Ski Arpa is the first and only true Snowcat Skiing operation in South America. Though you may go cat skiing in Las Lenas, Argentina nothing really compares to the experience guests have at Ski Arpa.
Offering a bit more than 4,000 skiable acres the terrain here is fantastic as well as the snow conditions.

Accessing Ski Arpa is an important part of the experience. It takes about 2 hours to get here from Santiago. The last 5 miles of the drive are through a narrow amazing mining road. The views of the nearby valleys are fantastic. Keep in mind 4WD vehicles are mandatory for the specific road section.

Ski Arpa is located in the first western range of the Andes. From its summit and facing east guests will have a beautiful view of the Cerro Aconcagua (6,959 mts. / 22,841 ft.) the highest peak in the world after the Himalayas.

Ski Arpa offers excellent conditions from mid June to late September.
As most resorts in the Central Andes the beginning of the season in June features really nice snow conditions but expect really low temperatures and frequent snowfalls. During the month of July the snowpack is thicker and thanks to a few strong storm powder will remain deep and dry.

August offers the beautiful combination of powder, low temperatures and sunny skies. September is another fantastic month. Snow conditions will change from powder to spring in a few days only giving guests the chance to ski great corn towards the end of the season.

What also makes Ski Arpa special is the fact that there only is a small hut at the base. There is no hotel or lodge meaning guests will have to stay off the slopes. The lodging options range from 45 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes away. Our first choice – and strong suggestion - is the deluxe Termas de Jahuel Hotel & Spa.
For the 2010 season Ski Arpa plans to open a small rustic lodge at the base of the slopes. Rooms are expected to have bunk beds. We still recommend other well-established hotels.

Ski Arpa is a definitely worth operation to try for a day or two. Several of our tailor-made tours as well as some of our guided tours make a stop here. We usually recommend spending 2 days snowcat skiing and a third day skiing at Portillo. Combining this option with a couple of days of heli-skiing will make your trip definitely unique.

With the right snow conditions Ski Arpa can easily bit many of the American and Canadian snowcat operations based on powder quality, terrain and scenery.

The whole experience of skiing Arpa starts by driving a fantastic road through fruit plantations and vineyards first and through desert landscapes later to end up climbing a picturesque mining road reaching Arpa base area at almost 9,000 ft. The skiing is great and everything related to riding the cats, admiring the landscape while having lunch or choosing the following line are nothing but unforgettable. We believe Ski Arpa is a great operation for strong intermediate to experts skiers and snowboarders.