WINTER IN ARGENTINA

The winter in Argentina is very popular among visitors from all over the world; the winter centers are much visited and offer a wide range of different activities along winter season. From Mendoza to Tierra del Fuego, innovation, trends and offers in the main ski centers and snow parks

The Andes Mountain Range is the “Promise Land” for the winter sport lovers. All the complexes are prepared with innovations year by year to amuse and amaze. The rates in general present a yearly increase among 10% to 20%, and in some cases as Cerro Bayo or La Hoya, the rate increase is even bigger.
There are alternatives for all the tastes and budgets; from the most demanding to special offers for family groups that provide different options to have fun in the snow.

If practice ski is an adrenaline synonym, the Mendoza mountain range offers t excellent alternatives. Las Leñas complex, in Malargüe, to the south of the province, is perhaps the best, because it has one of the largest descents in the world, combining some of its 29 ski slopes. The main activities are the ski and the snowboard, the hotels offers spa services and heated swimming pools, and for the night a variety of shows, discos, and exquisite gourmet dishes, the complex is prepared to amuse the visitors all day in the mountain. Las Leñas has 13 elevation media; the most important is Telesilla Marte, that climbs till 3.450 m.a.s.l. and invites to top expeditions as Extreme Expedition, a half day excursion by the central mountain range heart.

180 kilometers away from Mendoza city, close to Aconcagua Mountain Range, is located other popular snow complex Los Penitentes. In its 25 tracks, the complex has a high quality ski snow surface with different levels and wide lengths; it offers other relevant option for the extreme sports lovers.
Other important center is Chapelco, close to San Martín de los Andes, offers ski in all the versions. Chapelco also add departures by snow bike and sleigh ride by the Woods.

How to arrive to Chapelco

To arrive to Chapelco you can take a flight to Chapelco Airport by Austral Airlines.
Other option are the frequent flights to Bariloche, there’s a long list of airlines that operates to San Carlos de Bariloche, optional airport for the bad weather days in San Martin de los Andes.

Distances to San Martin de los Andes:

From Bariloche:
From Paso del Córdoba: 160 Km.
From 7 Lagos: 190 Km.
From Collón Cura: 260 Km.

From Neuquén:
From Zapala: 420 Km.
From Collón Curá 445 Km.

Capital Federal:
From Bahía Blanca: 1639 Km.
From La Pampa: 1591 Km.
From Mar del Plata, 1480 Km.
From Córdoba, 1547 Km.
From Mendoza, 1495 Km.
From Tucumán, 2193 Km.
From Comodoro Rivadavia: 1100 Km.
From Paso Tromen: 105 Km.
From Paso Hua Hum: 50 Km.
From Temuco: 266 Km.
From Osorno: 263 Km.

Useful Tips:
-  If you travel by car from Bs.As., Córdoba or from similar distances please consider you will have to stop to rest or sleep or travel with a second driver.
-  Ask, and verify if the routes are open or if they are blocked by “piqueteros”.
-  Please consider the ice, it causes many accidents, use chains, is better to prevent.
-  There are 100 to 200 Km. Before the arrival to San Martin de los Andes, and if you are traveling by night be careful with the wild animals specially stags. Respect the speed limits and the road signs. 
-  Please consider that 200 Kilometers before the arrival to SM de los Andes the road are each time more devious and it is not possible to maintain the same speed.
-  Please consider that the distance between the gas station are more than 50 to 60 Km.
-  Paso Del Córdoba and 7 lagos, don’t have gas station.

How to arrive to Las Leñas

To arrive to Las Leñas there are fights to Malargüe (Ricardo Salomón Airport) offered by many airlines, subsequently you will have to continue the trip by land towards Las Leñas (70 km).

By Car

Las Leñas is the Buenos Aires closest Ski Centers (1212 km). The travel by car takes approximately 12 hours. From Buenos Aires take the Route 7 towards Junín, from there by National Route 188 till Gral. Alvear, subsequently take National Route 143 till San Rafael and from there by National route 144 till the Sosneado. Finally take the Provincial Route 222 towards El Valle.

By Bus

The Saturdays, the dormy-buses from Andesmar departure all days from Retiro at 20:00 and arrive to Las Leñas early the next day.

Along week days, there’s different enterprises that offers transport services towards San Rafael (Cata,Andesmar, Expreso Uspallata, among others), from where you take the connection by Iselin enterprise at 09:30 am towards Las Leñas – is the only service along winter season, arrives at 12.30 pm.