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Published: August 18th 2018
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Back on the slopes...and it feels so good! Tanya is getting slightly more secured on her skis. She is now a mega-star skier having done it in China, Dubai, Andorra and now Argentina. Yes, I know, not the usual trails!
Argentinians know Las Lenas...some Brazilians too...and this is about it. Place is remote and not that easy to reach, but it is my preferred one for skiing in South America. Bear in mind, we drove by Portillo few days ago. Portillo, close second for amazing ski in South America is on the Chiliean side, just on the other side of the border on the road from Santiago to Mendoza. But for Portillo, you have to stay a week...and skiing in Chili is today way more expensive than in Argentina...for the same snow!
Next entry will actually be about Mendoza. we did 2 nights in Mendoza, followed by Las lenas, and back two nights in Mendoza.
Malargue is on the famous Routa 40...you could go all the way to the South of the continent just driving this road. We took the six hours early morning "semi-cama" bus. No food served here, but for
13 usd, it's a pretty and comfortable ride.
Now if money is not the issue, you can stay in Las Lenas...by the slopes...and this would be as expensive as any ski trip in Europe. They even have a charter flight once a week directly from Buenos Aires to Malargue. But if you do love to ski...and are on a multi-weeks trip...you may want some comfort, some good food, some nice slopes and all of it a decent price, so here are the advises!
First, staying in Malargue means your accomodation can be way cheaper. The Malargue Inn, the "Grande Dame" of this place is clean, a decent "3 stars" type hotel with decent breakfast and an inside swimming pool. Just across the road, you have the restaurant La Cima...for local trouts and obviously your full load of meat. As we did stop first in Mendoza, we actually had our own wine with us, minimal corkage fee makes it a huge deal, well at least for top wine!
Renting skis is just half the price in Malargue than on the slopes....15 usd per day per person. The CATA (bus company) semi-cami...which is
perfect for a good nap to go and back, is just 9usd return per day. We are picked up in front of the hotel at 8.40am, on the slopes by 10.10am...back in the bus at 5.30pm, and in the shower or swimming pool by 7pm! Yes, this means I can clock in 6 hours of ski per day...Tanya less as she loved those big cushions for a little nap under the sun!
Ski passes need some attention. They have the "beginner" package ( a wonderful idea) with access to the 3 easy slopes, one being a super long one for beginners. So it's either this, or the full deal...I paid 50usd for a full day ski pass. End of the day, 2 days for 2, including transfers from Malargue, ski passes and equipment were a grand total of 210usd for both if us. You don't ski for that price in Europe!
I love the snow around Portillo or Las Lenas for a simple reason...the snow is pure powder! Slight problem they may have a maximum of 5-8 days of snow falls during the full season lasting from mid-June to early September. This could mean
a delay start of the season. I skied in Las Lenas first time in mid-july 2012...and than again early July 2013 in Portillo...but the snow in 2013 came just 48 hours before our trip!
Our last snow falls in Las Lenas were 4 full weeks before our arrival. They had snow, most tracks were opened, but the snow was packed. No ice, but just super packed...not the easiest to ski...and for a beginner, the easy slope was the perfect one, but also, actually, the only safe option! Oh, and don't think about taking classes here, it's like 200usd per person for an hour private class!
Las Lenas doesn't receive the 18 meters of snow per winter that Niseko in Japan receives. But here, it's sunny days 29 days per month! Snow storm actually came in 2 days after we left...would have preferred to have those 2 days before we came in. it's life!
Next skiing should be in Europe in 2019 in a country I haven't skied yet...yes, it does exist!
Would have love to ski more, but this is what it is, and we simply had a
wonderful time...with no bones broken or anything twisted!
Next, it's wine and relax time in Mendoza!
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