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)
Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

(4827m — 6960m)

snow report 14 days ago

1.0 cm
14 days ago
4.0
cloud clear clear clear clear
Mid station 5894 m
2000m 1950m 3150m 3250m 3300m

(1650m — 1740m)

snow report today

2.0 cm
yesterday
3.0
14.0
light snow clear part cloud part cloud part cloud
Mid station 1695 m
900m 600m 3600m 3300m 2900m

(942m — 1020m)

snow report 4 days ago

12 cm
5 days ago
3.0
clear part cloud clear part cloud snow showers
Mid station 981 m
750m 650m 600m 500m 0m

(1647m — 2045m)

snow report today

25
20
Packed powder and groomed snow 7 cm
9 days ago
6.0
13.0
snow showers clear part cloud clear part cloud
Mid station 1846 m
1000m 600m 3550m 3450m 3300m

(1149m — 1749m)

snow report today

22
Artificial snow cover 3.0 cm
yesterday
1.0
7.0
20.0
light snow part cloud part cloud mod rain light rain
Mid station 1449 m
1050m 850m 3200m 2300m 2200m

(194m — 966m)

snow report today

80
60
Packed powder and groomed snow 1.0 cm
yesterday
6.0
3.0
5.0
cloud light snow snow showers part cloud snow showers
Mid station 580 m
150m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(1159m — 2179m)

snow report today

5
50
Artificial snow cover 1.0 cm
yesterday
1.0
13.0
36.0
light snow part cloud cloud mod rain light rain
Mid station 1669 m
1050m 700m 3000m 2100m 2050m

(1251m — 1981m)

snow report today

40
Wet snow 1.0 cm
yesterday
18.0
light snow cloud clear rain showers part cloud
Mid station 1616 m
1100m 900m 3350m 2750m 2450m

(1347m — 1850m)

snow report 17 days ago

3.0 cm
18 days ago
1.0
8.0
snow showers part cloud cloud rain showers cloud
Mid station 1598 m
1100m 1050m 1450m 2050m 1600m

(1025m — 1650m)

snow report today

2.0 cm
yesterday
1.0
16.0
light snow part cloud clear light rain light rain
Mid station 1338 m
950m 750m 3300m 2450m 2300m

(2240m — 3430m)

snow report today

60
30
Artificial snow cover 1.0 cm
yesterday
7.0
12.0
mod snow clear clear part cloud clear
Mid station 2835 m
950m 1050m 3500m 3650m 3600m

(1397m — 1550m)

snow report today

1.0 cm
yesterday
13.0
light snow cloud clear rain showers part cloud
Mid station 1474 m
1100m 950m 3350m 2800m 2450m

(2580m — 3194m)

snow report 14 days ago

1.0 cm
14 days ago
6.0
part cloud clear clear clear clear
Mid station 2887 m
2000m 1950m 3200m 3250m 3300m

(2693m — 2985m)

snow report 14 days ago

1.0 cm
14 days ago
7.0
cloud clear clear clear clear
Mid station 2839 m
1900m 1850m 3100m 3150m 3200m

(1343m — 1880m)

snow report today

1.0 cm
yesterday
2.0
11.0
part cloud part cloud light snow mod rain cloud
Mid station 1612 m
1000m 950m 1350m 1950m 1600m

(1000m — 2498m)

snow report today

8 cm
yesterday
1.0
23.0
33.0
light snow cloud light snow light snow light snow
Mid station 1749 m
950m 600m 1550m 2000m 1550m

(1000m — 1750m)

snow report today

2.0 cm
yesterday
3.0
24.0
light snow part cloud cloud heavy rain light rain
Mid station 1375 m
1050m 750m 2300m 2100m 1850m

(2901m — 3301m)

snow report 15 days ago

1.0 cm
16 days ago
9.0
clear clear clear clear clear
Mid station 3101 m
2350m 2000m 3400m 3750m 3750m