Travel South America Skiing Adventures

Welcome to Skiing in the Southern Hemisphere!

** San Martin de los Andes ** Bariloche ** Ushuaia ** Las Lenas **

**** Off-Piste Action ****

Argentina boasts several ski resorts but surely the four most spectacular must be
Las Lenas, Chapelco, Cerro Catedral and Cerro Castor
- each very different and very special in its own way.

Perhaps the best known of these internationally is Las Lenas. This is one of the giants of the South, near to the wine growing region of Mendoza. It is a purpose built resort with 40 ski runs of varied levels (60km in total) and good quality snow due to its dry climate and high base level (7349ft). It has a vast off piste area of 3800ha. What it lacks in cosy traditional accommodation, is compensated for by the skiing, which provides for everyone regardless of ability with some fabulous challenges for the experienced skier.
Off-Piste in Las Lenas.

Ski San Martin Chapelco

Further south in the province of Neuquen is the resort of Chapelco. This is located above the swiss style village of San Martin de los Andes. A charming resort with interesting tree skiing and views over Lake Lacar. This is an ideal family resort due to its facilities, but also offers excellent off piste for those wishing to dip into slightly more challenging ski touring such as attempting to conquer the Lanin Volcano. San Martin de los Andes is also famous for its 'typicos' (handicrafts). Unlike Las Lenas which is for the totally dedicated skier, San Martin de los Andes offers other alternatives to enjoy in parallel with your skiing.
Off-Piste in Chapelco, San Martin

A four hour drive away from Chapelco along the Enchanted Valley, is the ski resort of Cerro Catedral near Bariloche. This is our favourite, due to its ambience, its size (70km of ski runs) and its stunning views over Lake Nahuel Huapi. It has a chic Swiss feel to it coupled with Mediteranean exuberance. There are interesting off piste tours to the refugios (mountain huts) and as of July 2006 we can arrange off piste skiing on the glaciers of the active volcano Mount Tronadour and a climb on the North Face of the Pico Argentine. With these off-piste routes opened, Cerro Catedral and surrounding mountains can claim to have the most unique Off-Piste Action Skiing in the whole of the Southern Hemisphere. Amazingly, you can combine your day with gaucho style horseback riding which is only half an hour from the slopes. There are also beautiful walks below the snow line.
Off-Piste in Cerro Catedral, Bariloche

A three and a half hour plane flight south from Buenos Aires is the resort of Cerro Castor near Ushuaia. This can rightfully lay claim to being the southern-most ski resort in the whole world and is where the Andes end. Cerro Castor, like Las Lenas is a purpose built resort in the region of Tierra del Fuego. It has the lowest base level of any resort in the world, at 168m above sea level, yet one of the longest ski seasons (July until 12th October). Cerro Castor is not as big as the other three resorts, having only 20 km of runs however it makes up for this with its excellent cross country ski facilities and sled-dogging. Due to the ski resorts low altitude and provided you leave off the skiing for a day before and after, you can also enjoy a dry-suit dive in the Beagle Channel amongst the giant kelp and shipwrecks.
Off-Piste in Cerro Castor, Ushuaia

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