Las Leñas
Encyclopedia
Las Leñas is one of the largest Andean
ski resorts in Argentina
, located in the western part of Mendoza Province
, together with Cerro Catedral in San Carlos de Bariloche, located in Rio Negro province.
It is well known for its powder snow, good climate and excellent opportunities for extreme and off-piste skiing. Construction of the ski center began January 1983, and by July 1983 it opened with a hotel of 300 beds. 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 3430 m (11,253 ft) for a total drop of 1200 m (3,937 ft). The skiable surface amounts to 2.3 square kilometre, with 27 runs and a maximum non-stop skiable distance of 7 km (4 mi) (not including off run 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
.
, and can be reached by car, bus or airplane. Aeroplanes make use of the Comodoro D. Ricardo Salomón Airport near Malargüe
(only private aeroplanes 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.
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
ski resorts in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, located in the western part of Mendoza Province
Mendoza Province
The Province of Mendoza is a province of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders to the north with San Juan, the south with La Pampa and Neuquén, the east with San Luis, and to the west with the republic of Chile; the international limit is...
, together with Cerro Catedral in San Carlos de Bariloche, located in Rio Negro province.
It is well known for its powder snow, good climate and excellent opportunities for extreme and off-piste skiing. Construction of the ski center began January 1983, and by July 1983 it opened with a hotel of 300 beds. 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 3430 m (11,253 ft) for a total drop of 1200 m (3,937 ft). The skiable surface amounts to 2.3 square kilometre, with 27 runs and a maximum non-stop skiable distance of 7 km (4 mi) (not including off run alternatives). The total ski area reachable by land is the largest in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
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
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, such as Cerro Catedral
Cerro Catedral
Cerro Catedral is a mountain located from San Carlos de Bariloche, and inside the Nahuel Huapí National Park, Patagonia, Argentina.The mountain holds one of the biggest ski centers in South America, with a skiable area of , over of ski runs, and a lift capacity of 22,200 skiers per hour . It is...
or Chapelco
Chapelco
Chapelco, or Cerro Chapelco, is a mountain and mountain mazice in Neuquen Province, south-western Argentina. The mountain has a ski center located 18 kilometres from the tourist centre of San Martín de los Andes city.- External links :*...
.
Geographic location
Las Leñas is located 1200 km (745.6 mi) from Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, and can be reached by car, bus or airplane. Aeroplanes make use of the Comodoro D. Ricardo Salomón Airport near Malargüe
Malargüe
- Transport and infrastructures :- Transportation :Malargüe is linked to the north of Mendoza by National Route 40. This route continues south, entering Neuquén Province, but is only partially built and not well maintained beyond Malargüe City....
(only private aeroplanes or chartered flights), some 95 km from Las Leñas, and the Suboficial Aytes Germano Airport near San Rafael
San Rafael, Mendoza
San Rafael is a city in the southern region of the Mendoza Province, Argentina. With more than 170,000 inhabitants , it is the largest city and the seat of San Rafael Department....
(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.