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Voykit pocket guide · Argentina
Chapelco
Spend 2–3 days skiing at Chapelco; one night if you only want a day on the slopes, otherwise stay 2 nights for full resort access.
Chapelco is a ski resort in Neuquén Province with 29 marked trails, good tree runs for intermediates and a back bowl for experts. A lift ticket is about US$90 (2024). Reachable by a 20‑minute drive from San Martín de Los Andes, the area works best in the Southern winter (June–October).
- Country
- Argentina
- Best months
- Jun–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (summer, limited snow)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- ARS
- Money
- Currency is the Argentine peso (ARS, $). About ARS 1,450–1,600 per US dollar in mid-2026 — check; inflation has slowed but prices still move, so do not rely on old guides.
- Daily spend
- Budget US$120–150 excl. lift ticket · Mid US$180–250 excl. lift ticket · High US$300+ excl. lift ticket (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro, Movistar and Personal cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their shops with a passport, or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police 911 · Ambulance 107 · Fire 100
- Plugs
- Types I, C · 220 V · 50 Hz · Type I sockets are like Australia's, but with live and neutral reversed; bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10% in cash; the cubierto (cover charge) is not a tip.; Taxi / app: Round up.; Hotel porter: ARS equivalent of US$1–2 per bag.; Tour guide: US$5–10 per person a day.; Ushers at tango shows / football: Small tip customary.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable in Buenos Aires and most cities; in the Northwest and rural areas ask or use bottled.
- Toilets
- Use cafés, shopping centres and bus terminals (small fee sometimes); carry tissues.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Lift ticket (adult) | US$90 |
| Ski rental (full day) | AR$5,000–7,000 |
| Coffee in town | AR$300–500 |
| Meal at Mankewe | AR$3,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CPC · San Martín de los Andes Airport
- Two daily flights from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP)
Typical fares
- Buenos Aires → San Martín de los Andes (flight)
- ≈ AR$12,000–15,000, 2 h (check)
- Shuttle town → Chapelco
- ≈ AR$1,200, 20 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Drive or shuttle from San Martín de Los Andes (20 min, 15 km (9.3 mi)). Weekend bus runs from town to the ski area; car rentals are common.Drive or shuttle from San Martín de Los Andes (20 min, 9.3 mi (15 km)). Weekend bus runs from town to the ski area; car rentals are common.
See and do
Known for
- Tree‑run ski trails
- Back bowl off‑piste
- Apres‑ski in San Martín de Los Andes
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| San Martín de los Andes town | 20‑min drive on Ruta 234 or shuttle | ≈30 min round trip |
| Villa la Angostura | Drive 30 km (19 mi) via RN19, about 45 minDrive 19 mi (30 km) via RN19, about 45 min | ≈1 h 30 min total |
Sleep
- Los Techos
- Rustic lodge, rooms and cabins; check‑in 15:00, check‑out 12:00Rustic lodge, rooms and cabins; check‑in 3:00 PM, check‑out 12:00 PM
- Las Pendientes
- Cabins for 2–10 people, kitchen facilities; check‑in 15:00, check‑out 12:00Cabins for 2–10 people, kitchen facilities; check‑in 3:00 PM, check‑out 12:00 PM
- El Refugio
- Lodge with fireplaces (extra charge), terrace restaurant; US$120 per night
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis‑KUL‑pe |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwan‑to KWEHS‑ta |
| Where is the lift ticket office? | ¿Dónde está la boletería?DON‑de es‑TA la bo‑le‑te‑RÍ‑a |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: One cheek kiss among friends; handshake in business; avoid: Refusing a kiss from a new acquaintance's friends
- Mate circle: Drink the whole gourd and hand it back to the server; avoid: Stirring the straw
- Dinner: Eat late and linger; avoid: Expecting service at 18:00
- Punctuality: Arrive 15–30 minutes late for social events; avoid: Arriving early at a home
- Conversation: Talk football, food, family; avoid: Opening with the Falklands or Peronism
Scams and watch-outs
- Lift tickets cost about US$90 (2024); verify current price.
- Off‑piste in the back bowl requires a local guide for safety.
- Winter storms can close the gondola; check weather forecasts.
Generally safe for tourists; keep an eye on winter storms, road conditions, and off‑piste guide requirements.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chapelco yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Tree‑run ski trails
- Back bowl off‑piste
- Apres‑ski in San Martín de Los Andes
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Chapelco coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Chapelco, revision 5172244 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5172244
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/chapelco). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.