lot more when it comes to accommodation options.”

Mendoza is the main viticulture zone in Argentina, recognised by the most famous Malbec all over the world, with a grape production that represents the 60 percent of the total cultivated area in Argentina. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes, its vineyards are some of the highest in the world, growing at 1300 metres (4265ft).

Package: Andes Ski Tours is offering the seven-night “Ski & Wine Argentina” package costing $3950 (USD) per person, including five nights’ in Las Lenas ski resort; two nights in Mendoza wine region; domestic flights; transfers; and most meals. The package is valid Aug. 5, 12, 26

Chile

Visitors to Valle Nevado, El Colorado, and La Parva, in the ‘Three Valleys Chile’ ski region, can enjoy wine tasting excursions to the nearby vineyards of the Maipo Valley.

The Maipo Valley is the most widely cultivated valley in the Valle Central region and is known for Cabernet Sauvignon.

The largest producer of Latin American wines, Concha y Toro, has vineyards in Pirque, just outside Santiago, which are open to tour groups. The tour of the winery includes a visit to the vineyards, shop, and wine bar with obligatory wine tastings. Concha y Toro produces several different wine styles including a Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc made from grapes in the Maule Valley.

Package: Chilean Travel Serves ‘CTS Turismo’ is offering the five-night “Ski Three Valleys And Wines” package priced at $988 (UDS) per person. It comprises five nights’ lodging with breakfast at a hotel in Santiago; three full-day ski excursions in the Three Valleys (a day in each of the resorts: Valle Nevado, El Colorado, and La Parva); lift passes, equipment rental, and a group ski lesson; a visit to the Concha y toro winery; and bus transfers. The package is valid between June 15 and Sept. 30 and the price is based on two people sharing a double room.

Wine Tasting Promo: In celebration of Chile’s world renowned wines, this winter Portillo will be hosting the “Wine Fest Promotion”, which is free to guests staying a minimum of seven nights from Aug. 28 to Sept. 4.

During this week, guests can enjoy wine tastings and a complimentary one night’s stay at the Ritz Carlton Santiago with transfers to Portillo.

Martina Diez-Routh, a representative for Ski Portillo, says: “Each afternoon in Portillo guests will learn about the different wines of Chile, talk to the winemakers, and taste the best wines. All of this comes at no extra cost.”

More about Skiing in South America

As spring and summer sun melts the snow in the Northern Hemisphere, savvy skiers pack up and travel south to the great ski centers in South America where the ski season begins in mid-June and runs to October. You’ll find the best conditions in July and August.

The skiing in the southern Andes of Argentina and Chile is world famous. There’s also snowboarding, heli-skiing and superb runs.

In Argentina, the best skiing is in where the resorts around Bariloche offer varying possibilities. You’ll find more skiing in other areas of Argentina, most notably in province, at the resorts of Las Leñas and Los Penitentes.

You’ll forgive me if I’m a trifle biased in favor of the skiing in Chile for that is where I learned to ski. Not at the famous resorts such as spectacular Portillo but in my own backyard of Sewell. I did ski however at La Parva and Farellones.

You’ll find the various Chilean Ski Areas offer the perfect mix of good runs spectacular views and a wonderful atmosphere. You can choose a week of skiing in Portillo then move on to Valle Nevado. There are interconnecting trails which make it easy and fun to enjoy a number of runs and conditions. And the scenery is fantastic! You wont want to miss the fun at El Colorado, Chile’s biggest ski resort, with the best ski runs.

Farther south, popular ski resorts are at [Villarica-Pucon, where you’ll see Osorno, the famous volcano. The Termas de Chillan, La Burbuja and El Mirador present different conditions and offer varying degrees of tourist amenities but all provide more great skiing.

There are more places to ski in South America, of course. Bolivia’s ski center at Chacaltaya boasts of some superlative conditions but doesn’t offer the amenities many skiers prefer. The northern Andes of Peru offer ski mountaineering, and Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela have smaller ski areas but the tropical environments surrounding them aren’t as conducive to great skiing conditions.

No matter where you ski in South America you’ll enjoy great snow superlative vistas and friendly welcomes. Why don’t you send us a trip report or rate your experience with a Reader Review?

Good skiing! And don’t forget to check the skiing packages and deals listed in Ski South America resources and the ads on this page.
______________________________________________________
SOURCES:

“Taste The Andes: Ski And Wine Tours”
May 10, 2010 Alicia Taylor, Executive Editor, Europe
OnTheSnow.com

http://www.onthesnow.com

http://www.onthesnow.com/news/13/a/12231/taste-the-andes-ski-and-wine-tours

“Ski South America!”
From Bonnie Hamre, former About.com Guide
About.com

http://gosouthamerica.about.com

http://gosouthamerica.about.com/cs/sportsabout/a/SkiingSA.htm

Buenos Aires: All international flights to Argentina arrive in the capital. A stopover in Buenos Aires at the beginning or end of your ski holiday actually helps with trip logistics: from here regular flights serve Bariloche and Malargue – the gateway airports to the ski resorts of Cerro Catedral and Las Lenas. Buenos Aires is a European-style city with beautiful colonial architecture, old-world cafes, a frenzied nightlife, gourmet cuisine, large-scale shopping malls, cobbled streets lined with antique shops, and a dizzying choice of museums. The historic Dorrego Square comes alive at weekends with performers, most notably tango dancers; tango music was born in the suburbs of the city. Popular night-time activities include touring the wine bars and taking in an opera at the famous Teatro Colón.

Bariloche: San Carlos de Bariloche is 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the popular Argentinean ski resort of Cerro Catedral (or ‘Catedral Alta Patagonia’). This close proximity means skiers can actually stay in the city and catch a bus to the ski resort, opening a wider choice of accommodation and nightlife. From downtown Bariloche there are regular bus services to Cerro Catedral every 30 minutes provided by the Tres de Mayo company, with stops on Moreno Street, between Beschtedt and Palacios, and at the Civic Centre. It’s a 45-minute bus ride from Bariloche to the ski resort. Bariloche boasts an impressive setting on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi and backed by the Andes. Attractive stone buildings with balconies line the streets and pretty squares. Evenings are an upbeat affair with a wealth of bars, restaurants, live music, and dancing.

Cerro Catedral Transportation (BARILOCHE)

Air Travel: The easiest way of reaching Cerro Catedral is to fly to Buenos Aires, Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE), and then catch a connecting plane to San Carlos de Bariloche Airport (BRC). There are four daily flights between Buenos Aires and San Carlos de Bariloche. Airlines include Aerolineas Argentina (Austral), LAN Argentina, and American Airlines. From North America to Buenos Aires: Aerolíneas Argentinas from Miami; American Airlines from Dallas, Fort Worth, Miami, and New York-JFK; Delta from Atlanta; LAN from Argentina; Continental Airlines from Houston; United Airlines from Washington-Dulles; and Air Canada from Toronto. From South/Central America to Buenos Aires: Regular flights link cities in Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Mexico, Panama, and Cuba. Airlines include Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air Canada, Aeromexico, Lade, LAN, Pluna, GOL, and TAM. From Europe to Buenos Aires: Aerolíneas Argentinas from Rome and Madrid; Air Europa and Iberia from Madrid; Air France from Paris, Alitalia from Rome, BA from London; and Lufthansa from Frankfurt.

By Car: Cerro Catedral is 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Bariloche Airport, approximately a 30-minute drive. From Bariloche: Head along Bustillo Av. to kilometer No. 8 (Catedral intersection). Then, turn left into the paved road till you reach the ski resort access, with its free parking space for 960 vehicles. Car rental companies at San Carlos de Bariloche Airport include: Hertz, Thrifty, Alamo, and Patagonia Rental.

Ground Transportation: For a cheaper option than flying between Buenos Aires and Bariloche, overnight buses are also available and depart every hour. If flying into Bariloche, catch bus 72 to downtown Bariloche. From here there are regular bus services to Cerro Catedral every 30 minutes provided by the Tres de Mayo company, with stops on Moreno Street, between Beschtedt and Palacios, and at the Civic Centre. (Call: 02944 425648 or email tresmayo@satlink.com). It’s approximately 45 minutes from Bariloche to the ski resort by bus.

Getting Around: You won’t need a car to get around El Colorado village, everything is within easy walking distance.

Taxi & Limo Service:
- Radio Taxi Bariloche 422103 – 431717 – 525333
- Radio Taxi Aguas Azules 433338 – 433331
- Radio Taxi Limay 468300

Ski in Argentina on Colorado ski pass

Are you skiers already going into withdrawal? Extend your season by doing what some members of the U.S. Ski Team do: head to South America.

The Times’ Daily Travel & Deal Blog reports that buying an Epic Pass for next year’s snow season, which is good at six resorts in Colorado (and Heavenly here in California), will get you free summer skiing at Las Lenas, Argentina.

The ski team usually heads to Portillo in Chile, but Las Lenas is the place for extremes, with gnarly chutes and bowls. It’s season is roughly June through September, and elevation-wise, the resort is similar to Mammoth Mountain — its base area is at 7,400 feet and summit at 11,253.

Endless winter

Buy an Epic Pass for next year’s snow season at six resorts in Colorado and California and extend winter into summer by skiing or riding the slopes at one of Argentina’s largest ski resorts for free.

The 2010-11 pass from Vail Resorts, on sale now at the lowest price for next season, is good for free and unrestricted skiing and snowboarding at Colorado’s Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin resorts, as well as Heavenly at Lake Tahoe.

To take advantage of free skiing or boarding in Argentina, at the Las Leñas resort, you must buy or renew a pass and stay at one of the six hotels on the mountain. “You buy your pass this year, and you can ski Las Leñas this summer and next summer for free,” said Vail Resorts spokeswoman Kate Lessman.

Las Leñas (pictured), which opened in 1983, sits in the Andes Mountains in the western-central part of the country about an hour and a half by air and 11 hours by car from Buenos Aires. It’s known for having a good mix of slopes, from easy to extreme; “summer” snow conditions peak in July and August.

To see what hotels cost at Las Leñas, I found a seven-night stay (July 3 to 10) for a single with breakfast and dinner (lift tickets included, though you wouldn’t need that if you had the Epic Pass) for $1,927 at the resort’s Piscis Hotel; airfare and transportation to and from the resort are not included.

The Epic Pass costs $599 for adults (13 and older) and $299 for children ages 5 to 12; prices are good through May 31. You also can put down $49 now for the pass and pay the balance in mid-September. Passes also will be honored this summer at the stateside resorts for sightseeing and gondola rides.

Feeling lucky? Vail Resorts is giving away a trip for two to Las Leñas if you buy a pass before May 9. The trip includes round-trip airfare as well as lodging and meals for two for five nights at Acuario Hotel between June 22 and July 2 and Aug. 17 and Sept. 30.

Contact: Epic Pass, (800) 842-8062

__________________________________
SOURCES:

“City-Ski Breaks: Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Santiago”
May 10, 2010
By Alicia Taylor
http://www.onthesnow.com
http://www.onthesnow.com/news/13/a/12233/city-ski-breaks-buenos-aires-bariloche-santiago

“Cerro Catedral Transportation”
May 10, 2010
By Alicia Taylor
http://www.onthesnow.com
http://www.onthesnow.com/news/13/a/12197/cerro-catedral-transportation

“Ski in Argentina on Colorado ski pass”
May 7, 2010
By Julie Sheer
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2010/05/ski-in-argentina-on-colorado-ski-pass.html

“Endless winter: Colorado ski resort pass throws in Argentina for free”
By Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times Daily Travel & Deal blogger
http://travel.latimes.com
http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/endless-winter-color-6847

The Argentinean ski resort of Las Leñas is famous for its hidden ski runs. Miles of open country where there are no people, just 4,000-metre mountains and untracked powder so deep it can grab you like quicksand.

Unfortunately this stretch of the Cordillera de los Andes is also known for an infamous Uruguayan plane crash. On Oct. 13, 1972, a team of Uruguayan rugby players were heading over the Andes when their plane ran into bad weather and crashed deep in the mountains. The 16 survivors were forced to live off the remains of the other passengers until they were rescued more than two months later. This story was immortalized in the book and subsequent film, Alive.

It is 8:30 a.m. when I arrive in the Argentinean Andes, yet it feels much earlier as I listen to the fellow boarders and skiers on the bus grumble in sleepy monotone voices. Due to Las Leñas’s extreme southerly location, the sun doesn’t rise until around 9 a.m., and it’ll be well and truly down by 5 p.m.

Everything is in primary colours up here, white snow, black rocks, and the yellow sun now peaking toward the lifts. My guide for the morning is Daniel, a short, tanned native of Buenos Aires. Daniel is head of the snowboarding program at Las Leñas and he is taking me out for the morning to explore the mountains to see if I still remember how to snowboard after a six-year hiatus. We skip the line (one of the beauties of lessons in Argentina) and head up the T-bar to the top of the Vulcano Minerva run.

“You are a green snowboarder?” he inquires, watching as I fumble to strap on my board.

“Ahh, si…” I reply, seeing his hand pointing to the green (easiest), blue, red and black runs available to us.

Daniel takes me through my paces, reminding me to use my shoulders to navigate down the mountain. We surf across a wide slope and Daniel spins in front of me, watching as I push my weight over my toes to turn into the hill and then press my heels into the snow as I attempt to find an edge and carve a path to the bottom. After an incident-free run we stop for a breath in the shadow of the sentinels above. I watch the lifts at the top of Las Leñas. At 3,500 metres, chairlifts fight with the blustery conditions on the summit as they dump the more adventurous. Those skiers and boarders will carry tracking devices on the ridge for their backcountry adventures.

The southern hemisphere isn’t famous for snowy mountains, yet Daniel says they get at least five metres of cover every season at Las Leñas. There are 13 lifts in total and it is possible to take a seven-kilometre run from top to bottom. There are nine ski resorts in Argentina and one of the main reasons that foreigners are travelling south are the prices (about $25 Cdn for a lift ticket).

Daniel and I conquer the blue runs of Las Leñas and I’m momentarily pleased with myself that I haven’t stacked. The self-congratulating is only short-lived. Daniel thinks I’m ready for something bigger and he introduces me to his friend Fernando. Fernando loves “off-piste” and once I learn that this means open-country skiing, not some horrible drinking game, I’m convinced to catch the chair with him to the top.

Wisps of salt-fine snow sting my face as we stand on the edge of the mountain near the Marte Iris run at 3,430 metres. I look across the tops of the deserted Andean peaks all around us and resist asking Fernando if he has his own tracking device tucked in his jacket. I look over the lip at the village more than 1,000 metres below before it disappears in the clouds and I follow the other boarders through thick snow that slushes to the side of my board.

Fernando zips past a protruding boulder and looks back just in time to see my stately, grandmotherly turns. I stop and he whispers in Spanish, “All respect, amigo, but maybe you should stick to Azul, eh?”

I smile at Fernando, the mountains are lonely here and I don’t want to get stuck out in the snow as the sun goes down. I’m more relieved than offended as I take the fork to the left, watching Fernando push off down the backside of the mountain in a cloud of powder.

I spend most of the afternoon exploring the easier sections of the 17,500-hectare resort, chatting with Porteños (citizens of Buenos Aires).

Feeling confident in the afternoon sunshine I ride past the Olimpo Restaurant and bunny hop over a little jump. Overconfidence is never a good sign. In the distance I see an Argentinean lady waving at me. I traverse the mountain as she keeps motioning to me and I wave back, not seeing the section of slick moguls in front. I skittle over the bumps, twist my board and thump into the snow headfirst. After a moment I look up and see the lady still waving and through the clumps of snow in my goggles I can now see the handsome man skiing toward her.
_______________________________
SOURCE:
“Snowboarding the Andes and feeling alive”
Thu Apr 15 2010
Ben Stubbs Special to the Star
Ben Stubbs is a freelance writer based in Buenos Aires. His trip was subsidized by Tourism Argentina and Aerolineas Argentinas.

http://www.thestar.com

http://www.thestar.com/travel/skiing/article/795307–snowboarding-the-andes-and-feeling-alive

Courses range from four week Ski Performance Camps to a full 12-week BASI 1&2 Ski Instructor Courses. They begin on July 15th and run through to October 8th, 2010.

Base Camp’s Bariloche courses are all inclusive with 30 hours of coaching per week from SASS and BASI coaches, outbound and inbound flights, transfers, accommodation, food, Spanish lessons and additional trips. Prices for Brits start from £4,895 per person from London via Buenos Aires.

Cerro Catedral ski area near Bariloche, Argentina.

The medium sized town of Bariloche, convenient for night life, shopping, activities, casino, restaurants, tea houses and bars is 15- 20 minutes away from Cerro Catedral ski area. A pioneer among South American ski resorts, Cerro Catedral lies at 1,030 meters at its base and has some of the best snow conditions in South America averaging six metres per season, catering for skiers of all abilities.

Over 600 hectares of terrain are divided into 53 marked runs of varying difficulties combined with extensive unpisted backcountry. 40 lifts can transport over 35,000 people per hour allowing the resort to minimise lift queues at peak times.

The launch of Base Camp’s Summer Ski programme ties in closely with Base Camp’s updated website providing visitors with comprehensive information on Base Camp courses, travel information and industry news. Upon booking, clients can access Base Camp’s growing online community through an Intranet that provides clients with 24-hour access to course itineraries, account information, a job recruitment service, message board and media area.

“Argentina has long been in Base Camp’s sights. An incredible, unforgettable experience for everyone that takes the course, we predict it will be one of our most popular,” said Base Camp’s Alex Berman.
________________________________
SOURCE:
“Ski the Andes at Argentina’s Cerro Catedral”
05-04-2010
SKIREBEL Magazine
http://www.skirebel.com
http://www.skirebel.com/magazine/archives/6502

This year, a stronger U.S. dollar means there are some great bargains available, including seven-night packages in the Argentine Andes starting at $479.

Buenos Aires-based Inspira Travel stands out among South American tour operators with week-long ski packages to three different Argentine resorts for under $600. Inspira focuses on three ski areas in Patagonia: Bariloche, San Martin de los Andes and Cerro Castor, near Ushuaia.

Last year, the U.S. National snowboard team trained at Cerro Chapelco, a mid-sized area with 27 runs. The base area is modeled after a European-style alpine village, surrounded by forests, lakes, and a volcano.

Cerro Castor has a claim to fame as the southernmost winter sports center in the world. The area has one of the longest seasons in South America. European ski teams use the area as a summer training base, running gates on one of the area’s 19 runs.

Cerro Castor is located near Ushuaia, the capital of the Tierra del Fuego province. Along with skiing, Ushuaia is a popular base for exploring Fin del Mundo, the end of the Earth at the southernmost tip of South America.

Skiers or boarders can take a break from the slopes and visit sea lion colonies or trek through Tierra del Fuego National Park. Inspira Travel is offering a seven-night package to Cerro Castor and Ushuaia for $499, with lodging at the Macondo House Inn.

The southernmost winter sports center in the world, Cerro Castor (or “Mount Castor”) is also the newest in Argentina. Near the Ushuaia province capital city of Tierra del Fuego, Cerro Castor features 19 runs of varying difficulty and one of the longest seasons in South America.

Home to many European professional teams who train here during their summer off-season, Ushuaia is also popular with travelers who want to explore the “End of the World.”

Travelers wanting a break from the slopes can enjoy additional outdoor adventures, such as boat rides to sea lion colonies and treks through Tierra del Fuego national park. The Summer Slopes Ushuaia seven-night package starts from $499 per person, based on double occupancy at the Macondo House Inn, a boutique hotel that has garnered great reviews on Tripadvisor.com.

Bariloche is one of the best-known South American ski centers. Inspira offers a seven-night package starting at $539, with skiing at Cerro Catedral, named for the towering granite spires of the region.

Cerro Catedral offer modern facilities with over 53 runs overlooking the spectacular lakes and hills of Patagonia. Lodging for the package is at the lakeside Tres Reyes Hotel.

All of Inspira’s packages include lodging, a shuttle from hotel to lifts, ski lift tickets, breakfast, roundtrip airport transfers and medical insurance.

Rates are per person, based on double occupancy. Airfare, ski passes and equipment are not included. Packages are available from June 13 – Sept. 26. Prices may vary.

More information is online at www.inspiratravel.com. The company is focused on creating tailored itineraries that promote interaction with local landscapes, cultures and customs.

Inspira also maintains an entertaining and informative travel blog at www.inspiratravelblog.blogspot.com, including a recent entry on green travel in Buenos Aires. E-mail: info@inspira travel.com or call (203) 307-1267.

Ski area links:
- Cerro Castor: http://www.cerrocastor.com/2009/2009_ENG/
- Bariloche: http://www.bariloche.com/english/index.asp
- Cerro Chapelco: http://www.interpatagonia.com/chapelco/index_i.html

Travelers can choose from one of Inspira Travel´s three packages featuring the Patagonia ski resorts of Bariloche, San Martin de los Andes and Ushuaia. Considered among the best of South America , each destination offers distinctive landscapes and off-slope features that will appeal to varying travel interests:

Buenos Aires-based Inspira Travel (www.inspiratravel.com) creates tailored itineraries that promote an understanding of and interaction with local landscapes, cultures, and customs.

Photo of the Cerro Catedral ski resort is displayed with the kind permission of Roberto Ingledew.
_________________________________
SOURCE:
“Inspira Travel Snow Packages in Argentina”
Bonnie’s South America Travel Blog
By Bonnie Hamre
About.com
Tuesday May 5, 2009
http://gosouthamerica.about.com
http://gosouthamerica.about.com/b/2009/05/05/inspira-travel-snow-packages-in-argentina.htm

(live-PR.com) – Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, April 27th 2009 — As spring is arriving in the Northern Hemisphere, now is the ideal time to plan the summer vacations to secure availability at the best hotels during the busy holiday season and good deals for flights. When looking for exotic and unique destinations for a summer vacation, South America offers more than tropical beaches
to relax between sun and sea and bustling cities to experience the enthusiastic latino-lifestyle with world-famous music and dance and intriguing history: Sport fans have numerous options to practice the most diverse outdoor sports in breathtaking environments. One of the most exotic is skiing in the summer with the Discover.Travel Group’s specialized luxury travel packages to Argentina and Chile.

In Western Argentina, Bariloche is a natural paradise for outdoor activities like skiing, trekking and climbing with a Swiss charm of the countryside. With about 110,000 inhabitants, it is situated on the southern coast of the picturesque lake Hanuel Huapi. It is one of the most important tourist destinations of the Patagonian region offering all kinds of Luxury Travel Services with a high quality standard and modern technology: best skiing modalities of nearly 70 kilometers (42 miles), various luxury hotels, different types of restaurants, boutique shops and solariums.

The online travel company Discover.Travel Group organizes tailor-made travel packages for individual travelers and groups to experience this unique Andean city surrounded by snow-covered mountains and deep blue lakes to enjoy the peaceful scenery, including the “Gutierrez” and “Nahuel Huapi” lakes, island and the “Otto” and “Tronador” glaciers.

Bariloche is most famous for the great skiing possibilities in the Argentinean Winter from July to October, offering winter sport lovers the opportunity to ski and snowboard even during the summer months in the Northern hemisphere. But the diverse opportunities to go trekking, camping, boating, climbing or just relaxing make it an all-season destination for vacationers.

Travelers who visit Bariloche with the Discover.Travel Group stay at the Llao Llao Resort & Spa. This Luxury Hotel rises right on top of a hill between Lake Nahuel Huapi and Lake Moreno within the stunning frame of Mount López, Mount Capilla and the majestic Mount Tronador. This magnificent building was completely refurbished in 1993. The Discover.Travel Group recommends the Llao Llao Resort & Spa with its unique style as the perfect place to enjoy this true ecological paradise located in the Argentinean Lake District. Pure air, crystal clear waters, deep and transparent lakes make a silent and impressive background to this privileged place.

Other excellent ski resorts in Argentina are Mendoza, Villavicencio, Esquel or “Valle de las Leñas”, which have good facilities and beautiful settings. All of them are situated about 1000 km (about 600 miles) southwest of Buenos Aires. The Discover.Travel Group’s Specialized Travel Consultants find the ideal destination for each traveler.

In Chile, the ski resorts that surround Santiago are located just 60 km (about 36 miles) from downtown, allowing travelers to enjoy the quality of the slopes, the abundant sun and the privileged altitude of the Andes Mountains.

The Discover.Travel Group recommends its clients to visit La Parva, El Colorado, Valle Nevado and Portillo, a small Chilean resort in the central Andes just a few kilometers from the Argentine border and about 100 miles from Santiago. All are part of a complex that offers a complete line of excellent facilities to ensure the enjoyment and relaxation of snow lovers. Skiers can count on the diversity of gentle runs, and the more advanced can challenge themselves conquering the most extreme descents the Andes has to offer.

In these locations the Discover.Travel Group offers travelers accommodation in attractive, comfortable, well equipped suites and rooms in hotels where guests can use exercise areas, heated swimming pool, sauna, massage and beauty parlor where to relax after a day in the mountains. Their restaurant provides for a gastronomic experience which will allow travelers to taste a unique combination of some of the finest flavors: French cuisine, Italian specialties, Alpine classics, and of course, the finest Chilean favorites with its wines.

Portillo, in addition to great skiing, is renowned for its top-notch hospitality, and the multilingual and multinational staff offers the first-class service which the online luxury travel company Discover.Travel Group is pleased to offer to its clients.

For further information on travel destinations, services, hotels and contact with a specialized travel consultant please visit the Discover.Travel Group’s websites www.Discover.Travel, www.DiscoverBrazil.com, www.DiscoverSouthAmerica.Travel and www.DiscoverCentralAmerica.Travel.

Recent accomplishments by Intelligent Leisure Solutions and the Discover.Travel Group:
• 2008 Ulysses Award for Innovation in Tourism Enterprises from the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization),
• World Travel Award 2008 for South America’s Leading Travel Management Company,
• World Travel Award 2008 for Central America’s Leading Travel Agency,
• Managing Partner Robert Phillips was elected ASTA Chapter President for Brazil.
• Selected by the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism as an Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
• Authenticated by the Tralliance Corporation and the .Travel Registry.

Contact information:
Discover.Travel Group

Av.Tancredo Neves, 1632 – Torre Norte – Sala 2114
CEP 41820-020 – Salvador – Bahia – Brazil

Contact Person:
Daniela Silva
Web Marketing Manager
Phone: 55-71-31134203
eMail: eMail
Web: http://www.discover.travel

Author:
Daniela Silva
e-mail
Web: http://www.discover.travel
Phone: 55-71-31134203
________________________________________
SOURCE:
“Sport fans enjoy the Discover.Travel Group’s Special Summer Skiing Packages in South America”
LIVE-PR
27.04.2009
http://www.live-pr.com
http://www.live-pr.com/en/sport-fans-enjoy-the-discover-travel-group-s-r1048271925.htm