Andes Powder & Malbec
Off-season Mendoza cellar-door wine, then south through the gateway town of Malargüe to Las Leñas - South America's steepest, most serious lift-served ski terrain - a winter-only pairing distinct from Argentina's other Mendoza and Bariloche routes, both of which run in warmer months.
8–13 days · Point-to-point
When to go
- WeatherSnow-dependent opening and terrain (mid-Jun - early Oct, varies year to year) — Las Leñas relies on natural snowfall more than machine-made cover - early and late season can mean limited terrain. Check the resort's live snow report before booking non-refundable travel.
- NoteArgentine winter school holidays (vacaciones de invierno) (mid-Jul, exact dates vary by province) — Village accommodation and lift packages sell out and price-spike hardest in this window. Book Las Leñas nights months ahead if traveling then, or shift toward August for similarly reliable snow with a quieter village.
This is Argentina's ski trip, not its wine trip - even though it uses the same gateway city. Mendoza in winter is a quieter, cellar-fireside version of the town everyone visits for the February harvest. From there, RN40 runs south past San Rafael to Malargüe, a real ranching town and the last stop before Las Leñas: a single, self-contained resort with the steepest, most serious lift-served terrain in South America. Ten days covers it comfortably - this is a deliberately different Argentina from the Feb-Apr Mendoza wine circuit and the Dec-Apr Bariloche lake season.
This route's vibe
What you get across the whole trip, blended from each stop's strengths.
Stop by stop
The route
Adjust trip length, budget, and travel style — the stops, transport, and cost update to match.
- 1
Mendoza
2 nightsArrival hub and an off-season wine base - Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo bodegas run intimate cellar-door tastings against snow-capped Andes peaks, without the crowds or prices of the Feb-Mar vendimia. Also the last major gear-rental and supply stop before heading south into the mountains.
Eat: A fireside barrel-room tasting menu at a Luján de Cuyo bodega - heavier, cold-weather fare (braises, game) replaces the outdoor asado and salads of harvest season.
Skip / overrated: The downtown plazas and pedestrian mall are a pleasant evening stroll but not worth a dedicated day in winter - spend the time at a bodega instead; most pour tastings year-round, unlike the harvest-only events.
View Mendoza guide→Getting there· ~296 kmCarRecommendedSelf-drive rental is the flexible choice, roughly 5-6 hours south on RN40 through open steppe scenery, with San Rafael as the last real fuel/food stop before Malargüe.
Book: rental agencies at Mendoza airport — confirm winter tires or chains are included - RN40 gets icy south of San Rafael, and some agencies charge extra or refuse without warning
BusLong-distance coaches run daily from Mendoza's Terminal del Sol to Malargüe, about 6-7 hours - the practical no-car option.
Book: Andesmar / terminal counters — book the return leg too - frequency thins mid-week outside the July holiday peak
Book buses - 2
Malargüe
1 nightThe gateway town to Las Leñas and a worthwhile overnight in its own right - hot springs at Los Molles, condor-watching on the Ruta de los Cóndores, and the last fuel and grocery stop before the resort. Splits the roughly 400km drive south into a manageable two-day run instead of one long slog.
Eat: Chivito (kid goat) asado at a family parrilla on the main street - Malargüe is ranching country, and it shows up on every decent menu in town.
Skip / overrated: The Pierre Auger Observatory tours are genuinely interesting but need advance booking and eat half a day - skip them on a tight itinerary in favor of a hot-springs soak or an extra hour of daylight on the road.
Full guide coming soon for this stop.
Getting there· ~57 kmCarRecommendedA short but winding ~1-1.25h climb on a paved mountain road into the resort; the road closes temporarily during heavy storms.
Book: rental / private transfer — the road can shut with little warning in a big system - build a buffer day into your arrival if the forecast looks active
BusThe resort runs its own shuttle from Malargüe's bus terminal, timed to major bus and flight arrivals in peak weeks.
Book: Las Leñas resort transfer desk — shuttle frequency drops hard outside the Jul-Aug peak - confirm a seat before relying on it
Book buses - 3
Las Leñas
6 nightsSouth America's most serious lift-served terrain - steep, mostly treeless powder bowls and the continent's biggest vertical drop, in a self-contained village so you don't need a car once you've arrived.
Eat: The village has a handful of restaurants and none are cheap - pack snacks or a thermos for lift-side lunches, and save sit-down dinners for apres.
Skip / overrated: Don't expect a European-style multi-village apres scene - Las Leñas is one self-contained base, not a valley of options. Plan evenings around that rather than expecting to bar-hop.
View Las Leñas guide→
Lodging + daily spend only — excludes flights & intercity transport. Partial: some stops lack cost data.
What to skip
Don't try to bolt on Bariloche or the Lake District in the same trip - they're a separate flight routed through Buenos Aires and a completely different, summer-focused itinerary. Treat this as its own dedicated Mendoza-province ski-and-wine week.
Practical tips
Book Las Leñas accommodation as a lodging-plus-lift-pass package well ahead of the mid-July Argentine winter holidays, when the village sells out and prices spike hardest. Rent skis or a board in Mendoza city if you're budget-conscious - it's cheaper than the resort shops. Confirm winter tires or chains on any rental car heading south of San Rafael.
Best for
Common questions
Is this the same trip as Mendoza's wine country tour?
No - it shares the Mendoza gateway but runs in the opposite season (austral winter, not the Feb-Mar harvest) and swaps the San Rafael wine valleys for Malargüe and the Las Leñas ski resort further south.
Do I need to be an expert skier for Las Leñas?
The resort leans advanced - it's known for steep, mostly treeless terrain - but it also has a proper beginner area and ski school by the village, so it isn't experts-only.
When exactly should I go?
Mid-June through early October is the operating window; July and August have the most reliable snow. Budget extra or book far ahead for the mid-July Argentine winter school holidays, when the village is at its busiest.