If you've been waiting all year for a bit of action on the white stuff, now is your time! Ski season is officially upon us and you can get your fix at nearby Las Leñas just 4 hours from Mendoza city.
One of the biggest ski resorts in South America, Las Leñas reaches up to 3,429 meters above sea level and is spread over treeless mountain slopes with marked runs and off-piste skiing to satiate all types of skiers, from beginners to black run daredevils.
There is also a terrain park with different jumps and a half pipe for those wanting to train on their snowboard skills and there is artificial snow at the very base just to make sure there is enough white stuff to cover the ground.
Aside from the snow, Las Leñas is a real hub of activity with its 7 hotels, a casino and handful of restaurants and apres-ski bars and parties. Brand new for this year is a wine bar with premium and super premium wines to make sure you can always have a splash of the good stuff once you step of the slopes. For ladies who like to be pampered there is also a spa and fitness centre (how tempting does a hot stone massage sound after skiing?) and a small shopping centre.
You can reach Las Leñas by bus (operated by the ski centre) or you can drive there - it is perfect if you combine it with the Uco Valley which is en-route from the city, and the perfect opportunity to fuel up on a good winery lunch before hitting the powder.
Amanda Barnes is a British wine writer and journalist living in Mendoza and although she has seen a couple ski seasons here already she is still very much a disorientated bunny on the snow. You can read her blog at www.amandabarnes.co.uk
Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor.
