Introduction

Cerro Chapelco sits at 1,980m and although relatively small is one of Argentina's best known ski resorts and in recent years it has developed more snowboard-friendly facilities.  It sits just above the town of San Martín de los Andes, one of many picturesque Lake District villages.  It has 22 runs totalling 32km and offering variety in terrain and difficulty as well as good backcountry / off-piste areas.  As elsewhere in the Andes, the views are stunning and you can see Lake Lácar and the Lanín Volcano from some of the slopes.

Chapelco

The season is slightly longer in Chapelco than in the more northerly resorts in Argentina and is officially June 11 to October 14, divided into low, medium and high season with prices varying accordingly.

Facilities and Services

There are some 140ha of patrolled skiable terrain but plenty of off-piste options of the adventurous skier or boarder.   

Chapelco Piste Map

At Chapelco you can do alpine, Nordic and randonee skiing but the resort is also geared up for snowboarding with plenty of play options with a half pipe in the Perimetro terrain park, parallel slalom, big air and fun park.  The halfpipe is accessed from the Palito drag lift.

The resort also offers snowmobile tours, Siberian husky sledding and snowshoeing and the usual ski amenities, equipment hire, a ski and snowboard school, daycare and information center.  A variety of accommodation is available, from luxury to budget hotels, apartments, cabins, and camping.

Snow cover can be a little unreliable at the base station due to the elevation but is usually consistent higher up.

Travel

You can drive to Chapelco from San Martín de los Andes on National Route 234, which borders Lake Lácar.  It is then onto National Route 19, and a 5km drive to the base of the mountain.  Flying to Buenos Aires you can take an internal flight to the local airport at Bariloche where a bus or taxi transfer to the resort is possible.