Club Andino Bariloche

What Club Andino Bariloche does

Club Andino Bariloche is a non-profit civil association (asociación civil) founded in 1936 and headquartered at 20 de Febrero Nº 30 in San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina. It operates a portfolio of mountain recreation, education, and event services targeted at outdoor enthusiasts in the Patagonia region. Core offerings span professional instruction (ski and snowboard school, youth mountain school for ages 5–17, climbing school, mountain biking school, adult ski touring, first aid courses), organized activity groups (GEDA adult hiking group, CAB en Movimiento athletic training, low-difficulty hikes, summit hikes, Rollski off-season conditioning), adventure races (flagship 4 Refugios, Trail de los Filos, Tetra Catedral, Duatlón de Otoño Pablo Ramos, NaviCAB), and a hospitality network of 12 mountain refugios and campings operated under concession arrangements. It also runs a Comisión de Auxilio (CAX) mountain rescue commission, a trekking registration system mandated by Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, and the Tienda CAB merchandise store.

Name

Club Andino Bariloche

Legal name

Club Andino Bariloche

Website

https://clubandino.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Club Andino Bariloche is a 90-year-old Argentine non-profit mountaineering association offering ski schools, organized trekking, adventure races, mountain rescue, and a network of 12 Patagonian refugios to members and outdoor enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Rock Climbing, Mountaineering & Via Ferrata Guides (THAAADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mountain & Alpine Lodges (THAGAIAE), Winter & Mountain Guides (Ski, Snowshoe, Avalanche, Ice Climbing) (THAAALAF), Rock Climbing, Via Ferrata & Mountaineering (THAJABAE), Winter Adventure & Mountain Resorts (Ski, Snowboard, Snow Activities) (THAAAAAK)

Keywords

• Mountaineering services
• Ski instruction programs
• Mountain refuge accommodation
• Adventure race organization
• Mountain rescue services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Carlos De Bariloche

HQ country

Argentina

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees (Cuota Social): Annual or periodic membership fees that provide access to club facilities, refugios with 80% discount on overnight stays, and participation in club activities.
2. Courses and Training: Fees for various courses including ski and snowboard school, mountaineering school, rock climbing, mountain biking, and first aid courses. Prices range from 84,100 pesos for ski touring beginners course.
3. Race Participation Fees: Registration fees for adventure races including 4 Refugios (ranging from $122,364 for members to $203,940 for non-members for 1 Refugio modality), Trail de los Filos, Tetra Catedral, and other competitions.
4. Refugio and Camping Services: Overnight accommodation services at mountain refugios operated by concessionaires. Members receive 80% discount on overnight fees and 30% discount on food services.
5. Merchandise and Store (Tienda CAB): Sale of club merchandise including t-shirts, caps, mugs, pens, maps, guidebooks, patches, and commemorative items at differentiated member/non-member pricing.
6. Equipment Storage (Guardaesquí): Ski equipment storage service at Refugio Kaltschmidt for the winter season at 200,000 pesos per season, free for members over 70 years.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Club Andino Bariloche is a 90-year-old nonprofit civil association offering mountaineering, skiing, trekking, rock climbing, mountain biking, and related outdoor activities in the Patagonia region of Argentina. It operates a network of 12 mountain refugios and campings, runs schools for ski/snowboard, climbing, mountain biking, and mountaineering, organizes adventure races (notably 4 Refugios, part of the Merrell Skyrunner World Series), provides mountain rescue services through its Comisión de Auxilio (CAX), and sells branded merchandise.

Product overview

Club Andino Bariloche is a 90-year-old mountaineering and skiing club offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services centered on mountain recreation and education. The core offerings include: educational programs through its ski/snowboard school and various outdoor discipline schools (mountain biking, climbing, trekking); activity clubs for different age groups and skill levels (GEDA for adults, youth mountain school, low-difficulty hikes, CAB en Movimiento); adventure races including the flagship 4 Refugios, Trail de los Filos, and Tetra Catedral; and hospitality services through its network of mountain refuges and campings. Additional services include a club store, trekking registration system, mountain rescue commission (CAX), and a historical archive. The club also facilitates international competition participation and manages infrastructure including the recently renovated Refugio Kaltschmidt.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 4 Refugios: The flagship mountain race organized by the club, considered the most important mountain race in South America. Now part of the Merrell Skyrunner World Series.
• Trail de los Filos
• Tetra Catedral
• Duatlón de Otoño Pablo Ramos
• CAB Viaja

Products and services

• Tienda CAB (Club Store) Retail merchandise store selling Club Andino Bariloche branded apparel, caps, mugs, pens, maps, guidebooks, patches, and commemorative items at differentiated member/non-member pricing.
• Escuela de Ski y Snowboard (Ski and Snowboard School) Ski and snowboard instruction program for all skill levels, including the Escuela Juvenil de Esquí y Snowboard for youth and adult courses held at Cerro Catedral.
• Escuela Juvenil de Montaña (EJM) Mountain youth school offering outdoor activities including camps and excursions for children and teens aged 5-17.
• GEDA - Grupo Excursionista de Adultos Adult hiking and trekking group organizing regular mountain excursions for members aged 18+, conducting 20 outings per season covering various trails and refugios.
• Escuela de Escalada (Climbing School) Climbing school offering instruction from age 5, with indoor practice at Escuela Militar de Montaña and outdoor rock climbing during summer months.
• Escuela de Mountain Bike (MTB School) Mountain biking school for youth aged 6-17 operating during the December-April season.
• CAB en Movimiento Athletic training program for youth ages 7-17, including gym work at Pista de Atletismo km 6, suspended during winter months.
• CBD - Caminatas de Baja Dificultad (Low-Difficulty Hikes) Low-difficulty hiking excursions for all levels, combining established trails, lenga forests, and panoramic views.
• Caminatas con Cumbres (Summit Hikes) Summit hikes and mountaineering expeditions for experienced walkers.
• Rollski Roller skiing training program for ski conditioning during off-snow seasons.
• 4 Refugios Iconic mountain endurance race, the most important in South America, with multiple modalities including 1, 2, 3, and 4 refugios options plus non-stop versions. The 20th edition in 2026 became the inaugural event of the Merrell Skyrunner World Series circuit, with 800+ athletes participating.
• Trail de los Filos Mountain trail race following the ridges around Bariloche, featuring technical terrain and panoramic summit views.
• Tetra Catedral Tetratlon race combining running, cycling, kayaking, and climbing at Cerro Catedral.
• Duatlón de Otoño Pablo Ramos Duathlon race held annually in autumn, combining running and cycling disciplines.
• NaviCAB Navigation and orientation event with treasure hunt format in the mountains.
• Refugios y Campings (Mountain Refuges Network) Network of 12 high-mountain refugios and campings providing accommodation, food services, and mountain information throughout Patagonia, including Emilio Frey, General San Martín, Manfredo Segre, Agostino Rocca, Otto Meiling, Berghof, Laguna Ilón, and Neumeyer, plus vivac shelters and campings at Los Rápidos and Los Vuriloches. Members receive 80% discount on overnight stays.
• Comisión de Auxilio (CAX) - Mountain Rescue Service Mountain rescue and emergency response commission providing safety services for club activities and mountain users throughout the Bariloche region.
• Registro de Trekking (Trekking Registration Service) Online trekking registration system required for mountain excursions, managed through Google Forms per Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi requirements.
• Guardaesquí (Ski Equipment Storage) Ski equipment storage service at Refugio Kaltschmidt for the winter season at 200,000 pesos per season, free for members over 70 years.
• Ski de Travesía para Principiantes (Backcountry Skiing Beginners Course) First backcountry skiing (Ski de Travesía) beginners program organized by the Montañismo Subcommission, including mandatory pre-trip meeting and instructor-led outing at 84,100 pesos per person, members only.
• CAB Viaja (Travel Program) Travel program for club members to explore mountains in other regions and countries.
• Refugio Kaltschmidt (Renovated) Reopened Refugio Kaltschmidt at the base of Cerro Catedral after significant expansion and renovation works, serving as accommodation and equipment storage hub.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ athletes participated in 4 Refugios 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• MerrellflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerrell Skyrunner World Series partnership where the 4 Refugios race became the inaugural event of the 2026 Merrell Skyrunner World Series circuit, marking a significant international recognition of the club's flagship race.
• Mountain HardwearcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHistorical sponsor of the 4 Refugios race. Provided sponsorship support for the competition including product prizes and event promotion.
• FischerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Club Andino Bariloche, providing skiing equipment support. Has retail presence at Refugio Kaltschmidt.
• AnsiltaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the club, providing mountaineering equipment support.
• ReccominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the club, providing avalanche rescue technology equipment.
• Refugio KnappminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the club, operated by Knapp family.
• BealminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the club, providing climbing ropes and equipment.
• TenayaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the club, providing climbing shoes and equipment.
• Catedral Alta PatagoniacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSki resort partner providing access to ski lifts and terrain for the club's ski school programs. Provides lift passes for course participants.
• Instituto Técnico Superior (ITS 4)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned a framework collaboration agreement to strengthen training for mountain workers, combining the club's expertise with the technical institute's educational programs.
• FASA (Federación Argentina de Ski y Andinismo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArgentine Federation of Skiing and Mountaineering affiliation providing competitive racing circuit integration and industry standards.
• AAGM (Asociación Argentina de Guías de Montaña)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArgentine Mountain Guides Association providing certified guides for expeditions and training programs.
• Parque Nacional Nahuel HuapicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational park authority managing the protected natural areas where the club's refugios and trails are located. Oversees trekking registration system.
• Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados (Colombia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange of mountain refuge management experiences with Colombian park concessionaires, sharing knowledge on sustainable tourism and protected area management.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Alpine Club: US-based nonprofit membership organization for climbers and mountaineers providing training, huts, publications, and conservation programs — directly comparable mission and membership-club structure to Club Andino Bariloche.
• Appalachian Mountain Club: US membership outdoor recreation organization operating a network of lodges and huts, offering training, guided trips, and conservation programming — structurally similar to CAB's refugio network and education portfolio.
• Club Alpin Français (CAF): Historic French membership-based mountaineering and hiking club owning a network of refuges and offering training, courses, and group excursions — a near-direct international analogue of Club Andino Bariloche's offerings.
• Club Andino de Chile / Club Alemán Andino: Chilean alpine club offering mountaineering, skiing, and refugio infrastructure in the Andes — directly comparable Andean counterpart operating in an adjacent geography.
• Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club): World's largest alpine club with ~1.4M members operating a membership-based model of mountaineering, climbing, and hut (refugio) infrastructure across the Alps — directly comparable to Club Andino Bariloche's membership + refugio + training structure in Patagonia.
• The Mountaineers: Pacific Northwest US membership-based outdoor club offering courses, trips, and published guides across hiking, climbing, and skiing — closely aligned with CAB's school + activity-club model.
• New Zealand Alpine Club: Membership-based alpine club providing huts, climbing instruction, and expedition support across New Zealand's Southern Alps — analogous nonprofit club + hut network model in a different but climatically comparable geography.

Others

• Catedral Alta Patagonia: Operator of the Cerro Catedral ski resort where CAB runs its ski and snowboard schools. Closely intertwined channel/infrastructure partner rather than direct competitor, but the most operationally relevant adjacent player in Bariloche's winter sports economy.
• UTMB Group (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc): Global organizer of trail-running and skyrunning events including the UTMB World Series. Comparable to CAB's 4 Refugios / skyrunning franchise in terms of event format, athlete base, and international circuit positioning.
• Federación Argentina de Ski y Andinismo (FASA): Argentine federation governing skiing and mountaineering competition circuits. Functions as an industry-body peer and regulatory counterpart to CAB's competitive racing and training programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8ufSX4-r4PNiODs-gSSoWA
• Facebookfacebook.com/clubandinobarilocheoficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/club_andino_bariloche
• Xx.com/cab1931
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/club-andino-bariloche

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Club Andino Bariloche