Incredible South America is home to the world’s driest desert and the world’s largest rainforest. It’s hard to believe this continent sees very much snow – but South America is also home to the Andes, the world’s largest mountain range, with breathtaking mountain peaks as high as 6959 metres. While the ski resorts themselves don’t reach such lofty heights, these five Argentinian ski resorts offer guaranteed snow and well-groomed pistes against an exotic South American backdrop. No need to fret if you’re looking for a place to ski over the summer – Argentina has you covered!
The Argentinian ski resort of
Las Leñas
reaches an elevation of 3430m and boasts 58km of pistes, with a focus on terrain for advanced skiers and snowboarders. It is thanks in part to this challenging terrain that Las Leñas is popular with professional skiers and ski clubs. There is also an easier section where beginners and families with young children can make their first forays into the world of skiing. Las Leñas has no trees and as a result visitors to this ski resort will enjoy spectacular unhindered views of the surrounding mountain peaks.
Cerro Castor has been around since 1999 and is owned by a former Argentinian Olympic skier. The ski resort has 29km of pistes for every level of skier and snowboarder, plus 7 mountain restaurants so you can keep yourself well-hydrated during the gruelling exercise. The ski season at Cerro Castor stretches from June through mid-October, one of the longest ski seasons in South America.
Cerro Chapelco (1970m) is one of the top 3 largest ski resorts in Argentina, with 45 slopes and an altitude difference of up to 700m on some of the valley runs. There is decent beginner terrain, as well as several kilometres of marked ski routes that are avalanche-safe but not groomed. When you need a break from skiing, you can check out the popular dogsledding rides.
Los Pentitentes ski resort is cradled at the foot of the highest mountain in South America, Aconcagua (6962m). Although the ski area lies considerably lower between 2579m-3194m, the 25km of pistes are snow-reliable and suitable for intermediate to advanced skiers. Beginners can head to the nursery slopes or take lessons at the ski schools, while extreme freeriders will enjoy the heli-skiing on snowcappped peaks – just don’t forget your avalanche equipment!
The peaks of the aptly named
Catedral Alta Patagonia
look like gothic cathedrals from a distance. This stunning ski resort is the largest in Argentina, with 120km of pistes (plus 10km of off-piste routes) for the eager snow sports fans who come flocking to the southern hemisphere when weather in Europe is not up to our wintry expectations. Freestylers will appreciate the gigantic snow park. The ski season is expected to start on June 23, 2018, weather-dependent.
Catedral Alta Patagonia im Sommer 2017
In addition to Argentina there are multiple other countries in the southern hemisphere with decent ski resorts – think Chile, Australia, New Zealand or even South Africa. If you’re lacking the funds or the holiday time to go gallivanting off to the far ends of the earth, you can find some quality summer ski resorts right in the Alps. Almost a dozen glacier ski areas in Austria, Switzerland, France and Italy open for the summer months from May through October. Shorten the long summer wait by carving out your turns on the empty, perfectly groomed slopes. Before you know it, ski season 2018/2019 will be upon us!
Incredible South America is home to the world’s driest desert and the world’s largest rainforest. It’s hard to believe this continent sees very much snow – but South America is also home to the Andes, the world’s largest mountain range, with breathtaking mountain peaks as high as 6959 metres. While the ski resorts themselves don’t reach such lofty heights, these five Argentinian ski resorts offer guaranteed snow and well-groomed pistes against an exotic South American backdrop. No need to fret if you’re looking for a place to ski over the summer – Argentina has you covered!
The Argentinian ski resort of
Las Leñas
reaches an elevation of 3430m and boasts 58km of pistes, with a focus on terrain for advanced skiers and snowboarders. It is thanks in part to this challenging terrain that Las Leñas is popular with professional skiers and ski clubs. There is also an easier section where beginners and families with young children can make their first forays into the world of skiing. Las Leñas has no trees and as a result visitors to this ski resort will enjoy spectacular unhindered views of the surrounding mountain peaks.
Cerro Castor has been around since 1999 and is owned by a former Argentinian Olympic skier. The ski resort has 29km of pistes for every level of skier and snowboarder, plus 7 mountain restaurants so you can keep yourself well-hydrated during the gruelling exercise. The ski season at Cerro Castor stretches from June through mid-October, one of the longest ski seasons in South America.
Cerro Chapelco (1970m) is one of the top 3 largest ski resorts in Argentina, with 45 slopes and an altitude difference of up to 700m on some of the valley runs. There is decent beginner terrain, as well as several kilometres of marked ski routes that are avalanche-safe but not groomed. When you need a break from skiing, you can check out the popular dogsledding rides.
Los Pentitentes ski resort is cradled at the foot of the highest mountain in South America, Aconcagua (6962m). Although the ski area lies considerably lower between 2579m-3194m, the 25km of pistes are snow-reliable and suitable for intermediate to advanced skiers. Beginners can head to the nursery slopes or take lessons at the ski schools, while extreme freeriders will enjoy the heli-skiing on snowcappped peaks – just don’t forget your avalanche equipment!
The peaks of the aptly named
Catedral Alta Patagonia
look like gothic cathedrals from a distance. This stunning ski resort is the largest in Argentina, with 120km of pistes (plus 10km of off-piste routes) for the eager snow sports fans who come flocking to the southern hemisphere when weather in Europe is not up to our wintry expectations. Freestylers will appreciate the gigantic snow park. The ski season is expected to start on June 23, 2018, weather-dependent.
Catedral Alta Patagonia im Sommer 2017
In addition to Argentina there are multiple other countries in the southern hemisphere with decent ski resorts – think Chile, Australia, New Zealand or even South Africa. If you’re lacking the funds or the holiday time to go gallivanting off to the far ends of the earth, you can find some quality summer ski resorts right in the Alps. Almost a dozen glacier ski areas in Austria, Switzerland, France and Italy open for the summer months from May through October. Shorten the long summer wait by carving out your turns on the empty, perfectly groomed slopes. Before you know it, ski season 2018/2019 will be upon us!
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
