Las Leñas Marte Freeride, Mendoza

Overview

When the Marte chairlift opens, Las Leñas becomes the best lift-served freeride mountain in the southern hemisphere — a single ancient double chair unlocking 800m faces, hanging couloirs and traverses that run for kilometres along the Andes crest. Eduardo's, the Paraíso faces, the endless lines back towards the base: it is Chamonix-calibre terrain with Argentine steak at the bottom. The brutal honesty: Marte is wind-prone and opens perhaps half the days of a good season. You plan a week, ski the lower mountain and the excellent side-country when it is shut, and drop everything when the queue forms. Snow years swing hard here too — check the season before you fly rather than booking blind in April. Getting in means flying to Mendoza and driving five to six hours south (or via Malargüe, 90 minutes away, on limited flights). Stay slope-side in the compact base village; hotels are dated but you are there for the mountain. About £1,600 for seven days with lift pass and half board. Hire a local guide for the big lines — rescue here is a long way off.

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Prefilled for 1 July 2027 — the next best-season window. Search on partner sites — opens in a new tab.