Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DOG SLEDDING
You can't say you've done it all until you've tried dog sledding. Argentina's a great
place to start. Operators near Caviahue offer dog sledding, as do operators in San
Martín de los Andes. And how about dog sledding at the end of the world, in
Ushuaia? Obviously, this activity is possible only when there's snow, during the
winter months of June to October (though in Ushuaia the season might be longer).
Skiing & Snowboarding
Argentina's mountains have outstanding skiing, offering superb powder and plenty of
sunny days. Many resorts have large ski schools with instructors from all over the world,
so language is not a problem. At some of the older resorts equipment can be a little anti-
quated, but in general the quality of skiing more than compensates.
There are three main snow-sport areas: Mendoza, the Lake District and Ushuaia. Men-
doza is near Argentina's premier resort, Las Leñas, which has the best snow and longest
runs; the resort Los Penitentes is also nearby. The Lake District is home to several low-
key resorts, including Cerro Catedral, near Bariloche, and Cerro Chapelco, near San
Martín de los Andes. Although the snow doesn't get as powdery here, the views are su-
perior to Las Leñas. And Esquel, further south in Patagonia, has great powder at La
Hoya.
The world's most southerly commercial skiing is near Ushuaia. The ski season every-
where generally runs from mid-June to mid-October.
Cycling
Cycling is a popular activity among Argentines, and spandex-clad cyclists are a common
sight along many roads (despite a decided lack of bike lanes in the country). There are
some outstanding paved routes, especially in the Lake District and, to a lesser extent, in
the Andean northwest.
In the northwest there are several excellent road routes, including the highway from
Tucumán to Tafí del Valle, the direct road from Salta to Jujuy and, arguably most spec-
tacular of all, RN68, which takes you through the Quebrada de Cafayate. The Central Si-
erras are also great candidates for cycling, and the mostly paved network of roads rolls
past a countryside that is at times reminiscent of Scotland. Mendoza boasts some epic
