Snow in Argentina: La Hoya, a Patagonian classic

25 July 2024

A few minutes from Esquel, in the province of Chubut, this ski resort stands out for its incredible quality of powder-snow. Why not come here where you might as well visit Los Alerces National Park?!

It is one of the great classics of Argentine snow, with more than 40 years of activity, and it is located in a strategic position: northwest of the province of Chubut, a few kilometers from the city of Esquel, one of the main urban centers of Andean Patagonia. This is La Hoya ski center, which opens every day from 9.30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Characteristics of La Hoya

Thirty slopes, eleven lifts, more than two thousand meters to the summit and a four-hectare Snow Park are just some of the options to enjoy in family. It is the ideal place to learn to ski because its beginner's slope is wide, safe and there is a service area close by.

Possibly, the powder-snow typical of La Hoya is one of the most spectacular of all the winter resorts in Argentina. Its very relief makes all the slopes converge, directly or indirectly, in the same area, providing a framework of safety for families who can enjoy the hill without any worries.

How to get to La Hoya:

From the center of Esquel, you must take Avenida Alvear, which then becomes Camino a la Hoya. It is about 15 kilometers. In the park there are inns and camping with services available.

Snow and festivals

There are two activities that take place here and are really moving: the National Ski Festival and the Torchlight Descent. The former pays tribute to the winter season in Esquel. It is a show that brings together families, friends and couples in a warm atmosphere of communion, with established artists on stage.

The latter is an event which is a joy to our eyes: the flames in the snow, when night sets in and the moonlight offer an unforgettable setting. It is an experience unlike any other, in a place unlike any other.

Los Alerces, a World Heritage Site

Los Alerces National Park is very close to La Hoya, it is one of the most beautiful in the country and very much visited annually by tourists coming from all over the world. It was declared a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Your visit here will be edged in your mind and it will be one of your most special memories. In addition to its unique landscapes, the park's must-see is the Abuelo, a tree more than 2,620 years old and 60 meters high.

How to get to Los Alerces: if you have a car, drive along National Route 259 from Esquel and then along Provincial Route 71 to Villa Futalaufquen, where the Park's Administrative Center is. It is just over fifty kilometers along an asphalted route. From Trevelin, go along Provincial Route 71, enter the Central access to the Park and drive about twenty kilometers.