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 7 days weather forecast.
Freezing level (m)
Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue

(4827m — 6960m)

snow report 17 days ago

1.0 cm
10 days ago
part cloud clear snow showers snow showers light snow part cloud clear
Mid station 5894 m
3250m 3050m 2550m 1800m 1250m 1150m 2800m

(1650m — 1740m)

snow report 4 days ago

3.0 cm
4 days ago
5.0
9.0
2.0
part cloud cloud light rain light snow light snow cloud light snow
Mid station 1695 m
2750m 2250m 1900m 1500m 1400m 1350m 1750m

(942m — 1020m)

snow report 14 days ago

1.0 cm
15 days ago
clear clear clear part cloud part cloud cloud cloud
Mid station 981 m
650m 950m 1300m 1500m 1150m 1050m 1000m

(1647m — 2045m)

snow report today

3.0 cm
4 days ago
27.0
clear part cloud light rain mod snow snow showers part cloud part cloud
Mid station 1846 m
3000m 2450m 2150m 1600m 1300m 1400m 2100m

(1149m — 1749m)

snow report today

10
Wet snow 2.0 cm
4 days ago
5.0
4.0
3.0
part cloud light snow light snow light snow light snow part cloud light snow
Mid station 1449 m
2550m 1600m 1500m 1350m 1300m 1000m 1450m

(194m — 966m)

snow report today

75
30
Packed powder and groomed snow 4 cm
yesterday
2.0
cloud part cloud part cloud light snow snow showers snow showers cloud
Mid station 580 m
300m 0m 150m 700m 200m 100m 0m

(1159m — 2179m)

snow report today

20
35
Artificial snow cover 2.0 cm
4 days ago
7.0
4.0
2.0
rain showers light snow light snow light snow light snow part cloud light snow
Mid station 1669 m
2600m 1650m 1300m 1400m 1300m 1100m 1450m

(1251m — 1981m)

snow report today

1.0 cm
4 days ago
7.0
3.0
2.0
part cloud light snow light snow light snow snow showers part cloud snow showers
Mid station 1616 m
2600m 1700m 1550m 1350m 1250m 1100m 1450m

(1347m — 1850m)

snow report yesterday

1.0 cm
yesterday
2.0
3.0
part cloud light snow cloud part cloud part cloud clear light snow
Mid station 1598 m
2450m 1500m 1300m 1450m 1300m 1050m 1500m

(1025m — 1650m)

snow report 4 days ago

1.0 cm
5 days ago
4.0
3.0
4.0
part cloud light snow light snow light snow light snow part cloud snow showers
Mid station 1338 m
2550m 1600m 1500m 1350m 1250m 1100m 1450m

(2240m — 3430m)

snow report today

90
35
Packed powder and groomed snow 2.0 cm
7 days ago
28.0
part cloud clear cloud light snow snow showers part cloud clear
Mid station 2835 m
3450m 3300m 2750m 2000m 1450m 1200m 2900m

(1397m — 1550m)

snow report 7 days ago

1.0 cm
7 days ago
6.0
3.0
2.0
part cloud light rain light snow light snow rain showers part cloud snow showers
Mid station 1474 m
2600m 1700m 1550m 1350m 1250m 1100m 1500m

(2580m — 3194m)

snow report 17 days ago

2.0 cm
17 days ago
2.0
part cloud clear rain showers snow showers light snow part cloud clear
Mid station 2887 m
3350m 3150m 2950m 2050m 1550m 1350m 2850m

(2693m — 2985m)

snow report 17 days ago

2.0 cm
17 days ago
4.0
part cloud clear rain showers snow showers light snow cloud clear
Mid station 2839 m
3200m 3050m 2800m 1900m 1400m 1200m 2800m

(1343m — 1880m)

snow report yesterday

3.0 cm
yesterday
4.0
3.0
1.0
part cloud light snow light snow cloud light snow part cloud light snow
Mid station 1612 m
2450m 1450m 1250m 1400m 1250m 1000m 1400m

(1000m — 2498m)

snow report today

15 cm
yesterday
23.0
11.0
10.0
part cloud mod snow light snow light snow light snow cloud light snow
Mid station 1749 m
2450m 1400m 1300m 1350m 1300m 1100m 1400m

(1000m — 1750m)

snow report 4 days ago

1.0 cm
5 days ago
7.0
3.0
2.0
rain showers light snow light rain light rain light snow part cloud light snow
Mid station 1375 m
2600m 1450m 1350m 1350m 1300m 1100m 1450m

(2901m — 3301m)

snow report 16 days ago

8 cm
17 days ago
4.0
part cloud clear part cloud snow showers light snow clear clear
Mid station 3101 m
3600m 3450m 3050m 2250m 1550m 1550m 2950m