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- Destinations
- South America
- Argentina
- Ski Resorts
- Las Leñas
Las Leñas
The biggest ski resort in Argentina, Las Leñas is nestled high
in a valley south of Mendoza City. Possibly the most famous ski
resort in South America, the resort opened in 1983 and attracts
thrill-seeking skiers and daredevils to its extreme runs. Las Leñas
is renowned for its beauty as well as its challenge, and much ski
photography is done there.
The village of Las Leñas is mostly self-contained, with a number
of shops, bars and restaurants and a few hotels; however the
nightlife is nearly as famous as the skiing! Its isolated location
means the nearest towns, San Rafael and Malargue, are several
hours' drive away.
Information & Facts
Activities
Las Leñas is an isolated purpose-built ski resort, so there
isn't much to do off the slopes. There is a cinema in town.
Language
Spanish is the official language of Argentina but English
is understood in the tourist areas.
Money
The Argentinean Peso (ARS) is divided into 100 centavos. The
recent devaluation of the Peso has made Argentina more affordable
for travellers but there is still much economic uncertainty and
travellers are advised to keep an eye on the exchange rate.
Currency can be exchanged at banks and
cambios(bureaux de change) but it is easier to use ATMs,
available in most urban towns, which reflect the current exchange
rate. Credit and debit cards are generally accepted, and US Dollars
and Euros are normally taken everywhere, but some international
cards place limits on transactions. Cirrus cards sometimes aren't
accepted. There can be problems using travellers cheques in rural
areas, although most banks in major cities should accept them. It's
best to take travellers cheques in US Dollars to avoid additional
exchange rate charges.
Negatives
Las Leñas is isolated and not easy or cheap to reach. The expert
and intermediate slopes become unavailable in bad weather, which
can last for two to three days at a time.
Night Life
Las Leñas is nearly as famous for its buzzing nightlife as its
skiing! There are a number of bars, pubs, nightclubs and discos in
town, and the Valley Casino stays open until 4am. Some of the most
popular venues include the UFO Point bar and the Corona Club
nightclub.
Restaurants
The resort is small and isolated, so most of the restaurants in
Las Leñas are in the hotels. Escorpio has an excellent restaurant
serving French and Mediterranean cuisine, while Piscis' two
eateries specialise in pizza and Italian food. The Pyramid Building
also has several restaurants serving cheaper local fare, including
the famous 'Huaco taco'.
Shopping
The shopping in Las Leñas is concentrated in La Piramide
shopping centre, which has stores providing basics like skiing
equipment, clothing and film; and also delicious Patagonian
chocolate, which is a popular souvenir from Argentina.
Time
Local time in Argentina is GMT -3.