Ski Argentina

Along with Chile, Argentina is one of the two main South American ski destinations. Also like Chile it has a mixture of basic local ski centres and high calibre resort complexes – around 20 in total – initially attracting the local and international jet set, but now widening their scope to pull in dedicated northern-hemisphere skiers from all walks of life who can't face the limitations of glacier skiing for eight months of the year.

Unlike Chile, when you go to ski Argentina you’ll find the country has no major ski centres near to its major cities, although the town of Bariloche, which is closest to Cerro Catedral, has earned the nickname "Ski Town South America".

Indeed with more than 40 lifts, more than half of them chairlifts and gondolas, it operates more lifts than any other ski resort on the continent and more chairlifts than any other ski area in the southern hemisphere.

Skiing in Argentina or Chile is the best choice for skiers who can cope with long haul flights but can't cope with a shortage of fresh powder snow. Along with Chile and New Zealand, Argentina ski resorts offer the best powder skiing opportunities in the Southern Hemisphere, with heliskiing available from most of the major resorts.

People began skiing in Argentina's at the first ski centre with lifts which was Catedral – although its first lift, ordered in the late 1930s from Italy, was delayed by World War 2 as the ship carrying it was lost in the Atlantic, a replacement arriving more than 10 years later.

Other ski areas, like Chapelco and Las Leñas are far more recent additions. The former was originally serviced when it opened in 1978 by what was at the time South America's only gondola lift and has worked with Vail Associates from Colorado on its design.

Las Leñas arrived five years later in the early 1980s and now rivals Catedral for the top spot in Argentinian skiing, benefitting from being far closer to capital Buenos Aires, only 120km (75 miles) away. It was the first South American area to offer World Cup ski races only a few years after opening, in 1985, and has built a reputation for high quality on and off the slopes.

Other Argentinian ski resorts of particular interest include Cerro Castor which is the world's most southerly 'proper' ski area since opening in 1999 with three quad chairs, near Argentina's famous southern tip of Tierra del Fuego. It is located 27km (17 miles) from the regional capital of Ushuaia City (South America and the world's most southerly city).

The same year the more basic Batea Mahuida Snow Park opened on the Mahuida Volcano. This is noteworthy as it was a cooperative enterprise by the indigenous Puel Tribe in the hope of maximising their natural assets and stemming the loss of their younger generation from the remote mountainous area. All 250+ members of the tribe have the same surname – Puel.

Good points in skiing or boarding Argentina are that the local people are very friendly and hospitable local communities. You also know you're on the snow when 98% of the world's resorts are shut through "lack of snow" which gives you a delightfully smug feeling inside.

There are world class resort amenities and facilities in the major resorts and also very reasonable prices away from the purpose-built complexes. Slopes are generally uncrowded with modern lift infrastructure at the larger resorts.
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Argentina: latest snow conditions round-up

Summary of forecast snowfall and ski conditions for resorts in Argentina. Fresh snow is forecast at 10 resorts. Powder is reported at 0 resorts and 0 are reporting good piste conditions.

Recent Eyeball Snow Reports for Argentina

All resorts

Ski resorts of Argentina, alphabetically

Resort
snow depth
top and bottom

on-piste

off-piste

Last Snow

Next 9 Days
0–3 | 3–6 | 6–9
snow (cm)
Next 5 days weather forecast.
Freezing level (m)
Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue

(4827m — 6960m)

snow report 7 days ago

3.0 cm
8 days ago
10.0
57.0
clear light snow light snow mod snow light snow
Mid station 5894 m
3650m 2600m 2600m 2800m 3200m

(1650m — 1740m)

snow report 8 days ago

1.0 cm
8 days ago
24.0
6.0
1.0
clear light snow cloud cloud light rain
Mid station 1695 m
2750m 1250m 1100m 950m 1400m

(942m — 1020m)

snow report today

1.0 cm
yesterday
3.0
1.0
part cloud light snow part cloud clear part cloud
Mid station 981 m
550m 200m 50m 200m 0m

(1647m — 2045m)

snow report today

opens in 36 days 2.0 cm
8 days ago
35.0
1.0
clear light snow cloud cloud light rain
Mid station 1846 m
2750m 1400m 750m 1250m 2100m

(1149m — 1749m)

snow report today

opens in 36 days 2.0 cm
yesterday
30.0
13.0
15.0
mod rain light snow light snow snow showers cloud
Mid station 1449 m
2250m 1050m 950m 1050m 1300m

(194m — 966m)

snow report today

opens in 42 days 1.0 cm
yesterday
9.0
9.0
clear cloud light snow light snow clear
Mid station 580 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(1029m — 2179m)

snow report today

opens in 29 days 1.0 cm
yesterday
24.0
13.0
12.0
heavy rain light snow light snow light snow part cloud
Mid station 1604 m
2100m 1000m 650m 900m 900m

(1251m — 1981m)

snow report today

opens in 36 days 2.0 cm
yesterday
29.0
5.0
3.0
light rain light snow part cloud snow showers light rain
Mid station 1616 m
2400m 1150m 1000m 1050m 1550m

(1347m — 1850m)

snow report 2 days ago

2.0 cm
yesterday
13.0
3.0
7.0
light snow snow showers part cloud snow showers cloud
Mid station 1598 m
1700m 950m 700m 950m 1100m

(1025m — 1650m)

snow report 10 days ago

9 cm
10 days ago
29.0
5.0
6.0
light rain light snow light snow snow showers light rain
Mid station 1338 m
2250m 1100m 950m 1000m 1650m

(2240m — 3430m)

snow report today

opens in 42 days 12 cm
8 days ago
31.0
19.0
2.0
clear heavy snow light snow light snow mod snow
Mid station 2835 m
3050m 1900m 2000m 2300m 2900m

(1397m — 1550m)

snow report 10 days ago

7 cm
10 days ago
25.0
4.0
3.0
light rain light snow snow showers clear light rain
Mid station 1474 m
2400m 1150m 1000m 1100m 1600m

(2580m — 3194m)

snow report 7 days ago

3.0 cm
8 days ago
9.0
17.0
clear light snow light snow mod rain light rain
Mid station 2887 m
3550m 2600m 2500m 2800m 3000m

(2693m — 2985m)

snow report 7 days ago

3.0 cm
8 days ago
9.0
17.0
clear light snow light snow heavy rain light rain
Mid station 2839 m
3500m 2550m 2500m 2800m 3050m

(1343m — 1880m)

snow report today

6 cm
yesterday
39.0
9.0
23.0
mod snow mod snow light snow light snow part cloud
Mid station 1612 m
1600m 800m 450m 900m 1150m

(1000m — 2498m)

snow report today

30 cm
yesterday
121.0
44.0
85.0
heavy snow heavy snow light snow light snow part cloud
Mid station 1749 m
1500m 900m 700m 950m 1200m

(1000m — 1750m)

snow report 7 days ago

9 cm
8 days ago
23.0
15.0
14.0
heavy rain light snow snow showers light snow part cloud
Mid station 1375 m
2000m 900m 650m 950m 1100m

(2901m — 3301m)

3.0 cm
on 9 Oct
2.0
10.0
clear snow showers light snow mod rain rain showers
Mid station 3101 m
3750m 3200m 3000m 3050m 3300m