The Snow is Here! Eight Ski Centres in Argentina

Argentina is a paradise for skiers and snow lovers for various reasons: you’ll find breath-taking landscapes, good prices, and many centres spread across the country. These are open from June to October and offer traditional, backcountry, night and cross-country skiing as well as snowboarding, sledding, and snowshoeing, among many other activities.

Here are eight ski centres to enjoy the winter season in Argentina.

1. Cerro Catedral, Río Negro —The Biggest in South America 

Founded in 1936, this centre got its name for its snowy peaks that resemble the towers of a medieval Gothic temple. From its summit, you can enjoy amazing views of Bariloche, Nahuel Huapi lake, and the Patagonian landscapes.

It has 39 lifts that can carry 29,000 people per hour and 30 slopes divided by colour (blue for beginners, red for advanced, and black for expert skiers). In addition to practising sports, tourists can also explore the area on foot, snowmobiles, and snow tubing, i.e. rubber tubes that allow you to slide down snowy slopes.

If you want to have an alternative experience, from the base of the mountain, you can go on an excursion to La Cueva, a formation under a rock in the middle of the forest. This activity includes a snowmobile ride and a gastronomic tasting of smoked cold meat, cheeses, mushrooms, trout, lamb, red fruits, and chocolates.

2. Chapelco, Neuquén —A World Ski Award Winner

Lanín National Park and Lácar lake have a unique charm from the ski centre, winner of the World Ski Awards 2020 for the fifth time in six years. The unbeatable views of Chapelco turn it into one of the greatest locations for the winter season, with 140 hectares ready to be covered by skiers and amateurs. The forests surrounding it facilitate the quality of the snow, as they protect it from the winds and allow it to settle in the middle of stunning landscapes.

At 1,980 metres above sea level and with more than 28 slopes, the activities in this paradise vary, ranging from skiing, sleigh rides, and trekking on virgin snow to snowmobiling. As in most centres, you can also rent equipment and take ski or snowboard lessons.

3. Cerro Castor, the End of the World —The Longest Season

Twenty-six kilometres from the city of Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost centre has a long season that extends from June to the first days of October. The views tourists enjoy as they ski down the mountain are magical. As it is always the case, people can rent clothing and equipment and take private or group ski and snowboard lessons.

One of the distinctive activities is ice skating. In fact, it is the only centre in Argentina that offers this attraction. The slope has been in operation since 2018 and, through a cooling system, it allows visitors to enjoy it throughout the winter season —the ski ticket includes it!

To wrap up the experience, there is a complex of 15 cabins located in the midst of lenga forests and nature, allowing people to relax in the same area with the ski centre just a few minutes away. 

4. La Hoya, Chubut —The One for the Family

Near the city of Esquel and surrounded by pure nature, La Hoya is the secondly-created ski centre in the country, opened in 1974. The pleasant family atmosphere makes it the perfect place to go on holidays with children, who can also benefit from the ski lessons with top-level instructors.

There are 30 slopes: 2 for beginners, 12 for intermediates, 5 for backcountry skiing, 7 with difficult levels, and 4 for walks beyond sports —the snowshoe walk is a must! If you need to rent equipment, the centre has you covered: with more than 700 ski equipment and 160 snowboard equipment, so that no one misses out on La Hoya’s tourist offers.

5. Las Leñas, Mendoza —Night Skiing

One of the longest ski slopes in South America (7,050 metres) in a province that has it all. Las Leñas is the ideal spot to enjoy the Argentinian winter in the heart of the Andes Mountains, just 450 kilometres from the capital of Mendoza and 200 kilometres from San Rafael, the second-major city.

The centre base is at 2,240 metres above sea level, and its summit, at 3,430 metres. It has 14 means of carrying skiers to the 29 slopes, tailored for different degrees of difficulty. What’s more, Las Leñas provides an opportunity for the experienced adventurers: they can ski at night under a starry sky and during 2,000 metres of lit slopes.

Read more: When it Snows in Argentina: the Ski Season Begins in Patagonia and Mendoza

6. Caviahue, Neuquén —At the Foot of a Volcano

Mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and forests are some of the main figures of the Caviahue centre, 360 kilometres from the city of Neuquén. Located at the foot of the Copahue volcano, it is a more-than-tempting option to enjoy the cold season. Tourists visiting it must show commitment to nature and the environment, since this centre promotes responsible tourism, minimising its impact on nature.

Among skis, snowboards, and gastronomic experiences, the journeys in Caviahue always give tourists the relaxing holiday state they are looking for. Caviahue can also woo those not fond of skiing with its excursion offer, allowing them to explore the landscapes: from lagoons and araucarias forests with frozen waterfalls to dinners with dreamlike views and thermal villas.

For those looking forward to experiencing skiing at its best, Caviahue also offers accommodations at the base of the slopes so that guests can go from their rooms directly to the slopes. 

7. Cerro Bayo, Neuquén —Ideal for Beginners

Fifteen minutes from the centre of Villa La Angostura, this winter must surprises everyone with 200 hectares that offer unique views of Nahuel Huapi. Out of the 22 ski slopes, 22% are for beginners, 33% for intermediates, 24% for advanced, and 15% for experts. For those in the first group, there are classes to get started in the sport: they can take individual or group lessons, ideal for families or friends.

There are a lot of tourist offers to upgrade the visit, with events that change over the years: from snowshoe trekking to snow parks for the children and freestyle areas.

8. Cerro Perito Moreno, Río Negro —The Snowkiting Paradise

Twenty-five kilometres from El Bolsón lies one of the quaintest towns in the Argentinian Patagonia: this nine-slopes centre is ideal for combining snow activities with the typical walks around the area. The summit of this mountain gets to 2,216 metres above sea level and offers exceptional white views. People can also go snowkiting, an activity that is practised on virgin slopes with instructors —the excursion suitable for adrenaline fans!

To crown the experience, a night tour is offered, allowing visitors to see what slope workers do to get the slopes ready to use for the next day. Night, stars, snow, and lights. What else?