MENDOZA.- The Mendoza mountains are beginning to warm up for the 2024 winter season. Although the weather forecasts are not very encouraging, the first snowfalls are already exciting the main ski center in the Cuyo province: Las Leñas. On this train, the complex located in Malargüe, in the south of the local geography, 350 kilometers from the capital, is counting the days until the opening, scheduled for June 15, since Visitor inquiries and reservations do not stopeager to slide down the white slopes again.
Of course, taking into account the context of the underlying national economic crisis, costs also skyrocketed: you will have to pay up to 450% more than last year to be able to use the lifts and the extensive slopes, in accordance with the tariff that is already published on the company’s website, with all its variables, promotions and specifications based on the ages of the tourists and the days they will ski in the place.
Thus, there are differential prices, and with progressive values, depending on the time and moment of the season that the chairlifts and lifts will be used. In this sense, for the “average” season, which excludes the winter holidays in July and long weekends, you will have to pay a $88,100 daily pass for an adultwhile For the “high” season, the cost amounts to $100,100 per day.. If compared to last year’s values, the difference is marked: $15,700 and $17,800, respectively. In the case of minors, the current costs are: $70,600 in the “average” season; and $80,100 in the “high” season, while last year the numbers were: $12,600 and $14,300, respectively. In the case of skiing for half a day, the values drop a little: $66,200 in the “medium” season and $75,100 in the “high” season.
If the four-day pass is taken into account, the values also show a marked difference from what they were worth last year. Today, they cost $300,000 in the “medium” season, while in 2023 they ranged from $55,000.
On the other hand, adults who intend to purchase the monthly pass will have to pay $1,452,700 in the “medium” season and $1,650,600 in the “high” season. While, The price for the entire lifting season will be the same: $2,558,500. It is worth remembering that the shoulder season runs from June 17 to 30 and from July 29 to August 18. For its part, Those who need to rent complete ski equipment will have to spend an average of $30,000 per day. When it comes to accommodation, prices vary depending on the category of the place, but on average you will have to spend more than half a million pesos per person to access, for example, a 4-star hotel with half board and lift passes for three nights. and four days of skiing.
Good pre-sale demand
“We started with pre-sales, with a very good reception of demand. With the latest early snowfalls, we are having a very large volume of calls, which are going into reservations. Last year’s season greatly guaranteed expectations. From what it looks like, we believe that the season predicts a good amount of snow and hopefully the weather will continue to accompany us in the following months, which will allow us to decide if we open on June 15,” he told THE NATION Sebastián Otegui, commercial manager of Las Leñas, who contributed that in hotel occupancy they are already above 40%, also motivated by some special discounts, so they invite those interested to consult promptly. “Demand in general is very strong, but there is still a lot of supply available,” added the company manager.
Beyond the strong national inflationary context, which affects the current values to visit the complex with the longest runways in Latin America, The demand from local and foreign tourists does not stop, especially Chileans and Brazilians, who last year had to wait for the opening, but were then able to enjoy more months of skiing. In fact, Las Leñas remained open until October, due to late snowfalls.
This is how the renowned complex is prepared, which has a ski area of more than 7,500 hectares, with 30 slopes and 14 lifts. La Leñas sits in the heart of the Andes Mountains, 1,200 kilometers from Buenos Aires. The base of the winter center is 2,240 meters above sea level while the summit reaches 3,430 meters.
All eyes are on the upcoming snowy rainfall and the resulting accumulation to be able to open its doors in mid-June. For its part, official weather forecasts indicate “normal or lower” snowfall for the Cuyo region in the coming months, influenced by the eventual La Niña phenomenon. However, the positive, for now, has been the conditions of the last few days, with accumulated snowfall records of more than 30 centimeters, so everyone is crossing their fingers that the deficit predicted in the imminent winter season will be reversed, and Thus, being able to count on long days of sports, relaxation and fun.