The 10 best ski destinations in Argentina

This is the ideal ski destination for families or diverse groups. Cerro Bayo, the ski resort closest to a city in Argentina (9 km from Villa La Angostura), offers several unique features: it has 24 slopes for snow lovers, various activities for children or less experienced skiers, such as sledding, tubing, snowshoeing, and gastronomic stops. Additionally, it has over 4 km of off-piste trails for freeriding. The beginner slopes are located at an altitude of 1,500 meters, not at the base as in other resorts.

Tip: Villa La Angostura offers a wide variety of gastronomic options and activities to complement your ski days, such as trekking and the emblematic Route of the Seven Lakes.

Where: Cerro Bayo is 15 minutes from Villa La Angostura, heading south on RN 40.

Two ski resorts located 25 kilometers apart make San Martín de los Andes a preferred destination for snow enthusiasts during the winter holidays. Cerro Chapelco, about 20 kilometers from the city, boasts over 28 slopes for both skiers and snowboarders and is one of Argentina's most awarded ski resorts for its infrastructure. Lago Hermoso, on the other hand, is situated in a unique setting: the Lanín National Park, surrounded by native forests and lakes. It's one of the newest and most exclusive resorts, with a limited capacity per day.

Tip: For those who want to take their first steps on snow or enjoy other activities like snowshoeing, C4, a snow park within the Curruhuínca Mapuche community, is worth a visit.

Where: Cerro Chapelco is 20 kilometers from San Martín de los Andes. Lago Hermoso is 25 minutes from San Martín de los Andes via the Route of the Seven Lakes.

In this destination, particularly at Cerro Castor, you can enjoy the longest snow season in the country. Thanks to its location (southern slope) and the largest artificial snow-making system in South America, you can ski from summit to base throughout the season. Located 26 kilometers from the city, it has over 30 ski slopes and the largest snow park on the continent. The resort also features an ice skating rink at the base and hosts the famous Torchlight Descent, an event that opens the season and has been declared a National Festival.

Tip: The quality of the snow is so high that it often attracts international teams of high-performance ski athletes.

Where: Cerro Castor, on National Route 3, 26 kilometers from Ushuaia.

Close to Bariloche, this destination is usually chosen by those who prefer a quieter escape. Laderas Cerro Perito Moreno, 25 kilometers from the city, offers a non-massive experience, ideal for those who want to avoid crowds. It has 16 slopes of different levels, totaling 25 kilometers of skiable terrain. Another unique feature is its competitive prices. The off-piste areas are surrounded by large lenga forests.

Tip: Each mountain level of Laderas has accessible points for the whole family to enjoy the experience.

Where: Laderas Cerro Perito Moreno, access is via RN 40, 25 kilometers from El Bolsón and 100 kilometers from Bariloche.

You might also be interested in: The best hotels to go with children in Argentina

This destination is home to one of Argentina's most popular ski resorts. Located in the middle of the Andes, the base of Las Leñas is about 2,240 meters above sea level, with a summit exceeding 3,400 meters. It has over 30 slopes for all levels and offers off-piste circuits and experiences recognized worldwide. One of its unique features is the accommodation it offers: 2, 3, 4, and 5-star hotels within the resort. There are also options like apartments, a luxury glamping, and even a hostel at the foot of the slopes.

Tip: The resort offers unique experiences like the Extreme Expedition, where you are taken by a Pisten Bully 300 snowcat to completely untouched areas of the resort.

Where: Las Leñas is 350 kilometers from Mendoza Capital, in the Malargüe department.

This tourist destination stands out with a unique feature: an active volcano as a backdrop to all its activities. Close to the city, Caviahue Ski Resort is located within a protected natural area and has 22 ski slopes for all levels. One unique aspect is the experience of enjoying hot springs after a day on the mountain. In addition, there is a range of adventure excursions to various tourist spots in the area, such as Laguna Escondida, Mirador Caviahue, and the frozen waterfall in the Valle de Jara.

Tip: At night, you can take a snowmobile excursion to Pehuén Café, one of the highest points in the resort, and enjoy the views.

Where: Caviahue Ski Resort is 358 kilometers from the city of Neuquén and is the gateway to the Copahue-Caviahue Provincial Park.

This is one of the most popular cities for Argentine tourism. Cerro Catedral, 19 kilometers away, is the largest ski resort in the southern hemisphere with over 1,200 hectares of skiable terrain and 60 slopes for all levels. With the addition of new lifts, it can now accommodate up to 150,000 people per day. A novelty this season is that you can buy passes at the Unicenter shopping mall in Buenos Aires with an immersive experience.

Tip: At the base of Cerro Catedral is the Refugio de Artesanos, a space where you can buy souvenirs made by local artisans.

Where: Cerro Catedral is 19 kilometers from the center of Bariloche via Av. Bustillo to the resort entrance.

About 15 kilometers from the city is La Hoya ski resort, with 30 slopes for different levels. Opened in 1974, it is one of the oldest in the country. It is known for its competitive prices and the possibility of purchasing passes in installments. It also offers various activities for the whole family on the mountain.

Tip: Club Slalom is its ski and snowboard school that has been in operation since the resort opened.

Where: La Hoya is 15 kilometers from Esquel, accessible via the road to La Hoya that begins northeast of the city.

You might also be interested in: 30 Unmissable experiences in Mendoza

Managed by the Puel Mapuche community, the Batea Mahuida snow park (10 kilometers from Villa Pehuenia) is ideal for those wanting to learn to ski. The park has several slopes for different levels and a special area for those who prefer other activities, such as sled rentals. Many families visit here with beach chairs to spend the day, while others opt to have lunch or a snack at the restaurant.

Tip: On weekends, you can enjoy the Bajada del Cóndor, a spectacle where community members descend the mountain in traditional ponchos with lit torches, emulating the flight of a condor.

Where: Batea Mahuida can be reached from Zapala via two different routes: RP 13 through Primeros Pinos towards Villa Pehuenia or RP 46 through the Laguna Blanca National Park to Aluminé, and from there to Villa Pehuenia.

Los Penitentes, located in the town of the same name in Mendoza, was once one of Argentina's most important resorts and, after being closed for eight years, will reopen this winter with a new proposal more focused on a snow park. Visitors can enjoy ice skating, sled rentals, snow tubing, and snowshoeing. They can also go for walks and rent everything they need for snow activities right at the park. Chairlifts will not be in operation this season.

Tip: The park also features food trucks and two geodesic domes that serve as a restaurant and mountain café.

Where: Penitentes Park is 160 kilometers from the city of Mendoza, on RN 7 leading to Chile.