Winter sports enthusiasts will find a wide variety of world class ski and winter sports resorts in Argentina where they can practice everything from cross-country skiing to extreme off-piste skiing and snowboarding to sledding amidst the breathtaking landscapes of mythical Patagonia. Expert skiers like Argentina’s great terrain and dry powder but all resorts cater to skiers of all levels with lessons for beginners and family-friendly activities for the little ones. Visitors will find great accommodations and dining options at all of the resorts as well as the vibrant nightlife that Argentina is famous for.
Following is an overview of some of Argentina’s best winter sports resorts where the season runs from May to September:
Las Leñas, Mendoza
One of Argentina’s best known ski resorts, Las Leñas is famous for its wild terrain and backcountry as well as the opportunities for extreme and off-piste skiing and snowboarding attracting advanced and expert skiers. Sitting at over 11,200 feet altitude in a purpose-built village, 210 miles from Argentina’s wine capital of Mendoza, it boasts five hotels, an apartment complex, and a hostel as well as a great variety of restaurants and a big party scene.
It is the only ski resort in South America to offer night skiing. Snow cat skiing is also available.
Las Leñas’ Adventure Park offers a 200-meter zip line with hanging bridges, snowtubing, snowshoeing, as well as tours on quad bikes and ATVs.
Caviahue, Neuquén
Set in a thousand-year-old Auracaria forest, Caviahue offers 22 tracks with three different levels of difficulty and 13 lifts provide a transport capacity of 8,800 skiers per hour.
In addition to downhill and cross-country skiing, visitors to Caviahue can also practice snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, as well as caterpillar vehicle excursions (snowtracks), and night trips to mountain huts. A spectacular 5-mile off-piste descent takes skiers from the mouth of the Copahue volcano to the base of the ski center. There are two hotel properties at the resort as well as three mountain restaurants.
The first Argentina Winter Games were held here in 2016.
Caviahue is also committed to sustainability with the implementation of water and solid waste treatment programs, a comprehensive recycling erosion control program in addition to being committed to a reforestation program.
Chapelco, Neuquén
This five-time World Ski Awards winner for Best Ski Resort in Argentina is also a leader in sustainability. Chapelco is the only ski resort in Argentina to be powered by renewable energy and the only ski resort in South America to be a partner of Protect our Winters, the community of athletes, scientists, creatives, and business leaders who are passionate of the outdoors and are working to protect the places they love from climate change.
Chapelco is located in Lanín National Park, just 12 miles from the charming town of San Martín de los Andes with its great dining, shopping, accommodations, and nightlife options.
With 2,360 feet of vertical drop, Chapelco begins above tree line and ends in dense, old-growth forest, offering some great tree skiing.
Chapelco’s terrain accommodates all types of skiers but is known to be one of the best in Argentina for intermediate skiers. In addition to skiing, visitors to Chapelco can also practice snowboarding, snowmobiling, or go sledding with Siberian huskies.
Chapelco is also known to have one of the best ski schools in South America.
Cerro Bayo, Neuquén
This boutique, family-friendly resort is ideal for those looking to get away from the crowds. Located near the beautiful town of Villa La Angostura, with its wide range of dining, shopping, and accommodations options, Cerro Bayo boasts some of the best tree runs in South America through virgin forest. Its 3.7-mile intermediate trail offers panoramic views over majestic Lake Nahuel Huapi.
In addition to its 31 trails with four levels of difficulty, including 2.5 miles of unpatrolled backcountry trails, it offers snowparks for freestyle skiers and snowboarders, as well as snowtubing and snowshoeing.
Cerro Bayo hosted the 2nd South American Ski Mountaineering Championship in 2007
It is also committed to sustainability and is the only ski resort in South America with an environmental management certificate.
La Hoya, Chubut
Located just 9 miles from the picturesque town of Esquel, La Hoya is one of Argentina’s more off the beaten path ski resorts. Due to its particular location - the shape of the mountain is a wide glacier above a circular basin where all the ski runs join at the same point at the base - La Hoya enjoys one of Argentina’s longest ski seasons all the way through October. It is best known for its unbeatable off-piste skiing and riding. Less experienced skiers will find about 14 miles of on and off-piste trails. La Hoya also offers great snowshoe tours. Nature lovers will also enjoy its proximity to Los Alerces National Park.
There are regular flights from Buenos Aires to Esquel. Another alternative for those willing to explore more of Argentina’s Patagonia is to fly to San Carlos de Bariloche and enjoy the four- hour drive up to La Hoya.
Catedral Alta Patagonia, Río Negro
One of Argentina’s best known ski resorts at the international level, Catedral Alta Patagonia is located in beautiful Nahuel Huapi National Park and is known to be the largest ski center in the southern hemisphere. It is just 12 miles outside the town of San Carlos de Bariloche well known for its chocolate shops, craft beer, great restaurants and exciting nightlife.
The resort provides spectacular views across Nahuel Huapi National Park and across the Andes into Chile’s Lake District.
From beginners to expert freestylers, every type of skier will find a range of trails and off-piste options as well as backcountry chutes and bowls. Catedral also offers great tree skiing as well as extensive backcountry terrain including huts for overnight trips.
It is a two-time World Ski Awards winner for Best Ski Resort in Argentina
Snowboarding, sledding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, tubing, and riding snowbikes are some of the other activities that visitors to the resort can enjoy. Catedral also offers nature tours with activities for the entire family.
Catedral has a wide variety of restaurants some with great views over the surrounding mountains and a wide range of accommodation options within walking distance to the lifts.
Cerro Castor, Tierra del Fuego
The world’s southernmost ski resort set on the southern slope of Mount Krund is located 16 miles from the city of Ushuaia. Cerro Castor boasts ten lift facilities carrying up to 9,500 people per hour, as well as eight restaurants offering a wide array of culinary options. Skiers of all levels can enjoy 28 snowmass trails as well as a snowpark and two mountain shelters.
Other winter sports that can be enjoyed at Cerro Castor include snowboarding, ski boarding, sledding, ski touring, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing.
Cerro Castor hosted the FIS Freestyle Slopestyle World Cup, organized by the International Ski federation in 2012.
Laderas-Cerro Perito Moreno, Río Negro
Located an hour and a half’s drive from the international airport of San Carlos de Bariloche and just 20 miles from the charming town of El Bolson, a paradise for outdoor adventure lovers, Laderas-Cerro Perito Moreno is one of the newer additions to the wide roster of winter sports resorts in Argentina’s Patagonia and offers extraordinary views of the area’s whimsical lakes.
This boutique resort offers 11 trails totaling 7.5 miles and offers cross-country skiing, downshill skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing.
The slopes of Mount Perito Moreno are covered with lenga beech trees (native to the southern Andean range) and Ñires (Antarctic beech trees) offering great tree-skiing.
The resort is also committed to environmental conservation working with local nurseries who specialize in growing native plants in a comprehensive reforestation program.
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