Major city · Argentina
Las Leñas
Go for 3–5 nights in ski season (mid-Jun–early Oct) only; outside it the valley is near-empty — base in the ski village, not Malargüe.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- ARS
- Best months
- Late Jun–early Oct (ski season); Jul–Aug for the deepest base
- avoid Nov–May (resort largely closed; limited mountain activities)
- Airports
- AFA · MDZ · AEP
- Nights
- 3–5
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Argentina ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Argentina's National Migration Directorate (Migraciones) or an Argentine consulate before booking.
- Argentina ↗Since April 2025 the official, MEP and street ('blue') dollar rates sit within a few percent of each other; a foreign card is usually the best-value way to pay, while ATM withdrawals carry high fixed fees. Rules have changed often — check before you fly.
- Argentina ↗Patagonia (El Calafate, El Chaltén, Ushuaia) is a November–March trip; in winter many services close and hiking is limited.
- Argentina ↗Since August 2026 non-resident foreigners must show insurance or pay for non-urgent care at nationally run public hospitals, and Buenos Aires City, Mendoza, Salta, Jujuy and Santa Cruz charge visitors for scheduled care; emergencies are still treated. Travel with medical insurance — check the current rules.
Las Leñas is Argentina's biggest ski resort, a purpose-built village at 2,240 m in a high Andean valley 80 km from Malargüe. Everything skiable sits above the tree line, 35% of marked runs are expert, and the Marte chair opens some of the steepest lift-served terrain in South America. There is no town here: you sleep, eat and ski in the same handful of blocks, and you need a resort package or a car to make it work.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Las Leñas, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Argentine peso (ARS, $).Argentina-wide
- SIM or eSIMClaro, Movistar and Personal cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their shops with a passport, or an eSIM before you fly.Argentina-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable in Buenos Aires and most cities; in the Northwest and rural areas ask or use bottled.Argentina-wide
- TippingRestaurant: About 10% in cash; the cubierto (cover charge) is not a tip.Argentina-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/I. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Argentina-wide
- SafetySkiing risk, not street crime, is the issue: high-altitude weather, cliff-ended chutes and a sometimes-closed Marte.
- RestroomsUse cafés, shopping centres and bus terminals (small fee sometimes); carry tissues.Argentina-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police (most cities) · 107 ambulance · 100 fire
- Sundays & holidaysSiesta hours (13:00–17:00) in the provinces close many shops; Buenos Aires works straight through.Siesta hours (1:00 PM–5:00 PM) in the provinces close many shops; Buenos Aires works straight through.Argentina-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportAFA San Rafael (S.
- Getting aroundThe village is walkable in minutes; hotels and restaurants run free shuttles and there is a resort shuttle between points.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee in the villageARS 4,000–8,000
- BeerBeer in a slopeside barARS 6,000–12,000
- Budget bedHostel bed (shared room), a night, per personARS 25,000
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per roomARS 160,000
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per roomARS 320,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ARS 60,000 · Mid ARS 120,000 · High ARS 220,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- AFA San Rafael (S. A. Santiago Germano) (About a 2-hour drive to Las Leñas; seasonal direct flights from Buenos Aires (Aeroparque)) · MDZ Mendoza (El Plumerillo) (About 4–5 hours by road; the main year-round gateway) · AEP Buenos Aires (Aeroparque) (Seasonal resort charter flights and buses run from here)
Weather and climate
Las Leñas: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
22°C72°F
8°C46°F
5 rd
Feb
21°C70°F
7°C45°F
5 rd
Mar
18°C64°F
5°C41°F
4 rd
Apr
13°C55°F
1°C34°F
4 rd
May
8°C46°F
−3°C27°F
6 rd
Jun
4°C39°F
−7°C19°F
8 rd
Jul
3°C37°F
−8°C18°F
8 rd
Aug
5°C41°F
−7°C19°F
7 rd
Sep
8°C46°F
−4°C25°F
6 rd
Oct
13°C55°F
0°C32°F
5 rd
Nov
18°C64°F
4°C39°F
4 rd
Dec
21°C70°F
7°C45°F
5 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The village is walkable in minutes; hotels and restaurants run free shuttles and there is a resort shuttle between points. On the mountain you move by lift and ski. If you drive in, park near the base lodge. Snow chains are required on RP-222 in winter.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Malargüe
cautionDoor to door: 1–1.5 h
Bus or car on RP-222, about 80 kmBus or car on RP-222, about 50 mi
A rest-day town run: supermarket, bank, supplies. Not a sight in itself.
San Rafael
overnightDoor to door: 3 h
Bus (Iselin) or car from the village, up to about 3 h
Wine and city base; too far for a same-day return in winter.
Mendoza
overnightDoor to door: 4–5 h
Car or bus via San Rafael, about 4–5 h
The regional hub; use it before or after the ski week, not as a day trip.
Tunuyán
skipDoor to door: 4 h
Drive north on Ruta 40, about 3.5–4 h
No reason to add this drive to a Las Leñas trip.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Ski village core
Hotels, mall, restaurants and the base lodge within a few minutes' walk; ski-out from most doors.
Slopeside outliers (Airies, Club de Nieve)
Ski-in/ski-out but a long walk or shuttle from the core; ground transport stops early.
Malargüe (80 km away)
Only if you have a car and accept a daily mountain drive on RP-222.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ARS 60,000–100,000 excl. bed (2026 estimate)
- Mid
- ARS 100,000–180,000 excl. bed (2026 estimate)
- High
- ARS 180,000+ excl. bed (2026 estimate)
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 4 nights × ARS 160,000 | ARS 640,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 4 days × ARS 120,000 | ARS 960,000 |
| Ski or snowboard rental, one day2 × ARS 40,000 | ARS 80,000 |
| Group ski lesson, half day2 × ARS 60,000 | ARS 120,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ARS 15,000 | ARS 30,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ARS 183,000 |
| Trip total≈ ARS 251,600 per person per day, bed included | ARS 2,013,000 |
2026 estimate in pesos; lift tickets, rentals and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee in the village | ARS 4,000–8,000 |
| Pizza at a village restaurant | ARS 14,000+ |
| Casual restaurant main | ARS 15,000–30,000 |
| Beer in a slopeside bar | ARS 6,000–12,000 |
| Supermarket basket for self-catering, per person per day | ARS 12,000–20,000 |
| Ski or snowboard rental, one day | ARS 25,000–60,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Marte is temperamental and often closed: have a plan B on the lower lifts.
- Some chutes end in cliffs — go with a certified guide and a helmet (required by the resort).
- Most lifts stop at 17:00; only the runs near the lodge are lit to 22:00.Most lifts stop at 5:00 PM; only the runs near the lodge are lit to 10:00 PM.
- Restaurants are few and hotel packages usually include meals: book dinner or self-cater.
- Village prices are resort prices, and cards may not work everywhere — carry cash.
Emergency numbers
- Police (most cities)
- 911
- Ambulance
- 107
- Fire
- 100
- Resort base lodge (ski patrol and information)
- +54 260 447 1100
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Las LeñasLas Leñas
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police911
- Ambulance107
- Fire100
- Base lodge / ski patrol+54 260 447 1100
Embassy
No embassies in the valley: the US, UK, Canada and Australia all run embassies in Buenos Aires; nearest consular help is in Mendoza or Buenos Aires.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus San Rafael → Las Leñas (Iselin): up to about 3 h
- Bus Buenos Aires → San Rafael or Malargüe: about 12 h
- San Rafael airport → Las Leñas by road: about 2 h by car or transfer
Say or show
- Perdón — Excuse me / Sorry (per-DON)
- Gracias — Thank you (GRA-syas)
- ¿Cuánto sale? — How much is it? (KWAN-to SA-le)
- ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWE-do pa-GAR kon tar-HE-ta)
- ¿Dónde está el medio de elevación? — Where is the ski lift? (DON-de es-TA el ME-dyo de e-le-va-SYON)
- Necesito ayuda — I need help (ne-se-SI-to a-YU-da)
Ski season runs roughly mid-June to early October; confirm dates, lift status and road conditions before booking.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Las Leñas. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Late Jun–early Oct (ski season); Jul–Aug for the deepest base · avoid Nov–May (resort largely closed; limited mountain activities) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Resort-package pages: charter bus and plane options from Buenos Aires with transfer times and cutoffs.
- Lift, rental and ski-school pages with 2026 prices and booking windows.
- Eat pages for the village with last orders and which hotels open dinner to non-guests.
- Winter-road fixtures for RP-222: chain rules, closures and the Malargüe fallback.