The snow season in the Andes mountains runs from June to October, with conditions at there best in July and August. As with any country, the snow is most reliable the higher you go. The highest resorts are in the north (Mendoza province), declining as you move south towards Tierra del Fuego, where you can ski on mountains that rise right out of the sea. Another resort worthy of note is, Gran Catedral near Bariloche, a world-class destination with 70 kms of piste and around a dozen 4 and 5 star hotels.
On the challenging Andean slopes you can practice your Alpine skiing or go cross country. There are large snowy valleys and plains, with resorts cartering for beginners, intermediates and experts. And there are lots of snowboarding, heli-skiing and off piste opportunities.
One of the best times to go is the first two weeks of September. The weather is beginning to warm up but the snow is still very good, plus it's not crowded as July and August and the skiing is cheaper. Watch out for the second half of September though as the snow tends to become slushy in the afternoons.
South American universities have their winter-breaks in the first two weeks of August, so if you want to meet younger people (between 17 to 28), August is the month to go (especially around August 17). One of the worst times to go is Mid-July, when the schools have their winter holidays in Argentina. The resorts are crowded and the skiing is expensive.
The Andes Mountains are beautiful, they have some of the best snow in the world, the food is good (they say you’ll never cut into a better steak) and you get bragging rights for skiing when others are sweating on the beach.
Argentina Ski Resorts:
Cerrobayo Argentina
Argentina Summary:
Population: 38,740,807 (2003 est.)
Currency: Argentine peso
Language: Spanish
Highest Point: Mount Aconcagua (the highest in south america at 22,834 feet / 6960 meters)
Winter Season: mid-June to the end of September
Main Ski Airports:
Snow:
Snow reliability: good to great
Current snow conditions: snow conditions from the BBC
Tourist office contact details:
Address: No active tourist office in the UK
Tourism websites: www.turismo.gov.ar
