Las Lenas is the largest Andean ski resort in Argentina, located in the western part
of Mendoza Province. It is well known for its powder snow, good climate and
excellent opportunities for extreme and off-piste skiing. The ski area has a good
diversity of slopes ranging from very easy to extreme, including a good range of
off-piste areas apt for extreme skiing. The skiable area base starts at an altitude of
2,240 m above mean sea level (7,350 feet) and goes up to 3,430 m (11,253 feet) for
a total drop of 1,200 m (4,000 feet). The skiable surface amounts to 2.3 km² (one
square mile), with 27 pistes and a maximum non-stop skiable distance of 7 km (not
including off piste alternatives). The total ski area reachable by land is the largest in
South America.
The skiing season lasts from mid June to mid October. The centre is also open
during the southern hemisphere summer for mountain activities including mountain
biking, horse riding, climbing and other activities.
The ski center includes a ski and snowboard school for all ages and childcare
facilities. Specific workshops are also offered at the school to profit from the huge
expanses of off-piste runs offered by the area.
The accommodations available on-site include hotels (mostly up-scale),
apartment-hotels and sleep-houses. There is a small shopping centre that includes
a bank, ski-related shops, chocolate shops, souvenir shops, and a supermarket.
Coffee houses, restaurants, and night clubs complete the commercial offer.
Being far away from large cities, the center is seldom crowded except during
weekends, making the lines on the lifts usually shorter than in other ski centers of
Argentina, such as Cerro Catedral or Chapelco.
Las Leñas is located 1,200 km (746 miles) from Buenos Aires, and can be reached
by car, bus or plane. Planes make use of the Comodoro Ricardo Salomón Airport
near Malargüe (only private planes or chartered flights), some 95 km from Las
Leñas, and the Suboficial Aytes Germano Airport near San Rafael (regular domestic
flights) where buses make the connection with Las Leñas.
The road to Las Leñas is paved and seldom blocked by snow, although bad weather
or poor surface conditions can sometimes lead to its being temporarily closed by the
Gendarmería (border guards). Vehicles are required to use snow chains unless they
are equipped with appropriate tires for snow and ice.
HOW TO REACH
Las Lenãs is approximately 1600km by land from Buenos Aires. The nearest airport
is in Malargüe, 70 km away from Las Leñas.
