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.

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 23 days ago

4 cm
23 days ago
clear snow showers clear clear clear
Mid station 5894 m
4400m 4050m 4050m 4650m 4650m

(1650m — 1740m)

10 cm
93 days ago
17.0
17.0
clear snow showers part cloud mod rain part cloud
Mid station 1695 m
3000m 1400m 1100m 3650m 3150m

(942m — 1020m)

snow report yesterday

3.0 cm
2 days ago
9.0
9.0
light snow part cloud clear cloud cloud
Mid station 981 m
700m 600m 1150m 1750m 1700m

(1647m — 2045m)

snow report 5 days ago

opens in 96 days 1.0 cm
92 days ago
24.0
24.0
clear light snow part cloud heavy rain clear
Mid station 1846 m
3100m 1950m 3000m 3600m 3550m

(1149m — 1749m)

snow report 3 days ago

opens in 89 days 6 cm
10 days ago
11.0
11.0
heavy rain snow showers part cloud heavy rain light rain
Mid station 1449 m
2400m 1200m 1150m 3050m 2650m

(194m — 966m)

snow report today

opens in 89 days 2.0 cm
yesterday
snow showers light snow part cloud part cloud cloud
Mid station 580 m
250m 50m 500m 750m 1200m

(1029m — 2179m)

snow report 3 days ago

6 cm
10 days ago
31.0
31.0
heavy snow snow showers part cloud mod rain rain showers
Mid station 1604 m
2250m 1100m 950m 3200m 2650m

(1251m — 1981m)

snow report 3 days ago

Chapelco webcam
opens in 89 days 1.0 cm
92 days ago
17.0
17.0
heavy rain snow showers part cloud mod rain rain showers
Mid station 1616 m
2750m 1250m 1100m 3350m 2950m

(1347m — 1850m)

snow report 4 days ago

5 cm
5 days ago
10.0
10.0
rain showers clear part cloud light rain cloud
Mid station 1598 m
1600m 1150m 1000m 2900m 2600m

(2240m — 3430m)

snow report 3 days ago

opens in 96 days 1.0 cm
on 16 Nov
clear rain showers clear clear clear
Mid station 2835 m
3950m 2950m 2900m 4300m 4300m

(1397m — 1550m)

1.0 cm
92 days ago
6.0
6.0
heavy rain snow showers part cloud mod rain rain showers
Mid station 1474 m
2750m 1250m 1150m 3350m 3000m

(2580m — 3194m)

2.0 cm
on 2 Nov
clear rain showers clear clear clear
Mid station 2887 m
4450m 4050m 4000m 4600m 4600m

(2693m — 2985m)

2.0 cm
on 2 Nov
clear light rain clear clear clear
Mid station 2839 m
4400m 4000m 4000m 4600m 4600m

(1343m — 1880m)

snow report 2 days ago

1.0 cm
3 days ago
25.0
25.0
mod snow clear part cloud light rain light rain
Mid station 1612 m
1350m 1000m 900m 2850m 2550m

(1000m — 2498m)

snow report today

1.0 cm
yesterday
59.0
59.0
mod snow light snow part cloud mod rain light rain
Mid station 1749 m
1400m 1000m 900m 2800m 2500m

(1000m — 1750m)

snow report 4 days ago

3.0 cm
5 days ago
28.0
28.0
mod snow snow showers part cloud light rain light rain
Mid station 1375 m
1950m 1000m 1100m 3000m 2550m

(2901m — 3301m)

3.0 cm
on 2 Nov
clear part cloud clear clear clear
Mid station 3101 m
4600m 3950m 3950m 4700m 4700m