Argentina is home to several different ski resorts, mostly situated along the Andes mountain range. I’ve had the pleasure of skiing in three different places in Argentina: Ushuaia, Bariloche, and most recently, San Martín de los Andes. Each resort (cerro in Spanish) is special in its own way and has something different to offer. Cerro Chapelco, located just 20km from the city of San Martín de los Andes, is the perfect ski destination for those who love a bit of peace and quiet!
Ski Facts (2024)
Season: June to end of September
Number of pistes: 28
Ski lifts: 12 – all open at 9am and close at 4:30pm (approx)
Lift pass: 92,800 pesos (peak day pass), (77 USD/day approx)
Ski rental: 48,300 pesos/day (peak), (39 USD/day approx)
Piste map: https://www.chapelco.com/mapa-de-pistas.php
Peak season: Mid-June to mid-August
Despite its relatively small size, Chapelco has more than enough distance to cover to tire you out for the day! Compared to other resorts, like Cerro Catedral in Bariloche, Chapelco experiences significantly shorter queuing times (depending on when you travel), meaning you get more time skiing, and less time waiting in lines!
Of all the slopes, the most fun was probably Panamericana – a straight, big-dipper-like slope which allows you to go flat out and reach speeds of up to 40mph (or higher)! The different slopes are well thought out, allowing you to ski across the mountain and explore without having to ski right down to the base and start from scratch.
During the three days we spent on the mountain, we didn’t have the luck of seeing much sun. Instead though, we were met with heavy snow which not only made for a nice atmosphere, but was also really fun to ski in! For much of the first and second days, visibility was next to none on the highest parts of the mountain. Whilst it would’ve been nice to be able to take in the views from the top of the mountain, there’s something quite fun about skiing down a mountain that you’re unfamiliar with, whilst only being able to see a couple of feet in front of you.
Of all the places I’ve skied in Argentina, I’d probably say that Cerro Chapelco was the best in terms of snow quality. Of course, it largely depends on whether you choose to travel during the peak season or not, and often it just depends on luck! That being said, we were lucky enough to see a lot of snow and consequently, most of the slopes were full of powder and relatively free of ice.
There isn’t a massive lot going on at the base of the mountain at Chapelco; the whole resort is really quite small. At the bottom, there are a couple of bars and places to grab a bite to eat, as well as a small gift shop and various ski rentals. If you’re looking for somewhere with a big après ski scene, you’re probably best off looking elsewhere!
Accommodation
When looking for somewhere to stay, you’ve got two main options. You can either stay in a hotel or lodge in the city of San Martín de los Andes, or stay in a lodge on the mountain itself, in Las Pendientes.
We opted for an apartment in the city centre, which ended up being about a 40-minute drive from Cerro Chapelco. We aimed to leave the apartment at about 8:30am, to arrive at the mountain for around 9:15am.
Staying in Las Pendientes is an amazing experience, as it means literally walking out the door and popping on your skis. However, staying in San Martín de los Andes means you get to take the scenic route to arrive at Chapelco. The only way to get there from the city centre is by driving along the Ruta 40, which passes through the mountainside with stunning views of the lake below and surrounding mountains. It’s a brilliant way to start off your day!
When looking for accommodation, there are loads of different options in the city centre. Many hotels and hostels also have agreements with ski rental agencies to offer discounted prices – something worth keeping an eye open for!
San Martín de los Andes
Staying in San Martín de los Andes also has the benefit of being closer to many different bars and restaurants, as well as lots of shops and a supermarket. The city itself is a really relaxing place to be, and after a long day of skiing, taking a stroll around the lake is the perfect way to finish off the day. In the few days we spent in the city, we only ate out once, but there are a ton of restaurants in San Martín de los Andes, with many serving barbecued lamb – a speciality of Argentina’s Patagonia.
In comparison with other cities I’ve visited in Patagonia, San Martín de los Andes was the most tranquil; it felt like more of a town than a city. It’s not just a great place to stay if you want to go skiing in Cerro Chapelco – there’s loads to do if you visit in the summer as well. Horse riding, mountain biking, trekking and bird watching are just some of the activities you can take part in if you visit in the warmer months. The landscape transforms into a perfect green and blue paradise, and becomes a perfect place to get away from the city for a few days.
To travel to San Martín de los Andes, you can either drive along the Ruta 40 or take a flight from Buenos Aires. The drive from Buenos Aires, it’s about a 19-hour journey, so usually takes a couple of days. Bear in mind as well that in winter some parts of the journey may require driving through snow, so it’s important to travel with snow chains!
There are no direct international flights to the city. The airport of San Martín de los Andes is super small, with only one terminal and two airlines that operate there – Aerolineas Argentinas and JetSMART. From the airport, it’s about a 30-minute drive to get to the city centre, and the views along the way are pretty stunning!
Is Cerro Chapelco a good place to ski in Argentina?
Definitely! Its beautiful views and relatively low prices make it the perfect place to go skiing! San Martín de los Andes is also a great place to stay, especially if you’re looking for somewhere you can switch-off and relax a little more. Although not the biggest ski resort out there, it’s difficult to get bored on Chapelco’s slopes thanks to the stunning scenery!
If you’d like to find out more about San Martín de los Andes and Cerro Chalpeco, here are some useful links:
Buy lift passes here: https://www.chapelco.com/
Find out more about San Martín de los Andes: https://www.sanmartindelosandes.gov.ar/
For ski/snowboard rental: https://www.skibumps.com.ar/es/
For friendly car rental: https://hansenrentacar.com.ar/
Have you been skiing at Cerro Chapelco? Or somewhere else in Argentina? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!